The Model Continuation High School (MCHS) recognition program is sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE), Educational Options Division, in cooperation with the California Continuation Education Association Plus (CCEA Plus).
CDE receives numerous requests from school districts, the media, and other state agencies for a list of effective continuation schools that they may visit. The Model Schools Education Recognition Program identifies and recognizes outstanding continuation high schools and creates a resource list for school visits and other forms of peer mentoring. These schools provide exemplary programs to at-risk youth through the use of innovative instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and guidance and counseling services.
The Model Schools program started in 1990, and for over thirty years has been the high-water mark for continuation schools and alternative education in the state of California. Schools undergo a rigorous application and review process, including examination of programs and procedures, and on-campus visitation.
Quick links: Overview | Requirements and Application | Current Model Schools | Past Awardees
Model Schools (MCHS) Program Overview:
- Began in 1990 as a collaboration between the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Continuation Education Association Plus (CCEA Plus).
- Identifies and recognizes outstanding programs.
- Creates a resource list of quality programs for visitations and other forms of technical assistance — MCHS educators have committed to being mentors for other continuation educators.
- Identifies individuals to assist with the review and rating of applications and Site Validation Visits.
Requirements and Application
CDE encourages all continuation high schools that have been in operation a minimum of two years and meet other eligibility criteria to review their programs and submit an application for statewide recognition.
Selected schools are Model Schools for three years; after that, those schools will need to re-apply.
Learn How to ApplyApplication (for 2024-2025) | Download forms
Our Model Schools
We would like to congratulate our current Model Schools! Selected schools are awarded in person at the annual CCEA Conference each April/May.
Model Schools Only (only members can view):
Purchase Model School Flag | Purchase Diploma Stickers
To purchase a Model School flag, please follow the steps on our FAQs page.
2024 Model Continuation High Schools
Congratulations to our new model schools!
- Aurora High School, Calexico Unified School District, Imperial County
- Black Diamond High School, Pittsburg Unified School District, Contra Costa County
- Broadway High School, San José Unified School District, Santa Clara County
- Calaveras Hills High School, Milpitas Unified School District, Santa Clara County
- Calico Continuation High School, Silver Valley Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Cambridge Continuation High School, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno County
- Central Valley High School, Kern High School District, Kern County
- César E. Chávez High School, Santa Ana Unified School District, Orange County
- Chaparral High School, Bonita Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Del Valle Continuation High School, Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Alameda County
- Delta High School, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Santa Barbara County
- Eric Birch High School, Fontana Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Frontier High School, Whittier Union High School District, Los Angeles County
- Gateway Continuation High School, Clovis Unified School District, Fresno County
- George and Evelyn Stein High School, Tracy Joint Unified School District, San Joaquin County
- Hillview High School, Tustin Unified School District, Orange County
- Kings Canyon High School, Kings Canyon Joint Unified School District, Fresno County
- Liberty High School, Lodi Unified School District, San Joaquin County
- Metropolitan Continuation High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Mission Continuation High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Patricia Dreizler Continuation High School, Redondo Beach Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Pershing Continuation High School, Central Unified School District, Fresno County
- Raincross High Continuation, Riverside Unified School District, Riverside County
- Rancho del Mar High School, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Robert Elliott Alternative Education Center, Modesto City High School District, Stanislaus County
- San Andreas High School, Tamalpais Union High School District, Marin County
- Sierra High School, Azusa Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Sierra High School, San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Stoney Point High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Vista Continuation High School, Kern High School District, Kern County
- Vista Continuation High School, Lynwood Unified School District, Los Angeles County
2023 Model Continuation High Schools
- Abraxas High School, Poway Unified School District, San Diego County
- Alessandro High School, Hemet Unified School District, Riverside County
- Alta Vista High School, Vista Unified School District, San Diego County
- Amistad High School, Desert Sands Unified School District, Riverside County
- Black Rock High School, Morongo Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Boynton High School, Campbell Union High School District, Santa Clara County
- Buena Vista Continuation High School, Chino Valley Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Buena Vista High School, Paramount Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Citrus Continuation High School, Fontana Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Citrus High School, Porterville Unified School District, Tulare County
- Coronado High (Continuation), West Covina Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- DeWolf High School, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno County
- Discovery High School, Natomas Unified School District, Sacramento County
- Donald C. Jamison Continuation High School, Lemoore Union High School District, Kings County
- Fairvalley High School, Covina-Valley Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Fernando R. Ledesma High School, El Monte Union High School District, Los Angeles County
- Gilbert High School, Anaheim Union High School District, Orange County
- Glen View High School, Beaumont Unified School District, Riverside County
- Hillside High School, Upland Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Jereann Bowman High School, William S. Hart Union High School District, Los Angeles County
- John J. Cairns Continuation High School, Lindsay Unified School District, Tulare County
- Kurt T. Shery High School, Torrance Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Mt. San Jacinto High School, Palm Springs Unified School District, Riverside County
- North Park High School, Baldwin Park Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Orangewood High School, Redlands Unified School District, San Bernardino County
- Ortega High School, Lake Elsinore Unified School District, Riverside County
- Palomar High School, Sweetwater Union High School District, San Diego County
- Phoenix Continuation High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Prospect High School, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Contra Costa County
- Robertson High School, Fremont Unified School District, Alameda County
- Santana High School, Rowland Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Sierra Continuation High School, Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District, Placer County
- Tierra Del Sol Continuation High School, Kern High School District, Kern County
- Twin Oaks High School, San Marcos Unified School District, San Diego County
- Vail High School, Montebello Unified School District, Los Angeles County
- Val Verde High School, Val Verde Unified School District, Riverside County
- Valley High School, Escondido Union High School District, San Diego County
2022 Model Continuation High Schools
- Abraham Lincoln Continuation High School, 4341 Victoria Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92507-5009 — Phone: 951-788-7371 | Hector Valdez, Principal
- Adelante High School, 350 Atlantic Street, Roseville, CA, 95678-1849 — Phone: 916-782-3155 | Sybil Healy, Principal
- Allan F. Daily High School, 220 North Kenwood, Glendale, CA, 91206-4209 — Phone: 818-247-4805 | Lonny Root, Principal
- Alta Vista High School, 1325 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View, CA, 94040-4527 — Phone: 650-691-2433 | Bill Pierce, Principal
- Apollo High School, 3150 School Street, Simi Valley, CA, 93065-3998 — Phone: 805-520-6150 | Dean May, Principal
- Brea Canyon High School, 689 North Wildcat Way, Brea, CA, 92821-7400 — Phone: 714-990-7882 | Kristin Risberg, Principal
- Capistrano Union High School, 31422 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675-2600 — Phone: 949-489-7216 | Brittany Casey, Principal
- Columbus High School, 12330 Woodruff Avenue, Downey, CA, 90241-5610 — Phone: 562-904-3552 | Xochitl Ortiz, Principal
- Conejo Valley High School, 1400 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362-2198 — Phone: 805-498-6646 | Martin Manzer, Principal
- El Camino High School, 14640 Mercado Avenue, La Mirada, CA, 90638-4210 — Phone: 562-210-2700 | Mark Hunter, Principal
- El Camino Real Continuation High School, 1351 East Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA, 92870-5302 — Phone: 714-986-7060 | Carey Aiello, Principal
- El Puente High School, 1691 Saipan Avenue, Firebaugh, CA, 93622-2465 — Phone: 559-659-3899 | Terry Anderson, Principal
- John H. Milor High School, 266 West Randall, Rialto, CA, 92376-6926 — Phone: 909-820-8110 | Kyla Griffin, Principal
- Kings River High School, 1801 Seventh Street, Sanger, CA, 93657-2895 — Phone: 559-524-6490 | Jon Tillotson, Principal
- Lee V. Pollard High School, 185 Magnolia Avenue, Corona, CA, 92879-3329 — Phone: 951-736-3367 | Michael Ridgway, Principal
- Lorin Griset Academy, 1915 West McFadden, Santa Ana, CA, 92704-2902 — Phone: 714-648-2900 | Michael Parra, Principal
- Maple High School, 4010 Jupiter Avenue, Lompoc, CA, 93436-1819 — Phone: 805-742-3150 | Laurel Ciervo, Principal
- March Mountain High School, 24551 Dracaea Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA, 92553-3745 — Phone: 951-571-4800 | Steve Quintero, Principal
- Marie L. Hare Continuation High School, 12012 Magnolia Street, Garden Grove, CA, 92841-1644 — Phone: 714-663-6508 | Lydia Machado, Principal
- Mount Toro High School, 10 Sherwood Place, Salinas, CA, 93906-4010 — Phone: 831-796-7700 | Gloria Chaidez, Principal
- Nueva Continuation High School, 8600 Palm Avenue, Lamont, CA, 93241-2212 — Phone: 661-845-1532 | Rocio Cantu, Administrator
- Nueva Vista Continuation High School, 6836 34th Street, Jurupa Valley, CA, 92509-1301 — Phone: 951-360-2802 | Jorge Galvan, Principal
- Pacific High School, 501 College Drive, Ventura, CA, 93003-3413 — Phone: 805-289-7950 | Deidre Monarres, Principal
- Paloma Creek High School, 10801 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA, 93422-8867 — Phone: 805-462-4350 | Elisabeth Madding, Principal
- Redwood High School, 1968 Old County Road, Redwood City, CA, 94063-1073 — Phone: 650-369-1411 | Stephanie Ogden, Principal
- R.K. Lloyde High School, 4951 Marine Avenue, Lawndale, CA, 90260-1251 — Phone: 310-263-3264 | Benjamin Wardrop, Principal
- Ruben Salazar High School, 9115 Balfour Street, Pico Rivera, CA, 90660-3225 — Phone: 562-801-7680 | Zan Mason, Principal
- San Antonio High School, 125 West San Jose Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711-5205 — Phone: 909-398-0316 | Felipe Delvasto, Coordinator, Alternative Education
- San Joaquin Valley High School, 900 Newmark Avenue, Parlier, CA, 93648-2034 — Phone: 559-646-2723 | Israel Almendarez, Principal
- Slover Mountain High School, 325 Hermosa Street, Colton, CA, 92324-1901 — Phone: 909-580-5013 | Tiffany Hampton, Principal
- Somerset High School, 9242 East Laurel Street, Bellflower, CA, 90706-7607 — Phone: 562-804-6548 | Cliff Higgins, Principal
- Travis Education Center, 2775 DeRonde Drive, Fairfield, CA, 94533-9710 — Phone: 707-437-8265 | Janelle Preston, Principal
- Valley Alternative, 15430 Shadybend Drive, Hacienda Heights, CA, 91745-2121 — Phone: 626-933-3401 | Joaquin Martinez, Principal
- Valley Vista High School, 9600 Dolphin Street, Fountain Valley, CA, 92708-4603 — Phone: 714-964-7766 | Jessie Marion, Principal
- Vista West High School, 7115 Rosedale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93308-5845 — Phone: 661-589-4242 | Michael Mullings, Administrator
- Wasco Independence High School, 1445 Poso Drive, Wasco, CA, 93280-2353 — Phone: 661-758-7450 | Rusvel Prado, Principal
Past Years & Announcements
2024 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2023 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2022 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2021 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2020 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2019 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2018 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2017 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2016 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2015 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2014 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2013 Announcement | CCEA+ news
2012 Announcement | CCEA+ news