The South El Monte High School Lady Eagles volleyball team made history when it captured its first-ever CIF-Southern Section (CIF-SS) Div. 9 championship, defeating Nogales High School in a nail-biting five-set thriller on Nov. 8. The championship provided a memorable sendoff for a tight-knit coterie of seniors who came close to a title in 2024, and a homecoming for coach and South El Monte physical education teacher Kristina Puckett, who returned to lead the team after a yearslong hiatus.
The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) marked a momentous milestone this fall with the launch of its CIF-sanctioned girls flag football program, engaging student-athletes from all five comprehensive high schools and providing a platform to compete, develop skills, and enjoy a new athletic experience. The initiative began last year when South El Monte High School (SEMHS) and Rosemead High School introduced girls flag football as a CIF sport. Their early success and strong student interest encouraged El Monte, Mountain View, and Arroyo high schools to join this school year, creating a Districtwide program that expands athletic opportunities for female students.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) and two of its campuses—Arroyo High School and El Monte High School—have been recognized among California’s top-performing institutions, earning placement on the Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) 2025 Honor Roll. The ERP Honor Roll recognizes schools and districts that consistently demonstrate high levels of student achievement, California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) scores, improvement over time, and reduced achievement gaps among historically underserved student populations. Approximately 21% of eligible districts statewide earned this distinction in 2025.
El Monte High School history teacher Sara Quezada, a 37-year educator known for her innovative teaching and steadfast dedication to students, has been named El Monte Union High School District’s 2025-26 Teacher of the Year. Quezada, who has spent the last decade inspiring learners at El Monte High, was honored during a Board meeting on Oct. 15.
Arroyo High School (AHS) teacher Tony Wong was honored by Assemblymember Mike Fong as one of 14 educators recognized during Fong’s third annual Outstanding Educators Awards ceremony on Sept. 13 at the Garvey Community Center in Rosemead. Selected from hundreds of nominees across the 49th Assembly District, Wong was praised for his dedication to student success and his leadership in transforming the school’s advanced mathematics programs. The awards highlight educators who go above and beyond to support their students at all grade levels.
Rosemead High School (RHS) English teacher Stacy Lim returned as a first-time mom from maternity leave late in the 2024-25 school year, feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed about providing for her son while she was working. She was quickly comforted, however, by the knowledge that she had resources and privacy at school to help make her transition easier with the District’s newly installed Mamava Lactation Pods, a secure, sanitary, and safe space for breastfeeding parents.
Mountain View High School students, staff, and the El Monte Union community celebrated the completion of the school’s Modernization Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 9. The event highlighted major campus upgrades including classrooms, athletic facilities, redesigned landscaping and outdoor seating, and infrastructure improvements. The ceremony featured speeches from Principal Jose Bañas, Associated Student Body President Heidi Scanlan, El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees President Florencio Briones, and Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga, followed by a taco dinner for the community.
In an emotional tribute to three community leaders whose vision and dedication transformed the lives of generations of students, the El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) officially dedicated the newly renovated multi-purpose building and gymnasium at Fernando R. Ledesma High School (FRLHS), renaming it the Freddy and Bernie Arteaga and Frank Ogaz Center on Aug. 27. The evening ceremony brought together families, staff, alumni, and community members to honor the Arteaga brothers and the late Frank Ogaz for their decades of service to students. The celebration featured heartfelt speeches, special recognitions, a ceremonial unveiling and ribbon-cutting, and a community taco dinner.
The El Monte Union High School District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of construction for Mountain View High School’s (MVHS) Modernization Project. The project features enhancements to the entire campus, including classrooms, redesigned landscaping and outdoor seating, softball/baseball field improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and more. The event will include a welcome reception, student performances, and speeches.
Cheer squads, marching bands, and colorful balloons welcomed more than 7,200 students back to El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) on Aug. 19, as campuses came alive with enthusiasm and pride for the 2025-26 school year. Associated Student Body (ASB) and Link Crew leaders across the District greeted students with music, cheers, hand-made posters, chalk art, and photo stations, while parents lined entrances to snap photos and celebrate the start of the school year. Districtwide, campuses also kicked off the year with spirited assemblies, pep rallies, and themed spirit weeks.
