Arroyo High School senior Yvette Martinez has been recognized as a 2020 Dell Scholar by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Martinez will receive $20,000, spread over four years, a laptop and access to Dell Scholars Connect, a mentoring network that offers year-round support from current and former Dell Scholars. Martinez is leaning towards attending UC Berkeley, where she plans to study public health and public safety.
A.B. Miller High School’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is celebrating a 100% admission rate to four-year universities for the 10th year in a row. AVID aims to narrow the achievement gap between the lowest- and highest-performing students and ensure more students enroll in four-year colleges and universities. Many of A.B. Miller’s AVID seniors will pursue degrees in STEM fields, including biology, chemistry, computer science, nursing and more.
Monrovia Unified School District’s community will celebrate the city of Monrovia’s birthday with an at-home celebration beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16. In place of the usual parade, carnival and live entertainment, a virtual experience is planned that will allow the school community to wish Monrovia a happy birthday from the safety of their homes. Students and families will submit videos wishing the city a happy birthday and take part in an at-home pie eating contest.
Edgewood and West Covina high schools have been ranked in the top 16 percent of schools in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, recognizing strong student achievement in their International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs. Edgewood High and West Covina High earned scores of 90.41 and 84.32, respectively, earning high rankings among approximately 2,600 high schools in California. Edgewood High maintained its strong ranking from 2019 and West Covina High boosted its score by more than 3.5 points. Each school’s score correlates to its percentile position in the 2020 Best High Schools rankings.
Corey School will allow students to showcase their musical, artistic, acting and even martial arts talents to the Buena Park School District public on Wednesday, May 20 during its inaugural Virtual Community Share. Corey School’s Community Share was launched as a live talent show in 2018-19 to boost interest in visual and performing arts. Since Buena Park School District is practicing distance learning through the end of the school year, the Corey School leaders decided to move the popular community event to online.
Two Paramount Unified Middle Schools - Alondra and Leona Jackson - have been recognized as 2020 Schools to Watch for academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs of students and commitment to connecting with students one-on-one to ensure high achievement. The honor, conferred by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform network, is the third time the schools have been designated as Schools to Watch. Alondra and Jackson were previously recognized in 2014 and 2017.
Summit High School senior Michael Dugbartey has been named a 2020 Edison International Scholar, receiving a $40,000 scholarship toward his pursuit of a degree in computer science. Edison International awards $1.2 million annually to seniors who are pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at four-year universities. Dugbartey is among 30 high school students across Southern California selected this year. Photos are available.
The Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation is partnering with Lynwood Unified to designate a COVID-19 Response Fund to support families struggling amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The fund will provide Lynwood families and students with education supplies and equipment, basic necessities and social-emotional support. For more information on donating, visit lynwoodedfoundation.org or call (310) 985-9713.
Fontana Unified School District will guarantee internet access for its more than 36,000 students – at home or wherever they may be – by creating the nation’s first school-operated private network through the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). The Board of Education on April 15 approved a five-year initiative, in partnership with Crown Castle Fiber LLC, to establish a private cellular network that students can access on District-issued devices. The network is part of a long-term District plan to ensure access to instructional materials and close the achievement gap.
Since launching its Distance Learning program, Whittier Union has engaged 95% of students through Google Classroom, where 98% of teachers are posting assignments and projects. During the transition from in-classroom instruction to remote learning, the District has provided teachers and staff continued professional development to carry out classes from home, adapt the curriculum and become better-versed with technology. To ensure students have the technological access to learn from home, the District has distributed over 1,325 Chromebooks and has secured 300 hotspots to distribute to families.