![Adams and Kaiser Elementary school fronts with California Distinguished Schools award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743202170/nmusdus/jpduk2yfimguma7etypd/CADistinguishedSchools2025.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743202170/nmusdus/jpduk2yfimguma7etypd/CADistinguishedSchools2025.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743202170/nmusdus/jpduk2yfimguma7etypd/CADistinguishedSchools2025.png","width":800}])
Two Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) schools were recently named California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. Adams Elementary and Kaiser Elementary join the 44 Orange County elementary schools listed among 336 statewide. (Elementary and secondary schools are recognized in alternate years.)
Since 1985, the statewide program has recognized schools that demonstrate excellence and growth in academic achievement and positive school climate.
Schools are selected for the honor based on data collected for the 2024 California School Dashboard, the state’s tool for measuring school accountability and improvement. The state focused on excellence and growth in academic achievement as well as a positive school climate, choosing schools that met high standards in areas such as English language arts (ELA), math, attendance, and suspension rates over the past two school years.
“The district is committed to fostering academic excellence and a positive school environment. This recognition highlights the outstanding efforts at Adams and Kaiser, and we celebrate their achievement as a reflection of the high-quality teaching and student engagement happening across all our campuses,” said NMUSD Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith.
This is Adams’ first California Distinguished School award. The state recognized Adams for closing the achievement gap, as it recorded notable progress from 2023 to 2024 in ELA, which increased 16.6 points, while English Learner Progress (ELP) grew 21.7 percent, plus scores in mathematics increased 22.2 points. Chronic absenteeism at the school decreased 15.4 percent.
Recognized for exceptional student performance, Kaiser maintained strong ELA scores and showed an increase of 7.3 points in math. Chronic absenteeism at the school declined by 7.9 percent. Kaiser was previously named a California Distinguished School in 2000.
Adams and Kaiser will be recognized at a statewide celebratory ceremony in May. Visit our website to learn more about NMUSD’s award-winning schools.