Superintendent's Message

CARL J. COLES
SUPERINTENDENT

 

Dear VVUHSD Community,

Each year, it is my honor to shake the hands of more than 2,000 VVUHSD students as they cross the stage and graduate. This past spring, our commencement ceremonies were even more gratifying than usual, as our students achieved an unprecedented level of college readiness. 

About 60 percent of our graduates completed A-G coursework, qualifying them for UC or CSU acceptance. That’s an all-time high for our district and puts us at the top of the list for college readiness in the High Desert and among the top districts in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties. 

While not all students will choose to attend college, A-G completion ensures that all five pathways are open to them after high school: universities, community college, the military, trade school, or the workforce. This is vital to our core objective: preparing all students to live a life of purpose with unlimited potential.

However, A-G is only one element needed for achieving that objective. VVUHSD has taken steps to ensure that our students will have the opportunity to attend a university. Last year, we became one of only six school districts to enter into an agreement with Cal State University San Bernardino that provides guaranteed admission opportunities for our students who complete the A-G requirements. The impact was immediate. In just one year, we increased applications from 386 students to nearly 600. VVUHSD had the highest percentage of students applying to CSUSB of any district in the county.

And of course, we must effectively teach our students the skills to succeed in college and beyond. Our teachers and support staff are delivering results for our students and their families, as VVUHSD’s test scores have been among the highest in the High Desert in English, math and science for three years running. 

While the accomplishments of the last several years are gratifying, our work is never finished. Our objective remains unchanged, and it bears repeating: preparing ALL students to live a life of purpose with unlimited potential. 

I would like to thank our students, staff, and community for joining us as we continue to pursue this ultimate goal.   

Sincerely,

Carl Coles
Superintendent