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