2025 America's Best Schools
Award Winners
Camp Mohave Elementary School
Serving 360 students in Northwest Arizona (between Needles, CA, and Laughlin, NV), Camp Mohave Elementary is an oasis of learning where students, regardless of family income, race, or ethnicity, are achieving results that exceed statewide performance averages. The school thrives on positive relationships, with teachers, staff, and administrators fostering a nurturing environment where students feel valued and parents are respected as essential partners. Open communication and genuine appreciation create a community where everyone is motivated to succeed and contribute.
These strong relationships form the foundation for a school culture focused on continuous academic growth. Camp Mohave’s success stems from collaborative planning, thoughtful use of data, and a shared commitment to helping all students master challenging concepts and skills. Educators work to ensure that every student, whether starting behind, at, or ahead of grade level, makes meaningful progress. By learning from one another and celebrating achievements, the Camp Mohave team creates an environment where academic excellence and personal growth go hand in hand.
Mohave Valley Elementary School District #16
Grades K-5
Principal: Rick Cottrell
ENROLLMENT: 362
Dr. Peter Marshall School
Dr. Peter Marshall School in Anaheim, CA, serving over 700 TK–6 students, has found success by following a clear yet powerful formula: create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment; ensure every classroom, including those in the Dual Immersion Program, teaches rigorous academic content; and provide teachers with the tools and support needed to help all students master essential skills and concepts. This approach has enabled the school to foster high academic expectations while making every student feel valued.
The school’s achievements are the result of coordinated efforts among administrators, district leaders, teachers, support staff, parents, and students. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coaches recognize and reinforce respectful and responsible behavior, while school leaders engage parents with workshops on topics like cyber-safety and bullying prevention. Teachers contribute to district-wide curriculum planning, and an Instructional Practices Coach works closely with teacher teams to analyze data and plan effective instruction. These combined efforts have led to strong academic outcomes, with Marshall students consistently outperforming state averages in a welcoming, supportive environment.
ENROLLMENT: 718
James Jordan Middle School
Located in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, James Jordan Middle School (JJMS) serves around 460 students in grades six through eight and stands out for its strong, positive school culture. With an average daily attendance above 96% and very few disciplinary incidents, students report feeling safe, valued, and respected. The school emphasizes frequent recognition of positive behavior through incentives like merit points, award ceremonies, and fun events, reinforcing the belief that all students can be responsible citizens and agents of positive change.
Academically, JJMS is committed to preparing every student for college, despite wide differences in students’ starting skill levels. The school uses flexible, data-driven grouping to tailor instruction to individual needs, allowing students to shift levels as they grow. Those needing more support benefit from smaller classes, co-teachers, tutoring during non-instructional times, and additional classes that reinforce grade-level standards. Rather than lowering expectations, JJMS provides the scaffolding needed for every student to access rigorous content, and it’s working. JJMS students consistently outperform state averages in math, English language arts, and science.
ENROLLMENT: 456
Laurel Street Elementary School
At Laurel Street Elementary in Compton, educators follow a powerful philosophy: “showing students love, giving students grace, having high expectations, and holding students accountable.” This approach has created a thriving school culture marked by high attendance, low disciplinary incidents, and strong academic performance across all grade levels—from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Students and families feel welcome, safe, and respected, and the wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities, such as robotics, art, chess, and eSports, reflects the staff’s deep commitment to student engagement and success.
Showing grace means teaching students how to navigate challenges while still expecting them to meet high behavioral and academic standards. The school offers counseling and targeted interventions for students needing extra support. At the same time, teachers collaborate in professional learning communities to design rigorous lessons aligned with academic standards. Student progress is closely monitored through regular assessments, and those who need additional help receive timely intervention. Positive behavior, academic growth, and strong attendance are celebrated often, reinforcing a culture of achievement and accountability that benefits every student.
ENROLLMENT: 387
Manzanita Elementary School
Manzanita Elementary in the Covina-Valley Unified School District serves transitional kindergarten through fifth-grade students, most of whom come from low-income Latino families. Despite these challenges, Manzanita consistently outperforms statewide averages in English, math, and science across all grade levels. Success at the school is no accident—it is the result of careful planning to ensure that every student, including English learners and students with disabilities, masters rigorous state standards.
Teachers collaborate in professional learning communities to develop shared goals, analyze assessment data, and refine lesson strategies. They also observe one another’s classrooms to learn and apply effective instructional practices. Manzanita’s success also stems from its commitment to student interests and strengths, as seen in its thriving dual-language immersion program and its strong offerings in art, music, and wellness. With high attendance, minimal suspensions, and a strong sense of safety reported by students, Manzanita stands out as a growing school community where academic excellence and student well-being go hand in hand.
ENROLLMENT: 422
Mueller Charter School
Just a few miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, Mueller Charter School serves 1,000 students in Transitional Kindergarten through grade 8 and is a three-time NCUST award recipient (2012, 2020, 2025). The school fosters a culture that both challenges high-performing students and provides strong support for those working toward grade-level proficiency. Central to Mueller’s success is its commitment to listening—school leaders regularly seek input from students, families, and staff to ensure that the school community remains responsive, inclusive, and growth-oriented.
A major strength of Mueller lies in its collaborative approach to professional learning. Weekly two-hour professional learning community meetings allow teachers to analyze data, examine student work, and co-plan lessons. Much of the school’s professional development is led by its own educators, including three GLAD-certified teachers who train their colleagues in effective language acquisition strategies. Most recently, Mueller has adopted the WRITE initiative, which improves instruction across subjects through a focus on genre writing, oral language development, contextual grammar instruction, and celebrating student work. This school-wide commitment to writing has elevated teaching and learning across all grade levels.
ENROLLMENT: 1000
Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery (LEAD 359)
Formerly known as Concourse Village Elementary, PS 359 earned the America’s Best School Award in 2020 and has since evolved into a dynamic institution serving 3K through 6th grade. Now called Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery (LEAD), the school has adopted a rigorous, STEM-based, career-connected curriculum and is pursuing International Baccalaureate Certification. Despite these enhancements and a move to a new facility, LEAD has preserved the core values that shaped its earlier success, ensuring that all students feel respected, empowered, and capable of leading positive change in their communities.
At the heart of LEAD’s success is a strong leadership team and a departmentalized teaching model that promotes deep expertise in either humanities or STEM. Teachers work in vertical teams to design lessons that help students meet or exceed rigorous standards while developing and applying real-world academic skills. Core values—Integrity, Perseverance, Optimism, Willingness, Empathy, and Respect (I-POWER)—are consistently reinforced, guiding students to become thoughtful scholars and agents of change. The results speak for themselves: LEAD students excel academically, families trust the school deeply, and teachers return year after year to advance its mission.
ENROLLMENT: 195
Raymond Temple Elementary School
Just a few miles from Knott’s Berry Farm in Orange County, Raymond Temple Elementary School serves prekindergarten through sixth-grade students and fosters a joyful, academically rigorous learning environment. Regardless of whether students start the year below, at, or above grade level, educators collaborate to ensure all students make meaningful progress toward ambitious learning goals. Teachers clearly communicate expectations, guide students in tracking their own academic and behavioral growth, and celebrate progress regularly—helping every child feel empowered and supported.
Raymond Temple embraces the diverse strengths and needs of its students, including multilingual learners and those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Through weekly professional learning community meetings, teachers refine instructional strategies to better support student success. Students also develop leadership by engaging in real-world, hands-on projects that promote critical thinking and creativity—integrating tools like artificial intelligence, 3-D modeling, and sustainability themes. At Raymond Temple, learning is not just about mastering academic standards—it’s about inspiring students to lead, solve problems, and make a difference in their communities and beyond.
ENROLLMENT: 433
St. Paul Elementary School
To become one of the highest-achieving public schools in Virginia, St. Paul Elementary has focused continuously on improving teaching and learning. Teachers, reading coaches, math coaches, and administrators meticulously monitor student learning progress weekly to ensure every child is likely to gain at least a full year of academic growth each school year. Daily, school administrators conduct classroom walkthrough visits to identify both instructional strengths and areas for potential growth. Teachers, support staff, and administrators work together to help teachers refine practices and improve the likelihood that all students master the state’s academic standards.
At St. Paul Elementary, continuous efforts to improve teaching and learning have been strengthened because of multiple, coordinated efforts to ensure that all students, parents, teachers, and staff feel cared for, valued, and respected. Student progress is frequently recognized and celebrated in ways that encourage students to work hard. For example, the school showcases student accomplishments through social media and various clubs. The school’s guidance department has established student lunch groups, friendship clubs, and other supports to help all students feel valued and know they belong. Parent nights and a Family and Community Engagement Committee encourage parental involvement and help parents know their opinions and perspectives are important. As well, teachers at St. Paul report a high level of trust with school administrators and instructional coaches. Teachers believe they have the support they need to ensure that teaching and learning continue to improve, even though the school is already among the highest-achieving in the state.
ENROLLMENT: 467
Tibby K-8 Elementary School
In the heart of Compton, California, Tibby K-8 Elementary School stands as a model for schools striving to achieve academic excellence for all student groups. A California Distinguished School and National Blue Ribbon School, Tibby boasts high attendance, low disciplinary incidents, and academic outcomes—particularly in literacy and mathematics—that surpass statewide averages at every grade level. Guided by the belief that every student can become a scholar, Tibby’s educators work to create a nurturing culture where students feel valued, capable, and motivated to achieve.
This supportive environment begins with strong relationships—teachers take time to understand each student’s strengths, needs, and interests. Classrooms are intentionally structured to encourage inquiry, collaboration, and academic growth. Across grade levels, lessons are designed to help students master rigorous standards, with frequent formative assessments guiding instructional adjustments. Tibby’s success is also fueled by innovative teaching strategies, small-group instruction, and targeted interventions. As Tibby students grow into scholars, their educators are equally committed to continuous learning—refining their craft to help every student thrive.
ENROLLMENT: 553
Washington Middle College High School
At Washington Middle College High School (MCHS), academic success is the norm, not the exception. Despite serving a student population in which 80% meet low-income criteria and using no selective admissions, the school far outperforms state averages—over 85% of students meet standards in English and over 76% in science. These impressive outcomes are the result of a school structure designed for rigor and support. Every course meets California’s A-G requirements for college admission, and students begin taking community college classes as early as ninth grade.
What sets Washington MCHS apart is its balanced approach: high academic expectations are paired with robust support systems. Curriculum support classes, AVID resources, peer and teacher tutoring, and an unwavering belief in each student’s potential create a learning environment where all students can thrive. In nearly every classroom, NCUST observers found warm, encouraging instruction paired with engaging lessons aligned to academic objectives. At Washington MCHS, students are not just meeting expectations—they are exceeding them in a small school making a big, lasting impact.
