Upland Unified School District is transforming student wellness with dedicated wellness centers on all 14 campuses, providing safe and welcoming spaces that nurture mental health, foster connection, and ensure every student feels seen and supported, all through a bold initiative funded by District resources and grants. Each wellness center is tailored to meet the unique needs of its school community, but all share a calming atmosphere and dedicated staff who provide individualized and group support. Beginning in elementary school, students can visit centers to practice calming strategies such as deep breathing, light yoga stretches, or taking a short break with a book. At the middle school level, counselors lead proactive social skills groups and teach stress management strategies. High school wellness centers focus on student check-ins, emotional regulation, and quick “brain breaks” that allow students to reset and return to class ready to learn.
Upland Unified School District kicked off a successful start to the 2025-26 school year, marked by a heartwarming welcome for its youngest learners and the unveiling of an ambitious plan for program innovation. The District's commitment to fostering a strong sense of community and delivering exceptional education was evident as members of the administrative team visited all 317 homes of new transitional kindergarten students, personally welcoming them and providing home deliveries that included Upland Unified-branded shirts.
Upland Unified School District is transforming school meals from the ground up with a robust, innovative farm-to-school program that connects students with fresh, healthy, and locally grown produce, straight from local farms and gardens at each of the District’s 14 campuses. Every school site in the District now features a regenerative garden, maintained with the help of student interns from federally funded agriculture programs, Upland Unified students, and volunteers. These spaces serve as more than just gardens; they are outdoor classrooms and community hubs that foster hands-on learning, sustainability, and healthy eating habits.
Upland Unified School District (UUSD) is broadening its acclaimed Career Technical Education (CTE) program with the launch of three new pathways in Elementary Education, Agriscience, and Emergency Medical Responder. These additions will provide students with hands-on training and industry-relevant experience to prepare them for high-demand careers or further education. Building on its robust CTE program, UUSD’s new offerings will be taught by experienced industry professionals and provide students with practical, career-aligned instruction. The District currently offers 12 established pathways in Film, TV, & Video Production; Photography; Computer Science; Health Careers & Patient Care; Sports Medicine; Automotive Technology; Engineering Design; Residential & Commercial Construction; Welding & Materials Joining; Stage Technology and Production; Hip Hop Dance; and Modern Dance.
Celebratory cheers and thunderous applause filled Toyota Arena in Ontario as Upland Unified School District awarded diplomas to 778 graduates from Upland and Hillside high schools, sending the Class of 2025 on to their next chapter on June 5. The evening featured performances by the Upland High School concert and pipe bands and choir, as well as addresses from valedictorians and twin brothers Kaden and Kyle Huang, salutatorian Srinivas Gollapudi, Associated Student Body president Elyas Tejeda, and senior class president Alicia Mora.
Upland Unified School District has been recognized as “Favorite School District” in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, with four Upland Unified schools also voted as favorites, including Sierra Vista and Valencia elementary schools, Upland Junior High School, and Upland High School. The Inland Valley Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate excellence in education throughout the Inland Valley region and acknowledge institutions that have demonstrated exceptional academic programs, award-winning athletics, and a lasting impact on the lives of students. Votes were tallied from ballots that ran on the Daily Bulletin’s website throughout January and February.
Upland Unified School District is hosting its 15th annual Fusion Fest, a celebration of student creativity, learning, and achievement across all grade levels. The event will showcase the talents of students from the District’s ten elementary schools, two junior highs, and both comprehensive and continuation high schools. Attendees will enjoy a wide array of student work spanning visual and performing arts, career technical education programs, and, for the first time, engaging science demonstrations – all led by students.
Upland High School concluded its spring sports season with the unveiling of a new, state-of-the-art multi-sports athletic complex, a transformative addition designed to elevate the school’s athletic programs, support the performing arts, and foster greater school spirit and community pride. The newly completed space features artificial turf baseball and football fields, a high-tech scoreboard and sound system, and lighted batting cages. It will directly serve student-athletes in baseball, golf, and flag football, while also supporting practices for other sports and accommodating color guard and percussion rehearsals. Physical education classes will also benefit from use of the modernized facilities.
Upland Junior High School has been honored as a Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model Program (RAMP) by ASCA – an achievement that reflects the school’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every student has access to the resources, guidance, and support needed to thrive. This national recognition is the culmination of a rigorous three-year process in which Upland Junior High demonstrated the strength of its comprehensive, data-driven counseling program and its positive impact on student outcomes. This school year, only 190 schools across 29 states received the prestigious RAMP designation.
