Compton Unified School District Archives

PHOTOS COURTESY COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

CUSD sees historic growth in English Language Arts and Math, marking its third consecutive year of academic improvement.

Compton Unified School District (CUSD) has recorded remarkable achievements on the most recent administration of the California Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC), surpassing previous benchmarks in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This year’s preliminary results demonstrate a significant 8-point increase in ELA and a 6.4-point increase in Mathematics, reflecting an overall student proficiency of 51% in ELA and 41% in Mathematics.

In addition, all our student groups demonstrated growth in both English Language Arts and Mathematics, representing the highest levels of achievement in the district’s history. This progress was evident across Hispanic or Latino students, Black or African American students, English Learners (EL), Long-Term English Learners (LTEL), students at risk of becoming LTEL, Students with Disabilities, Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students, as well as Foster Youth and Homeless students.

Sustained Academic Progress

The 2025 SBAC results signify the third consecutive year of substantial academic growth, positioning Compton Unified as a prominent exemplar of consistent progress across California.

CUSD Board President Micah Ali attributes the consistent upward trend to a comprehensive instructional strategy rooted in Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Standards, data-driven decision-making, in-class intervention, and targeted professional development for educators.

Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley credits the district’s growth to intentional systems and strategic resource allocation: “We have invested in what matters most: high-quality instruction, real-time data usage, targeted student support, and deep professional learning for teachers. The results demonstrate the shared vision and mission of our governing board, the hard work of our students, educators, and families.”

Key strategies contributing to the gains include:

1. Embedded Intervention Tutors in Classrooms: Supporting students during the school day with individualized, just-in-time instruction.

2. Expanded Learning Opportunities: Including before-school, after-school, weekend academies, and spring and summer break programs designed to reinforce core academic skills.

3. Ongoing Professional Development: Focused on standards-based instruction, student engagement, and response to assessment data with just in time interventions for students.

A Commitment to Success and Excellence

Compton Unified School District’s recent growth is part of a larger district-wide commitment to closing the opportunity gap and ensuring that all students have access to rigorous, high-quality learning experiences. The district’s progress reflects a strong alignment of leadership, instruction, and support systems.

“Our mission has consistently been to ensure that every student in Compton receives an education that prepares them for college, career, and future endeavors,” stated Dr. Brawley. “These outcomes demonstrate that we are not only on the path to becoming the premier urban school district in the nation, but we are also establishing a benchmark for what is possible for all students.”

Forward Progress

As Compton Unified continues to elevate its standards, district leaders are committed to sustaining momentum through the following initiatives:

1. Data-Driven Progress Monitoring

2. Expansion of Student Support Systems

3. Professional Development

4. Focus on Results

The 2025 SBAC results for Compton Unified underscore the upward trajectory and reinforce its position as a high-performing, high-growth school district in California.

About Compton Unified School District

Compton Unified School District (CUSD) serves thousands of students across Compton and parts of Carson and Los Angeles. Ranked #1 in California for academic achievement among districts of similar size and demographics, CUSD boasts a 94% graduation rate, 95% college acceptance, and numerous award-winning schools, including National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished Schools. For more information, visit http://www.compton.k12.ca.us

Compton Unified School District (CUSD) and The Juilliard School are revolutionizing arts education through a multi-year partnership, offering mentorship for students and professional development for educators.

The partnership deepens Compton Unified School District’s work in strengthening student pathways for artistic exploration and subject-specific professional development for teachers. Together, the organizations have built a new model that brings collaborative professional learning resources to CUSD’s performing arts educators as well as student mentorship opportunities with industry professionals and members of the Juilliard community and alumni network.

Students from Compton Unified School District play their instruments in an orchestra.. — PHOTO COURTESY COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

“We are absolutely ecstatic to be partnering with an arts organization of such unparalleled caliber as Juilliard. They indeed are the gold standard in arts education, synonymous with excellence, creativity, and achievement at the highest level,” says Micah Ali, president of the Compton Unified Board of Trustees. “For Compton Unified to partner with such a prestigious institution is emblematic of our commitment to providing world-class arts education. We are setting the stage for our scholars to thrive artistically, academically and beyond.”

“In Compton, we recognize that the arts are not just an enrichment — they are essential to a student’s growth, building confidence, discipline and creativity,” says CUSD Superintendent Darin Brawley, Ed.D. “Our partnership with Juilliard is more than an opportunity; it is a game-changer, elevating our scholars to the same level of excellence and world-class instruction as the most elite programs in the world.”

This partnership expands Juilliard’s longstanding commitment to working with partners to build new pathways into the performing arts. This two-way learning relationship for both education institutions also showcases CUSD’s dance, drama and music educators. The four-year program is broken into two areas:

Collaborative Professional Learning for Performing Arts Educators
Student Mentorship and Professional Engagement

Together, they will create enriched learning environments that engage local expertise from the Los Angeles area while broadening artistic opportunities for students and educators alike.

“We see this partnership with Compton Unified not just as a program, but as a shared commitment to making artistic excellence accessible to all students,” says Richard Mannoia, Juilliard’s senior director of Education and Strategy, K–12 Programs and Initiatives. “Together, we’re building a sustainable model that nurtures creativity and helps activate every child’s intrinsic artistic potential.”

The program will launch in 24 Compton Unified schools, with plans to eventually expand districtwide. The initiative kicks off in mid-April and runs through June 2028, serving Compton Unified students from kindergarten through grade 12.

Compton Unified Partners with Juilliard to Transform Arts Education

L.A. Parent