On October 15, Governor Gavin Newsom visited Downey Unified as the State of California released its latest student achievement data and highlighted the district’s progress in improving student outcomes. During the visit, the Governor spoke with Superintendent Dr. Brossmer, members of the Board of Education and staff about Downey Unified’s ongoing work to support student success.
“It was an honor to welcome Governor Newsom to Stauffer Middle School and share the meaningful work taking place across Downey Unified,” Board President Jose Rodriguez said. “To have our district selected for recognition from among 935 districts statewide is an incredible honor and a reflection of the dedication of our students, educators, staff and families. This recognition belongs to our entire Downey Unified community.”
Downey Unified Ahead of the Curve
Downey Unified is leading the way in student achievement, standing out among neighboring districts and across California.
When looking at statewide data and results from 11 neighboring districts, owney Unified’s student achievement results reflect strong performance across several key measures:
- A 97.9% graduation rate
- Performance within the top 8% statewide for English learner progress
- Mathematics results 30.3 points above the neighboring-district median
- English language arts results 25.7 points above the neighboring-district median
The State also highlighted the intentional work behind this progress, including strengthening instruction and academic rigor, aligning graduation requirements with A–G expectations, expanding career technical education and learning opportunities, investing in inclusive special education practices, and providing academic, social-emotional and basic-needs support for students and families.
A Shared Districtwide Accomplishment
Although the Governor’s visit took place at Stauffer Middle School, this recognition reflects the collective work happening across all Downey Unified schools.
Our progress is made possible by the dedication of our students, teachers, staff, administrators, labor partners, families, Board of Education and the greater Downey community. Every school and department plays an important role in our shared commitment to helping students learn, grow and prepare for their futures.
As Superintendent Dr. Brossmer shared with the State, improving student outcomes is a long-term commitment. While we are incredibly proud of the progress our students are making, we remain focused on continuing this work and ensuring every Downey Unified student has the opportunities and support needed to succeed.
“Being selected for recognition from among 935 school districts is an extraordinary honor, but the greatest achievement is the progress our students are making. We are proud of how far they have come and excited to continue building on this momentum together.”