CUSD Receives Prestigious 2024 Golden Bell Award for College Access Program
The Compton Unified School District (CUSD) is proud to announce that its flagship college access initiative, Compton Goes to College!, has been honored with the 2024 Golden Bell Award by the California School Boards Association (CSBA). This prestigious recognition highlights the program’s transformative impact on college readiness and equity within the Compton community.
CUSD Board Member Michael Hooper and Dr. Jorge Torres, Senior Director of College and Career
Compton Unified received its award at a well-attended reception and ceremony on December 5 at the Anaheim Marriott. The awards ceremony was part of CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show held from Dec. 5-Dec. 7 in Anaheim.
“I am proud of the work that our College and Career program has achieved during the past nine years, as we have truly seen students’ paths be altered, not just in the immediate, but ultimately their lifelong trajectories, narrowing the opportunity gap for the community,” said CUSD Senior Director of College and Career Dr. Jorge Torres. “It really warms my heart knowing that we are changing and improving lives in Compton. Compton indeed is going to college!”
Launched in 2015, the Compton Goes to College! program was designed to address social inequities and ensure greater access to higher education for all students. Over the past nine years, the program has achieved remarkable success:
- Increased high school graduation rates by more than 30%. In 2024, CUSD had a 93% graduation rate, surpassing state and local/similar districts.
- Similarly, CUSD saw an additional 3,500 courses being taken by students last year alone compared to 2015, and two schools have received a Dual Enrollment Exemplary Award from the State of California.
- Compared to 2015, we also have had 833 more students take at least one AP exam last year, while also increasing the overall amount of AP exams taken by 1840, from 962 to 2802 overall in 2024. Two of our schools have received the AP Honor Roll Award from the College Board.
- A-G Rates have increased by 37% during this time, from 27% to 60%.
- An additional 324 students were admitted to the University of California campuses and 263 more students were admitted to California State University campuses compared to 2015, surpassing local/similar districts.
- More students are being prepared for College & Career (CCI) as defined by the state having increased by 28% from 22% to 50% surpassing the state and local/similar districts.
- In turn, students’ overall preparedness has led them to become more successful in college, as a 12% increase in first year enrollment has been seen, also 12% more students are enrolling in 4-year Colleges versus Community Colleges where they tend to have faster and higher graduation rates.
This initiative spans across Compton Unified high schools including Centennial High School, Compton Early College High School, Compton High School, and Dominguez High School, offering unparalleled opportunities for students to excel academically and prepare for their future.
The Golden Bell Award that CUSD received was for the Integrated Career Pathways Education category, which recognizes programs that excel in fostering college readiness, dual enrollment, and apprenticeship opportunities. It celebrates innovative models that blend career and college pathways, ensuring students are well-prepared for post-secondary success.
Key contributors to the program’s success include:
- Dr. Jorge Torres, Senior Director of College and Career
- Higher Education Coordinators: Richard Ramirez, Sharqaua Smith-Tyner, Jessie Cruz, and Omar Hernandez
- CUSD’s dedicated Higher Education Coordinators, School Counselors, College & Career Staff, Administrators & College Access Partners
This is the second year in a row that the Compton Unified School District has received a Golden Bell Award. Last year, the district received a Golden Bell Award for the Compton Unified Esports League (CUEL) Initiative. CUSD also received Golden Bell Awards in 2014, 2018, and 2019.
The Golden Bell Awards celebrate excellence in education, recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices that address the changing needs of students. Representing nearly 1,000 Pre-K - 12 school districts and county offices of education, the California School Boards Association (CSBA) honors programs that go beyond traditional education, offering innovative pathways to academic and career success.