BUSD 2024-25 Report to the Community

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BONITA UNIFIED

2024-25

Report to the Community Preparing Every Student to Live Their Purpose

District Accolades California Distinguished Schools 2024 Model Continuation High School National Blue Ribbon Schools

Superintendent’s Message

2022 and 2023

Favorite School District

2023, 2024, and 2025 SGV Readers Choice Awards

Favorite High School, SDHS 2023 Inland Valley Readers Choice Awards

Best School District

2022 SGV Readers Choice Awards

2025 National ProStart Invitational Champions in Culinary AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award (Bonita High School and San Dimas High School) #1 in Reading Comprehension California Reading Report Card, 2021 and 2022

All elementary schools in the top 32% of California elementary schools 2025 Best K-8 Schools Rankings

Both middle schools among the Top 21% of California middle schools, 2025 Best K-8 Schools Rankings

Both comprehensive high schools in the Top 15% of high schools nationwide 2025 Best K-8 Schools Rankings

Board of Education Chris Ann Horsley, President

Derek Bahmanou, Vice President Jim Elliot, Clerk

Brittany Allison, Member

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Greg Palatto, Member

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115 W. Allen Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773 @BonitaUSD (909) 971-8200 | do.bonita.k12.ca.us

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Dear Bonita Unified Community, At Bonita Unified School District, we are committed to seeking new ways to raise the bar for academic achievement, extracurricular success, and student opportunity. This year, our students and staff have once again demonstrated what is possible when a district remains focused on preparing every student to live their purpose by providing a well-rounded education.

Bonita Unified achieved its highest-ever scores on the 2023-24 state assessments in English language arts and math and fully mitigated the academic effects of the pandemic in both subjects – a feat achieved by less than five percent of unified school districts in the state. These successes also paved the way for the District’s 21st California Distinguished School award and inclusion in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best K-8 Schools rankings.

Beyond the classroom, our students continue to thrive in the arts and athletics. This year, a record 28 BUSD students were selected to perform in Southern California Vocal Association Honor Choirs, and for the second time in five years, Bonita High School choirs delivered a masterful performance at Carnegie Hall, showcasing the strength of Bonita Unified’s performing arts programming on a national stage.

Our student-athletes have also achieved historic seasons this year. The San Dimas High School girls water polo team won the CIF Southern Section (CIFSS) Division 4 championship, and both Bonita and San Dimas high schools’ girls flag football teams qualified for the postseason in the inaugural year of CIF-SS play.

None of this would be possible without our dedicated educators, engaged families, and resilient students. By maintaining our focus on equity, mastery, and results, we are creating the conditions for every student to grow, achieve, and lead with purpose.

Sincerely,

Matt Wien

Superintendent

Bonita Unified Achieves Highest-Ever English and Math Scores Bonita Unified School District students achieved record-setting scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) in 2023-24, reflecting the District’s success in fully overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic performance.

The spring 2024 results – which marked an all-time high in both subjects for the District – show an increase over 2022-23 scores, which already marked significant progress in mitigating learning loss related to the pandemic.

The spring 2024 scores place the District’s ELA program in the top eight percent and its math program in the top nine percent of unified school districts in California. Anne Neal, Bonita Unified’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, attributes the record scores to the District’s continued emphasis on student mastery of standards, its continuous improvement model, and its effective use of differentiated instruction.

Over the last three years, Bonita Unified bolstered its instruction by providing staff and intervention services to get students back on track following the pandemic. These efforts included: •

Hiring elementary-level reading and math intervention teachers to provide additional instruction

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Increasing paraeducator support in classrooms to assist with academic intervention for students

Prior to the pandemic, Bonita Unified’s scores had improved 15 percentage points in both ELA and math over a five-year period; now that the District has mitigated learning loss, it will seek to continue a trajectory of growth in the coming years.

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“It is truly a collective effort; our administrators, teachers and staff are all aligned in their mission to support student achievement in every way we can, and our students have proven themselves willing and able to put in the effort to learn and succeed.”

Anne Neal

Bonita Unified’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

Less than five percent of unified school districts in California have mitigated the impacts of COVID-19 in both subjects.

Number of BUSD students who met or exceeded standards ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

MATH

2024

72.5%

2024

2023

72%

2023

2022

68%

2022

60.5% 58% 54% 3

Senior Spotlight Jazmine Cardenas San Dimas High School

San Dimas High School senior Jazmine Cardenas is no stranger to advocacy. Through her involvement as a member of the UNICEF National Youth Council, the YWCA San Gabriel Valley and the Harvard Youth Corps, Cardenas has fought for children’s rights and victims of domestic violence, and helped to unite students from different cultural backgrounds.

Cardenas, who has a 4.17 GPA and has taken six Advanced Placement courses and nine dual enrollment college courses, will take her love for policy-making to New York City after being accepted into Columbia University’s exclusive Barnard College, which has an acceptance rate of less than 9%. Cardenas plans to major in political science with a concentration on international relations and a minor in public policy.

“I am very amazed and full of disbelief and gratitude for being accepted to Barnard College,” Cardenas said. “I’m so excited for this. Ultimately, I would love to work with the United Nations and do

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humanitarian work or be a policy specialist. Really, I just want to make change.”

Cardenas founded the school’s United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Club as a junior and has seen it quickly turn into one of the most popular clubs on campus.

“Jazmine is a tremendous student who has developed into an academic leader and role model on campus through her ability to connect with her classmates and inspire them to advocate and fight for just causes.”

Omar Mayen, Principal San Dimas High School

As one of just 14 students across the United States to be selected as a member of the

UNICEF National Youth Council, Cardenas attended the annual 2024 UNICEF Gala, where she got to meet and talk with the UNICEF CEO. “What is great about UNICEF is that they listen to their youth voices, and allow them to come up with our own panel to tell the adults in the room how to incorporate our voices into their policy,” Cardenas said.

Cardenas has volunteered at the YWCA San Gabriel Valley since she came to San Dimas as a sophomore, which led to a summer internship where she worked with the legal and human resources departments.

Cardenas also helped organize a YWCA youth advisory boardled Peace Walk for domestic violence victims, bringing with her many members of San Dimas’ UNICEF Club.

Gladstone Elementary: A 2025 California Distinguished School Gladstone Elementary has earned its first-ever California Distinguished School recognition from the California Department of Education (CDE), marking the 21st time a Bonita Unified school has been honored for closing the achievement gap and demonstrating exceptional student performance.

This year, 336 elementary schools received the California Distinguished School award, putting the Griffins in the top 6% of elementary schools in the state. The CDE uses multiple metrics to select California Distinguished Schools each year, such as chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, and scores in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics, as measured on the California School Dashboard.

Gladstone’s gains in state testing reflect instruction through small-group learning, particularly in early literacy and foundational math skills, principal Phil Heng said. Teachers differentiate lessons to match student needs, using ongoing assessment data and observations to adapt instruction in real time.

This approach is especially apparent in reading instruction, where students are given time and space to master essential skills at their own pace. The school also integrates programs like the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) to further

support early literacy development.

“We use data and observations to identify and support struggling students—looking at assessment results, attendance, behavior, and class engagement. We bring those observations to data team meetings, where we focus on the whole child, addressing both academic and socialemotional needs,” fifth-grade teacher Tracy Pang said.

“Monitoring progress, keeping families involved, and staying flexible has been key to closing achievement gaps.”

Hands-on learning also plays a critical role in Gladstone’s math instruction. Educators incorporate daily math talks, manipulatives, and real-world scenarios to build deeper conceptual understanding and confidence among students. Staff credit these practices, combined with a strong culture of collaboration and mentoring between veteran and new teachers, as essential drivers of student success.

Beyond academics, Gladstone focuses on fostering a positive school culture through campus events and community-building activities—including student-led assemblies, field trips, and visits from guest speakers—that promote student engagement and belonging and support social-emotional development.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

MATHEMATICS

Scores increased 14 points since 2023

Scores increased 18.9 points since 2023

Students scored 33.1 points above state standard

Students scored 23 points above state standard 5

BUSD Pathways: Paving the Way for Career Opportunities As part of its commitment to preparing every Bonita Unified student to live their purpose, the District has continued to expand its career and technical education program to include hands-on, engaging learning opportunities and comprehensive courses.

Referred to as BUSD Pathways, the CTE offerings include 14 instructional pathways offered at the District’s high schools, covering:

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Accounting

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Graphic Design

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Animation

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Health Careers

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Athletic Training

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Photography

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Automotive Technology

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Public Safety

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Cosmetology

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Sports Medicine

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Cybersecurity

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Video Production

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Food Service & Hospitality

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Visual Communication

In addition to these formal pathways, Bonita and San Dimas high schools offer courses to develop career skills in jewelry making, sports management, computer science, psychology, visual and performing arts, engineering, and more.

However, the District’s CTE opportunities extend beyond the high schools and the traditional school day. Since Vanessa Tilford took the helm as the District’s CTE coordinator, BUSD Pathways has developed new partnerships with industry professionals and introduced additional work-based learning opportunities to provide students with greater exposure to industry programs and help them make informed decisions about their professional futures.

Such opportunities have included internships in social work, psychology, and nursing with the San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center; volunteer opportunities at Casa Colina hospital; a 16-week, low- to no-cost welding certification pilot program at the Welding Certification Center through a partnership with Pomona Valley America’s Job Center of California and the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity; summer CTE programs at Cal Poly Pomona, Citrus College, Mt. SAC, and the Claremont Colleges focused on engineering, architecture, theater, interior design, welding, mentoring, and waste management; a cosmetology and barbering certification program through the San Antonio Regional Occupational Program; and more.

Students have also benefitted from field trips to colleges and businesses to learn about specific industries and educational offerings and attend informational events such as the Skilled Trades Fair and Career and Community Resources Fair.

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Staff Spotlight Vanessa Tilford CTE Coordinator

Vanessa Tilford has a passion for helping high school students find their passion. As BUSD’s CTE coordinator, Tilford partners with local businesses to provide students with careerbuilding opportunities, such as acquiring an industry-standard certificate or a college-level internship.

Tilford, a Bonita High School alumna and former Bonita High counselor, feels that the traditional approach of encouraging students to attend a four-year university while having limited exposure to career paths does a disservice to many students.

“I was a counselor at Bonita High for several years and saw a lot of students making huge decisions about college without having any idea of what they wanted to do,” Tilford said.

“For many students, taking CTE courses in high school and attending community college before they commit to a university is a more realistic, and much more affordable, option.”

Tilford took an untraditional path into education herself, attending Citrus College for two years before transferring to USC, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Tilford worked for a few years as a pharmaceutical salesperson, a job that paid extremely well but left Tilford feeling unfulfilled.

Remembering her years as a peer counselor while attending Bonita High, Tilford made a career switch, earning her CBEST credential as well as a master’s degree in educational counseling at Azusa Pacific University, before being hired at a charter school. Tilford returned to Bonita Unified in 2014.

Since being named Bonita Unified’s CTE coordinator in fall 2022, she has established partnerships with the local colleges, universities, businesses, and government agencies that have led to new internships, field trips, training programs and more, giving scores of BUSD students the opportunity to find a career that resonates with them.

“This is the perfect job for me. I couldn’t ask for a better situation, Bonita Unified saw the need for coordinated CTE education and what great opportunities it brings for our students. My job is to light a fire, spark an interest, and plant a seed in student’s minds. When I see kids discovering new skills and looking to pursue jobs that fit well with their future, it’s a great feeling.”

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Senior Spotlight Sofia Bejarano Chaparral-Vista High School

Sofia Bejarano arrived at Chaparral-Vista High School in her junior year, feeling disconnected from school and full of self-doubt. By the end of her junior year, she realized she had not only found the supportive learning community needed to help her thrive in school, but had discovered something more important: her true self.

“Chaparral-Vista is special because of the way everyone cares and everyone wants you to do better,” Bejarano said. “The staff and students here are always trying to uplift you, to encourage you to keep trying and change your old habits.

Because of that, I was able to find my own person, come out of my shell, and figure out what I’m good at and what I want to do.”

Bejarano was also drawn in by the school’s closeknit culture and extracurricular offerings – which include athletics, competition-driven activities and assemblies, and horseshoes tournaments – and decided to return to Chaparral-Vista for her senior year.

She immersed herself in campus activities such as School Site Council, serving as a representative for her peers; the culinary class, in which she helped her team creating the winning recipe in Bonita Council PTA’s chili cookoff; in supporting philanthropic causes like donation drives for House of Ruth; and in Renaissance, where she helped plan and promote school

events. Renaissance became her favorite activity, Bejarano said, because it helped her find her voice and embrace her creativity and leadership potential.

“For my senior year I wanted to be involved in everything, and say yes to every opportunity,” Bejarano said. “I love Renaissance because it involves us with every part of school, so I’m working with teachers and students, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of different people because of it. I’ve created so many memories and I know I’m not going to forget about these moments.”

Bejarano’s experience at Chaparral-Vista has also shaped her plans for the future. Through her newfound confidence – and encouragement from staff to deeply explore college and career opportunities – she discovered her desire to travel and see the world, a passion she plans to pursue as a flight attendant after attending Chaffey College and earning a communications degree.

“Being here at Chaparral-Vista and figuring out who I am gave me the courage to speak my mind freely and go after what I really want. I’m proud to be a Bulldog because I’ve been able to grow here and become the person that I am today, doing all the things that I’ve accomplished, which is not what I would have seen myself doing like a year ago. It’s helped me find my true self.”

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Visual and Performing Arts Programs Bring Joy to BUSD Community Bonita Unified’s visual and performing arts (VAPA) programs are a continuing source of creative expression and joy throughout the District, with hundreds of BUSD students from grades 4 to 12 participating in choir, band, theater arts, and visual arts electives.

VAPA programs are a critical element of the District’s “Live Your Purpose” mission, with dedicated world-class instructors eager to inspire young talent to pursue their dreams. All Bonita Unified students are encouraged to join a VAPA music program when they begin fourth grade, with choir and band instruction available at all eight elementary school sites. Theater arts instruction begins in middle school.

The elementary choir programs teach students basic singing concepts and provide opportunities to participate in advanced singing groups

like Music in Motion and the Honor Music Express Choir.

Elementary band programs introduce students to the various brass, wind and percussion instruments used in marching bands and orchestras, with an opportunity for advanced students to perform in the Music Machine and Super Sound honor bands.

As students move through middle and high school, opportunities to hone their talent abound with advanced choirs, bands, ensembles, and visual arts electives. Bonita Unified choir, band and theater programs perform at the regional, state, and national levels, earning accolades that recognize the skill of BUSD students and instructors.

2024-25 VAPA Highlights Include:

14 students selected for Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) Junior High Honor Choir (grades 6-9) 24 students selected for SCVA Honor Choirs (grades 10-12) 2 students selected to perform in 2025 Tournament of Roses Honor Band

San Dimas High Color Guard

D Street Dance

Ramona Middle School Drama Society

San Dimas High Dance Team

Gold medal, Winter Guard Association of Southern California championships

Excellence in Ensemble award at Junior Theatre Festival; Superior rankings and Judges Choice awards at Junior Thespian Festival

Division champions, SHARP International Knott’s Berry Farm State Championship Production national champions, West Coast Elite Dance Team Nationals

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BUSD Elementary and Middle Schools Recognized Among State’s Best in 2025 K-8 Schools Rankings Bonita Unified School District continues to distinguish itself as one of California’s top-performing districts, with all 10 of its elementary and middle schools ranking in the top 32 percent of schools statewide in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best K-8 Schools list.

The Best K-8 Schools rankings are based on U.S. Department of Education data from more than 79,000 public schools nationwide. The rankings evaluate performance in mathematics and reading/language arts, considering student background and achievement. Ties in

overall scores were broken by student-teacher ratios.

Each of Bonita’s eight elementary schools – Allen Avenue, Ekstrand, Gladstone, Grace Miller, La Verne Heights, Oak Mesa, Roynon, and Shull – placed in the top 32% of elementary schools in California. Grace Miller, Roynon, and Oak Mesa elementary schools ranked in the top 15%, and Shull placed among the top 4%. In the middle school rankings, Lone Hill Middle School and Ramona Middle School placed in the top 21% and 11%, respectively, of California’s middle schools.

2024-25 General Fund Budget Bonita Unified School District places the needs and success of students at the forefront of its decision-making, a practice that extends to the District’s General Fund budget. This student-first mindset, paired with responsible financial stewardship, has enabled Bonita Unified to maintain a healthy budget, even amid rising costs and economic uncertainties, and to continue preparing every student to live their purpose. Bonita Unified’s primary source of revenue is the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), provided by the state.

Expenditures  Certificated Salaries

Revenue

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43.1%

 Classified Salaries

16.3%

 Employee Benefits

22.8%

 LCFF

80%

 Books and Supplies

4.5%

 Federal Revenue

2.9%

 Services

10.4%

 State Revenue

6.2%

 Capital Outlay

1.4%

 Other Local Revenue

10.9%

 Other Outgo

1.5%

Senior Spotlight Christian Weber Bonita High School

When Bonita High School senior Christian Weber looks back on his high school experience, he will remember the many days he spent bonding with his classmates. Weber, who will attend Notre Dame University to study physics, is known on campus as a true people person, whether he is on a long run with his cross country teammates, performing with his peers as a member of the Southern California Vocal Association Honor Choir, or leading his classmates into battle on Action Night as sophomore class president.

“The community aspect of school is important to me,” Weber said. “There were some things at school, like the cross-country team, that I wouldn’t have joined if it wasn’t for the camaraderie.”

For Weber, his most memorable moment at Bonita came during Action Night as a sophomore. Hoping to inspire a team that was angling for an upset over the seniors, Weber played it to the hilt, with his classmates lifting him up and carrying him on their shoulders as they entered the field of play.

“Action Night is really fun, with all four classes competing against each other,” Weber said. “It was a close contest and in the end the seniors did win, as they always do. But it was close.”

Weber is excited to attend Notre Dame, a faithbased school that he feels will provide the

perfect environment for study. Weber chose to major in physics because of input from his older siblings, and the abstract nature of physics, a subject he thoroughly enjoyed, thanks to the mentorship of his AP Physics teacher, Paul Hamilton.

“Mr. Hamilton is a very engaging teacher and creates a positive environment. To me, physics is a lot of fun,” Weber said.

Weber, who has been a member of the BHS Choir for four years and has served as president, hopes to continue singing as a member of the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir.

“Bonita High has helped me so much. The teachers focus on individual improvement and are there for you when you are struggling.”

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