SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Bonita Unified School District continues to distinguish itself as one of California’s top-performing districts, with all 10 of its elementary and middle schools ranking in the top 32 percent of schools statewide in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best K-8 Schools list.

The Best K-8 Schools rankings are based on U.S. Department of Education data from more than 79,000 public schools nationwide. The rankings evaluate performance in mathematics and reading/language arts, considering student background and achievement. Ties in overall scores were broken by student-teacher ratios.

Each of Bonita’s eight elementary schools – Allen Avenue, Ekstrand, Gladstone, Grace Miller, La Verne Heights, Oak Mesa, Roynon, and Shull – placed in the top 32% of 8,773 elementary schools in California. Grace Miller, Roynon, and Oak Mesa elementary schools ranked in the top 15%, and Shull placed among the top 4%. In the middle school rankings, Lone Hill Middle School and Ramona Middle School placed in the top 21% and 11%, respectively, of California’s 7,160 middle schools.

Bonita Unified’s dedication to academic excellence is evident in its continued success on statewide assessments. In 2023-24, the District achieved its highest-ever scores in English language arts and math on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and fully mitigated the academic impacts of the pandemic – an achievement bolstered by the District’s continued focus on mastering core standards, ongoing staff development, and targeted intervention support.

“At Bonita Unified, we are committed to providing an exceptional educational experience that enables every student to achieve academic success,” Bonita Unified Superintendent Matt Wien said. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment to excellence across our District, and we remain focused on fostering an environment where our students feel empowered to pursue their goals.”

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BUSD_2025_BESTSCHOOLS: A Grace Miller Elementary School student helps her peer during a math lesson. Grace Miller Elementary, along with Bonita Unified’s eight other elementary schools and two middle schools, earned high rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best K-8 Schools list.