Centralia Elementary School District advances with award-winning excellence

Empowering students and families through innovative education and holistic support

At the forefront of educational excellence for nearly 150 years, Centralia Elementary School District is an award-winning institution recognized for its exceptional innovation and dedication to student success.

Serving approximately 4,000 students across eight schools, the Pre-K-through-6 district has earned numerous accolades, including National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards and California Distinguished School Awards. This year’s recognitions include the Readers’ Choice 2024 Best Public School in North Orange County and platinum medal honors for all its schools for the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) awards for fostering favorable school environments. Under Superintendent Norma E. Martinez, Centralia continues to raise the bar in education.

“Our board sets very high standards across our district with four core values spanning collaboration, student-centeredness, communication and equity,” says Martinez. “All our efforts fall into supporting the whole child, pursuing higher academic achievement and making them future-ready.”

One of the district’s key strengths is its whole-child approach. Centralia ensures that students feel seen, supported and valued. Its schools are equipped with social workers, counselors and school climate paraprofessionals to address both social and emotional needs. Additionally, the district extends its care to families through its award-winning Neighborhood Resource Center, which provides everything from meals to laundry detergent and even hotel vouchers for evicted families.

In terms of academic excellence, Centralia is investing in teacher training and programs to help students catch up. The district is an early adopter of the science of reading and has rebalanced its afterschool program to include math intervention, especially in response to pandemic-related gaps.

College and career readiness is another core focus of Centralia. It has launched its first Student Leadership and Career Academy, where students learn from community business leaders and gain insights into soft skills and financial literacy. Meanwhile, Centralia’s innovation labs, where students use cutting-edge technology and the design thinking process to solve real-world problems, earned the district a prestigious Golden Bell Awards in 2024.

“Every day reveals new challenges in education,” says Martinez, “We’re very responsive to our students and their families; we’re a district of people who care.”

Learn more about Centralia Elementary School District at cesd.us.