Awards and Recognition
All nine EUSD schools including the District Office have received local, state and national award recognition for their innovative programs and outstanding student achievement. In addition, District staff members and parent volunteers have been acknowledged for their outstanding work including three teachers who were selected as San Diego County Teachers of the Year and one classified employee who was selected as San Diego County Classified Employee of the Year.
NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
Founded in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ academic achievement. Four EUSD schools, La Costa Heights, Mission Estancia, Olivenhain Pioneer and Park Dale Lane, have received National Blue Ribbon status for their outstanding educational achievements and programs. For more information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools program, click here.
CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS AWARD
The California Distinguished School Award is given to schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and who show progress in narrowing the achievement gap. In order to be invited to apply, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including state and federal accountability measures based on performance data from the Academic Performance Index (API). All nine district schools have been named California Distinguished Schools since the program started in 1987. For more information about the California Distinguished School Program, click here.
Capri, El Camino Creek, Flora Vista, La Costa Heights, Mission Estancia, Ocean Knoll and Olivenhain Pioneer have been recognized by the California Department of Education for receiving the 2014 California Distinguished School Award! Congratulations to these outstanding schools!
GOLD RIBBON SCHOOLS AWARD
Four EUSD schools were awarded the Gold Ribbon Schools award from the California Department of Education (CDE) in 2016. The schools selected are La Costa Heights, Ocean Knoll, Park Dale Lane and Paul Ecke Central. The Gold Ribbon Schools Program seeks to recognize outstanding educational programs and practices that can be replicated in other schools and districts. The Gold Ribbon Schools Program temporarily replaces the California Distinguished Schools Program as CDE transitions to new assessment and accountability systems.
CSBA GOLDEN BELL AWARD
The California School Board Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Awards Program promotes excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards in school districts and county offices of education throughout California that address students’ changing needs. Five EUSD schools and the District Office have received this prestigious award. For more information about the Golden Bell Award Program, click here.
EUSD received the 2015 Golden Bell Award for El Camino Creek’s “E Pluribus Unum: Out of Many, One” civics education program. Click here for more information.
EUSD Farm Lab received the 2022 Golden Bell Award for Outstanding Program in Climate Change Innovation.
CSBA GOLDEN GAVEL AWARD
The Golden Gavel Award is awarded to a school district board that has made significant contributions within the last twelve months to twenty-four months and is a governing board that focuses on learning and achievement for all students. They must communicate a common vision. Apply an equity lens to guide decision-making. Adopt responsible bargaining agreements. Operate openly, with trust and integrity. Recognize and respect differences of perspectives and style on the board and among staff, students, parents and the community.
EUSD's Board of Trustees 2022 received the 2022 Golden Gavel Award for best practices in effective governance and boardsmanship.
GREEN SCHOOLS AWARD
The Encinitas Union School District was one of nine school districts in the country, the only one in California, to receive the Green Ribbon School Award from the U.S Department of Education in April, 2014. EUSD was awarded the Green Ribbon School award for its efforts to teach students about conserving energy and resources and included programs such as educational school gardens, an Agro-ecology Learning Center and farm, district-wide recycling and energy and water conservation efforts.
APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS
The Encinitas Union School District is proud to announce that the EUSD One to One Digital Learning Program has been selected as an Apple Distinguished Program for 2015 – 2017.
THE MAGNA AWARD
The Encinitas Union School District received the 2016 Magna Award from the National School Boards Association, American School Board Journal and Sodexo for the Health and Wellness Program. The Magna Award honors best practices and innovative programs that advance student learning. EUSD was selected in the student enrollment category of 5,000 to 20,000.