San Diego County has most Purple Star Schools in 2025 since program began
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego has a record number of designations for schools across the county this year, according to the list of 2025 Purple Star Schools released by the California Department of Education.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced last week that 83 schools in California have been designated as Purple Star Schools in 2025, with 41 San Diego County schools receiving the Purple Star designation — the most in one year since the program began in 2021, the San Diego County Office of Education reports.
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The California Purple Star School Designation Program provides transition support for military-connected students and their families by publicly designating schools that meet certain requirements.
The 41 San Diego County schools represent about half of the 83 California schools designated as Purple Star Schools in 2025.
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 Purple Star designation lasts for three years, which means the 2025 listed schools will join 46 other county schools that were recognized in 2023 and 2024. With a total of 87 schools, San Diego County now represents nearly half of the 179 schools designated across the state, according to the San Diego County Office of Education.
View the full list of all 179 schools in California designated as Purple Star Schools online here.
'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.'
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The Purple Star Program was designed to help students and their families with the challenges of moving frequently 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.'
Applications to be designated as a Purple Star School in California open again in September 2025, the California Department of Education's website states.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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