Covina-Valley Unified School District welcomed nearly 11,000 students back to campuses on Aug. 17 with posters, balloons, red carpets, and excitement for the start of the 2026-27 school year, setting the stage for another year of achievement, growth, and innovative learning opportunities. Cheerleaders, Associated Student Body members, and staff greeted students as they arrived on campuses, helping create an enthusiastic and welcoming start to the new academic year.
After dedicating more than two years to community service and personal growth, Covina High School rising junior Jolin Zeng has earned the 2026 Congressional Gold Medal Award, joining just 877 young Americans ages 14 to 24 to receive the prestigious honor this year. To earn the Gold Medal Award, Zeng completed more than 1,300 hours across four areas, including nearly 570 hours of voluntary public service, 290 hours of personal development, 479 hours of physical fitness, and an eight-day cultural expedition. Her accomplishments far exceeded the required total of 800 hours.
Northview High School rising senior Nabhat (JinJin) Sanglimsuwan first became interested in advocating for her peers and elevating student voice after stopping by her school’s library for a free slice of pizza during her freshman year. While there, she stumbled into a meeting of the School Site Council, which inspired her to get involved. At a subsequent meeting, she proposed reducing Advanced Placement exam fees to support economically disadvantaged students, helping make a meaningful change for her peers.
Covina-Valley Unified School District is strengthening its leadership team with the addition of 10 administrators for the start of the 2026-27 school year, bringing experienced leaders and educators to schools and departments across the District. Each new administrator brings a strong commitment to student success and will play an instrumental role in enhancing student support and school operations, strengthening programs, and advancing the priorities of Covina-Valley Unified.
The Northview High School girls wrestling team enjoyed another stellar campaign during the 2025-26 school year, winning several prestigious tournaments, and capturing league, division, and Masters titles on its way to taking third place at the California CIF championships. Led by legendary head coach David Ochoa, the Lady Vikings program won the CIF Southern Section Central Division championship for the second consecutive year, and the fourth time since 2022. For his dedication and leadership, Ochoa was recently named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)/Marines “Battles Won” National High School 2026 Girls Head Coach of the Year.
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.
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%.
Covina-Valley Unified is known as a destination District, with standout programs, innovative learning opportunities, and enriching extracurriculars that inspire every student’s unlimited potential. From elementary school through high school, Covina-Valley Unified’s 16 schools prepare students for success in college, careers, and beyond. Students begin their educational journey with access to innovative programs, including Spanish and Mandarin Dual Language Immersion programs. These help students develop bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural skills at an early age, preparing them for success in an increasingly global society.
Las Palmas Middle School students are creating a culture of inclusion and friendship through the school’s Best Buddies program, creating meaningful connections that have earned the campus the distinction of Best Buddies California Outstanding Middle School Chapter of the Year. The Best Buddies program pairs students with disabilities with peers, creating opportunities to build friendships, a sense of belonging, and inclusion across campus. What began nearly a decade ago as a small club has grown into a campuswide effort involving leadership students, physical education (PE) classes, and a dedicated Best Buddies Club, with 71 students currently participating.
Covina-Valley Unified School District celebrated nearly 1,200 graduates during commencement ceremonies held June 1-4, honoring the many achievements, perseverance, and future aspirations of the Class of 2026. Families and friends gathered at the District Field to cheer on graduates from Covina, Northview, South Hills, and Fairvalley high schools, as well as the Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy (C-VLOA) and Tri-Community Adult Education. Many Class of 2026 graduates will be continuing their academic journeys at prestigious universities, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, the University of Southern California, the University of Oregon, Cornell University, and more. Others will enter the workforce, pursue career training, or serve in the Armed Forces.
