Bonita Unified School District

  • Bonita Unified Elementary Students Explore Learning Differences, Resources through Inclusion Fair

     Shull Elementary School students explored sensory activities and danced alongside classmates during the school’s inaugural Inclusion Fair on Oct. 9, introducing students to resources that support different learning needs and encouraged them to help every peer feel welcome. Students visited stations led by school staff, discovering tools that help students with disabilities participate and succeed socially and academically. The fair culminated a week of classroom lessons about recognizing differences, avoiding assumptions, and identifying barriers that can keep others from joining in.

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  • Bonita Unified High Schools Continue to Excel, Recognized in ‘Best High Schools’ Rankings

    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.

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  • Bonita Unified Holds Ribbon-Cutting for Electric Bus Fleet, All-New EV Charging Stations

    Against a backdrop of new, clean-burning electric vehicles (EV) and flanked by District school bus drivers and mechanics, Bonita Unified School District officially debuted its fleet of all-electric school buses and brand-new Level 2 EV charging stations during a green ribbon-cutting held at the District Yard on Sept. 17. As Superintendent Matt Wien and BUSD Board of Education members looked on, BUSD Transportation Director James Foster and Southern California Edison (SCE) Senior Manager of Medium/Heavy Duty PMO Ailsa Yew cut the ribbon, introducing a new era of clean energy transportation to the District.

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Chaparral High Named Model Continuation School for Social Emotional Learning

Chaparral-Vista High School is one of 27 schools recognized as a 2021 Model Continuation School by the California Department of Education and the California Continuation Education Association Plus, recognizing its innovative approach to addressing the academic, social and emotional needs of students as they pursue their paths toward graduation. Chaparral is focused on providing a nurturing environment that guides its students toward realizing their potential. This is Chaparral’s first designation as a Model Continuation School.

Bonita Unified Staff Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Ahead of Return to In-Person Learning

Bonita Unified School District will welcome elementary school students back to campus for in-person instruction on April 5, following the continued decrease of COVID-19 case numbers and rising vaccination rates among District staff. Elementary students will be taught in a hybrid model, designed to meet state and county health and safety protocols. The District also set an April 12 target date to reopen its middle and high schools – grades six to 12 – using a similar hybrid model. Bonita Unified students will also have the option to remain in distance learning for the remainder of the year.

Bonita Unified Employees Receive Purpose Award for Pandemic Response

Bonita Unified School District’s Computer Information Department and Ed Tech teams were celebrated for their outstanding response to the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, with employees from each group receiving the BUSD Purpose Award during the Feb. 3 Board of Education meeting. The Purpose Award is one of the District’s highest honors and recognizes exemplary conduct and achievement.

Bonita Unified Recognized for Second Time as Inland Empire Top Workplace

For the second year in a row, the Inland Valley News Group has named Bonita Unified one of 2020’s Top Workplaces in the Inland Empire. The Inland News Group’s list is based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage. The surveys were distributed to all 13 Bonita Unified schools and the District office, asking employees about workplace culture, if their jobs exceeded expectations, if they would recommend their workplace to potential employees, why they love their jobs and how their employer could improve the workplace environment.

Bonita Unified Student Learns to Craft Candles, Foster Holiday Spirit

Shull Elementary second-grader London Williams’ love for creating and curiosity for learning has inspired her to make and sell her very own scented candles, a venture that is spreading joy to the Bonita Unified community this holiday season. What started in March as a simple question to her mother: “Mom, how are candles made?” has now become a part-time business for 8-year-old Williams, whose biggest order consisted of 35 candles after her mother, Lisa M., shared them with family, friends and co-workers.

Bonita Unified Introduces 2021 Board of Education, Honors Long-Time Member With Purpose Award

Bonita Unified’s Board of Education administered the Oath of Office on Dec. 9 to new member Greg Palatto and returning members Krista Chakmak and Glenn Creiman, as well as honoring retiring member Diane Koach with the Bonita Unified Purpose Award. Palatto works as a school psychologist at Charter Oak Unified School District and is a member of the La Verne Rotary Club. Palatto is dedicated to strengthening mental health services and special education. His two children attend Grace Miller Elementary and Ramona Middle School.

Bonita Unified Introduces 2021 Board of Education

Bonita Unified School District’s Board of Education on Dec. 9 administered the Oath of Office to new member Greg Palatto and returning members Krista Chakmak and Glenn Creiman, as well as honoring retiring member Diane Koach with the Bonita Unified Purpose Award. All three members were sworn in on Dec. 11 during a socially distanced ceremony at the District office. Photos are available.

Bonita Unified Teachers Connect with Students during Virtual First Day

Bonita Unified School District’s first day of school on Aug. 26 saw teachers at every Bonita campus connecting with students using video conferencing, virtual classrooms and digital lessons plans. District teachers shared pictures of their digital set-ups using #BonitaFirstDay and welcomed students to the 2020-21 school year with online course introductions. More information regarding Bonita Unified’s distance learning model can be found on the District website.

Bonita Unified Commits to a Distance Learning Model for Fall 2020

The Bonita Unified School District Board of Education decided July 15 to continue with a distance learning model for the fall 2020 semester, after reviewing guidance from state and county public health and education authorities. The District’s first priority is the health and safety of students, their staff and the community. More information can be found on the District’s website.

Bonita Unified Partners with Redlands USD as Food Service Continues

Bonita Unified School District received fresh produce and gallons of milk from Redlands Unified School District to supplement its meal program and food distribution efforts. Bonita Unified will serve free meals to the community children throughout the summer. Meals are available from 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays at Roynon Elementary School, 2175 E St., La Verne, and at the Central Kitchen behind Chaparral High School, 121 W. Allen Ave., San Dimas.