SAN DIMAS/ LA VERNE– Bonita Unified is being honored as a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll recipient, marking BUSD’s monumental achievement in promoting college readiness and achievement among traditionally underrepresented students.

The District is one of 373 school districts across the U.S. and Canada and one of 25 in California recognized as a national leader in expanding access to AP courses while improving AP exam performance with students earning scores of 3 or higher.

“At Bonita Unified, we wholeheartedly believe that every student has the ability to succeed and thrive in higher education, and it is our responsibility to provide the right tools and support for them to reach their goals,” Superintendent Carl J. Coles said. “This exceptional recognition demonstrates that we are fulfilling our mission to prepare every student to live their purpose through equity, mastery and a focus on results.”

To earn placement on the annual AP District Honor Roll, districts must demonstrate a continuous increase in the number of students taking AP classes while simultaneously improving successful outcomes on AP exams. AP Honor Roll recipients must also commit to expanding access to AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

Increasing access to AP coursework while increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher indicates that BUSD is preparing a larger array of its students for the rigor of AP and higher education.

Bonita Unified’s two comprehensive high schools offer more than 25 AP courses, with more than 240 students in 2018 earning AP Scholar Awards.

“To have this many students earn AP Scholar Awards is a great indicator that Bonita Unified is setting the foundation at an early age for our students to be in a position to take these rigorous courses,” Coles said.

Forty-two percent of Bonita High School’s Class of 2018 grads were admitted to four-year universities. San Dimas High School showed that 31 percent of graduates were accepted to four-year institutions.

BUSD provides teacher training to support AP students, and educators offer additional support outside of the instructional day.