Thursday, October 1, 2026
Long Beach High School has been named a No Place for Hate School for the 2025–2026 school year, earning recognition after completing a curriculum from the Anti-Defamation League.
The acknowledgment highlights the school’s continued commitment to fostering inclusive, respectful learning environments and building a culture centered on kindness and understanding.
The designation is awarded to schools that actively work to prevent bias, bullying and discrimination through sustained, student-driven efforts and schoolwide programming. To earn the certification, students and staff participate in a range of initiatives throughout the year, including awareness campaigns, peer-led discussions, assemblies, social-emotional learning lessons and collaborative projects designed to strengthen empathy and inclusion.
Administrators said these efforts are reinforced by ongoing dialogue within classrooms and the broader school community, helping students develop the tools to recognize and respond to prejudice in constructive ways.
“We strive to make sure Long Beach High School is a place where kids feel safe,” explained Principal Andrew Smith. “They don’t have to worry about being picked on in terms of how they’re dressed, who they are, or what they believe in. That’s really what we strive for here at the high school.”
The No Place for Hate initiative, developed by the Anti-Defamation League, is a national program that partners with schools across the country to address bias and promote respect through education and student leadership. The initiative also encourages schools to evaluate their culture continuously and engage students in meaningful conversations about identity, diversity, and belonging.
“You basically try to open up dialogue between kids,” said Smith. “The more the kids talk to each other and get to know each other, the less of these kinds of issues you’re going to have in the school.”
