Fairvalley High School has been redesignated as a Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education (CDE), recognizing the school’s standout academic and guidance services that empower students to succeed. Having maintained Model Continuation status for more than two decades, Fairvalley High is one of only 59 schools in California to receive the designation for 2026.
The Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Jonathan Blackmore as Superintendent at a special Board meeting on March 19. Blackmore, who has served as Interim Superintendent since July 7, 2025, will continue leading the District with a strong dedication to students, families, and the Covina-Valley Unified community. Blackmore said his commitment to clear and transparent communication, collaboration, and student success will serve as cornerstones of his leadership.
Covina-Valley Unified is helping transform wrestling into a more mainstream sport, with strong programs at every middle and high school. This commitment is exemplified by longtime powerhouse Northview High School, an up-and-coming program at Covina High School, and South Hills High School, where the wrestling program has undergone significant growth in recent years. Starting with just one female wrestler during the 2024-25 season, the South Hills program has grown to include 35 girls on the roster. This year, the South Hills boys wrestling team placed second in the CIF Southern Section Coastal Division, and the girls team placed third, both achieving the teams’ goals of finishing in the top five.
More than 350 Covina-Valley Unified students with exceptional needs, from transitional kindergarten through the Adult Transition Program, gathered at the District Field on Feb. 5 for the second annual Sports Festival, a high-energy event centered on inclusion, accessibility, and community. Students sported their schools’ shirts as they rotated through a variety of activity stations, including frisbee golf, javelin throw, basketball, soccer courses, bean bag toss, long jump, ribbon dance, and races, along with sensory areas, face painting, and cool-down spaces. Students earned bracelets and medals, heading home with flair and smiles.
Sierra Vista Middle School students represented Covina-Valley Unified at the Lone Hill Math Competition on Jan. 24, demonstrating resilience, teamwork, and strong mathematical skills. Competing against five other local schools, the Sierra Vista sixth-grade team earned first place overall, while the seventh-grade team secured third. Each team consisted of four students who volunteered through the Sierra Vista Math Club. Students competed in both individual and team-based rounds, tackling advanced math problems that tested critical thinking, collaboration, and speed.
Northview High School junior Julianne Fernandez and senior Genesis Sanchez are gaining firsthand insight into government and building real-world leadership skills through the Young Legislators Program hosted by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio’s office. The program selects just over 20 students from a pool of more than 100 applicants and consists of monthly, in-person meetings focused on civic engagement, public policy, and essential life skills. Through workshops, simulations, and direct interaction with policymakers, students gain an inside look at how state government operates and how decisions impact local communities.
Traweek Middle School is empowering students to build strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills through innovative, hands-on programs such as Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and Femineers, preparing students for success in high school pathways, college, and careers. PLTW is a project-based curriculum that blends creativity with real-world engineering and problem-solving skills. At Traweek, students are introduced to PLTW as early as sixth grade through the rotating elective wheel, allowing them to explore the program before committing to the class in later years. In seventh and eighth grade, students can enroll in introductory and advanced PLTW courses.
All three Covina-Valley Unified comprehensive high schools have been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll, a distinction that underscores the District’s commitment to providing rigorous academic opportunities that prepare students for success in higher education. Northview High School earned silver-level recognition, while Covina and South Hills high schools were each named bronze schools based on performance data from the Class of 2025.
South Hills High School senior Julian Libuit is part of a prestigious group of students nationwide to match with one of QuestBridge’s 55 college partners, earning a full four-year scholarship to Colgate University through the National College Match program. QuestBridge connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with top colleges and universities, offering the means to continue their educational journeys.
Rene Romero, an International Baccalaureate (IB) Language and Literature teacher at South Hills High School, has been named one of only five 2026 California Teachers of the Year, earning the honor for more than two decades of work empowering students to feel confident, capable, and prepared to pursue their goals. As a California Teacher of the Year, Romero now serves as an ambassador for education, demonstrating exemplary teaching, engaging with leaders in Sacramento, and promoting innovative practices that motivate and inspire both current and future educators.
