San Diego County is stepping up its health game with over 50 schools earning top marks for creating some of the healthiest educational environments in the country. In a recent reveal by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, their 2025 list of America's Healthiest Schools includes 57 San Diego County schools from six districts. It's a big deal, since they've joined the 1,120 K-12 schools that the organization commended for promoting whole child health.
Kathy Higgins, CEO of Healthier Generation, praised schools for their integral role in supporting the youngsters' health and well-being. "Schools play a crucial role in positively shaping the health and well-being of our nation's youth, and they deserve national recognition for their outstanding efforts," said Higgins in a statement obtained by the San Diego County Office of Education. She praised the combined work of school leaders, educators, and staff, pointing out that their commitment is key in securing healthier futures for both children and communities.
There's a comprehensive scorer behind these awards, with schools being judged across nine areas. Everything from physical education, nutrition, school health services, and strategies to boost staff well-being is under the microscope. Notably, 168 schools snagged the All-Star title, meeting criteria in every one of the nine topics, and that's no small feat — especially compared to last year’s 66 All-Stars.
Take the National School District, with nine schools on the list. "We are deeply proud of our schools for earning this prestigious recognition," gushed Dr. Leighangela Brady, Superintendent of National School District, in conversation with the San Diego County Office of Education. Alison Fieberg of Del Mar Union School District, which also saw nine schools recognized, beamed about their exceptional physical education program. "Our credentialed PE specialists are not only skilled educators, but also drivers in promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability in every class," she said.
In the bigger picture, since the Healthiest Schools initiative kicked off in 2007, Healthier Generation has tipped their hat to 3,347 schools. With the new topic-based model introduced in 2022, the number of applauded schools has mushroomed, and the All-Star schools have seen a fifteen-fold increase. That’s some growth spurt. Schools keen on joining the healthy ranks can get in on the action with Healthier Generation's toolkit, featuring assessment and action-planning resources designed to build learning environments that nurture every aspect of a child’s development.
