Firebaugh High School graduates celebrate with one of their counselors at the 2025 commencement ceremony. The school’s class of 2025 achieved a 92% graduation rate, 3% better than the class of 2024.
Courtesy photo
Wave Staff Report
LYNWOOD — The Lynwood Unified School District boosted its graduation rates for the 2024-25 school year, with totals rising four percentage points across Lynwood, Firebaugh and Vista high schools over the previous year — reflecting continued progress in supporting student achievement districtwide.
According to the California School Dashboard released last month by the California Department of Education, the district’s overall class of 2025 graduation rate climbed to 89.1%. Firebaugh High School rose from 89% to 92%, Lynwood High School increased from 88% to 91.7% and Vista High School saw a 2.5 percentage-point increase over the 2023-24 school year.
“The steady rise in graduation rates across all our high schools reflects Lynwood Unified’s commitment to fostering equitable and inclusive learning environments where every student can feel supported and valued,” Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Maribel Martinez said. “This achievement is a testament to the collective dedication of our teachers, counselors, administrators and families — and most importantly, to the determination of our students to reach their highest potential.”
Lynwood Unified has strengthened student support systems through expanded academic, social-emotional, and college- and career-readiness programs — providing students with the opportunity to discover their strengths, overcome obstacles and step boldly into their futures.
Partnerships with Compton College and Cal State Dominguez Hills provide dual enrollment opportunities, while the district’s Career Technical Education pathways in health sciences, engineering, culinary arts and digital media help students stay engaged through real-world learning experiences.
To ensure students remain on track for graduation, the district offers before- and after-school credit recovery programs and leverages a range of mental health and social-emotional services through the community schools initiative, including social workers, counseling groups and partnerships with community agencies. Families are also supported through workshops on A–G college entrance requirements, financial aid and attendance, empowering them to play an active role in their children’s success.
Collaborative structures such as student success study teams, guidance alignment meetings and student attendance review Teams enable staff to monitor student progress, address attendance challenges and provide targeted interventions to at-promise students. Early-warning systems track attendance, coursework and behavior in real time, allowing staff to act quickly when students need support.
“Our graduation rates are a powerful demonstration of the opportunities our district is creating and the bright futures our students are stepping into,” Superintendent Patrick Gittisriboongul said. “We are deeply proud of our students’ accomplishments and remain focused on expanding opportunities that prepare them for success in college, career and life beyond Lynwood Unified.”
