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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Adult School Plumbing Program Success Recognized by South Bay Workforce

    The Whittier Union Adult School’s (WUAS) Plumbing 1 class has served as a pipeline of employment since its inception in 2022, with the career technical education (CTE) course providing students with expert guidance that emphasizes employability, efficiency, accuracy, and relationship-building. Preparing the next generation of plumbers, the class currently has an 80% employment rate. The rapid success of the program has been recognized by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB), who awarded WUAS with its 2025 Outstanding Program Performance Award. The school will receive its award at SBWIB’s 30th Annual Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 30 at the Torrance Marriott South Bay.

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  • Whittier Union Celebrates Community, Student Success at Inaugural State of the District Event

    Whittier Union High School District spotlighted its success in preparing students for bright futures during its inaugural State of the District event on Oct. 1, engaging nearly 200 community members, elected officials, students, families, and staff with a catered dinner reception, live student performances, and a program that emphasized strong community partnerships and a deep commitment to academic excellence. The event, held at California High School and generously sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, was attended by state leaders such as Senator Bob Archuleta and Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco. Local leaders in attendance included Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Whittier City Councilmembers Cathy Warner and Mary Ann Pacheco, Whittier City Manager Conal McNamara, Santa Fe Springs Mayor Bill Rounds, Norwalk Councilmember Ana Valencia, and La Mirada City Councilmember Michelle Velasquez Bean.

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  • Whittier Union Senior Receives Award of Merit for Leadership, Commitment to Mental Wellness

    Pioneer High School senior Nydia Palacios is known as a natural leader and an academic role model who loves to challenge herself, acquiring both high school and college credits at a lightning pace while enjoying as many extracurricular activities as she can fit into one day. Palacios, who boasts a 4.05 GPA, entered her senior year with 286 credits, which far exceeds the traditional 220 credits needed to graduate. Palacios has also gotten a start on higher education, having completed seven community college dual enrollment courses, in addition to her myriad campus leadership positions and musical and athletic pursuits as a member of the PHS Jazz Band, track & field, and girl’s cross-country teams. Palacios’ love of volunteering has seen her devote countless hours to help serve those in need, whether she is engaging in afterschool tutoring for the Boys and Girls Club, or serving as a Youth Leader for her church. Palacios has also emerged as a campus leader. She is currently president of Pioneer’s PTSA Club and as a junior was vice president of the school site council.

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Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship Students Achieve Their Dreams

Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship class teachers are known for continually showering their students with care, support, devotion and celebrations as they navigate the steps of becoming a U.S. citizen, accomplishing what is a lifelong dream for many. Teachers Jesus DeLaTorre and Katherine Herrick provide their students with application assistance and help refine their grammar, pronunciation, dictation and reading skills in preparation for their citizenship interview. DeLaTorre and Herrick also provide instruction in American history and government to further prepare students for the citizenship test.

Whittier Union Maintenance Worker Celebrates Chicano Culture in Award-Winning Documentary

History will be made when the California Museum screens “The Great American Lowrider Tradition,” an award-winning car culture documentary created and produced by Pioneer High School maintenance custodian Martin Torrez, as part of the museum’s Fall programming celebrating the rich history, artistry and impact of low rider culture. The film will be screened on Saturday, Oct. 21, followed by a Q&A with Torrez and documentary subjects from the film. The screening will be the first time a movie exploring American car culture will be presented at the museum and represents a major advancement in telling the first-hand stories of lowrider enthusiasts who endured decades-long racial discrimination for pursuing their passions and celebrating their Chicano heritage.

Whittier Union Students Participate in Prestigious Scholars Program, Aim to Gain Admission to Top-Tier Universities

Three Whittier High School seniors have taken a significant step towards achieving their dreams of attending a top-tier university after high school by securing coveted spots in the prestigious and highly-selective University of Southern California’s (USC) Bovard Scholars program. Whittier High seniors Diana Nguyen, Fabiola Ramirez and Cynthia Flores participated in a three-week intensive program this summer that began with a week of online preparation, followed by two weeks on USC’s campus free of charge. The USC Bovard Scholars program connects underrepresented, first-generation students with higher education resources and coaching opportunities, helping them to gain admission and succeed at the nation’s top universities.

Whittier Union Intervention Specialist Honored with Extra Yard for Teachers Award

La Serna High School intervention specialist Lisa Barnes received the surprise of a lifetime on Sept. 19, when a routine meeting with La Serna principal Griselda Castro turned into a celebration for the popular instructor, who was named a 2023 Extra Yard for Teachers recipient by the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and the Pac-12 football conference. UCLA assistant director of marketing Bri Hutchings virtually presented Barnes with a $1,000 donors gift card. The Extra Yard for Teachers program was initiated by the CFP Foundation to reward teachers and elevate the teaching profession by implementing and supporting activities related to resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development.

Whittier Union Senior Honored with Award of Merit for Outstanding Leadership, Perseverance

Pioneer High School senior Christian Figueroa has always valued the importance of in-person connections, which motivated him to become a highly involved student and participate in multiple extracurricular activities and sports – all while maintaining a 4.41 GPA. During his time at Pioneer High, Figueroa has excelled academically, taking seven honors courses, 10 Advanced Placement classes and a dual-enrollment course at Río Hondo College. For his academic accomplishments and his commitment to learning, Figueroa was honored with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during a meeting on Sept. 12.

Whittier Union Celebrated for Academic Excellence in 2023-24 ‘Best High Schools’ Rankings

Whittier Union High School District’s commitment to academic excellence, evidenced in its Whatever It Takes philosophy, is reflected in the recent U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 high school rankings, with all five of its comprehensive schools ranked in the top half of high schools in California and the top third of high schools nationwide. The rankings, which measure school success metrics such as graduation rates and college-readiness, consider multiple factors that include AP exam pass rates, proficiency in math, reading and science, enrollment and the percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students in the District. Whittier Union is home to two California Distinguished Schools, five California Gold Ribbon Schools, two AVID National Demonstration schools, two AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award-winning schools and a Model Continuation High School.

Whittier Union Educators Experience Living History During Visit to Poland, Auschwitz

Three Whittier Union history teachers received an up-close look at living history when they participated in the Auschwitz Legacy Program, a one-week trip to Poland in July that included tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto, as well as access to archives of letters and personal items saved from Holocaust victims during World War II. John Bellanti of Whittier High School, Gena Arriola-Salas of Pioneer High School and MaryAnn Fajardo of Frontier High School joined a group of 30 educators and Holocaust researchers from across the United States as part of an education initiative created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation to keep the memories of victims alive.

Whittier Union Students to Host Annual Districtwide College Fair

Whittier Union High School District students will fill the California High School quad to learn more about their post-secondary options and forge a path to their future during the 2023 Districtwide College Fair at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from more than 50 colleges – which include several UC and CSU campuses, along with private schools, community colleges, trade schools, United States Armed Forces and out-of-state universities – to gain insight to each school’s offerings and fill out registration cards for more information. California High is located at 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier.

Whittier Union Receives Top Rating for General Obligation Funds

Whittier Union was awarded an Aa1 credit rating by Moody’s Investor Service ahead of its second Measure AA bond issuance of $45.9 million, a high-grade rating that gives investors assurance that the District is financially sound and has the revenues and cash reserves to pay its debts. In awarding the top credit rating, Moody’s cited the District’s prudent fiscal practices and ability to maintain additional reserves outside of its general fund. The credit rating will help garner favorable interest rates when the District conducts its bond sale, which will lower the tax liability to property owners in the Whittier Union area.