Orange County, California, has increased its number of California Distinguished Schools by 38, making a total of 874 since 1985. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced that 293 middle and high schools statewide have received this recognition. The California Distinguished Schools program, managed by the California Department of Education, acknowledges schools that have successfully closed the achievement gap and demonstrated exceptional student performance. The 2023 California School Dashboard data, which focuses on academic achievement and positive school environment, is used in the selection process.
The recognized schools in Orange County for 2024 include those from the Anaheim Union High School District, Buena Park Elementary School District, and Capistrano Unified School District. Schools from Fountain Valley Elementary School District, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Garden Grove Unified School District, Huntington Beach City Elementary School District, and Irvine Unified School District were also acknowledged.