Old River Elementary recently hosted a special signing day to celebrate its 4th and 5th grade student-athletes as they officially began their journey with the Downey Unified Sports Academy.
The excitement was high as families, staff, and members of the school community came together to celebrate this important milestone and cheer on the Academy’s inaugural class. With plenty of smiles, encouragement, and school spirit, the event marked the beginning of an exciting new opportunity for these young athletes.
The future is looking bright, and these student-athletes are ready to get to work!
Developing the Complete Student-Athlete
The Downey Unified Sports Academy is housed at Old River Elementary School and Stauffer Middle School and is a fully funded, elite athletic program designed to support the growth of motivated student-athletes, all during the school day.
The innovative program provides a public school alternative to expensive club sports systems, offering students access to high-caliber athletic development without financial barriers. Students participate in a 10-month Sports Academy program at Stauffer Middle School, training with their coaches three times each week.
Training is designed to support total athletic development and includes:
- Upper and lower body strength work
- Core training focused on injury prevention
- Mobility and flexibility development
All training is fully assessment-based, allowing coaches to tailor instruction to each student-athlete and monitor progress through personalized, data-driven feedback.
For the inaugural class, this signing day was more than a celebration. It was the start of a journey focused on growth, discipline, confidence, and athletic development. We can’t wait to see where these young athletes go from here!
Learn More About the Sports Academy
For more information about Downey Unified’s Sports Academy at Old River School, visit: web.dusd.net/oldriver/sports-academy