SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif. — Valle Lindo School District is celebrating a major academic milestone this fall, as state assessment results publicly released this week show that Valle Lindo School District students have surpassed pre-pandemic achievement levels in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, again outperforming Los Angeles County and California averages.

Valle Lindo’s longitudinal data tells a powerful story of progress and resilience. Since the return to state testing in 2022, Valle Lindo has demonstrated steady, year-over-year growth—up six percentage points in ELA and 13 percentage points in Math over the past three years. This year, both subject areas now exceed the district’s pre-pandemic baseline, marking the highest performance since 2015, when California officially administered the Smarter Balanced Assessments statewide for the first time.

According to the 2024–25 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) results, 56% of Valle Lindo students met or exceeded standards in English Language Arts, compared to 50.5% countywide and 48.8% statewide. In Mathematics, 44% of students met or exceeded standards, outperforming Los Angeles County (39%) and the State of California (37%).

With scores continuing to rise, Valle Lindo remains focused on sustaining its momentum through instructional refinement, expanded enrichment opportunities, and strong collaboration between educators and families. Middle School Math teacher Mrs. Kim Tran, whose 8th-grade math scores grew by nearly 20%, shared that the impact goes far beyond test results. Reflecting on her journey, she’s reminded of Steve Jobs’ words: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.” For Mrs. Tran, and for all Valle Lindo educators, teaching is exactly that: the work of great love.

Adding to this season of celebration, the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) announced that both Dean L. Shively Middle School and New Temple Elementary School have been named Star Honor Roll Schools, with Valle Lindo School District also recognized as a Star Honor Roll District. Only 158 districts out of 1,015 statewide and 1,834 schools out of 9,985 earned this distinction, highlighting Valle Lindo’s sustained excellence and commitment to academic growth for every student.

“Our students’ success reflects years of dedication from every member of our Valle Lindo community,” shared School Board President Rudy Martinez. “This growth is the result of tireless work by our teachers, support staff, families, and our dedicated Board of Education. Together we build on the foundation laid by generations of past leaders and current educators who believe in our students’ limitless potential. Our children will always come first.”

Valle Lindo School District serves the South El Monte community through its two award winning schools, New Temple Elementary and Dean L. Shively Middle School, where excellence, equity, and student achievement remain at the heart of every classroom.