2009 Front Runner Recognitions
PRESENTED BY CVS/pharmacy®
| Region | Elementary School | Middle School | High School |
| Bay Area | Holbrook Elementary | Piedmont Middle | FAME Public Charter |
| Central Coast | King City Arts Charter | Learning for Life Charter | |
| Central Valley | Golden Oak Elementary | A. M. Thomas Middle | University High |
| Desert Sierra | Pinon Hills Elementary | Upland Junior High | |
| Gold Coast | Cesar Estrada Chavez Dual Language Immersion Charter | Robert J. Frank Intermediate | Hueneme High |
| Gold Country | Victory Elementary | Denair Middle | Angelo Rodriguez High |
| Los Angeles | Fremont Elementary | Daniel Webster | Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy |
| North Coast | Cobb Mountain Elementary | Fort Bragg Middle | |
| Orange County | John F. Kennedy Elementary | Columbus Tustin | Corona del Mar High |
| San Diego and Imperial | Kelly Elementary | San Marcos Middle | El Camino High |
| Sierra Cascade | North Cow Creek Elementary | Blue Oak Charter |