Crestview Elementary School

We are thrilled to announce that Crestview Elementary has been named a California Purple Star School, a distinction awarded to schools that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families.

As the Lompoc Unified School District school serving the highest number of military-connected students—with over 300 students from military families—Crestview works hand-in-hand with Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) to ease transitions, foster belonging, and celebrate the resilience of our students.

To support this mission, our school offers:

• Students Helping Students – A peer ambassador program that pairs new military-connected students with welcoming peers for campus tours, mentorship, and community service.

• Pa-Patrol – A volunteer program inviting military-connected fathers to support classrooms, playtime, and school events.

• Ongoing staff training – Monthly collaboration with VSFB’s Family Readiness Center, Military Family Life Counselors, and other base programs to ensure our educators understand the unique needs of military families.

• Community-centered events – School-wide celebrations including Veteran’s Day, Month of the Military Child, STEM Night, and Career Day that highlight student diversity and honor service.

Principal Cristina Settje and our dedicated staff remain committed to building a welcoming, stable, and inclusive learning environment for all students—especially those facing the challenges of relocation and deployment.

This Purple Star designation reflects not only our current practices but also our long-term commitment to standing beside our military families every step of the way. We are honored to serve this incredible community.