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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Chamber Singers Find Their Voice as Honor Choir Performers

    California High School’s acclaimed Chamber Choir offers a safe space for its singers, with the inclusive environment in Cal High Choir Director Dan Hawkins’ classroom encouraging students to showcase their talents without prejudice and find their voice as performers who are prepared to take their vocal gifts to the next level. This year, four Cal High Chamber Choir members have been recognized for their excellence by being named to prestigious regional honor choirs. Seniors Roxie Navarro and Larissa Ortega and junior Allison Orellana-Mejia were selected to the Western American Choral Directors Association’s (WACDA) High School Honor Choir. The three singers performed together at the 2024 WACDA Pasadena Conference Honor Choir concert, held March 9. Ortega was also selected, along with sophomore David Gutierrez, for the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) Honor Choir, with both students performing at the SCVA Honor Choir concert at Redlands University in November 2023.

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  • Whittier Union Senior Receives Award of Merit for Academic, Personal Perseverance

    Whittier High School senior Fabiola Ramirez stands as a testament to resilience, facing and conquering challenges that few encounter in a lifetime. From the moment she was born with severe hearing loss in both ears and labeled medically hard of hearing, Ramirez has defied stereotypes and refused to let her unique journey be defined by her hearing loss. Ramirez, a lifelong Whittier resident, has worn hearing aids since childhood, enduring the isolating experience of being the only student in her class with such devices. Amid instances of bullying, she transferred elementary schools twice. However, her journey took a positive turn when she enrolled at Katherine Edwards Middle School, where she began to find her stride. For her ability to overcome challenges and excel in her academic and personal pursuits, Ramirez was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during a March 12 meeting.

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  • Whittier Union School Recognized as 2024 Model Continuation High School for Exemplary Instructional Strategies

    Frontier High School has been named one of California's 2024 Model Continuation High Schools by the California Department of Education (CDE), highlighting the school for excelling in providing innovative programs addressing the academic and socioemotional needs of its students. Frontier High’s academic program offers students instruction designed to match their needs, learning style, and skill level. The school’s smaller class sizes and individualized learning experiences allow students to make up missing credits. The school also offers robust support for social-emotional and student well-being, a diverse range of extracurricular activities, and the chance for students to concurrently complete college courses. Frontier was one of 31 schools recognized by the CDE for their exceptional commitment to providing comprehensive services to at-promise youth.

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Whittier Union Senior Honored with Award of Merit for Outstanding Leadership, Perseverance

Pioneer High School senior Christian Figueroa has always valued the importance of in-person connections, which motivated him to become a highly involved student and participate in multiple extracurricular activities and sports – all while maintaining a 4.41 GPA. During his time at Pioneer High, Figueroa has excelled academically, taking seven honors courses, 10 Advanced Placement classes and a dual-enrollment course at Río Hondo College. For his academic accomplishments and his commitment to learning, Figueroa was honored with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during a meeting on Sept. 12.

Whittier Union Celebrated for Academic Excellence in 2023-24 ‘Best High Schools’ Rankings

Whittier Union High School District’s commitment to academic excellence, evidenced in its Whatever It Takes philosophy, is reflected in the recent U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 high school rankings, with all five of its comprehensive schools ranked in the top half of high schools in California and the top third of high schools nationwide. The rankings, which measure school success metrics such as graduation rates and college-readiness, consider multiple factors that include AP exam pass rates, proficiency in math, reading and science, enrollment and the percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students in the District. Whittier Union is home to two California Distinguished Schools, five California Gold Ribbon Schools, two AVID National Demonstration schools, two AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award-winning schools and a Model Continuation High School.

Whittier Union Educators Experience Living History During Visit to Poland, Auschwitz

Three Whittier Union history teachers received an up-close look at living history when they participated in the Auschwitz Legacy Program, a one-week trip to Poland in July that included tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto, as well as access to archives of letters and personal items saved from Holocaust victims during World War II. John Bellanti of Whittier High School, Gena Arriola-Salas of Pioneer High School and MaryAnn Fajardo of Frontier High School joined a group of 30 educators and Holocaust researchers from across the United States as part of an education initiative created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation to keep the memories of victims alive.

Whittier Union Students to Host Annual Districtwide College Fair

Whittier Union High School District students will fill the California High School quad to learn more about their post-secondary options and forge a path to their future during the 2023 Districtwide College Fair at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from more than 50 colleges – which include several UC and CSU campuses, along with private schools, community colleges, trade schools, United States Armed Forces and out-of-state universities – to gain insight to each school’s offerings and fill out registration cards for more information. California High is located at 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier.

Whittier Union Receives Top Rating for General Obligation Funds

Whittier Union was awarded an Aa1 credit rating by Moody’s Investor Service ahead of its second Measure AA bond issuance of $45.9 million, a high-grade rating that gives investors assurance that the District is financially sound and has the revenues and cash reserves to pay its debts. In awarding the top credit rating, Moody’s cited the District’s prudent fiscal practices and ability to maintain additional reserves outside of its general fund. The credit rating will help garner favorable interest rates when the District conducts its bond sale, which will lower the tax liability to property owners in the Whittier Union area.

Whittier Union Welcomes Students Back to Campuses, Embraces Growth for 2023-24 School Year

Amid an air of excitement and anticipation, more than 10,000 Whittier Union High School District students stepped onto campuses adorned with vibrant posters, balloons and red carpets on the much-awaited first day of school on Aug. 16. Across the District, students were welcomed onto campuses and greeted by energetic ASB and Link Crew members, cheer and song teams, principals and administrators. During the morning rush, band and color guard ensembles played exhilarating tunes, creating an engaging and positive campus atmosphere for students and setting the stage for a successful 2023-24 academic year. The District also hosted its annual Freshman First Day on Aug. 15 – a tradition that seeks to build camaraderie between incoming freshmen and their new school community.

Whittier Union Schools Recognized for Success in Completing A-G College Requirements

Two Whittier Union high schools have been recognized for their success in guiding students toward completing rigorous coursework required to attend a California four-year university, significantly narrowing the achievement and equity gap, and providing students an opportunity to have greater success in higher education and pursue their dream career. Santa Fe and Pioneer high school students are completing their A-G coursework at rates far above the California average, and across numerous demographic subgroups, including socioeconomically disadvantaged, Latinx, Black and English Learner. Schoolwide A-G completion rates are 76% for Pioneer High and 65% for Santa Fe High. The California completion rate average is just over 40%.

Whittier Union to Kick Off New School Year with Freshmen First Day

Whittier Union High School District’s incoming freshmen will kick off the 2023-24 school year during Freshmen First Day (FFD), held Tuesday, Aug. 15 at each of the District’s comprehensive high schools. FFD is an annual tradition that aims to ease the transition into high school for new students. FFD also helps new students build connections with one another and familiarize themselves with their new campus, teachers and administrators, ensuring they are prepared to have an impactful high school experience.

Whittier Union Partners with Highway Patrol for National Night Out

The Santa Fe High School band will perform as part of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Fe Springs office’s inaugural National Night Out, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5. The event is free to the public and will feature a bicycle rodeo, police, K-9 and motorcycle demonstrations, information booths, a bicycle helmet giveaway, and photos with Chipper the Chipmunk. The CHP Santa Fe Springs office is located at 10051 Orr and Day Rd., Santa Fe Springs.