Message from Orange Unified

Upcoming Events

• December 19: High School Minimum Day

• December 20: End of 2nd Quarter - High School Minimum Day

• December 23 – January 10: Winter Break
• January 13 – 27: Open Enrollment
• January 14: Early Learning Informational Virtual Meeting
• January 15: New Student, TK & Kindergarten Enrollment
• January 16: Workshop/Study Session Board Meeting

• January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - All Sites Closed

• January 23: Board of Education Meeting

• January 22: Orange HS Community Showcase

• January 29: Villa Park HS Community Showcase

As we approach 2025, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our students, families, staff, and community members, we will continue to inspire, support, and empower our students to reach their full potential.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and new year filled with peace, happiness, and cherished moments with loved ones.

Sincerely,
Mike

Michael L. Christensen
Superintendent of Schools
Orange Unified School District

The 2024 California School Dashboard highlighted Orange Unified’s strong performance and identified areas for continued growth. As a district, we achieved a 94.6% graduation rate this year, marking a 1.4% increase from the previous year. College and career readiness also rose by 3%, underscoring our ongoing efforts to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in their futures. In mathematics, we made significant progress, narrowing the achievement gap by 8.2 points. Additionally, improvements in creating a supportive school environment are evident in positive trends in suspension data.

Orange Unified continues to meet state standards in key areas, including academic achievement, parent engagement, local climate surveys, and access to a broad course of study. Chronic absenteeism dropped by 6.4%, demonstrating progress in fostering attendance and engagement. While English learner progress and English Language Arts remain areas for growth, we are committed to providing the targeted support necessary to help every student succeed.

These results reflect the strength of our programs and the dedication of our entire community. Moving forward, we will focus on expanding support for English learners, further reducing absenteeism, and improving student outcomes in all areas.

Thank you to our students, staff, and families for your continued hard work and commitment. Together, we are ensuring every student’s success.

We are thrilled to announce that Orange Unified School District’s Special Education Inclusive Strategic Plan Program (SPP) has received the prestigious 2024 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association. This esteemed honor recognizes our district’s commitment to advancing inclusive education and promoting equity for students with disabilities, reflecting our shared dedication to ensuring that every student has access to the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

This achievement would not have been possible without the visionary leadership of Dr. Sue Singh and the dedication of our Special Education Department staff. Their relentless work has been instrumental in shaping the success of the SPP, which has profoundly impacted students across our district. Through initiatives like the We Embrace Literacy (WEL) program and the Behavior Builders Model, the SPP has fostered an environment where students with disabilities can excel alongside their peers in general education settings.

The success of this program is evident in its measurable outcomes, which include a significant increase in the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms, notable academic gains in English Language Arts and Math, and higher graduation rates. These achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of SPP’s innovative, data-driven approach and the unwavering commitment of our educators and support staff.

The SPP has also profoundly impacted individual students, such as Ella, a high school student who has overcome her visual impairment to excel academically and inspire her peers. Stories like Ella's highlight the transformative power of inclusive education, showing its impact on both individual lives and the broader school community.

Please join us in congratulating the OUSD team for this well-deserved recognition. Their work not only elevates the educational experience for students with disabilities but also sets a standard of excellence for our entire district.

Fifteen of our elementary schools and four of our middle school programs were named “Best” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, which means they rank in the top 40% of schools in the United States.

Schools were assessed on student proficiencies in mathematics and reading for each state, as measured by state assessment tests. Half of the ranking formula was based on this data; the other half was based on the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are high-achieving ones that successfully educate all of their students.

Congratulations to Anaheim Hills, Crescent, Panorama, Nohl Canyon, McPherson Magnet (ranked at both the elementary and middle school levels), Linda Vista, Villa Park Elementary, Fletcher Academy, Palmyra GATE Magnet, Running Springs Academy, Canyon Rim, Imperial, West Orange, Prospect, and Jordan Academy, as well as El Rancho Charter, OUSD Edge Virtual Academy, and Cerro Villa at the middle school level for achieving this prestigious recognition. They join Canyon, El Modena, and Villa Park High Schools, which have been identified as “Best High Schools” for the past five consecutive years.

Congratulations to El Modena High School Engineering Pathway students Javier Hernandez, Artemio Garcilazo Ojeda, Kaira Reynoso, Kelle Kennedy, Vinny Tran, Jesus Damian, and Gavin Udell, who passed the two parts of the Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA) certification exam. This is an industry-specific certification that is not easy to prepare for and to pass. It is worth noting that SolidWorks software is the number one market share Computer Aided Design (CAD) program in the industrial engineering world and is taught in many college engineering programs.

Advanced Engineering & Design students at El Modena often use SolidWorks CAD software. CAD software is used by engineering and manufacturing firms to design, test, and build parts, assemblies, and entire products.

Orange High School recently welcomed community members, dignitaries, and esteemed guests to celebrate the unveiling of its new, state-of-the-art 26,000-square-foot Student Services and Administration Building. The building includes six new classrooms, designed with cutting-edge features to inspire and elevate student learning. The event marked a new era for Orange High School’s evolving campus. Superintendent Ernie Gonzalez expressed his pride in the district’s commitment to state-of-the-art learning environments, thanking those who helped bring the project to life and whose efforts ensured seamless instruction throughout the construction process.

OUSD Board Trustee Dr. Steven Glass highlighted the significance of the building and noted the newly completed Alumni Corner, designed to honor the school’s history and connect today’s students with the enduring Panther legacy. Orange High’s Principal, Sheryl Anderson, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the new spaces are built with students’ growth, creativity, and future in mind.

This milestone would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of many. We thank the CARE Committee and entire Orange Unified community for making these projects a reality. This event stands as a testament to our collective commitment to provide the very best educational facilities for our students.

The final results for the 2023-2024 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) reveal that we’ve continued to make positive strides in student achievement. The CAASPP tests are given each year to measure how well students in California are doing in core subjects like English, Math, and Science. The results are available on the Test Results for California’s Assessments website.

The 2023-2024 CAASPP reports show results for the following tests:

• English Language Arts (ELA) and Math (Smarter Balanced tests)
• Taken by students in grades 3-8 and 11
• California Science Test (CAST)
• Taken by students in grades 5 and 8, and once in high school (in either grade 10, 11, or 12)
• California Alternate Assessments (CAAs)
• Taken by students in grades 3-8 and 11 for ELA and Mathematics if their IEP identifies the use of alternate assessments
• Taken by students in grades 5 and 8, and once in high school (either in grade 10, 11, or 12) for Science
• California Spanish Assessment (CSA)
• Optional test that measures students’ competency in Spanish reading/language arts in grades three through eight and high school to provide student-level data in Spanish competency

This year’s CAASPP results show steady growth and reflect our commitment to providing high-quality education. In English Language Arts (ELA), nineteen OUSD schools showed an increase in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards, and in Math, twenty of our schools saw improvements. Since 2022, our district has made cumulative gains of 2.84% in ELA and an impressive 5.69% in Math—making us the top district in Orange County for growth in ELA and Math over a three-year data period in comparison with all other Orange County unified school districts. This progress reflects the dedication and hard work of our teachers, staff, students, and families.

Several of our schools stood out with exceptional performance. For ELA, Crescent Elementary, Panorama Elementary, and Canyon High School have more than 79% of their students meeting or exceeding state standards. In Math, Crescent Elementary, Anaheim Hills Elementary, and Nohl Canyon Elementary shined, with over 77% of their students reaching the same high bar.

It’s also important to recognize some of the most significant gains made by individual schools. Taft Elementary, Yorba Middle, and Cambridge Elementary showed tremendous improvement in ELA, while Jordan Academy, La Veta Elementary, and Taft Elementary posted notable gains in Math.

While celebrating these milestones, we acknowledge that much work remains. We are dedicated to boosting academic success for all students, particularly improving outcomes for our English Learner (EL) subgroup and overall proficiency.

Also, it is important to note that while standardized testing is one of many ways we measure success and knowledge, these results shed light on ways we can continue to improve teaching and learning as a district. We use these scores to better understand our students’ learning and help us continue to improve upon the high-quality instruction we provide.

As we look ahead, OUSD remains focused on strengthening literacy, deepening math skills, and ensuring every student has the support they need to reach their full potential and are prepared for bright futures in college, careers, and beyond after graduation.

Villa Park High School had the distinct honor of hosting a delegation of educators from Risshukan Upper Secondary Vocational School in Japan. This remarkable visit, facilitated through the shared passion for esports and the invaluable support of NASEF (Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations), showcased the growing impact of esports education as a bridge for collaboration and community-building.

The visit was filled with enriching exchanges of ideas, cultural insights, and meaningful dialogue

among educators, students, and board members. This interaction not only highlighted our mutual

commitment to advancing esports education but also underscored its potential to foster global

connections and student engagement.The visit concluded with a symbolic exchange of thoughtful

gifts, reflecting the spirit of partnership and shared vision. We are excited about the opportunities

this relationship offers and look forward to exploring future collaborations with our esteemed

colleagues from Japan.

More than 180 educators, leaders, and innovators gathered at the 14th Annual C-STEM Conference at the UC Davis Conference Center. This year’s theme, Accelerating Student Achievement in Math, Computer Science, and Engineering, focused on advancing educational strategies across California. Orange Unified School District was well-represented, with five out of seven OUSD attendees leading breakout sessions and sharing insights with attendees from across the state.

OUSD educators were also celebrated for their excellence and dedication to C-STEM education. Brenna Godsey, Ed.D., from McPherson Magnet School received the C-STEM Administrator of the Year award, while Nicole Wyckoff, also from McPherson Magnet, and Amy Carlson from California iInspire Academy were named C-STEM Teachers of the Year.

Congratulations to our honorees and presenters for representing OUSD with such distinction!

The OUSD community is invited to participate in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey. Your input is essential in shaping district programs, services, and facilities to meet our students’ needs.

Survey Links:

• Family Survey
• Staff Survey
• Elementary Student Survey
• Secondary Student Survey

Help us shape the future of our schools—your feedback makes a difference! Thank you for being a part of our OUSD community and supporting our students’ success. Together, we are building a brighter future.

Are you interested in a profession that makes a positive impact on the community? If so, please visit our website at www.orangeusd.org/jobs to view a vast array of employment opportunities that span from entry-level to upper management, classified and certificated. Join the Orange Unified family and Inspire our learners of today to be purposeful leaders of tomorrow.

Email: communications@orangeusd.org
Website: www.orangeusd.org
Location: 1401 North Handy Street, Orange, CA, USA
Phone: 714-628-4000
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Twitter: @orangeunifiedCA

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