Only four traditional comprehensive high schools in the three-county Northern San Joaquin Valley region are currently cited for being a California Distinguished School.

Two of them are in Manteca Unified — Manteca High and Sierra High.

The others are West High in Tracy and Orestimba High in Newman.

Winners are chosen based on data from the California School Dashboard.

Schools must show high achievement, progress in closing equity gaps, at least 95% assessment participation, and safe school climate indicators such low suspension and low chronic absenteeism rates.
There are currently just 408 combined middle and high school distinguished schools out of1,299 middle schools and 1,151 high schools throughout California.

The distinguished school is for two years. Sierra received such a designation earlier this year and Manteca High in 2025. It was the second time Manteca High has qualified as a distinguished school.

Other Manteca Unified schools earning recognition include:

*Lathrop High as a 2025 National Model School.

*Calla High as a 2025 California Model School.

*New Vision High as a 2025 California Model School.

*Yosemite Day school as a 2025 California Model School.

Distinguished Schools selected for statewide recognition fall into two categories:

*Exemplary High Achievers: Schools that are among the highest in the state in academic achievement for all students, which have also ensured that historically underserved student groups are maintaining or increasing academic progress.

*Achievement Gap Closers: Schools that are accelerating academic progress for two or more groups that have been historically underserved, while also demonstrating achievement for all students that is above the state median and maintaining or increasing academic performance for all students.