Fontana Unified School District celebrated a year of student achievement, innovation, and opportunity during its annual State of the District on April 22, centered on the theme “Opening Doors: Students Dream. Students Lead. Students Rise.” The event, held at Jurupa Hills High School, brought together students, families, educators, and community leaders to highlight the District’s commitment to preparing every student for success in college, career, and beyond. The event began with a spotlight on student talent, as Summit High School’s orchestra welcomed guests, joined by cheerleaders from Maple Elementary, Chaparral Academy of Technology, and Harry S. Truman and Sequoia middle schools. Inside the theater, Kaiser High School’s orchestra continued the program with a dynamic musical performance, with A.B. Miller High School student Ralston Good leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Jurupa Hills High School student Paige Pedroza singing the national anthem, setting the tone for an afternoon centered on student talent.
Cypress Elementary School students now have access to a calming sensory environment and expanded hands-on learning opportunities through the school’s newly revitalized campus garden, unveiled during an Earth Day ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22. More than 200 students, staff, community members, and representatives from partner organizations attended the celebration, with Earth Day-themed signs and balloons lining the garden as attendees gathered for the unveiling. Cypress Garden Club students worked for weeks planting the new garden for their peers to enjoy.
Two Fontana High School (FOHI) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) cadets are preparing to take the next step in their academic and military journeys after earning highly competitive naval scholarships, a milestone capping off a year of success for FOHI’s MCJROTC program. Cadet Stephanie Mendoza has been awarded a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship, valued at approximately $180,000, which will cover the cost of her undergraduate education and would lead to a commission as an officer in the United States Navy. Cadet Yamileth Velasco has been accepted into the Naval Preparatory Program (NPP) at Norwich University, a pathway that covers a full year of preparatory study before transitioning into a four-year NROTC scholarship, bringing the total value to an estimated $370,000.
Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) earned multiple top honors from the California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA), including three Awards of Excellence, recognizing the District’s high-impact outreach efforts that elevate student and District successes and strengthen connections with the community. CalSPRA’s Awards of Excellence represent the organization’s highest level of recognition, honoring outstanding work in school communications across California. The awards highlight Fontana Unified’s ability to deliver impactful messaging while building trust and fostering strong community relationships.
Fontana Unified School District students will compete in a high-energy SoCal Design-Build competition, where teams race against the clock to construct a fully functional structure while demonstrating real-world construction, engineering, and teamwork skills. A collaborative team made up of 10 Fontana High School students and five Eric Birch High School students will compete against other groups across Southern California to design and complete construction of an 80-square-foot shed, which includes its framing, a window, door, and electrical components.
A.B. Miller High School has been recognized as a 2026 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE), highlighting its commitment to academic achievement and closing achievement gaps. The CDE selects California Distinguished Schools based on data reported on the California Dashboard, recognizing schools that show significant progress in academic performance, student engagement, and school culture and climate, using state indicators such as English language arts and math performance, graduation rates, and suspension rates.
In celebration of Earth Day, Cypress Elementary School will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its newly revitalized campus garden. The restoration was a community effort between Fontana Unified School District families and staff, SoCalGas, Kellogg, and Lowe’s, each of whom donated time and resources to transform the space into an outdoor learning area. The garden will provide students with opportunities to explore sustainability, learn about the stages of food production, and develop an understanding of where their food comes from.
State Sen. Eloise Reyes recognized Fontana Adult School citizenship teacher Lynnette Browning as a Woman of Distinction during the 10th annual Woman of the Year event on April 10 for her passion in helping immigrants prepare for their naturalization interview and becoming United States citizens. As Fontana Adult School’s citizenship teacher since 2018, Browning has seen extraordinary results. During the 2023-24 school year, 53 students passed their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) exam to become citizens. The number rose to 57 during the 2024-25 school year. Thus far in the 2025-26 school year, 19 students have become citizens, with three students waiting to take their oaths and more than 65 students waiting for a USCIS appointment date.
The Fontana School Police Department (FSPD) will host the School Resource Officer Association of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties meeting, bringing together regional law enforcement and school safety partners to strengthen collaboration and coordinate proactive safety efforts across local schools.
The association brings together representatives from a variety of local law enforcement agencies and school safety organizations to discuss topics including current safety trends on school campuses, how to enhance collaboration between school sites and law enforcement, and best practices aimed at strengthening student safety and well-being.
Fontana High School students are preparing to become the next generation of health care professionals through the school’s Nursing Assistant Program, with students in the 2025-26 school year earning a notable 99 percent pass rate on the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) state exam. This pass rate positions Fontana High graduates for success beyond high school, preparing them to pursue their education in prestigious nursing programs or enter the workforce immediately as certified nursing assistants.
