October 14, 2025

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Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications & Engagement
831.706.6971

La Mesa School Named to Prestigious 2025 California Honor Roll

Monterey, CA - La Mesa School in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District has been named to the 2025 California Honor Roll by Educational Results Partnership, a nonprofit organization that recognizes high-performing public schools for exceptional academic achievement. La Mesa is one of only five schools across the entire Monterey County to receive this distinction.

The Honor Roll, presented annually by ERP as part of the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence, identifies and celebrates public schools that demonstrate high levels of student success, improvement in achievement over time, and progress in closing opportunity gaps. The recognition is based solely on objective student achievement data, not subjective nominations or applications.

“We are incredibly proud of La Mesa School for this well-deserved recognition,” said MPUSD Superintendent Dr. PK Diffenbaugh. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our teachers and staff, the hard work of our students, and the strong partnership with our families. It’s an honor to see La Mesa’s commitment to academic excellence recognized at the state level.”

“At MPUSD, we’ve been intentional about building systems and supports that sustain long-term student success,” said Cresta McIntosh, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services. “Our focus has been on continuous improvement, strengthening instruction, aligning curriculum, and closing opportunity gaps so that every student has access to high-quality learning experiences. This recognition from Educational Results Partnership affirms the progress we’ve made and the hard work of our educators to ensure achievement gains over time.”

Now in its 10th year, the ERP Honor Roll is the only school recognition program in the nation presented in partnership with state and local business leaders, emphasizing the connection between education, workforce readiness, and community success. The program’s goal is to highlight successful schools and encourage collaboration on proven strategies for raising student achievement.

“We are thrilled to see La Mesa Elementary on this year’s Honor Roll,” said La Mesa Principal Julie Alderete. “This recognition validates the collective effort of our entire school community to create a learning environment where every student can thrive.”

The 2025 California Honor Roll was released on October 9, 2025, and spotlights schools that are preparing students with the skills needed for success in college, career, and life.

Other Monterey County schools honored include: Tularcitos Elementary (Carmel USD), Forest Grove Elementary (Pacific Grove USD), Salinas High (Salinas Union HSD), and Rose Ferrero Elementary (Soledad USD).

To view the full list of Honor Roll schools and districts, visit the https://dataportal.edresults.org/metrics/honorroll or learn more about the program.

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About the Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll

The Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll is part of a national campaign to identify and celebrate high-performing schools and districts. The program uses state assessment data to spotlight schools that outperform their peers in core subjects and in closing achievement gaps. Each year, ERP collaborates with business and education leaders to share best practices and promote continuous improvement in student outcomes.

About the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) serves more than 9,300 students across Monterey, Marina, and Seaside. Guided by its vision to "Incite Excellence. Inspire Change." and its 2025 - 2026 theme, “Honoring the Past. Shaping the Future.”, MPUSD is committed to delivering powerful teaching and learning, fostering a service mindset, and creating positive, inclusive learning environments for all students.