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California Schools to Watch

Advancing Excellence in the Middle Grades

Learn about the Schools to Watch program

Join us at the Schools to Watch Summer Institute, July 16-17.

Current STW leaders will help mentor others wanting to apply for Schools to Watch status!

Apply for 2025

Read State Superintendent Tony Thurmond's announcement encouraging all middle schools to apply.

CDE Announcement

2025 STW Application

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Congratulations 2024 New and Redesignating Schools to Watch!

New Schools

Bret Harte Middle School, Hayward Unified School District
Bud Carson Middle School, Hawthorne Elementary School District
Cedarlane Academy K8, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Cesar Chavez Middle School, Lynwood Unified School District
Edgewood IB School, West Covina Unified School District
Fairgrove Academy, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Laguna Middle School, San Luis Coastal Unified School District
Mesa Robles School, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Mesa View Middle School, Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District

Paul L. Cato Middle School, Bakersfield City School District
Rivera Middle School, El Rancho Unified School District
Vaca Peña Middle School, Vacaville Unified School District
Valinda School of Academics, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Walnut Grove Intermediate School, West Covina Unified School District
William G. Jehue Middle School, Rialto Unified School District
Winton Middle School, Hayward Unified School District

Redesignated Schools

Atascadero Middle School, Atascadero Unified School District
Bell Intermediate School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Bernice Ayer Middle School, Capistrano Unified School District
Calavera Hills Middle School, Carlsbad Unified School District
Castaic Middle School, Castaic Union Elementary School District
Clark Intermediate School, Clovis Unified School District
De Anza Magnet School, El Centro Elementary School District
De Anza Middle School, Ontario Montclair School District
Enrique Camarena Jr. High School, Calexico Unified School District                             
Fedde International Studies Academy, ABC Unified School District
Frank M. Wright Middle School, Imperial Unified School District
Fruitvale Junior High School, Fruitvale Elementary School District
Golden Valley Middle School, San Bernardino City Unified School District
Granite Ridge Intermediate School, Clovis Unified School District
Griffiths Middle School, Downey Unified School District
Hollydale Middle School, Paramount Unified School District
John Burroughs Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District                     
Katherine L. Albiani Middle School, Elk Grove Unified School District
Kings Canyon Middle School, Fresno Unified School District
Ladera Vista Junior High School of the Arts, Fullerton School District
Lakeside Middle School, Little Lake City School District
Liberty Middle School, Lemoore Union Elementary School District
Live Oak Middle School, Live Oak Unified School District
Los Osos Middle School, San Luis Coastal Unified School District
Luther Burbank Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District
Mary R. Stauffer Middle School, Downey Unified School District
Mountain View Middle School, Moreno Valley Unified School District
Pioneer Middle School, Tustin Unified School District
San Marcos Middle School, San Marcos Unified School District
Sequoia Middle School, Fontana Unified School District
Turlock Junior High School, Turlock School District
Twentynine Palms Junior High School, Morongo Unified School District
Union Middle School, Union Elementary School District
Vanguard Preparatory School, Apple Valley Unified School District
Vina Danks Middle School, Ontario Montclair School District
Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School, El Centro Elementary School District

Applying for 2025 School to Watch status
Does your middle school, K-8 school, traditional school, or public charter school serve middle-grades students exceptionally well?

 

Applying is free and easy. Be recognized and share your site’s best practices with other educators!

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Current Schools to Watch

  • Renew Your Schools to Watch membership
    Annual membership is requested. Renewal invoices will be emailed in August and mailed in September.

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  • Redesignate as a School to Watch
    Every three years, Schools to Watch reapply to ensure growth is continuing. This year, reapplying is simpler than ever! Visit the Schools to Watch redesignation page.     ​​

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See California Schools to Watch

Browse the 200 schools in the network.

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About Schools to Watch
Schools to Watch is a national network of over 700 schools in 18 states. California is the largest state participant. Schools that apply to become Schools to Watch in the fall submit an application that is reviewed by experienced middle-grades experts in their state. If the application is approved, the school hosts a validation visit. If the school meets the qualifications, the school becomes a California School to Watch in March and a National School to Watch in June. 

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The California Schools to Watch program is operated by:

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Lead Agencies

  • California League of Educators

  • California Department of Education

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Program Partners

  • California Middle Grades Alliance, a partnership of CDE, CLE, and:

    • Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

    • Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)

    • California School Boards Association (CSBA)

    • California Parent Teachers Association (CAPTA)

    • California Teachers Association (CTA)

  • National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform

  • California Schools to Watch Model Schools

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CMGA

California Middle Grades Alliance

 

About CMGA

California Middle Grades Alliance (CMGA) seeks a united voice for the education of California’s 1.5 million middle grades students. Initially formed in 2001 to launch the California Department of Education’s first edition of Taking Center Stage, a comprehensive report of recommendations for middle grades educators, CMGA was an integral part of the roll-out of the next iteration, Taking Center Stage—Act II (TCSII). CMGA has supported many other policies and programs that include California Schools to Watch™—Taking Center Stage and CMGA Leadership Recognition.

 

CMGA Mission

The mission of CMGA is to support high quality middle grades education designed to close the achievement gap and ensure success for all students through increasing public awareness, disseminating research and best practices, and influencing middle grades policy and informed decision-making at the state and local level.

 

CMGA Goals

  • Increase public awareness and engagement regarding middle level education

  • Influence middle grades policy and inform decision-making

  • Leverage resources across CMGA organizations

  • Encourage California-based research on middle grades to uncover “what works” for young adolescents

  • Disseminate research and best practices

  • Develop awareness and dynamic leadership in the middle grades

  • Foster professional learning communities

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