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 School Principal Dr. Xochitl Ortiz has been named California’s State Continuation / Educational Options Administrator of the...

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.

Downey Unified Celebrates 2026 Mariachi Festival Winners

Apr 21, 2026

The Mariachi Music Festival continues to be a powerful reminder of how music brings people together.

Mariachi Festival Schedule | April 18, 2026

Apr 9, 2026

This is a detailed schedule of bands performing and their set lists.

Apply Now | Paid Summer Digital Media Apprenticeship

Mar 25, 2026

Apprentices work alongside industry mentors, build a professional portfolio, and gain the workplace readiness needed to step confidently into future jobs or internships.

Awards

Downey Unified Wins Prestigious CSBA Golden Bell Award for Transformative Unified Sports Program

Dec 6, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, News & Announcements, Uncategorized

This award recognizes our commitment to inclusion and excellence through Unified Sports, promoting belonging for all students.

2024 ERP Honor Roll District

Dec 3, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, News & Announcements

Downey Unified has been named an ERP Honor Roll District for 2024, and 13 of our schools received individual Honor Roll recognition. Learn more about it.

Three new schools named Apple Distinguished Schools

Aug 28, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, News & Announcements, Uncategorized

Now a total of 11 schools across the district honored with this national recognition.

Students crowned as SkillsUSA National Champions

Jul 17, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, Uncategorized

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

Jul 10, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, News & Announcements

Downey High School senior is one of 750 across US to be selected for full scholarship

Celebrating Success: 1st Annual Griffiths AVID Banquet!

May 20, 2024 | AVID, Awards & Recognition

Griffiths celebrates its first AVID banquet! Watch the video for banquet highlights. AVID is helping students achieve college dreams.

2023-24 Commencement/Promotion Schedule

May 15, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, News & Announcements

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!

May 15, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, News & Announcements, Uncategorized

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’

Mar 27, 2024 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, News & Announcements

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

Dec 6, 2023 | Awards & Recognition, Featured, Home Page Slideshow, News & Announcements

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.