by Los Angeles County, CA – Eight schools across Los Angeles County have been officially recognized as 2025 California Blue Ribbon Schools, the state’s top academic distinction replacing the long-standing national program.
The announcement was made by California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who congratulated the selected schools for their excellence in academic performance and student achievement.
Shift from National to State Recognition
Traditionally, schools across the U.S. were nominated for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, a federal initiative that began in 1982 and honored exceptional schools for more than four decades. However, after the U.S. Department of Education discontinued the national program, California launched its own version to continue acknowledging the state’s top-performing schools.
The new California Blue Ribbon Schools Program was created as a one-time initiative for 2025, designed to recognize schools that had already been certified nominees for the now-cancelled national program.
According to the California Department of Education (CDE), the recognition is based on two main criteria — overall academic excellence or significant progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
Los Angeles County’s 2025 California Blue Ribbon Schools
The following eight Los Angeles County schools earned the California Blue Ribbon designation this year:
- Willowbrook Middle School – Compton Unified School District
- Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School – Glendale Unified School District
- Chamlian Armenian School – Glendale Unified School District
- Lucille J. Smith Elementary School – Lawndale Elementary School District
- Clover Avenue Elementary School – Los Angeles Unified School District
- Third Street Elementary School – Los Angeles Unified School District
- Pantera Elementary School – Pomona Unified School District
- Arroyo Seco Junior High School – William S. Hart Union High School District
These schools will be formally honored in spring 2026 at the annual California School Recognition Program celebration, which will bring together award-winning educators and administrators from across the state.
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Honoring Academic Excellence in California
Since 1982, the original National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized over 9,000 schools with more than 10,000 awards across the country. Some schools have earned the honor multiple times, serving as models of effective teaching and strong community involvement.
Historically, schools that received the national recognition were allowed to fly the official Blue Ribbon flag as a symbol of their commitment to excellence — a tradition California hopes to preserve at the state level.
Though the state’s new Blue Ribbon initiative is only set to run for the 2025 school year, education officials say future recognition efforts will continue under other CDE-led programs such as California Distinguished Schools and Exemplary Arts Education Awards.
Looking Ahead
In total, 31 schools across California have been named 2025 California Blue Ribbon Schools.
“These schools exemplify the best of California’s education system — strong leadership, dedicated teachers, and students who continually rise to the challenge,” Thurmond said.
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