Two Campuses in O.C. Named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools

One public school and one private school in Orange County were named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools today.

South Lake Middle School in the Irvine Unified School District and Mission Viejo Christian School were both awarded the prestigious honor from the U.S. Department of Education. They are among 33 elementary, middle and high schools honored this year in California, and 356 nationwide. 

“This honor is [a] tribute to our amazing South Lake faculty, staff, parents and students! Let’s gooooo!,” reads a post on South Lake’s Instagram account regarding the honor.  

“We are incredibly honored by this achievement, highlighting our dedication to academic excellence while equipping each student to influence the world for Jesus Christ,” Mission Viejo Christian School wrote of being named a National Blue Ribbon School on its Instagram page.

Campuses can be recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools in one of two performance categories. A school can be named an Exemplary High-Performing School if it is among the highest performing campuses in their state’s assessments and national tests.

A campus can also be honored as an Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing School if the school excels "in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body."

The two winners in Orange County this year were both recognized in the Exemplary High-Performing Schools category meaning their students are among the highest achieving (the top 15%) in state or nationally normed tests for English and mathematics.

To be eligible for the honor, schools must also complete a lengthy application that describes “their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

“We pride ourselves on our mission to ensure that all South Lake students will become intellectual risk takers who persevere within a safe, yet rigorous learning environment to navigate college and career options with confidence, skills, and diligence,” South Lake, a 6-8 grade campus serving 668 students, wrote in its application.

One program that South Lake chose to highlight in its application is something called Shark Time (the school’s mascot is a shark). The school shifted its bell schedule to carve out 42 minutes twice a week for Shark Time. During this time, students are able to participate in one of three options: academic intervention, social/emotional connection, or enrichment. Shark Time was launched post-pandemic to “ensure all students get what they need during the school day,” according to the school. 

Mission Viejo Christian School, a K-8 campus serving around 500 students, “strives to engage students through a biblically-integrated, hands-on 21st-century education that utilizes the latest technology and project-based learning to foster deeper critical thinking and a more collaborative and creative learning experience,” according to its application.

One program it highlighted in its application is called Prayer Partners. That's where older students mentor younger students for regular meetings “to share prayer requests, do activities together, and bond through commonalities.” In a similar program, older students can meet with younger students twice a week for after-school tutoring. 

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program has recognized more than 9,000 schools since its first year in 1983. Both public and non-public schools can be nominated for the award only once within a five-year period.

Wondering how many National Blue Ribbon Schools are in your school district? You can search the thousands of honorees at this link.