Three Sonoma Campuses Honored
Three Sonoma County campuses were named Distinguished Schools by the state board, and they were singled out for clear routines, hands-on learning, and strong transition strategies—practical proof points for private STEAM programs. The recognition landed March 17. (pressdemocrat.com)
Casa Grande High School (Petaluma City Schools), Credo High School (charter authorized by Cotati‑Rohnert Park Unified) and Hillcrest Middle School (Gravenstein Union) were among 408 middle and high schools named 2026 California Distinguished Schools by the state program. ( ) Casa Grande earned the Distinguished School designation for the first time, Credo returns after a prior recognition in 2021, and Hillcrest carries prior honors from 2013, 2009 and 2005. (scoe.org) The 2026 selections were made using indicators from the 2025 California School Dashboard (updated in December) that include test scores, chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, and campuses must meet statewide accountability thresholds — including at least 95% participation in statewide assessments — to qualify. ( ) Sonoma County Office of Education framed the local honorees as examples of “academic success, disciplined instructional practices, school culture and climate, strong leadership and a commitment to innovation,” and SCOE is piloting a local “SCOE Dash” to give educators real‑time data on attendance, assessments and behavioral interventions. (scoe.org) Concrete classroom tactics that align with the “disciplined instructional practices” SCOE cited include teaching and practicing pacing for transitions, using advance warnings and role‑play of expected steps, and assigning student transition leaders to model routines — strategies shown to reduce dysregulation and speed classroom recovery between activities. ( ) To translate secondary-level recognition into K–5 STEAM practice, implement time‑boxed “Do Now” tasks at station rotations, post visual schedules for multi‑age groups, and use consistent signal systems (chimes, call‑backs, or countdown visuals) to synchronize hands‑on switches across classrooms. ( ) The state will formally honor the 2026 Distinguished Schools at the Disneyland Hotel on April 24, 2026, and this year’s awards added a third category, “Beacons of Opportunity,” recognizing high performers in rural or Title I communities. (cde.ca.gov)
