Ghidotti Early College High School has been named a 2021 California Distinguished School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced Tuesday that an additional 121 California schools would be awarded the honor, after the state Department of Education had announced an original 102 awardees in March. Noah Levinson, principal at Ghidotti Early College High School, said he reacted with “elation and surprise and shock” upon finding out the school had been named to the list. “I was not prepared for it, but I was elated and just honored, and really proud of my school,” said Levinson. Usually, said Levinson, the state identifies schools as nominees for the award, followed by those nominated schools applying for the award.