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.
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.
Santa Fe High School students received an opportunity to join the democratic process during a National Voter Registration Day rally on Sept. 19, hosted in partnership with Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco. During the event, nearly three dozen Santa Fe students registered to vote or filled out paperwork to ensure they are “Vote Ready” when they turn 18 years old.
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 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.
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 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.
Amid an air of excitement and anticipation, more than 10,000 Whittier Union High School District students stepped onto campuses adorned with vibrant posters, balloons and red carpets on the much-awaited first day of school on Aug. 16. Across the District, students were welcomed onto campuses and greeted by energetic ASB and Link Crew members, cheer and song teams, principals and administrators. During the morning rush, band and color guard ensembles played exhilarating tunes, creating an engaging and positive campus atmosphere for students and setting the stage for a successful 2023-24 academic year. The District also hosted its annual Freshman First Day on Aug. 15 – a tradition that seeks to build camaraderie between incoming freshmen and their new school community.
Two Whittier Union high schools have been recognized for their success in guiding students toward completing rigorous coursework required to attend a California four-year university, significantly narrowing the achievement and equity gap, and providing students an opportunity to have greater success in higher education and pursue their dream career. Santa Fe and Pioneer high school students are completing their A-G coursework at rates far above the California average, and across numerous demographic subgroups, including socioeconomically disadvantaged, Latinx, Black and English Learner. Schoolwide A-G completion rates are 76% for Pioneer High and 65% for Santa Fe High. The California completion rate average is just over 40%.
