Monterey Park Elementary became one of the first Blue Zones Project Approved Schools in Salinas.

Monterey Park was awarded the State 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award Program through the California Distinguished Schools (DS) Program. It celebrates schools and districts that implemented an innovative practice during the 2020–21 school year, when California required schools to offer distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monterey Park Elementary was awarded the highest level, Platinum, by the California PBIS Coalition for its implementation of the core features of PBIS in 2024.