GGUSD Recognizes Its 2025 California Distinguished Schools

It was a full house at our recent Board of Education meeting as we proudly honored the school teams from our 11 California Distinguished Schools! The room was filled with celebration, smiles, and a shared sense of pride as each campus was recognized for earning the state’s highest honor for public schools.

GGUSD stood out statewide — earning more Distinguished School awards than any other district in Orange County, and second only to LAUSD across California. With just 6.5% of the county’s schools, GGUSD claimed a remarkable 23% of this year’s awards, proving once again that excellence lives here!

Congratulations to:

Anthony • Barker • Brookhurst • Cook • Eisenhower • Excelsior • Hill • Patton • Peters K-3 • Peters 4-6 • Zeyen

This incredible accomplishment reflects the passion and dedication of our teachers, staff, students, administrators, and families. Thank you for showing what’s possible in public education!

28 GGUSD Schools Recognized with PBIS State Awards

GGUSD is proud to celebrate 28 schools recognized with 2024-2025 PBIS State Awards for their excellence in fostering positive and supportive learning environments. The California PBIS Coalition honored schools across GGUSD for their outstanding implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, which encourage constructive student behavior and promote thriving school cultures.

• Platinum Awards: Bryant, Hazard, Heritage, Lawrence, Mitchell, Sunnyside, Violette, Bell, Doig, Lake, McGarvin, and Ralston

• Gold Awards: Cook, Excelsior, Paine, Peters K-3, Rosita, Wakeham, and Fitz Intermediate Language Academy

• Silver Awards: Allen, Eisenhower, Garden Park, Northcutt, Parkview, Post, and Irvine Intermediate

• Bronze Awards: Anthony and Murdy

Congratulations to all of our schools for leading the way in PBIS excellence and making GGUSD a place where students thrive!

GGUSD Receives Additional $2.4 Million Grant for Community Schools Expansion

Garden Grove Unified School District is pleased that the state has approved La Quinta High School as the district’s newest Community School with the addition of $2.4 million in state grant funding. With this funding, GGUSD now has 22 Community Schools—the most in Orange County—and has received a total of $32.3 million from the California Community Schools Partnership Program since 2022.

Community Schools provide integrated academic, social-emotional, health, and family support services designed to meet the unique needs of each school community. In GGUSD, this includes dedicated Community School Teacher Coaches at every site who lead the development and coordination of strategies to strengthen school communities and ensure all students thrive.

La Quinta High School Welcomes Families for Back to School Night

GGUSD is proud to celebrate La Quinta High School’s successful Back to School Night yesterday! Families filled the campus with energy and excitement as they toured classrooms, connected with teachers, and learned more about the amazing academic and extracurricular opportunities available to students.

The evening showcased the strong partnership between staff, students, and families that makes La Quinta such a special place to learn and grow. Thank you to the dedicated staff and supportive families who made the night such a success—it’s going to be a great school year at La Quinta High School!

Santiago High School Hosts a Successful Back to School Night

Santiago High School hosted a successful Back to School Night yesterday, bringing the Cavalier community together for an evening of celebration and connection! Families enjoyed an incredible showcase of student talent, featuring performances by the band, choir, drill team, cheer team, baile folklórico, and colorguard.

Thank you to the dedicated staff, students, and families who made the event such a memorable success—what a wonderful way to highlight Santiago’s school spirit and excellence!

GGUSD Honors Its Homegrown Staff

GGUSD is proud to celebrate our incredible #HomeGrown staff in honor of our 60th anniversary year! This week we are highlighting David Moreno Guardado, a proud Bolsa Grande High School graduate who has dedicated 17 years of service to GGUSD.

David is now a School Social Worker serving multiple schools across the district, where he plays a vital role in supporting students and families. He shared, “I returned to work for GGUSD because it’s home to me. I graduated from the district in 2007 and have been working here since 2008. Serving the same community that shaped me is incredibly meaningful, and I’m proud to give back to a district I believe in.”

David’s favorite thing about GGUSD is the strong sense of community and support, where staff truly prioritize student well-being and collaborate to make a difference. We are grateful for David’s dedication, compassion, and the meaningful impact he continues to make in the lives of our students and families each day.

GGUSD Recognizes September as National Suicide Prevention Month

GGUSD recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and remains committed to the mental health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. In 2019, GGUSD launched Choose Wellness as a way to raise awareness and support for important mental health topics. GGUSD has expanded counseling services, opened Wellness Centers, and provided ongoing support for our school community. Trained professionals—including counselors, psychologists, mental health specialists, and social workers—are available on campuses, along with any trusted adult who can help connect students to resources. If you or someone you know is struggling, call 988 or text 741741 for 24/7 confidential support.

Important Dates for the 2025-26 School Year

Looking for important dates and holidays during the school year? View our GGUSD 2025-26 school year calendar and bookmark this page to keep track of the important dates this upcoming school year!

Free Live-Chat Tutoring for All GGUSD Students

GGUSD has partnered with Varsity Tutors to offer FREE 24/7 live chat tutoring and one-hour tutoring sessions to support students in their academic success (Goal 1). The program is accessible from home through ClassLink using a district-provided device.