Irvine’s South Lake Middle School has been named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. South Lake is one of just two schools in Orange County and 356 nationwide to receive the honor.
The school was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School for its outstanding performance on state assessments and national standardized tests.
South Lake’s principal, Belinda Averill, was one of nine national winners of the 2024 Terrel H. Bell Award for outstanding school leadership. Averill is one of two educators in California to be honored with the prize.
“South Lake is a truly special community,” Averill says. “We work together every day to help our amazing kids thrive and empower them to reach their full potential, which is reflected in our designation as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.”
