Record Number of San Diego County Schools Among 2025 California Purple Star Schools

Forty-one San Diego County schools, the most in one year since the program began in 2021, have been recognized as 2025 Purple Star Schools. The California Department of Education’s Purple Star School Designation Program publicly recognizes schools that are committed and equipped to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.

“Military families make many sacrifices for our country and we have a duty to support them however we can,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza. “I applaud all the Purple Star designees for their efforts to make sure our students feel connected and a sense of belonging, which is critical to their success.”

The Purple Star program highlights schools that seek to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by providing the most critical transition supports. Schools in San Diego County represented about half of the 83 California schools designated as Purple Star schools in 2025.

This year, SDCOE encouraged county schools who serve military families to apply for the Purple Star designation and provided technical support during the application process, resulting in the highest number of applicants ever.  

“It helps every student when we support our military-connected students, making sure they are seen, feel a sense of belonging at their school, and are set up for success, no matter how long they attend,” said Joseph Clevenger, assistant superintendent of student services and programs at SDCOE.

Throughout the year, SDCOE provides school district-designated liaisons with information, professional development, current events, data sources, and resources needed to facilitate their work and better serve the unique needs of military students and families.

San Diego County 2025 Purple Star Schools

• Carlsbad High, Carlsbad Unified
• Carlsbad Seaside Academy, Carlsbad Unified
• Carlsbad Village Academy, Carlsbad Unified
• Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary
• Fahari L. Jeffers Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary
• Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary
• Heritage Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary
• Muraoka (Saburo) Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary
• Fallbrook High, Fallbrook Union High
• Lakeside Farms Elementary, Lakeside Union Elementary
• Creekside Elementary, Poway Unified
• Twin Peaks Middle, Poway Unified
• Monarch, San Diego County Office of Education
• San Diego County Community, San Diego County Office of Education
• San Diego County Court, San Diego County Office of Education
• San Pasqual Academy, San Diego County Office of Education
• Canyon Hills High, San Diego Unified
• Challenger Middle, San Diego Unified
• Dana Middle, San Diego Unified
• Dewey Elementary, San Diego Unified
• Farb Middle, San Diego Unified
• Mason Elementary, San Diego Unified
• Miller Elementary, San Diego Unified
• Mira Mesa High, San Diego Unified
• Montgomery Middle, San Diego Unified
• Pacific Beach Middle, San Diego Unified
• Sessions Elementary, San Diego Unified
• Chet F. Harritt Elementary, Santee
• PRIDE Academy at Prospect Avenue, Santee
• Emory Elementary, South Bay Union
• Mission Vista High, Vista Unified
• Vista High, Vista Unified
• Bella Mente Montessori Academy
• California Pacific Charter
• Christ Lutheran Elementary
• Coastal Academy Charter
• Compass Charter Schools of San Diego
• Imperial Beach Charter
• Reformation Lutheran Church and School, San Diego Unified
• Sage Oak Charter
• San Diego Cooperative Charter
   

The designation lasts for three years, so these schools join 46 other county schools that were recognized in 2023 and 2024. With a total of 87 schools, San Diego County represents about half of the 179 schools across the state with the designation. Read more on the SDCOE Military Families webpage. 

The California Purple Star School Designation Program (Purple Star Program) seeks to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by articulating the most critical transition supports available. The Purple Star Program is a way to publicly recognize and designate schools that meet certain requirements, and signals which schools are the most committed and best equipped to meet the unique needs of these students and their families.

The Purple Star Program was designed to help with the challenges of moving often by setting standards for and publicly designating military-friendly schools.

“Congratulations to the educators, staff, administrators, parents, and students at these schools,” said Tony Thurmond, state superintendent for public instruction. “These schools are crucial to supporting our military-connected students, ensuring that they maintain their academic, college, and career aspirations while their parents serve our country.”

Learn more about the California Department of Education's Purple Star School Designation Program.