Santa Cruz City Schools have earned national recognition for their efforts to support student health and wellness, with schools across the district named to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s 2026 list of America’s Healthiest Schools.
Bay View Elementary, DeLaveaga Elementary, Gault Elementary, Monarch Elementary, Westlake Elementary, Branciforte Middle, Mission Hill Middle, Costanoa High, Harbor High, Santa Cruz High and Soquel High were recognized for their work in school wellness, nutrition and food access, tobacco-free schools and health services. The district’s middle and high schools also received recognition for physical education, physical activity and health education.
“We are so proud of the incredible collaboration of our food services team, teachers and support staff,” said Santa Cruz City Schools Superintendent Kris Munro. “We know that health is made up of so many complementary parts, from food to curriculum to activity. It is wonderful to see such aligned efforts across the district, for that great work to be nationally recognized.”
The recognition continues a four-year streak for the district, according to SCCS Food Services Director Amy Hedrick-Farr.
“We are so happy to have so much support from departments and teams across the district,” Hedrick-Farr said. “Everyone works together in confidence that our impact will be greater than the sum of all efforts. I’m so happy to see the whole-student approach gain traction across the country, and we’re happy to be at the forefront of it here in Santa Cruz.”
For more than 15 years, the national nonprofit Healthier Generation has worked with schools and communities to promote healthier environments for children. Its approach to student health encompasses nutrition, physical activity, development and emotional well-being.
Santa Cruz City Schools are among approximately 1,300 schools nationwide recognized on the 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools list.
Learn more and see the complete list at healthiergeneration.org/campaigns/americas-healthiest-schools.
