Downey Unified School District has been named a 2026 National Schools to Watch District, a prestigious honor that...
Downey Unified Earns National Recognition for Strong Middle Schools
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News & Announcements
Downey Unified Celebrates Statewide Leadership Recognition and Regional Excellence
Downey Unified School District is proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone in district leadership, as Columbus High...
Three Downey Unified Middle Schools Named 2026 California Distinguished Schools
Doty, Griffiths, and Sussman Middle Schools have been officially recognized as 2026 California Distinguished Schools.
Sussman Middle School Officially Designated an IB World School
The IB Middle Years Programme is designed to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring students who are prepared to be lifelong learners and global citizens.
Game On: Downey Unified Esports Championship Showcases Student Talent and Future Opportunities
Downey High Claims Esports Championship in Thrilling Rivalry Matchup
All 20 Downey Unified Schools Earn State PBIS Recognition
We’re proud to share that every Downey Unified school—20 out of 20—has been recognized by California PBIS (CA PBIS) for the successful implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
Downey Unified Celebrates Record Number of AP Scholars
Downey Unified School District is proud to announce that a record 449 students from Downey and Warren high schools have been recognized as AP Scholars for their outstanding performance on last May’s Advanced Placement (AP) exams. This is the largest number of students in district history to achieve this distinction.
Downey Unified Administrators Honored with Top ACSA Region 14 Awards
Dr. Cari White and Kathy Nicassio celebrated for leadership, innovation, and commitment to student success
Three Elementary Robotics Team Qualify for State Championship
Out of 19 teams that competed in their first VEX IQ Robotics Tournament (VIQRC), six teams ranked in the top 50 in California, and 10 ranked in the top 100.
Sussman Middle School Named 2025 California & National Schools to Watch
Downey Unified’s four middle schools now hold this state and national designation
Downey Unified Wins Prestigious CSBA Golden Bell Award for Transformative Unified Sports Program
This award recognizes our commitment to inclusion and excellence through Unified Sports, promoting belonging for all students.
Three new schools named Apple Distinguished Schools
Now a total of 11 schools across the district honored with this national recognition.
Students crowned as SkillsUSA National Champions
Competing in various areas of technical and soft skills competitions, eight Downey Unified students have come home as United States SkillsUSA Champions!
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
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.
SoFi Stadium’s FIRST EVER high school football game
Shining bright under the lights, Warren Bears and Downey Vikings played a historic game at SoFi stadium, with over 18,000 people in attendance.
Expanding Young Women’s Futures in Engineering
Annual Femineer Gala continues to excite and inspire, while showcasing middle and high school student work.
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.
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.
G.L.A.D. Opening in 2023-24 at Williams Elementary School
Our Spanish Dual Language Immersion program will be offered at Williams Elementary next school year.
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!
Expanding G.L.A.D. Horizons: New French Immersion Program
The Global Language Academies of Downey (G.L.A.D.) is expanding! Beginning next school year, G.L.A.D. will offer French as...
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
Free Online Tutoring – Brainfuse Help Now
We are excited to share a free tutoring and educational resource available to all Downey Unified students and families through the Downey City Library.
Tutoría Gratuita En Línea – Brainfuse Help Now – Estamos muy contentos de compartir una oportunidad de tutoría gratuita y un recurso educativo disponible para todos los estudiantes y familias del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Downey a través de la Biblioteca de la Ciudad de Downey.
New On-Campus Wellness Centers Set to Open Fall 2021
All our High School and Middle School students will have increased access to free on-campus and community-based services.
Nuevos Centros de Bienestar en el Campus Abiertos en Otoño de 2021.
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.