North Ridge Elementary Recognized as a 2025 California Distinguished School

It’s official, North Ridge Elementary School has earned an A+ in excellence! We’re thrilled to announce that North Ridge has been recognized as a 2025 California Distinguished School, one of the state’s top honors for public schools.

This award is no small feat. This places North Ridge among only 336 elementary schools statewide recognized for their outstanding work in closing achievement gaps and demonstrating exceptional student performance. Talk about making the grade!

“Our students, staff, and families have worked incredibly hard, and this recognition is a direct reflection of that dedication,” said Sam Stager, North Ridge Principal. “Being named a California Distinguished School means we’re not just meeting expectations, we’re exceeding them, together.”

Why It Matters for Families

The California Distinguished Schools Program shines a spotlight on schools that go above and beyond in providing high-quality instruction, creating inclusive learning environments, and supporting the whole child. For families, this recognition is a powerful affirmation: your child is learning in a school that’s committed to excellence and equity.

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond congratulated honorees across California, saying, “It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 336 elementary schools for their efforts to provide exemplary public education to all students. Excellent elementary schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people.”

North Ridge was evaluated on two success indicators, closing the academic achievement gap and demonstrating exceptional student performance based on its performance on the California School Dashboard. In other words, we passed with flying colors!

A Bright Future Ahead

This recognition energizes our entire school community and reinforces our goal to provide a nurturing, high-achieving environment for every student. As we celebrate this moment, we’re also looking ahead and continuing to raise the bar, one student at a time.

“Being named a Distinguished School is a moment of pride, but also a promise to keep growing, innovating, and inspiring,” said Dr. Alejandro Ruvalcaba.

We’re proud to be a school where excellence isn’t just a goal, it’s a tradition. Or as we like to say, we’re not just distinguished, we’re schoolin’ it!

For more information on the California Distinguished Schools Program and the full list of honorees, visit: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel18.asp