GGUSD grads have reached some heights (GGUSD photo).

Students in the Garden Grove Unified School District are continuing to rack up more honors.

The Class of 2026 earned 1,286 Golden State Seal Merit Diplomas, a recognition awarded to California high school graduates who demonstrate a high level of mastery in a minimum of six subject areas.

That compares to the Class of 2025, which had 1,164 students earning the distinction.

“The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma is more than a recognition – it represents true academic mastery across multiple subject areas,” according to Bob Harden, president of the GGUSD Board of Education. “It signals that our students are graduating with the knowledge, discipline and confidence needed to achieve lifelong success.”

The GGUSD serves most of Garden Grove and parts of Anaheim, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster.