SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 408 public middle schools and high schools were selected as 2026 California Distinguished Schools. The annual award recognizes exceptional schools that distinguish themselves on the basis of exemplary st udent outcomes for all students, state education officials said. Thurmond said Tuesday, "It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 408 schools for their efforts to move the needle for student achievement, no matter what. An excellent public education has the power to transform lives. This year’s California Distinguished Schools represent the hard work of our middle and high school educators and school staff, who provide our secondary students with life-changing educational opportunities." This year’s award was based on two main categories: Schools that are among the highest in the state in academic achievement, and, schools that are accelerating academic progress for groups that have been historically underserved. 2026 California Distinguished Schools San Francisco County A.P. Giannini Middle School Roosevelt Middle School San Mateo County Crocker Middle School (Hillsborough) Corte Madera School (Portola Valley) Central Middle School (San Carlos) Tierra Linda Middle School (San Carlos) El Camino High School (South San Francisco) Jefferson Union High School  Alameda County Oakland Unity Middle School  Alameda High School Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle School (Berkeley) Willard Middle School (Berkeley) Creekside Middle School (Castro Valley) Eleanor Murray Fallon (Dublin) American High School (Fremont) Irvington High School (Fremont) John M. Horner Middle School (Fremont) Thornton Middle School (Fremont) Washington High School (Fremont) Harvest Park Middle School (Pleasanton) Thomas S. Hart Middle School (Pleasanton) KIPP King Collegiate High School (San Lorenzo) KIPP Summit Academy (San Lorenzo) Marin County Adaline E. Kent Middle School Hall Middle School Miller Creek Middle School San Jose school closures threaten special education programs Santa Clara County Piedmont Middle School Fremont High School Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy  (Gilroy) Ardis G. Egan Junior High School (Los Altos) Georgina P. Blach Junior High School (Los Altos) Raymond J. Fisher Middle School (Los Gatos) Los Gatos High School Thomas Russell Middle School (Milpitas) Ann Sobrato High School (Morgan Hill) Isaac Newton Graham Middle School (Mountain View) John F. Kennedy Middle School Sam H. Lawson Middle School College Connection Academy  Herman Intermediate School (San Jose) Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School (Palo Alto) Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School (Palo Alto) University Preparatory Academy Charter School Redwood Middle School (Saratoga) KIPP Navigate College Prep  Sunnyvale Middle School Union Middle School Sonoma County Credo High School (Cotati-Rohnert Park) Hillcrest Middle School Casa Grande High School (Petaluma) Contra Costa County Miramonte High School Liberty High School Martinez Junior High School Diablo View Middle School Pleasant Hill Middle School Charlotte Wood Middle School (San Ramon) Diablo Vista Middle School (San Ramon) Iron Horse Middle School (San Ramon) Los Cerros Middle School (San Ramon) Pine Valley Middle School (San Ramon) San Ramon Valley High School Stone Valley Middle School (San Ramon) Middle College High School ...read more read less