Blach Intermediate School and Egan Junior High have been named 2026 California Distinguished Schools, a statewide honor recognizing campuses with strong academic performance and student success.
The two Los Altos School District sites were among 408 middle and high schools across California chosen in 2026 by the California Department of Education.
The California Distinguished Schools program, established in 1985, recognizes campuses for strong academic performance or for making significant gains in closing achievement gaps among historically underserved students. Schools are evaluated using data from the California School Dashboard, the state’s system for tracking indicators including academic achievement, graduation rates and college and career readiness.
Both Blach and Egan qualified in the Achievement Gap Closers category, which recognizes schools for helping historically underserved student groups make significant academic progress while maintaining strong overall student performance.
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said the award celebrates schools for their role in helping student success.
“An excellent public education has the power to transform lives,” Thurmond said in a statement announcing the awards.
LASD Superintendent Sandra McGonagle said the awards are a testament to the district’s focus on excellence and student success.
“We are incredibly proud that both Blach and Egan Junior High Schools have been recognized as 2026 California Distinguished Schools,” McGonagle said in a statement. “This recognition reflects the exceptional work happening every day in our classrooms and across our school communities.”
Egan Principal Lisa Taormina called it “incredibly meaningful for our entire Egan community” to have the efforts of students, teachers and families honored at such a high level.
“Our staff, students and families work hard every day to create a school environment where students feel connected, supported and challenged to grow,” Taormina said.
Taormina said the school focuses on building a strong sense of belonging for students through its guiding principle: “Be Here, Be You, Belong.” She said that when students feel valued and supported, they are more willing to collaborate with classmates, take risks in their learning and push themselves academically.
Teachers at the school also work closely together to refine instruction and analyze data to support student learning, she added, while extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities help students connect with the campus community.
Schools receiving the designation must also meet state standards for participation in statewide testing and maintain positive school climate indicators, such as low suspension rates and reduced chronic absenteeism.
Blach and Egan will be honored at a statewide ceremony April 24 in Anaheim alongside other California education award winners.
