Nearly 300 students, families, staff members, and community partners gathered at Upland High School (UHS) on Feb. 12 for Upland Unified School District’s Fifth Annual Black History Night, an evening dedicated to honoring Black culture, uplifting student achievement, and strengthening community connections. The celebration showcased the extraordinary talents of Upland Unified students through poetry, spoken word, vocal performances, and dynamic dance presentations. A live DJ energized the crowd and led an interactive dance tutorial that invited audience members of all ages to take part, creating an atmosphere of unity, joy, and shared pride.
Upland Unified School District opened enrollment for its 2026 summer programs on March 2, offering academic support, enrichment activities, and arts instruction opportunities for students from transitional kindergarten through high school. Programs begin in June and families are encouraged to review deadlines carefully, as some programs have limited capacity. Summer Bridge, part of the District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, serves current TK through fifth grade students. The program will run from June 15 through July 23, Monday through Thursday, with Juneteenth observed as a holiday. The morning session includes instruction focused on reading, math, and social skills. Afternoon programming emphasizes enrichment activities, sports, and hands-on experiences. Enrollment closes April 17. All current TK–5 students who apply before the deadline are guaranteed placement.
Upland High School (UHS) celebrated the completion of its new athletic field on Feb. 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a major milestone for the school and broader community. The event honored the generous community partners and donors whose support made the project possible.Local dignitaries, school officials, students, and community members gathered to commemorate the occasion and honor Ralph Cavallo, a beloved community leader who was instrumental in bringing the project to life and who died in early February.
Upland Unified School District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of Upland High School’s newly renovated athletic facilities. The upgraded space features new artificial turf baseball and football multi-use fields as well as a new high-tech scoreboard and sound system.
Close to 600 teachers and paraeducators from across Upland Unified School District convened at Upland High School on Jan. 27 for the District’s first-ever technology summit, a professional development event designed to strengthen instructional practices through innovative and effective classroom technology.
Approximately 80 jazz ensembles, ranging from elementary school through college, will participate in the 52nd Annual Western States Jazz Festival, representing schools from throughout California. Student musicians will compete in multiple divisions based on age and experience level, showcasing their talent through performances of classic and contemporary jazz selections. Awards for first-, second-, and third-place will be presented in each division. The two-day festival will feature daily guest performances by Wayne Bergeron, an Emmy-nominated trumpeter whose work spans more than 500 television and motion picture productions, including Jeopardy! and Disney’s The Incredibles. Bergeron is widely recognized as one of today’s leading studio and jazz trumpet artists. The event is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase on site. Refreshments will be available for purchase. All proceeds from the festival will benefit the Upland High School Instrumental Music Program.
Upland High School celebrated student innovation during its annual Science Fair on Dec. 11, where nearly 100 students presented 67 imaginative, research-driven projects. Entries spanned seven scientific categories, giving students the opportunity to showcase their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to judges, staff, and peers. The Science Fair concluded with an evening Open House, where families viewed standout projects and joined the celebration of student achievement during an awards ceremony. In addition, UHS hosted a Districtwide Computer Science Family Night that offered hands-on activities, student demonstrations, and a Careers in Computer Science panel.
Upland Unified School District’s incoming freshmen got a first look at the high school experience during Upland High School’s signature transition events, Highlander Day and Incoming Families Night, which introduce future Highlanders to the school’s vibrant academic, arts, athletic, and extracurricular offerings, helping students and families build excitement and confidence as they prepare for the year ahead. Highlander Day invites approximately 800 eighth-grade students to Upland High School for an immersive, hands-on introduction to high school life. Students spend the day touring classrooms, exploring Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, participating in a club fair, meeting student-athletes, connecting with peer leaders, and taking part in a spirited pep rally led by Associated Student Body (ASB), cheer, and performance groups.
Upland Unified School District’s 14 schools have been honored by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for their strong implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), highlighting the District’s ongoing work to build supportive, inclusive campuses where students feel connected and ready to thrive. This year marks the first time that 13 out of 14 schools in Upland Unified earned recognition at the gold or platinum levels. Upland Elementary and Cabrillo Elementary received platinum recognition for the second time, while Baldy View and Pepper Tree elementary schools earned platinum for the first time. Citrus Elementary and Hillside High School achieved gold recognition for the first time and Foothill Knolls, Magnolia, Sierra Vista, Sycamore, and Valencia elementary schools earned repeat gold recognition. Upland High School received a repeat silver recognition.
Pathways Prep Academy, a new 9-12 charter high school opening in the 2026–27 school year, is coming to the city of Upland and expanding high school options in the West End region of San Bernardino county. Pathways Prep Academy is a “middle college,” a specialized high school model that allows students to earn up to two years of college credit tuition-free while completing their high school diploma, giving them a head start on college and career readiness. Upland Unified’s Board of Education recently approved the charter petition, and enrollment applications are now open. Designed to prepare students for success in both college and career, Pathways Prep Academy features small class sizes, capped at 25 students, and a smaller than average counselor-to-student ratio to ensure individualized academic and personal support. The program will cater to first generation high school students who are traditionally underrepresented or less successful in college settings, creating a supportive pathway to higher education.
