
Meet the Superintendent
Our Students Deserve the Best
Welcome to the Downey Unified School District website. As a product of Downey Unified, it is an honor to serve as the Superintendent. I look forward to ensuring that our students continue to receive a top quality education. We, as a District, support the teaching and learning process and believe that the“magic” in education happens in the classroom.
For decades, our schools have enjoyed the reputation of being a part of a renowned school system and have been recognized for our performance. We are working on constantly improving to be the best we can be for the benefit of our students and the Downey community.
Downey Unified is recognized as a state and national leader in the implementation of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Project Lead The Way (PLTW). We are on the cutting edge of the need to prepare students for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) careers. As of last year, we became one of a small handful of districts implementing PLTW in grades K though 12.
In the coming years, thanks to the community support of Measure O, all of our schools are being renovated to include state-of-the-art technology and first-rate facilities. We provide a full range of programs for students with individual needs including GATE, AVID and Title I. Our K-8 campuses offer ASPIRE, a free after-school academic childcare program that runs until 6:00 p.m. Some sites also offer YMCA child care before and after school.
As we continue to improve as a district, we continue to keep in mind the needs of our kids because “our Downey Unified students deserve the best!”
On behalf of the Board of Education and our employees, I thank you for your ongoing support of Downey Unified.
Best Wishes,
John A. Garcia, Jr., Ph.D.
Superintendent
Superintendent’s Message
District Update – January 14, 2021
Please take a few minutes watch a video message from Superintendent Dr. Garcia. Subtilties can be accessed by clicking the CC on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. To have the subtilties in Spanish, please click in the Settings Wheel and select “Spanish” after enabling the CC. A sign...
District Update
Please take a few minutes watch a video message from Superintendent Dr. Garcia with the latest District Update.
Downey Unified will re-open via full Distance Learning on Wednesday, August 12th
Spanish translation below/Traducción al español a continuación Dear Downey Unified Families, As you know, Los Angeles County continues to be on the state monitoring list and we are required to start this school year in a full Distance Learning Model. With instruction beginning via Distance...
Governor’s Announcement
Dear Downey Unified Families, Yesterday, the Governor made an announcement regarding Los Angeles County’s surge in COVID-19 cases and instituting the closure of a number of facilities. In addition, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health published health orders yesterday with protocols...