Competing in various areas of technical and soft skills competitions, eight Downey Unified students have come home as United States SkillsUSA Champions!
Students crowned as SkillsUSA National Champions
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News & Announcements
Yale-Bound Downey Unified Graduate Receives Prestigious Gates Scholarship
Downey High School senior is one of 750 across US to be selected for full scholarship
Celebrating Success: 1st Annual Griffiths AVID Banquet!
Griffiths celebrates its first AVID banquet! Watch the video for banquet highlights. AVID is helping students achieve college dreams.
2023-24 Commencement/Promotion Schedule
As we close out the school year, we are excited to share the dates, times and locations for each school’s ceremony as we celebrate our students’ achievements!
Congratulations to our FIRST Robotics 2023-24 Winning Teams!
Downey and Warren High robotics teams competed on the worldwide stage by both qualifying for the 2024 FIRST Championship, an international robotics competition.
Griffiths and Stauffer Middle Schools Named California ‘Schools to Watch’
Congratulations to Griffiths and Stauffer middle schools for receiving their second re-designations of this prestigious honor.
Inclusive Co-Teaching Model in Downey Unified Wins a Golden Bell Award
At the end of November, our district received a prestigious statewide recognition for our Secondary Education and Special Education Departments’ achievements in co-teaching practices.
Downey Unified Teacher Receives State & County Teacher of the Year Honors
Kirsten Neill was named a 2024 California Teacher of the Year Finalist and a 2023-24 Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year.
Downey Unified Once Again featured by Apple Newsroom for Innovative use of Technology
We are very proud to share that our district was once again featured by Apple in their official national newsroom on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.
Downey Unified Featured by Apple Newsroom for Innovative use of Technology through Apple Learning Coaches
We are very proud to share that, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, our district was featured by Apple in their official national newsroom on Monday, May 8, 2023.
Special Education Director Receives Regional County Honor
Dr. Rebekah Ruswick is the fourth District administrator to receive an ACSA award in the last six years.
Lewis Elementary Takes Trophy at Dale Lostetter Carnival of Champions
Elementary schools from across Downey Unified gathered to participate in a variety of athletic competitions
Downey High Alumnus who discovered Titanic’s final resting place – Bob Ballard
Robert “Bob” Ballard, a retired U.S. Navy Commander and professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, graduated from Downey High School in 1960.
Employee Award – Chris Nezzer
Chris Nezzer, Downey Unified’s Chief Technology Officer, received the Shared Values Award in the area of Best Staff and High Standards at the January Board of Education Meeting.
Sussman Middle School Earns Global Designation!
Our district is proud to announce that Sussman Middle School is now an IB Candidate School* for the Middle Years Programme!
2022 Graduation/Promotion Photos & Livestream Recordings
We are very excited to be able to celebrate our student! Please see below for a schedule of the upcoming ceremonies and the livestream information for those who are unable to attend in person.
Columbus High School Named 2022 Model Continuation High School
Columbus High School is one of 36 schools across the state of California recognized for 2022.
Downey Unified Alumnus Elected as First Latina President by Harvard Law Review
Priscila Coronado attended Rio San Gabriel Elementary, Doty Middle School and graduated in the top three percent of her class in 2015 from Downey High School.
Alumna del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Downey elegida como la primera presidenta Latina de Harvard Law Review – Priscila Coronado asistió a las escuelas Rio San Gabriel Elementary, Doty Middle School y se graduó en el tres por ciento superior de su clase en Downey High School en el 2015,
Five Downey Unified Schools named Apple Distinguished Schools
Global recognition highlights innovation, leadership and educational excellence using Apple technology.
Cinco escuelas del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Downey reciben distinción especial: Apple Distinguished School
2020 & 2021 Graduation & 2021 Promotion Livestream Links
If you missed the ceremonies, you can find all the recordings here!
Downey & Warren Named Top High Schools by U.S. News & World Report
Downey and Warren high schools listed as top high schools in Nation.
Griffiths & Stauffer Middle School Redesignated as California Schools to Watch
Out of these 30 California schools, only nine are located within Los Angeles County, two being those in Downey Unified.
Downey High Teacher named Femineer High School Teacher of the Year
San Diego State University and Cal Poly Pomona selected DHS teacher Jennifer Lara as the first ever High School Femineer Teacher of the Year
Downey Unified’s Teacher of the Year
Vicki Arosteguy, an RSP teacher at Doty Middle School (DMS), received the 2020 Teacher of the Year Award.
Ward Elementary Receives National Award, First in District’s History
Ward Elementary School designated as 2020 National Blue Ribbon School Today, the U.S. Department of Education recognized...
Downey & Warren High Recognized by California Student Aid Commission
In early August, Downey and Warren high schools were notified that they have been recognized for their success in the 2020...
Downey Unified Recognized for High Achievement in Student Success
Eleven Downey Unified Schools Selected for Prestigious Honor Roll issued by a National Campaign of Business and...
Two Downey Unified Schools Named 2020 U.S. Best High Schools
Downey and Warren high schools named top high schools in nation by U.S. News & World Report Downey and Warren high...
Downey Unified Named CHARACTER COUNTS! Exemplary School District
Downey Unified announces national designation after years of spearheading Character education program On Tuesday, Jan. 28,...
Three Downey Unified Schools Named 2020 California Distinguished Schools
Price, Ward and Williams elementary schools honored by California Department of Education Three Downey Unified elementary...
Two Downey Unified Middle Schools Celebrate National Recognition
Griffiths and Stauffer Middle Schools celebrate selection as California and National “Schools to Watch” On January 29,...
Downey Earns National Recognition as a P21 Exemplar School District
DOWNEY, CALIF., – Following the accreditation visit in June, P21 (The Partnership for 21st Century Learning) has officially...
Employee Awards 2013-2014
Arc of Los Angeles and Orange Counties has been awarded the Superintendent’s Vision Award for Parent, Family and Community...