Fullerton Joint Union High School District officials, including Superintendent Dr. Steve McLaughlin, center, participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fullerton Union High School’s new aquatics center on Oct. 14. 
First plunge: Students leap into Fullerton Union High School’s new pool at the conclusion of the grand opening ceremony. 
Chlorinated celebration: Members of Fullerton Union High School’s water polo and swim programs form a jubilant circle in their newly inaugurated aquatics center.
Once the ceremonial ribbon was cut, Fullerton Union High School Principal Jon Caffrey officially declared his campus’ new pool open for business — and that was all students needed to hear.
After one aquatics student took the plunge fully-clothed, other members of the boys and girls water polo and swim programs quickly followed suit, leaping into the crystal blue water in celebration.
That scene marked the debut of Fullerton Union High’s state-of-the-art aquatics center, where generations of students will be able to perfect their freestyle, backstroke and butterfly.
Financed through the Fullerton Joint Union High School District’s Measure I bond, the facility features a 32-meter by 25-yard pool equipped with advanced filtration, sanitation and energy-efficient heating systems.
Outside the water, the center boasts a concession building, upgraded restrooms, outdoor showers, shaded spectator seating, competition lighting and a high-tech timing and scoreboard system.
“This new aquatics facility represents an exciting milestone for Fullerton Union High School, honoring both our 125-year history and our commitment to the future,” Fullerton Joint Superintendent Dr. Steve McLaughlin said.
The school’s original pool, constructed in 1977, was closed in June 2023, paving the way for the aquatic upgrade.
About 16 months later, district leaders including FJUHSD school board President Dr. Chester Jeng and Superintendent McLaughlin gathered on Oct. 14 for a grand opening ceremony with school staff members, local dignitaries and students, who made the celebration extra splashy.
“As the final Measure I pool project, it came with its own challenges and complexities due to the limited space and historic nature of our campus,” McLaughlin said. “Despite these factors, we are proud to provide a cutting-edge facility for our student-athletes and community, ensuring excellence for generations to come.”
Founded in 1893, the Fullerton Joint Union High School District serves approximately 13,500 students across Fullerton, La Habra, La Habra Heights, Buena Park, and parts of Brea and Whittier.