Santa Cruz City Schools reach list of "America's Healthiest Schools"

All 10 campuses in the Santa Cruz City School District have placed on the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s list of America’s Healthiest Schools. The list recognizes schools in a wide-ranging set of categories relating to the programs and supports available to students. 

Santa Cruz City 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 have all been recognized in the categories of: 

• School Wellness 

• Nutrition/Food Access 

• Activity/Physical Education

• Additionally, Harbor, Santa Cruz and Soquel High Schools have been awarded for their Health Education programs.

“We are so proud to receive this recognition,” says District Superintendent Kris Munro. “It has been wonderful to see such inspired collaboration between Food Services, Teachers and Staff to support our highest priority: the health & welfare of our students.”

SCCS Food Services Director Amy Hedrick-Farr says she is proud to have been recognized in even more categories than last year. “We work on the idea that ‘Health’ covers even more than diet,” says Hedrick-Farr. “Health is the lunch we make available, the activities we support, the mental health we provide for, and the curriculum supporting healthy development. We are so proud to see Food Services, Student Services, Curriculum and the teaching staff work together toward a common goal.”

For over 15 years, national nonprofit Healthier Generation has worked to promote health and wellness in school environments across the country. The organization approaches “health” as a broad term comprising nutrition, activity, development and emotional support. Santa Cruz City Schools are among the just 879 schools in the entire country who qualified in 2024 for their list of America’s Healthiest Schools.