Hemet Unified School District is proud to announce that Rancho Viejo Middle School has been recognized with the 2026 Civic Learning Award of Distinction, one of California’s highest honors for civic education.
This recognition, announced by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, highlights schools that successfully integrate civic learning into schoolwide practices—empowering students to become informed and engaged members of their communities.
This achievement builds on Rancho Viejo’s 2025 Civic Learning Award – Honorable Mention received last fall and reflects the school’s continued efforts to expand meaningful civic learning opportunities for students.
Rancho Viejo’s program emphasizes critical thinking through the use of primary source documents, while also providing hands-on experiences that bring civic concepts to life. Students participate in activities such as mock trials through Judges in the Classroom, reenactments of the Electoral College, and student-led “soapbox speeches” focused on constitutional issues and current events. Additional opportunities—such as ASB leadership ceremonies and structured student engagement around real-world issues—help ensure students can actively practice civic responsibility and voice.
The Civic Learning Awards program, launched in 2013, recognizes schools that embed civic education into classroom instruction, student leadership, and service learning opportunities.
Hemet Unified School District congratulates Rancho Viejo Middle School on this outstanding achievement and its continued commitment to empowering students as thoughtful, engaged citizens.
For more information, view the official announcement: