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.
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.
Bonita Unified students honored first responders and remembered those affected by the Sept. 11 attacks during the 54th annual Smudge Pot rivalry game, which opened with a pregame ceremony and moment of silence on the 25th anniversary. The Sept. 11 matchup at Mt. San Antonio College’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium brought Bonita and San Dimas high schools together for an evening of community and remembrance. For students whose parents serve as first responders, the tribute carried a personal connection.
Bonita Unified Superintendent Carl J. Coles discussed the District’s accomplishments thus far and the goals for the future, during the State of the District on Feb. 26. The event featured a luncheon with families, community leaders and members, local business partners and educators, and student performances by the District’s high school band and middle school choir group. Photos and video available.
Bonita Unified Superintendent Carl J. Coles will share the District’s successes, highlight academic, activity, arts and athletic programs and discuss BUSD’s vision and mission during the State of the District at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26. The event will be held at Hillcrest, 2705 Mountain View Drive, La Verne. A luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at Hillcrest. Call 909-392-4362 for more information.
San Dimas High School’s boys soccer team will face off in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship game against the Thacher School at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at San Dimas High, 800 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas. The San Dimas Saints earned a spot in the final game after a 1-0 victory against Bishop Diego High School on Feb. 16.
A new gymnasium at Bonita Unified’s Ramona Middle School received a 2019 La Verne Community Design Award for community enhancement on a public facility during a La Verne City Council meeting on Feb. 19. Ramona Middle is one of 16 establishments in La Verne to receive recognition during the 13th annual La Verne Community Design Awards.
Bonita Unified’s Shull Elementary School will host a Baking and Dessert Family Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 filled with sweet treats for students and their families. A coffee bar will be available for parents while students make creative take-home Valentine’s Day treats. Students also can pose with friends and teachers in the Valentine’s Day booth. Shull Elementary is at 825 N. Amelia Ave., San Dimas.
More than 50 students from San Dimas High School’s drama club and from Bonita Unified’s elementary and middle schools will stage the Broadway musical “Big Fish” at the Bonita Center of the Arts, 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas. Performances will run at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 and Thursday, Jan. 31, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2. Tickets are $5 for students, $15 for the presale and $20 at the door.
San Dimas High School’s cheer squad captured the first-place spot in Division 2A at the CIF-SS Traditional Competitive Cheer Championships, held Jan. 12. The team will travel to Costa Mesa to compete in the California State Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
Bonita Unified is being honored as a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll recipient, marking District success 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.
Bonita Unified School District boosted performance in multiple areas on the updated California School Dashboard. Released on Dec. 6, the updated Dashboard includes two new metrics for evaluating school and District performance and a user-friendly interface that makes complex data easy to understand. Bonita Unified students continue to perform strongly on the state’s English language arts and math proficiency tests. The District also boasts strong graduation rates and exceptional college and career programs.
Bonita Unified’s elementary school choirs will ring in the holiday season with four performances on Monday, Dec. 17 and Tuesday, Dec. 18. Oak Mesa and Shull elementary students in the Allegro Honor Choir will perform at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Bonita Center for the Arts (BCA). Grace Miller and La Verne Heights elementary students in the Allegro Honor Choir will showcase their skills at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at the BCA. Gladstone and Ekstrand’s Allegro Honor Choir students will perform at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18, followed by Allen Avenue and Roynon Allegro Honor Choir students at 7 p.m. at the BCA.