Four Santa Barbara County Schools Earn State 'Distinguished' Honor

Dos Pueblos and La Colina were among 408 campuses recognized statewide.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 11:49pm

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Out of roughly 2,500 public middle and high schools across California, 408 campuses were selected this year for the state's California Distinguished Schools honor, including four in Santa Barbara County. Among them were Dos Pueblos High School and La Colina Junior High School of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, the only schools on the South Coast to receive the distinction.

Why it matters

The California Distinguished Schools program recognizes high-performing schools that demonstrate strong academic outcomes or progress in narrowing achievement gaps. This honor reflects the sustained efforts of educators and staff across the Santa Barbara Unified School District to provide life-changing educational opportunities for their secondary students.

The details

Both Dos Pueblos High and La Colina Junior High were recognized as Achievement Gap Closers, a designation for schools demonstrating academic progress among historically underserved student groups while maintaining overall performance above the state median. Dos Pueblos also received recognition as a Beacon of Opportunity, which honors high-performing schools serving rural or Title I communities.

  • The selections were based on performance data from the 2025 California School Dashboard.
  • The recognized schools will be formally honored at a statewide ceremony on April 24, 2026 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

The players

Tony Thurmond

State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Hilda Maldonado

Superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Jennifer Foster

Principal of La Colina Junior High School.

Bill Woodard

Principal of Dos Pueblos High School.

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What they’re saying

“An excellent public education has the power to transform lives. I commend the educators and school communities who have dedicated themselves to producing exemplary results.”

— Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

“To be the only South Coast schools and among just four in the entire county speaks volumes about the culture of excellence at Dos Pueblos and La Colina. This recognition highlights our educators' success in moving the needle for student achievement and providing life-changing opportunities for our secondary students.”

— Hilda Maldonado, Superintendent, Santa Barbara Unified School District

“This recognition shows our schoolwide focus on student support and high expectations.”

— Jennifer Foster, Principal, La Colina Junior High School

“The teachers and staff deserve the credit for preparing our students for life after graduation.”

— Bill Woodard, Principal, Dos Pueblos High School

What’s next

The recognized schools will be formally honored at a statewide ceremony on April 24, 2026 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

The takeaway

This honor for Dos Pueblos High and La Colina Junior High reflects the Santa Barbara Unified School District's commitment to providing an excellent public education that transforms the lives of their students, even in the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The recognition of these schools as Achievement Gap Closers and Beacons of Opportunity underscores the district's success in supporting historically underserved student groups and delivering life-changing educational opportunities.