19 California schools recognized with California Exemplary Arts Education Award for strong, equitable arts programs
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond on March 23, 2026 named 19 California schools recipients of the California Exemplary Arts Education Award, honoring strong, equitable arts programs that foster creativity, cultural responsiveness and access for English learners and special education students.
Key takeaways
- March 23, 2026: State Superintendent Tony Thurmond named 19 schools as award recipients; see the California Department of Education press release.
- Award criteria: Schools must offer at least three arts disciplines during the regular school day and ensure access for English learners and students in special education; review the award criteria.
- Recognition: Honorees will be celebrated at the California School Recognition Program Ceremony in Anaheim on April 24, 2026, as noted in the CDE announcement.
- Geography & equity: Winners include elementary, middle and high schools across urban and suburban districts, Title I campuses and well-resourced suburban schools; summary available from Los Angeles County Office of Education.
California Exemplary Arts Education Award: what qualifies a school
The California Exemplary Arts Education Award recognizes schools that document strong arts programming and equitable access. To be eligible, a school must offer at least three arts disciplines — from dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts — during the regular school day. Applicants must also demonstrate high-quality arts curriculum, meaningful assessment of student work, and professional learning for staff delivering arts instruction. Programs must be culturally responsive and accessible to all students, including English learners and those receiving special education services. See the award criteria for full details.
Review process and program design
The California Department of Education and partner review panels assess applications to ensure schools are embedding arts learning across the school day and removing barriers for special populations. The award spotlights programs that can serve as models for districts seeking to improve arts access and quality, emphasizing sustainable program design, professional learning, and culturally responsive curricula.
Tony Thurmond’s statement and the state’s goals
“It is my honor to congratulate these 19 schools for the powerful role they play in supporting arts programs across our state. These dynamic learning environments are where students have the opportunity to explore their creativity and strengthen their voices.” — Tony Thurmond
Thurmond framed the awards as part of a broader effort to ensure all California students can benefit from arts learning, whether they live in urban centers, rural towns or suburban neighborhoods. The Department has emphasized equity in access and cited research linking arts engagement with improved attendance, graduation rates and student motivation; the award’s focus on professional learning signals a push toward sustainable programs rather than one-time events.
The 2026 award recipients
The 19 schools honored span Northern, Southern and Central California and include elementary, middle and high schools. The full list announced by the California Department of Education includes:
- Claremont High School (Claremont USD)
- Delano High School (Delano Joint Union HSD)
- Gilroy High School (Gilroy USD)
- Crescenta Valley High School (Glendale USD)
- Mark Keppel Elementary (Glendale USD)
- Prairie Vista Middle School (Hawthorne SD)
- Hesperia High School (Hesperia USD)
- ICEF View Park Preparatory High School (LAUSD)
- Maywood Center for Enriched Studies (LAUSD)
- Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach USD)
- Palm Middle School (Moreno Valley USD)
- Echo Valley Elementary (North Monterey County USD)
- Novato High School (Novato USD)
- Orange County School of the Arts (OC Board of Education)
- C.K. McClatchy High School (Sacramento City USD)
- Trabuco Hills High School (Saddleback Valley USD)
- Gabrielino High School (San Gabriel USD)
- Jefferson Middle School (San Gabriel USD)
- San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (San Diego USD)
Diversity among winners and local patterns
The list reflects a broad cross-section of California’s public schools. Some awardees serve high percentages of Title I students in lower-income communities, while others are suburban or specialized institutions with robust district and community support. Nine of the 19 winners are located in Los Angeles County, highlighting that county’s size and concentration of arts programs — a point summarized by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
Review panels noted winners were selected for program design as much as for resources: integration of arts into the school day, culturally responsive curricula, and tracking of student outcomes in arts learning. Schools overcame funding gaps through partnerships, reallocated resources, or shared staffing models — practices highlighted in sector coverage such as the Association of California School Administrators (EdCal) overview.
Recognition ceremony and how the award is used
The 2026 honorees were scheduled to be celebrated at the California School Recognition Program Ceremony in Anaheim on April 24, 2026. The award provides a platform for schools to share practices and curricula, and for the Department to showcase scalable models. Districts are encouraged to study awardees’ approaches to staffing, scheduling and funding as they consider their own arts strategies; see the CDE award page for resources.
Questions about sustainability and equity
Ongoing questions include how schools will sustain arts programs amid shifting budgets, whether culturally responsive practices will be replicated in higher-need schools, and which staffing or partnership models smaller or rural districts can adopt without major new investments. Education leaders and local reporters will follow these issues as the Department promotes awardee practices; see reporting from EdCal for analysis.
Implications for the Inland Empire
Economic impact
Several awardees sit near or within Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ service areas. Recognition of Palm Middle School (Moreno Valley Unified School District) signals the value of investing in arts programs as part of broader economic recovery and workforce-development efforts, with performances and exhibitions supporting local venues and businesses.
Political consequences
Local school boards and elected officials in the Inland Empire may use the award to argue for targeted funding to sustain or expand arts offerings. The recognition could strengthen grant applications and justify reallocating resources toward certified arts educators and professional development, especially in Title I schools balancing competing budget needs.
Social effects
For students in the Inland Empire, expanded arts instruction can increase engagement, improve attendance and offer alternative pathways to college or careers in creative industries. If districts adopt award models that reach English learners and special education students, social and academic benefits may be more equitably distributed across the region.
Cultural relevance
The award’s emphasis on culturally responsive arts instruction aligns with the Inland Empire’s diversity. Programs drawing from students’ cultural backgrounds — through music, theatre or visual arts — can foster inclusion and help students see their communities reflected in the curriculum.
Practical applications
Districts can study awardees’ strategies for meeting the three-discipline requirement and expanding access. Approaches include partnerships with community arts organizations, shared staffing models, block scheduling to fit arts into the regular day, and pursuing state or private arts grants. Local educators may consult the Department’s case studies or contact award schools for practical advice (see CDE award resources and the EdCal overview).
