Fontana High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) cadets stepped onto the national academic stage for the first time from June 12-16, joining the country’s top programs at the JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB) National Championship in Washington, D.C. By the end of the competition, cadets Kimberley Flores, Rosario Negrete, Marcos Alvarenga, and Angel Rios had made school history, earning third place among Marine Corps JROTC academic teams and establishing Fontana High as one of the nation’s strongest programs.
The San Dimas High School Royal Corps music program is celebrating a pair of gold medal victories in recent Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC) competitions, with the school’s brand-new junior varsity Color Guard winning its first championship, and the Percussion Ensemble earning the top prize for the first time since 2010. The revival of the Percussion Ensemble is led by San Dimas Class of 2024 graduate Hunter Peterson, who brings a youthful approach to the ensemble that remains steeped in Royal Corps tradition. Peterson currently attends Azusa Pacific University and is working toward a degree in music composition.
Cheers and confetti filled the Bonita Center for the Arts as nearly 100 family members, teachers and staff gathered to celebrate Bonita Unified English Learners (EL) who passed their English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) exams during a Districtwide ceremony on April 16. A total of 27 students were recognized during the ceremony, taking the stage to applause as they were honored for developing English proficiency and becoming eligible to be Reclassified Fluent English Proficient (RFEP). The students, who join a group of 81 reclassified ELs who were honored in the fall, received medals, certificates, and goody bags during the ceremony.
The Bonita Unified Board of Education approved two new administrative appointments at Bonita High School during its June 10 meeting, adding new leadership to the Bearcat community ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Lauren Choi and Kira Grund will join Bonita High School as assistant principals, bringing additional support to a campus leadership team focused on serving students and staff. These additions round out an administrative team that includes assistant principal Joy Lindsay and principal Kenny Ritchie.
Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School Class of 2026 graduate Valerie Gutierrez has been selected as one of only five Southern California recipients of the SoLa Scholarship, earning a full ride to the University of Southern California (USC) this fall. Offered by the SoLa Foundation, the scholarship provides financial assistance, professional development opportunities and a supportive network for first-generation college students and South Los Angeles residents. The scholarship will enable Gutierrez, the first in her family to attend a four-year university, to pursue her dream of studying biomedical engineering, opening the door to a future dedicated to improving healthcare accessibility.
When El Monte High School Class of 2026 graduate Emmy Betancourth and Rosemead High School graduate Linda May learned their schools would field girls flag football teams for the first time during the 2025-26 school year, the scholar-athletes eagerly embraced the opportunity. Already known for challenging themselves in the classroom and in athletics, Betancourth and May quickly stepped into leadership roles as members of their schools' inaugural teams. Betancourth and May were two of just 28 students from the San Gabriel Valley to be recognized with the National Football Foundation (NFF) Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Chapter’s inaugural Scholar-Athlete Award for Girls Flag Football, representing El Monte Union’s athletic program.
Upland Unified School District celebrated the accomplishments of its newest credentialed educators and leaders during the Teacher and Administrator Induction Colloquium, held May 13 at the H.K. Baird Theater at Royal Oak Middle School in Covina. The annual event, hosted in partnership with the Foothill Consortium, recognized teachers and administrators who successfully completed California's state-required induction program, earning their clear credentials and demonstrating continued growth in professional practice. This year, 11 Upland Unified teachers and three administrators completed the induction program, joining colleagues from eight school districts and eight individual schools that participate in the Foothill Consortium. The consortium supports educators as they fulfill credential requirements through individualized mentoring, coaching, reflection, and professional learning.
Bonita Unified School District has been recognized as a “District on the Rise” by the Education Scorecard, according to data compiled through the collaborative efforts of the Center for Educational Policy Research at Harvard University and the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. The data reflects math and reading test scores throughout the District for grades 3-8 since 2021, which have risen steadily. The scores are compared to other districts with similar socioeconomic status, demographics, and size. Bonita was one of just 12 school districts in California to be designated as a “District on the Rise” by the Education Scorecard in 2026.
What began as a heartfelt request from Upland Unified School District leadership became a powerful demonstration of community support when District leaders, businesses, and community organizations came together to help Upland High School graduate Andrew Aparicio, known to the community as Drew, to take the next step toward his future. Aparicio, a foster youth and member of Upland High School's Class of 2026, has overcome significant challenges while remaining focused on his education and career goals. Despite living in Rialto and facing limited transportation options, he arranged travel to Upland each day to attend school, determined to create opportunities for himself through hard work and perseverance. He graduated from Upland High on June 4 and will attend California State University, San Bernardino this fall, where he plans to pursue a career as an athletic trainer.
Cheers, applause, and proud smiles filled Toyota Arena as Upland Unified School District celebrated the achievements of 732 graduates from Upland and Hillside high schools during its Class of 2026 commencement ceremony on June 4. Family members, friends, educators, and community supporters gathered to honor the graduates as they crossed the stage and embarked on the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys. The ceremony featured musical performances by Upland High School's (UHS) Combined Concert Band, Choir, Chorale, Madrigals, and the Upland Pipe Band, creating a memorable sendoff for the graduating class.
