Back-to-school excitement is on full display across Orange County, as schools share spirited first-day celebrations and campus traditions through social media posts.
For students at Pacific Drive Elementary School in Fullerton, the school day now begins with a side of breakfast. The Fullerton School District gives more than 600 students the opportunity to enjoy a free, nutritious morning meal right in their classrooms, thanks to the expanded Breakfast in the Classroom program. The initiative launched at Pacific Drive on Aug. 17, building on its introduction at Commonwealth Elementary during the 2023-24 school year and expansion to Richman Elementary the following year.
In this edition of OC District Pulse, the Saddleback Valley Unified School District showcases how its personalized learning approach and diverse programs help students thrive. Superintendent Dr. Crystal Turner shares how SVUSD staff and administrators prepare students for success in school and beyond.
The annual Conditions of Children report brings together key measures of child and teen well-being in Orange County. Its education section tracks progress from kindergarten readiness through high school and shows local graduates continue to outpace the statewide average in college readiness.
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined students at Thomas Edison Elementary to launch a new outdoor STEM partnership between his Skyhook Foundation and OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors. The celebration included 3,000 donated Adidas shoes and backpacks for Anaheim students.
