Winston Churchill Middle School recognized as 2026 a California Distinguished School

San Juan Unified School District’s Winston Churchill Middle School has been recognized as a 2026 California Distinguished School in the category of Achievement Gap Closers. This recognition honors schools that demonstrate success in accelerating academic progress for historically underserved students while maintaining strong outcomes for all, as measured by the California School Dashboard. 

Churchill’s approach to closing the achievement gap emphasizes rigorous academics with a supportive, engaging school environment. 

“Being named a California Distinguished School is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and school community,” said Sandi Karagianes, Churchill interim principal. “We are proud to celebrate our students' success, as well as our ongoing commitment to closing the achievement gap, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

Students have access to a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including the Black Student Union, Culture Club, Improve Your Tomorrow, Project Optimism, Power Hour, Soccer Club, Step Team and Writing Club. They can also participate in academic teams such as Quiz Bowl, Science Olympiad and Speech and Debate, where they build collaboration, confidence and critical thinking skills.

These opportunities are reinforced by a strong academic foundation that includes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), both of which are designed to prepare students for college and career success. Churchill is the only middle school in the district to offer the IB program for grades six to eight, which continues at Mira Loma High School. Together, these programs help students stay engaged, connected and motivated in their learning.

Teachers and staff play a key role in fostering student growth by providing consistent support, mentorship and access to academic and extracurricular opportunities. Their collective efforts help create a school culture where students feel empowered and excited to learn.

“To have that recognition from an outside source shows that all the hard work of our teachers and everyone on campus is being recognized, especially for closing the achievement gap. That's really exciting for us, ” said Lyndsay Lewis, Churchill teacher.

This recognition reflects Churchill’s strong commitment to student success, as well as San Juan Unified’s ongoing dedication to equity, opportunity and achievement for all students.