By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
COMPTON — The Compton Unified School District continues to make strides in increasing its financial strength after earning multiple credit rating upgrades from Moody’s Ratings.
The upgraded ratings reflect thew district’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a strong financial position while making strategic investments that directly benefit students.
The bond upgrades were attributed to the district’s reserves, conservative budgeting, improving enrollment trends, and strong financial leadership as the key reasons for the upgrades, according to a press release issued by the district.
School board President Micah Ali heralded the announcement days after he was reelected board president.
“This recognition is far more than a financial milestone — it is an affirmation of disciplined stewardship, principled governance and an unwavering commitment to the future of the scholars and families we serve,” Ali said. “Over the past several years, the Board of Trustees has remained steadfast in making thoughtful, forward-looking decisions that have strengthened the district’s financial foundation while transforming opportunities for our scholars.
“Independent recognition from Moody’s validates that our vision has been matched by responsible action. We will continue to lead with purpose, safeguard the public’s trust, and invest boldly in educational excellence for generations to come.”
Ali is the longest serving member of the Compton school board. Under his tenure, Compton voters have passed two school bond measures to invest in campus upgrades across the district’s 40 school sites.
“I am looking forward to another year of driving profound impact and progress on behalf of our students, and I do not take this appointment lightly,” Ali said. “The past year has marked another trailblazing chapter for Compton Unified. Together, we celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art Compton High School, broke ground on the future Centennial High School, and secured our community’s trust to launch the next phase of our district’s transformation through a historic bond measure that will pave the way for a new Dominguez High School.
“These milestones prove what is possible when our board, superintendent, staff, families, and community unite around a bold, shared vision for our scholars. While we take pride in how far we have come, our mission continues as we pioneer new opportunities and construct an even brighter, limitless future for every Compton Unified scholar.”
The district boasts a 94% graduation rate, a 95% college acceptance rate, rising state test scores, and has earned recognition as one of California’s highest-performing school districts among comparable districts.
“Our Board of Trustees has made financial responsibility a top priority because it directly impacts what we can provide for our scholars,” Superintendent Darin Brawley said. “Financial responsibility isn’t the end goal — it’s the foundation that allows us to provide exceptional opportunities for every scholar.
“Because we’ve managed the district’s resources wisely, we’ve been able to invest in outstanding teachers, innovative academic programs, state-of-the-art schools, and the support systems that are helping our scholars achieve at higher levels than ever before,” Brawley added. “This recognition from Moody’s confirms that Compton Unified is leading with both educational excellence and fiscal responsibility.”
Credit ratings measure an organization’s financial strength and its ability to responsibly manage its finances. Higher credit ratings demonstrate confidence in the district’s financial future and can help lower borrowing costs, allowing more taxpayer dollars to be invested in classrooms, innovative programs, scholar support services, and modern school facilities.
Moody’s upgraded Compton Unified’s issuer rating to Aa3 from A1, its General Obligation Bond rating to Aa2 from Aa3, and its lease revenue bond rating to A1 from A2. Moody’s also assigned an Aa2 rating to the district’s 2026 General Obligation Bond issuances and maintained a stable outlook, reflecting confidence in the district’s continued financial strength.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
