BONITA UNIFIED
DRIVEN BY PURPOSE , DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Bonita Unified Community,
Bonita Unified School District remains a beacon of educational excellence in the community, expanding opportunities for students and setting the standard for achievement across the region by living The Bonita Way.
Bonita Unified continues to perform at exceptional academic levels, with students achieving the District’s highest-ever scores on state assessments and significantly outperforming state averages.
Across our arts and athletics programs, Bonita Unified students are performing at an elite level, exemplifying a culture of competitive excellence and creative distinction. In the last year, student-athletes have secured 18 league championships, three CIF team titles, and four individual CIF championships. The District’s performing arts programs also earned widespread recognition, with more than 30 students selected to Southern California honor choirs and programs receiving superior ratings at major festivals.
In career technical education, students are translating classroom learning into real-world success and earning national titles in the process. Bonita High School culinary students captured first place in a national EcoLab food truck competition, while San Dimas High School captured California ProStart Cup and National ProStart Invitational titles, both marking historic firsts for the District and underscoring our dedication to career preparation.
These accomplishments are made possible through the passion of our educators, the support of our families and community, and the resilience of our students. By continuing to invest in equitable access to opportunities that lead to measurable outcomes, Bonita Unified is ensuring every student is
DISTRICT ACCOLADES
California Distinguished Schools
Model Continuation High School, 2024
National Blue Ribbon School, 2022 and 2023
Favorite School District, 2025, 2024 and 2023 SGV Readers Choice Awards
Favorite High School, SDHS 2023 Inland Valley Readers Choice Awards
Best School District, 2022 SGV Readers Choice Awards
BOARD OF EDUCATION
National ProStart Invitational Champions in Culinary, 2025
AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award (Bonita High School and San Dimas High School)
#1 in Reading Comprehension, California Reading Report Card
All schools in the top 29% of California elementary schools, 2026 Best K-8 Schools Rankings
Both middle schools among the top 17% of California middle schools, 2026 Best K-8 Schools Rankings
Both comprehensive high schools in the top 16% of high schools nationwide, 2025-26 Best High Schools Rankings Derek Bahmanou
A Legacy of Impact: Celebrating Bonita Unified Trailblazers
At Bonita Unified School District, every effort is focused on preparing students to live their purpose, pursue their passions, and make their communities better places to live.
During the 2025-26 State of the District address, Superintendent Matt Wien introduced “Bonita Unified Trailblazers,” a new video series highlighting alumni and how the District has prepared them for a successful future. The first installment features San Dimas High alumna and professional soccer player Ally Lemos, who won championships for San Dimas, UCLA, and the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) by the age of 21.
Bonita Unified to Expand Early Learning Programs in 2026-27
Bonita Unified School District is expanding its early learning programs with extended Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten class times, beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Transitional Kindergarten will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., while Kindergarten will be offered from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing students with additional time for foundational learning and hands-on exploration.
The expanded schedules will allow young learners to build stronger literacy and math skills, engage more deeply in social-emotional development, and benefit from enriched, play-based instruction that supports the whole child.
For families, the extended day offers increased consistency and alignment with elementary school schedules, helping ease daily routines while ensuring students are fully prepared for the transition into the upper grades.
Prospective families are encouraged to contact their school of interest for additional information or visit the Bonita Unified website to enroll.
Do you know a Bonita Unified alum who is making a difference in their community or industry? Nominate them to be our next Bonita Unified Trailblazer! SCAN TO WATCH THE FIRST BONITA UNIFIED TRAILBLAZERS VIDEO!
Visit https://dub.sh/TrailblazerForm to submit a nomination.
Bonita Unified Achieves Highest-Ever Test Scores for Second Consecutive Year
Bonita Unified has achieved its highest-ever scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for the second consecutive year, underscoring the District’s ongoing commitment to equity, mastery, and a focus on results.
The spring 2025 CAASPP scores – the most recent available –place Bonita Unified among the top-performing unified school districts in California, ranking in the top 6% statewide in English language arts (ELA) and the top 8% in mathematics.
Some of the biggest gains in math proficiency occurred at the elementary level. Three schools recorded increases of 6 percentage points or more since 2024, including Grace Miller Elementary, La Verne Heights Elementary, and Ekstrand Elementary, which posted the highest increase at 7.59%.
Gains were also made among students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, whose scores improved four points in ELA and nine points in math over the last three years. Additionally, the District’s English Learners (ELs) achieved a 77% proficiency rate in ELA.
Continued academic improvement is credited to the District’s focus on intervention and support. After seeing an increase in Mandarin-speaking students, Bonita Unified added a Mandarin-speaking bilingual instructional aide, to go along with aides in Spanish and Farsi. Math intervention teachers are also available at every elementary school, as well as a Math Teacher on Special Assignment who assists elementary school math teachers, observing or demonstrating lessons, developing lessons,
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
JACQUELINE CHEN & TIFFANY VILLEGAS
SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL
Two San Dimas High School juniors — diver Jacqueline Chen and softball standout Tiffany Villegas — have charted different paths to the same destination: Harvard University.
For both student-athletes, years of discipline, academic excellence, and high-level competition have culminated in the opportunity to attend one of the nation’s most selective universities, where they will continue their athletic careers while pursuing ambitious academic goals.
Chen has built an international résumé that includes medaling at the Asian Aquatics Championships and qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games, where she will represent Chinese Taipei alongside her sister, Barbara. She has balanced elite competition with a rigorous academic schedule, earning a CIF-SS championship and third-place finish at state while maintaining a 4.2 GPA and taking Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses.
Villegas has carved out her own standout path on the softball field, developing into a five-tool player with experience at both the high school and national levels. A two-time team MVP and All-CIF selection, Villegas helped lead her club team, Athletics Mercado, to a Premier Girls Fastpitch national championship and competed internationally with TCS Team Philippines.
In the classroom, Villegas has excelled with a 4.5 GPA while taking a full slate of AP courses. She plans to major in biology at Harvard and pursue medical school, with aspirations of becoming an anesthesiologist.
“Harvard has always been my dream school,” Villegas said. “The idea of being able to challenge myself academically while continuing to play the sport I love is something I’ve worked toward for a long time.”
Beyond their individual accomplishments, Chen and Villegas share a longstanding friendship that helped
RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL
BUSD Middle Schools Designated as 2026 California Distinguished Schools
Lone Hill and Ramona middle schools have been named 2026 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education, recognizing their success in supporting all students and narrowing achievement gaps.
The honor places both schools among 408 middle and high schools statewide recognized for strong academic performance and a commitment to equity.
“Receiving this recognition once is a tremendous honor,” Ramona Middle School principal James Ellis said. “We are seeing great progress everywhere on campus, but our focus really has been to get students back in class with their friends and teachers. Reducing chronic absenteeism has been a positive development for all students.”
Ellis emphasized targeted support for all learners, including English learners and students with individualized education programs, along with expanded tutoring opportunities that help students stay on track.
At Lone Hill Middle School, Principal Orlando Beltran is building on strong academic momentum while finding new ways to motivate students. A new contest, Jump the Band, encourages students who are close to reaching a higher percentile of academic success to work harder, and students who jump to the next level are entered into a raffle.
“Sometimes with state testing, the students aren’t as motivated because they don’t receive grades or class credit,” Beltran said. “With Jump the Band, we want to make the experience more fun and impactful for students, and help them feel proud of what they achieve.”
Both schools prioritize a welcoming campus culture through the Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program, which pairs eighth-grade mentors with sixth-graders and fosters a sense of belonging through weekly tutoring sessions, lunch and after-school activities, dances, and spirit weeks.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
67.9% of students improved in ELA since 2024
Students scored 61.4 points above state standard
MATHEMATICS
74.5% of students improved in math since 2024
Students scored 38.3 points above state standard
LONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
67.2% of students improved in ELA since 2024
Students scored 51.9 points above state standard
MATHEMATICS
66.3% of students improved in math since 2024
Students scored 5.9 points above state standard
KENDRA LEWIS
CHAPARRAL-VISTA HIGH SCHOOL DEAN OF STUDENTS
Chaparral-Vista High School Dean of Students
Kendra Lewis was recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as its 2026 Region 15 Promising Administrator of the Year, highlighting her leadership, innovation, and deep commitment to equity in education and student success.
Lewis is now in her third year at Chaparral-Vista High, after serving more than 10 years as a math and Advancement Via Individual Determination teacher in another district.
“As educators, we have a responsibility to hold our students to high expectations while also giving them grace, because they are young and they are going to make mistakes,” Lewis said. “Our job is to help them learn from their mistakes, and prepare them for success in life.”
As Dean of Students, Lewis handles the day-today discipline in class, tracks student attendance, works with struggling students, and supports
“
“Mrs. Lewis is the perfect ‘promising administrator’ because she makes school a better place for all of us to learn and succeed every day.”
–
NATALIE GONZALEZ CHAPARRAL-VISTA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
San Dimas High Digital Art Studio: Creating the Saints Spirit
San Dimas High School’s Saint Shop Digital Art Studio has been helping to create and define Saint spirit for more than a decade, assisting students, administrators, teachers, and community groups on their design projects with expert-level technique and affordable prices.
Known as the “fab lab,” the Digital Art Studio is available to all San Dimas students and staff, as well as community partners, to help design and manufacture T-shirts, stickers, banners, logos, and more, using the combined talents of the school’s Visual Communication (VisCom) pathway students, which include traditional artists, graphic artists, and printing specialists.
“Whenever any student or admin group needs a shirt or bracelet, they come to the Digital Art Studio,” San Dimas VisCom teacher Jordan Murray said. “We make everybody look good…and with the products created by our own
students, it greatly increases the spirit all across campus.” The Digital Art Studio is run like a business, with clients submitting ideas and contracting with the student management team. In the class, students learn how to run a business and perfect a large number of design techniques, both digital and analog.
The studio’s clients mainly consist of student groups and administrators looking to complete designs for a wide range of printing projects. A fixture on campus for years, the Digital Art Studio received a huge boost in the last year with the addition of two state-of-the-art Roland printing machines, to go along with its laser and 3-D printers.
The VisCom pathway is made up of two parts: VisCom 1, which focuses on the basics of creating designs and the art of manufacturing product; and VisCom 2, which focuses on acquiring clients, placing orders, and running a print shop.
SCAN TO READ MORE ABOUT THE DIGITAL ART STUDIO AND VISCOM PATHWAY.
BUSD Refinances Bonds, Saves Taxpayers Millions of Dollars
Bonita Unified School District is refinancing a portion of its General Obligation bonds to take advantage of lower interest rates, a move projected to generate approximately $1.3 million in savings for local taxpayers.
The refinancing, which closed in early May 2026, moves forward following a 0.59% decline in interest rates. It applies to bonds originally issued in 2014, along with two bond issuances from 2016, which are part of Measure AB, approved by voters in November 2008.
Measure AB funded a range of improvements across the District, including enhanced learning spaces, upgraded athletic facilities, and modernized technology systems to support student learning.
The Board of Education unanimously approved the refinancing action during its February meeting.
Known as refunding bonds, the refinancing process works similarly to refinancing a home. It will allow the District to secure lower interest rates without
Since 2012, Bonita Unified has refinanced its bonds five times, producing a combined taxpayer savings of $18,874,401. With this upcoming refinancing, total projected savings will exceed $20 million.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
LEXI COCORES
BONITA HIGH SCHOOL
Bonita High School junior Lexi Cocores turned an early reluctance to read into a passion for storytelling that has led to publishing her debut novel at just 16 years old.
“I never really liked to read when I was little, even though my mom has always been an avid reader,” Cocores said. “But my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. DeAlmeida, introduced me to ‘The Land of Stories’ series, and I just fell in love with reading. I cried when it was over because I didn’t want it to end.”
That experience sparked her imagination and a desire to create her own stories. Encouraged by a middle school English teacher, Cocores began drafting what would become her first novel, completing the manuscript in about a year. The result was “I Accept the Role of Villainess,” a young adult fantasy novel published under the pen name Allie Kris, inspired by her interest in fantasy and
As an elementary school student during the pandemic, Bonita High School senior James Hurwitz spent time between online classes watching short history videos, sparking a deep interest in world history and a desire to grow into a strong student, leader, and future officer.
Hurwitz is now on track to graduate with a 4.0 GPA while building leadership and discipline through his involvement in the Civil Air Patrol’s Brackett Composite Squadron 64 and the Marine Delayed
character-driven storytelling.
She later celebrated the milestone with a book signing at Judging By The Cover, sharing her work with family, friends, and members of the school community.
Now, Cocores is editing her second book and drafting a third, working toward completing a trilogy while maintaining a 4.2 GPA, taking Advanced Placement courses, and competing on Bonita High’s golf team.
JAMES HURWITZ
BONITA HIGH SCHOOL
Entry Program. There, he distinguished himself through his academic strength, physical readiness, and commitment to personal growth.
His efforts culminated in receiving a highly competitive Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship valued at $200,000, an award that supports students who demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, and character. The scholarship will cover college tuition, fees and books, as well as provide a monthly stipend as Hurwitz continues his education.
“I have been dreaming of this for a very long time,” Hurwitz said. “This program has helped me reach my goals, both in my physical training and in developing my mindset.”
Hurwitz plans to study architecture at the University of Notre Dame, UCLA, or William & Mary College.
BUSD Schools Recognized in Best K-8 and High Schools Rankings
Bonita Unified School District has once again been named among California’s highest-performing districts, with all 10 elementary and middle schools placing within the top 29 percent statewide in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report “Best K-8 Schools” rankings.
The rankings draw on data from the U.S. Department of Education, evaluating more than 70,000 public schools across the country based on student performance in mathematics and reading/language arts, with additional consideration given to student demographics and academic outcomes.
All eight elementary schools – Allen Avenue, Ekstrand, Gladstone, Grace Miller, La Verne Heights, Oak Mesa, Roynon, and Shull – ranked within the top 29% of California’s 5,442 elementary schools. Ekstrand, Grace Miller, La Verne Heights, Oak Mesa, and Roynon elementary schools ranked in the top 18%, and Shull Elementary distinguished itself among the top 2% statewide. Lone Hill Middle School and Ramona Middle School ranked in the top 17% and 9%, respectively, among 2,271 California middle schools.
Bonita and San Dimas high schools were also named in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025-26 “Best High Schools” list, recognizing the schools’ commitment to academic excellence and college readiness.
Bonita High School placed in the top 11% of public high schools nationwide and in the top 9% of schools statewide. San Dimas High School ranked in the top 16% nationwide and in the top 15% of California schools. Both schools achieved graduation rates of 94% or higher.
2025-26 General Fund Budget
Bonita Unified School District continues to prioritize student learning, opportunity and well-being in every decision it makes, including how it allocates financial resources. Guided by a commitment to responsible fiscal planning and long-term sustainability, the District has maintained a strong and stable General Fund while navigating rising operational costs and an evolving economic landscape. This careful stewardship allows Bonita Unified to continue investing in high-quality programs, services and opportunities that prepare every student to live their purpose. Bonita Unified’s primary source of revenue is the state-funded Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).
