The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is proud to announce that Seaside Middle School in Seaside, California, has been named a 2026 California Purple Star School by the California Department of Education.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recently announced that 75 schools across California earned the 2026 Purple Star designation, bringing the statewide total to 202 Purple Star Schools.
The California Purple Star School Designation Program publicly recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.
Approximately 14% of MPUSD students are military-connected, reflecting the district’s deep ties to the region’s military community. Given the frequent transitions military families experience, often staying in a district for as little as five weeks to six months with an average stay of 18 months, MPUSD schools prioritize building systems of support that ensure students feel welcomed, understood, and academically successful from day one.
“This recognition affirms Seaside Middle School’s deep commitment to serving our military families with care, intentionality, and excellence,” said Jenn Lyon, Principal, Seaside Middle School. “We are incredibly proud of our staff and students who work together every day to ensure military-connected students are supported socially, emotionally, and academically.”
Seaside Middle School joins other MPUSD Purple Star-designated schools, La Mesa School, Marshall Elementary School, and Monte Vista TK-8 School, demonstrating the district’s sustained and growing commitment to military-connected students across multiple grade spans.
Purple Star schools demonstrate excellence by:
- Providing easily accessible, up-to-date resources for military-connected families
- Implementing student-led transition programs to welcome new students
- Partnering with military family life counselors and liaisons
- Offering professional development to build staff cultural competency
- Creating schoolwide systems that ensure smooth academic placement and social integration
“The Purple Star Program is about more than a designation,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “It reflects a culture of service, belonging, and proactive support for families who sacrifice so much in service to our country.”
About Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District serves approximately 9,300 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as preschool and adult education programs. Spanning the communities of Marina, Seaside, Monterey, Del Rey Oaks, and Sand City, MPUSD is grounded in strong instruction, positive school culture, systems of support, and collaborative leadership all aligned with the MPUSD Way.
About the California Purple Star Program
The California Purple Star School Designation Program helps reduce the burden on military-connected families by identifying schools that meet critical transition and support criteria. The program promotes centralized resources, stakeholder collaboration, and culturally responsive practices to ensure military-connected students thrive.