11 CUSD Drone Teams Fly High at Western Regionals
Media Release
King Earns 5th Place, Anderson Scores 7th Place Out of 100 Teams.
Compton Unified School District is celebrating a major achievement as two of its drone teams placed in the Top 10 overall at the Western Drone Regional Finals in San Diego. King Elementary School earned an impressive 5th place finish, while Anderson Elementary School scored 7th place, rising among the best teams from across the Western Region.
CUSD Drone Teams
The standout performances came as part of a strong districtwide showing, with students from Anderson Elementary School, Clinton Elementary School, King Elementary School, Tibby Elementary School, Davis Middle School, Whaley Middle School, and Dominguez High School representing Compton Unified. In total, seven schools fielded 11 teams, including 10 middle school teams and one high school team—demonstrating the depth and strength of the district’s STEM pipeline.
Dominguez Drone Team
The level of the competition was significant, featuring 100 teams and more than 300 students from across the Western Region, including participants from American Samoa and Canada. Notably, Compton Unified teams made up 20% of the middle school competition bracket, a remarkable presence that underscores the district’s leadership in drone education and hands-on STEM learning.
King Drone Team
More than 50 CUSD scholars traveled to San Diego to compete in both team flight challenges and autonomous coding missions, showcasing advanced technical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure. The Western Drone Regional Finals are known for their high level of difficulty, bringing together top-performing students to test their abilities in real-world applications of coding and engineering.
King Drone Team
The King Elementary “Drone Dominators” team’s 5th place finish stands out as a testament to their dedication and preparation, competing alongside elite teams—including international competitors. Anderson Elementary’s Top 10 placement further highlights the strength and consistency of CUSD’s elementary-level STEM programs.
King Elementary Scholars Representing CUSD:
Cailyn Sofia Franco, Marjorie Michelle Campos Guevara, Cesar Johan Franco, Angel Omar Perez-Zamora, Ruben Cruz, Julian Aiden Morales, Cristian Santiago Moreno, Bryan Villanueva, Mia Rufino
Anderson Elementary Scholars Representing CUSD:
Bryant Sanchez, Angel Rocha, Athan Flores, Omar Ledezma, Isaac Barron, Hector Castaneda, Emiliano Castaneda, Sebastian Gonzalez
This outstanding performance reflects Compton Unified’s continued investment in innovative, future-focused STEM education. From elementary through high school, scholars are gaining critical skills in coding, engineering, and emerging technologies—preparing them to lead and compete on a global stage.
As these students return from San Diego, they bring home not only accolades, but inspiration—proving that in Compton Unified, excellence truly takes flight.