On Aug. 13, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond joined Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza and leadership at the district’s Welcome Back to School event.

CVUSD has earned countywide recognition for having the highest FAFSA and California Dream Act completion rates, exceptional foster youth support, year‑over‑year improvement, and robust college‑going systems. Thurmond highlighted the district’s steady improvement in moving the needle on literacy, making it one of the highest-performing districts in the state.