SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Bonita Unified comprehensive high schools continue to excel, with soaring graduation rates and more students taking and passing Advanced Placement (AP) exams than ever before, placing both Bonita and San Dimas high schools among the top schools in the state and nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 High Schools Rankings.

The U.S. News rankings, in partnership with Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, evaluated nearly 18,000 schools across the country using six indicators of quality: college readiness; curriculum breadth; state proficiency scores; performance in reading, math, and science; underserved student performance; and graduation rates. Bonita High School and San Dimas High School rank in the top nine percent and 15 percent, respectively, of public high schools nationwide – improving slightly from the schools’ scores in the 2025 rankings.

“Bonita Unified is committed to providing its students all the tools they need to succeed academically, while encouraging them to find their passion as they look toward college and career,” BUSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Anne Neal said.

Bonita Unified’s academic achievements are underscored by increased student participation in the AP program. At Bonita High, 50% of seniors took one or more AP exams in 2023-24; at San Dimas High, 43% of seniors took one or more AP exams.

Additionally, both San Dimas and Bonita have been recognized by the College Board with its AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for establishing equal gender representation by having 50% female participation in its AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) class and taking the AP CSP exam. San Dimas was recognized in 2023; Bonita in 2024.

Bonita Unified’s academic rankings are propelled by its highest-ever scores on the California Assessment Performance and Progress (CAASPP) exam, with its 2025 CAASPP scores placing Bonita Unified among the top-performing unified school districts in California, ranking in the top 6% statewide in English language arts (ELA) and the top 8% in mathematics.

The U.S. News rankings also highlight the District’s sky-high literacy rates. Bonita High, with a reading proficiency of 88%, and San Dimas with a proficiency of 77%, benefit from a District focus on literacy that begins in kindergarten. The focus has led to a No. 1 ranking for the District on the California Reading Coalition’s California Reading Report Card.

“Bonita Unified is proud to see its high schools among the top ranked schools in California,” Bonita Unified Superintendent Matt Wien said. “This is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication seen throughout the District, which begin in our incredible elementary and middle schools.”

PHOTO: 

BUSD_2026_BESTHIGHSCHOOLS: A Bonita High School Class of 2026 graduate is all smiles as she walks the stage during the school’s commencement ceremony. Bonita High School, along with San Dimas High School, were recognized in the 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News & World Report for their strong academic performance and college readiness efforts.