Incoming Fontana Unified high school students are strengthening their English language skills and building a peer support system through the Summer Language Academy pilot program, designed to prepare English learners to participate in school socially and academically. Adapted from a culturally and linguistically responsive model developed by Anaheim Union High School District and in partnership with California State University, Fullerton, the four-week program is bringing together 85 ninth- through 12th-grade students, using their home languages and cultures as a foundation for learning English. Lessons center on building conversational skills needed for class, while counseling and community-building activities help develop their confidence and explore different pathways in high school and beyond.
Santa Fe High School’s student-led Mariachi Los Dorados is tuning up for its biggest performance to date, when it joins with the Whittier community to celebrate Mexican Independence Day during “El Grito De Dolores,” to be held on Sunday, Aug. 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Whittier High School’s Vic Lopez Auditorium. Mariachi Los Dorados was created in the spring of 2025 as a club, with about a dozen students. Spurred on by the music and culture of mariachi, and learning the basics of playing such instruments as the guitarrón, vihuela, violin, and trumpet, the club evolved into an elective class during the fall of 2025, with 21 students and three mariachi coaches.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will host its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive and Back to School Extravaganza to provide students with free school supplies, haircuts, and health and wellness screenings in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.
After becoming the nation’s first Caring Campus District, the Alamo Colleges District, a community college system serving the Greater San Antonio region, is strengthening its culture of care through districtwide alignment, employee engagement, and shared student-centered practices. Through employee recognition programs, engagement initiatives, and strategic communications, the District is embedding these practices throughout the organization, extending its culture of care beyond traditionally student-facing roles and across its District offices and five colleges: Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, St. Philip’s College, and San Antonio College.
From helping newcomer students navigate life in a new country to teaching middle schoolers how to manage stress, resolve conflict, and build confidence, counseling teams across Fontana Unified School District are supporting students in feeling connected to their school communities, earning them national recognition. Fontana High School and Harry S. Truman Middle School received the Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model Program (RAMP) designation on July 13, honoring their counseling teams for implementing data-driven, comprehensive counseling programs that support the whole student.
Upland High School rising junior Leah Davis has established herself as one of the nation's premier girls flag football players, earning national recognition for her record-breaking performances while using her growing platform to inspire the next generation of female athletes. A dynamic wide receiver and defensive back, Davis has become one of the country's most accomplished two-way players. During her sophomore season, she led the nation in scoring with 352 total points and ranked second nationally with 54 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps. She also recorded 2,785 total yards, 158 tackles, and 13 interceptions.
South El Monte High School senior Roy Tong made District history by becoming the first El Monte Union High School District student to earn the title of national champion in Computer Applications at the 2026 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas held June 29 through July 2. The conference brought together nearly 16,000 middle and high school students, advisers, and guests from across North America to take part in 76 competitive business events and professional development activities. With financial support from the District, Tong competed in a two-hour Computer Applications competition that assessed his ability to use advanced formulas in spreadsheets, document formatting in word processing, and dynamic presentation development.
Fontana Unified School District will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Oak Grove Preparatory Academy, providing a first look inside the District’s newest and most innovative secondary campus before the first cohort of students arrives this fall. Following the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a guided tour highlighting the school’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) labs, robotics and fabrication spaces, media production studios, graphic design studio, collaborative learning areas, research hub, gymnasium, and outdoor learning spaces.
Lynwood High School Class of 2026 graduate Orlando Cruz will pursue his dream of attending a four-year university after being named a 2026 Gates Scholar, earning a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Irvine. Cruz graduated with a 4.64 GPA after completing seven Advanced Placement courses and earning two Associate of Arts degrees through Lynwood Unified’s AB 288 dual enrollment partnership with Compton College. He plans to major in chemical engineering with the goal of developing life-saving medicines.
Covina-Valley Unified School District has successfully refinanced a portion of its General Obligation bonds, securing lower interest rates that will generate more than $1.6 million in total debt service savings and approximately $1.4 million in net savings for local taxpayers. Under the leadership of the Board of Education, Covina-Valley Unified refinanced the bonds to take advantage of favorable interest rates in 2026. The refinancing reduced the interest rate on the refunded bonds from 4.26% to 3.19%.
