Over 100 L.A. County Schools Earn National Recognition in the 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools

Over 100 L.A. County Schools Earn National Recognition in the 2026 America's Healthiest Schools

Wed Oct 07 09:42:00 PDT 2026

Schools in 13 L.A. County school districts are celebrated for building healthier spaces to learn and grow.

Los Angeles County schools are once again showing what is possible when student, staff and family wellbeing become part of the everyday school experience.

A total of 108 schools across 13 Los Angeles County local educational agencies (LEA) earned national recognition through Alliance for a Healthier Generation's 2026 America's Healthiest Schools program. Seven school districts earned this prestigious recognition with support from the Los Angeles County Office of Education's (LACOE) Thriving Schools Grant Project. Funded by Kaiser Permanente and administered by LACOE's Nutrition and Wellness programs, the project provided direct funding, guidance and ongoing support to help districts strengthen their wellness practices.

L.A. County Winners - 2026 America's Healthiest Schools Program:

• Azusa Unified School District

  • Azusa High School

  • Charles H. Lee Elementary School

  • Clifford D. Murray Elementary School

  • Gladstone Middle School

  • Henry Dalton Elementary School

  • Magnolia Elementary School

  • Paramount Elementary School

  • Sierra High School

  • Valleydale Elementary School

  • Victor F. Hodge Elementary School

• El Monte Union High School District

  • Fernando R. Ledesma Continuation High School

  • Mountain View High School

• Glendale Unified School District

  • Cerritos Elementary School

  • Columbus Elementary School

  • Horace Mann Elementary School

  • John Marshall Elementary School

  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

• Hawthorne School District

  • Hawthorne Math and Science Academy

  • Hawthorne Middle School

  • Kornblum Elementary School

  • Prairie Vista Middle School

  • Washington Elementary School

• Inglewood Unified School District

  • Centinela School

• Los Angeles Unified School District

  • 74th Street Elementary School

  • 93rd Street Elementary School

  • Arminta Street Elementary School

  • Bandini Street Elementary School

  • Bret Harte Preparatory Middle School

  • Cabrillo Avenue Elementary School

  • Caroldale Learning Community STEAM Academy

  • Catskill Avenue Elementary School

  • Columbus Avenue Elementary School

  • Euclid Avenue Community School

  • Fernangeles Elementary School

  • Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary School

  • Fries Avenue STEAM Academy

  • George Washington Preparatory High School

  • Gridley-Montañez Dual Language Academy

  • Herrick Avenue Elementary School

  • John A. Sutter Middle School

  • Jordan High School

  • Lucille Roybal-Allard Elementary School

  • Marlton School

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School

  • New Heights Charter School

  • Purche Avenue Elementary School

  • Sharp Avenue Elementary School

  • South Park Elementary School

  • Sunrise Elementary School

  • Valerio Street Elementary School

  • Vanalden Avenue Elementary School

  • William R. Anton Elementary School

  • Windsor Hills Math/Science/Aerospace Magnet

• Los Nietos School District

  • Ada S. Nelson Elementary School

  • Aeolian Elementary School

  • Los Nietos Middle School

  • Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary School

• Palmdale School District

  • Barrel Springs Elementary School

  • Buena Vista Elementary School

  • Chaparral Prep Academy

  • Desert Rose Elementary School

  • Innovations Academy

  • Joshua Hills Elementary School

  • Manzanita Elementary School

  • Mesquite Elementary School

  • Oak Tree Community Day School

  • Palm Tree Elementary School

  • Palmdale School District Early Childhood Education

  • Quail Valley Elementary School

  • Summerwind Elementary School

  • Tamarisk Elementary School

  • Tumbleweed Elementary School

  • Yellen Learning Center

  • Yucca Elementary School

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District

  • Cornerstone School at Pedregal

  • Dapplegray Elementary School

  • Lunada Bay Elementary School

  • Mira Catalina Elementary School

  • Montemalaga Elementary School

  • Palos Verdes High School

  • Palos Verdes Intermediate School

  • Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

  • Point Vicente Elementary School

  • Rancho Vista Elementary School

  • Ridgecrest Intermediate School

  • Silver Spur Elementary School

  • Soleado Elementary School

  • Vista Grande Elementary School

• Pasadena Unified School District

  • Pasadena Rosebud Academy

• Rosemead School District

  • Emma W. Shuey Elementary School

  • Encinita Elementary School

  • Mildred B. Janson Elementary School

  • Savannah Elementary School

• Saugus Union School District

  • Bridgeport Elementary School

  • Cedarcreek Elementary School

  • Charles Helmers Elementary School

  • Emblem Academy

  • Highlands Elementary School

  • James Foster Elementary School

  • Mountainview Elementary School

  • North Park Elementary School

  • Plum Canyon Elementary School

  • Rio Vista Elementary School

  • Rosedell Elementary School

  • Skyblue Mesa Elementary School

  • Tesoro del Valle Elementary School

  • West Creek Academy

• South Whittier School District

  • Loma Vista Elementary School

"We are proud to see so many Los Angeles County schools recognized as America's Healthiest Schools and to celebrate their work to create healthier communities for students, staff and families. This recognition speaks to the leadership of LACOE's Nutrition and Wellness team, the strength of our partnerships and the ongoing work to support schools and districts across Los Angeles County," said Danielle Mitchell, LACOE's Division Director III for Curriculum and Instructional Services.

This achievement reflects the commitment of school nutrition professionals, administrators, educators, wellness leaders, support staff, students, families and community partners who work together to create healthier school communities.

America's Healthiest Schools recognizes individual schools that have implemented evidence-based practices supporting the health and wellbeing of students, staff and families. Schools may earn recognition in one or more of nine areas:

1. Nutrition and food access

2. Local school wellness policy

3. Physical education and activity

4. Health education

5. Social-emotional health and learning

6. Staff wellbeing

7. Family and community engagement

8. Tobacco-free schools

9. School health services

This recognition signals that a school has translated its commitment to whole-child health into meaningful policies, programs and daily practices. These efforts can help students arrive ready to learn, strengthen supportive environments for staff, connect families with resources and make wellness a shared priority across the school community.

For L.A. County's recognized schools, the honor also demonstrates the power of partnership. Through grant funding, technical assistance and ongoing support, LACOE's Nutrition and Wellness programs helped participating LEAs strengthen their wellness efforts and document the practices taking place on their campuses.

About America's Healthiest Schools

Since 2007, America's Healthiest Schools has recognized schools for advancing the wellbeing of students, staff and families. In 2026, 1,376 schools received recognition, including a nation-leading 283 in California and 200 All-Stars that met criteria in all nine wellness areas.

Schools apply at the campus level for one or more recognition areas at no cost. To date, 3,780 schools have been honored nationwide.

Explore the 2026 America's Healthiest Schools recognition program and awardees.

About Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing whole-child health by creating healthier school environments. Since 2005, the organization has partnered with more than 57,000 school communities across all 50 states and has reached more than 31 million young people. Through practical tools, resources and partnerships, Healthier Generation helps schools and communities create conditions in which every young person can be healthy and ready to succeed.

Learn more at HealthierGeneration.org.