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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Class of 2025 Earn National Scholarships for Ivy League, State Universities

    Whittier Union High School District seniors are preparing to take their next steps this fall, heading to colleges and universities across the country, with many leaving lasting legacies through academic achievement, leadership, and national recognition. Across Whittier Union, students are earning prestigious scholarships and acceptances to top-tier universities. Pioneer High School’s Olivia Jimenez was awarded the $50,000 Edison Scholarship and will attend Harvard University this fall. California High School’s Jonas Sanchez is heading to West Point, La Serna High School’s Aidan Reyes will attend Princeton University, and Whittier High School’s Edward Navarro will join Stanford University.

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  • Service-Minded California High Health Academy Lead Named Whittier Union’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

    California High School Health Academy coordinator and science teacher Laurie Thomas has devoted four decades of her life to inspiring students through hands-on learning, critical thinking, and unwavering support – earning her the title of Whittier Union High School District’s (WUHSD) 2025 Teacher of the Year. Thomas has taught at WUHSD for 25 years, beginning her journey at California High as a physics teacher. Motivated by a desire to help a friend in need, she briefly stepped away from the classroom to attend nursing school, becoming a registered nurse in 2006. When she returned to Whittier Union, Thomas was invited to lead the school’s Health Academy.

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  • Whittier Union Chess Club Celebrates Successes While Inspiring Academic Leaders

    For more than 20 years, the Whittier High School Chess Club has provided students with opportunities to match wits with classmates, develop their math, logic, and problem-solving skills, and engage with fellow chess enthusiasts from other schools throughout the state and nation. From a team perspective, the WHS Chess Club has dominated the Del Rio League, capturing the league title 12 times since 2008, being crowned Southern California Chess Federation (SCCF) State champions twice, while its junior varsity (JV) team has secured first place in the SCCF seven times. In the early 2020s, WHS female correspondence players dominated the United States Chess women’s correspondence rankings.

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2 Whittier Union Students Awarded $30,000 in Scholarships

Two Santa Fe High School graduating seniors, who have developed a passion to give back to their community and inspire those around them, have collectively earned $30,000 in scholarships from the Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce to pursue their dreams as first-generation college students. Students Sarah Garcia and Jennisa Casillas are among seven recipients of a Destiny Scholarship, awarded by the Chamber/League Youth Enrichment Fund. Casillas won $10,000 while Garcia was named the winner of the $20,000 Destiny Scholarship, aimed at providing students the opportunity to change their direction in life, or their “destiny.”

Whittier Union Celebrates Nearly 3,000 Graduates

El Monte Union High School District honored more than 2,000 members of the Class of 2018 in commencement ceremonies. The District celebrated 530 graduating seniors from Arroyo High School, 427 students from El Monte High School, 322 students from Mountain View High, 394 seniors from Rosemead High and 305 students from South El Monte High. Fernando R. Ledesma graduated 75 students and the El Monte-Rosemead Adult School celebrated 90 students. Together, the five comprehensive high schools produced 58 valedictorians with GPAs of 4.2 or higher.

Whittier Union Students Celebrate College, Career Choices

Whittier Union High School District students took their first steps toward the next chapter of their academic futures during College Signing Day Ceremonies and Decision Day celebrations hosted by each comprehensive high school. Students signed “I’m Going to College” posters, decorated emblems and took celebratory group photos.

Whittier Union AVID Student Named 2018 Dell Scholar, Receives $20,000 Scholarship

Pioneer High School senior Nylah Garcia was born under unusual circumstances, with her mother diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. Throughout a difficult childhood, Garcia was determined to be the first member of her family to attend college, finding support as an Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student. On April 10, Garcia was named a 2018 Dell Scholar by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and will receive a $20,000 scholarship to help pay for her education at Cal State Long Beach.

Santa Fe High School Senior’s Quiet Leadership Earns Admiration from Peers, Teachers

Santa Fe High School senior Analyse Garcia has developed an unparalleled drive and profound focus for success. A quiet leader, Garcia’s concentration on academics, community service, athletics and extracurricular activities have earned her respect, recognition and admiration from her peers, school and District. Garcia, who carries a 4.12 GPA and places in the top 5 percent of Santa Fe’s senior class, was recognized by the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees with a Certificate of Merit on April 10.

Whittier Union Schools to Celebrate College-Bound Scholars with College Signing Day Ceremonies

Hundreds of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students from Whittier Union High School District will take their first steps toward the next chapter of their academic futures during College Signing Day ceremonies. Pioneer High School will hold its celebration at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. Whittier High School will hold its rally at 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. Santa Fe High School will hold its event at noon Wednesday, May 2.

Pioneer High School Stages ‘Every 15 Minutes’ to Display Perils of Impaired Driving

Broken glass and car parts littered the street in front of Pioneer High School as the motionless body of a student lay on the hood of the vehicle, her feet caught where the windshield once was – a stark and unforgettable start to the “Every 15 Minutes” two-day program. Presented to Pioneer High School juniors and seniors on April 4-5, “Every 15 Minutes” shows the lethal and unforgiving consequences of operating a vehicle while distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs by displaying a trio of scenarios, beginning with a simulated car crash.

Whittier Union Opens Enrollment for Escalante Summer Math Academy

Pioneer High School is accepting applications for its 28th annual Jaime Escalante Summer Math Academy, giving Whittier middle and high school students a jumpstart on their math classes and preparing them to take on advanced college-level courses. Named after famous Garfield High School calculus teacher Jaime Escalante, the six-week summer program offers students the opportunity to take classes in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis or Calculus. Pre-Algebra is new this year for sixth- and seventh-graders, who can take Algebra in eighth grade and continue advancing while in high school.

Cal High Choir Performs at Prestigious All-State Choral Festival

The California High School Chamber Choir celebrated 15 years of harmonic excellence with a performance at the prestigious California Music Educators Association (CMEA) 2018 All-State Choral Festival in March, part of a busy spring schedule that included an annual community goodwill tour of local nonprofits. Cal High was one of six high schools in the state to be selected to take part in the 2018 All-State Choral Festival, earning a Superior rating from the judges, the highest rating level. The group will next perform with the Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, May 18.

Cal High Senior’s Resilience After Tragedy Recognized by Whittier Union

California High School senior April Ramirez was a happy, high-achieving student when her father was diagnosed with cancer and passed away when she was 9 years old. Dedicating herself to a life of great accomplishments, Ramirez enrolled as a freshman in Cal High’s acclaimed college prep and academic support program, Puente, feeling that attending a university would be the best way to honor her father’s memory. She has gained acceptance so far from San Jose State University and has earned a full-ride scholarship to Whittier College. She was recognized with an Award of Merit from the Whitter Union High School District Board of Trustees.