Monday Message: 12/2/2024

Dear PYLUSD Community,

I hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful Thanksgiving recess filled with family, friends, and delicious food.

As we transition into the holiday season, I am thrilled to share some outstanding accomplishments within our district. These achievements highlight the hard work and dedication of our administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families.

Recently, U.S. News & World Report released its 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings, and we are proud to announce that Golden Elementary School ranked an impressive No. 53 in California for elementary education! This ranking reflects data from over 100,000 schools nationwide, with results focusing on proficiency in math and reading/language arts, alongside socioeconomic context and performance expectations. Congratulations to Golden Elementary for this well-deserved recognition!

Additionally, 20 of our PYLUSD schools have been named to the prestigious 2024 Honor Roll, a list compiled by Educational Results Partnership and the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence. This distinction recognizes schools across the state that demonstrate exceptional success in improving student achievement and closing opportunity gaps. This year, only 21% of schools in California earned a spot on the Honor Roll, making this accomplishment even more remarkable.

Here is the full list of our Honor Roll schools:

Elementary Schools

• Brookhaven Elementary School

• Glenknoll Elementary School

• Golden Elementary School

• Morse Elementary School

• Sierra Vista Elementary School

• Van Buren Elementary School

• Mabel Paine Elementary School

• Rose Drive Elementary School

• Fairmont Elementary School

• Linda Vista Elementary School

• Woodsboro Elementary School

• Tynes Elementary School

• Bryant Ranch Elementary School

Middle Schools

• Kraemer Middle School

• Tuffree Middle School

• Yorba Linda Middle School

• Orange County School of Computer Sciences

High Schools

• El Dorado High School

• Esperanza High School

• Valencia High School

These accolades are a testament to the collective efforts of our school community in providing the very best educational experiences for our students. To our administrators, educators, support staff, families, and students—thank you for your dedication and collaboration in achieving excellence.

It is an incredible honor to serve as your superintendent of schools, and I look forward to celebrating more successes together in the future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alex Cherniss

Superintendent of Schools

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

Putting Kids First

acherniss@pylusd.org

As the holiday season nears, we remind you that regular school attendance is key to your child's success. Each day offers valuable face-to-face learning and social interactions that support emotional well-being and development. Missed days can lead to challenges requiring extra support, which depends on consistent attendance. Let’s work together to help every student thrive! Learn more at www.pylusd.org/everydaycounts

Don’t miss the last chance to explore the unique academic, athletic, arts, and activity offerings at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District’s four comprehensive high schools. El Dorado High School will highlight its campus and programs during its showcase event.

2024 High School Showcase Schedule

El Dorado High School

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 6 p.m.

1651 N Valencia Ave, Placentia, CA 92870

www.edhs.org | (714) 986-7580

Valencia High School invites you to discover the exceptional educational opportunities offered through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and the Cambridge AICE Diploma.

The IB Program provides a continuum of international education through four rigorous, high-quality academic programs. Similarly, the Cambridge AICE Diploma offers a well-rounded curriculum, balancing breadth across subjects and depth in key areas such as mathematics, sciences, languages, arts, and humanities.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about these prestigious programs and how they can enrich your student’s academic journey.

When: Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 6:00 PM

Where: Valencia High School Auditorium

We look forward to welcoming you!

December 3, 2024 — Board of Education Meeting - CANCELED

December 4, 2024 — El Dorado High School Showcase

December 5, 2024 — Glenview Elementary Dual Language Academy Information Night

December 5, 2024 — International Baccalaureate/Cambridge AICE Diploma Program Information Night at Valencia High School

December 6, 2024 — Middle School Athletics Cross Country Championship

December 10, 2024 — Board of Education Meeting

December 17, 2024 — Board of Education Meeting

December 23 - Jan. 3 — Winter Recess