In October 2012, the GEA won the Golden Bell Award for outstanding academic programs in a California classroom.

[citation needed] The GEA gained further success and publicity through students' audits of Bay Area schools, being featured on ABC 7 News,[4] CBS 5 News, and KQED 88.5 FM radio, The Alameda County Office of Education and PG&E[citation needed] A number of Advanced Placement courses are offered.

During this period Micheil Jones (1994)[7] and Joe Smith (1995)[8] won individual state cross country titles.

Under coach Nick Winter, the cross-country team won two consecutive NCS Meet of Champions titles in 1981 and 1982.

At the end of the 2008 season, four team members were named East Bay Athletic League Honorable Mention players.