Published Monday, June 1 at 2:40 p.m.
Even after a brief student population slowdown, enrollment is back on the rise, programs are moving upward, and each school site is reaching the needs of their students. That is the take of the Lucerne Valley USD’s “State of the District 2025/26,” which was presented by district and school site administrators at the monthly meeting of the LVUSD’s Board of Trustees on Thursday, May 14.
“Through the work that we continue to do, we get recognized across the state with some of the initiatives that we've done,” Superintendent Peter Livingston said.
While rising enrollment can mean many things depending on where it occurs, in Lucerne Valley the steady growth from only 669 students at the end of 2016 to a nearly double 1,172 in April of 2026 seems to show an increased number of families moving to the town for its vibrant school district. Earlier this year, the month-to-month enrollment wavered below the previous year for the first time since Superintendent Peter Livingston came in 2016, but a surge at the end of the school year put the current enrollment figures back on top and set for more.
“When I fill the enrollment data on this you can look through the year and you'll see that we continue to grow,” Mr. Livingston noted. “The trend ended very strong and we do have an expectation that that continues.”
The enrollment at the six charter schools overseen by the Lucerne Valley USD also has risen. The number of students rose from a total of 12,924 last year to 13,805, according to the 2026 P2 ADA estimates.
LUCERNE VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Assistant Principal Mrs. Suzie Manley began the elementary school’s reports. Mrs. Manley has been with the school as its AAIIAC for four years. Principal Mrs. Joanna Mora has been leading the schools for six years. The school has two new teachers this year: Mrs. Jones (3rd grade) and Miss Zamora (1st grade). Last summer, the school district sent 30 teachers to RCA and Literacy trainings.
Enrichment activities — namely physical education, art and STEM — continue to grow. In terms of LVES academic progress, Reading and math have both improved. “Our SAR data this year has increased in almost every grade level,” she said.
Six LVES English Language (EL) students were reclassified to Fluent English Proficient (RFEP) status, and at students’ request, the highly successful Ron Clark Academy “House System” is expanding to the 2nd grade.
Several new campus features have been constructed including new ramps, solar panels, concrete, gazebos and privacy fencing.
School-wide events have grown including field trips, 2nd grade house sorting, attendance assemblies, AR parties, 6th vs. teacher events, 6th grade sports and dances, 5th grade to Science Camp, House Competition and Start with Hello! Parent events now include parades, the Fall Festival, Holidays Around the World, Walk Through History, 4th Annual Talent Show, Read for the Record, “Frozen,” Parents Night Out and T-Shirt Point Night.
MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
New teacher Ms. Tyrell joined the Middle/High staff, teaching Special Ed, said Principal Jason Story. “She fits right in.”
The school is supporting student learning in several ways including Math Intervention, Reading Intervention, After School Tutoring and Saturday School.
“We do our higher-ready testing throughout the year to see where the students are,” Mr. Story said. “Students that are really struggling, we're pulling out for short periods of time into an intervention class.”
Regarding tutoring, Mr. Story said, “We started our after-school tutoring this year. It started off kind of slow. Athletes started getting involved and by the end of the year we were getting almost 30 kids a day three days a week we had a Saturday school tutoring that grew.”
New construction on campus includes a new welding shop, FFA chicken coop, upgraded football field lights, parking lot lights, Media Center conference room addition and a Southwest Gas project. “We completed a new welding shop in FFA. Just completed our chicken coop. So no chickens in there yet, but that'll be exciting when we get that full, I'm assuming, next year. The lights at the football stadium are awesome. You can demo them, you can make them pop in the beginning.”
Dashboard indicators show notable achievements in key areas include a 46-point increase in English Language Arts, a Math score increase of 14 points. Additionally 32% are working at or above grade level with an 8% increase in proficiency in reading. As reading improves, there was an 11% decrease in the lowest band, which positively reflects the improvement. In Mathematics, 44% of students are working at or above grade level, and there is a 10% increase in proficiency.
This year school administrators reminded the students about the importance of the testing, “so we threw in some incentives, which food always works with kids,” he said.
Innovations in learning have occurred in programs, leadership and teaching. They include Musical Theater, Building Thinking Classroom Practices, and an Instructional Leadership Team. “We started a musical theater program — basically a drama class — and man, it's, it's took off! Ms. James is doing a good job with that.” He added that “our teachers are amazing. They’re supportive.”
There have been numerous improvements and accomplishments to the school’s athletics. They include Elite Cheer Camp, a new baseball infield, LVHS athlete Ayana Jaimez-Solorio qualified to run in the state cross country finals, the MS softball team won a conference championship, the HS boys soccer were league champions, the HS girls basketball team once again won a league championship.
“Athletics is going great,” Mr. Story said. “Our cheer program is phenomenal. They keep growing and they add an excitement and a positive piece to our school culture.”
Mr. Story said that the increase in individual and team championships has been very nice to see, but there are even more positive indicators. “Besides the champions, it’s a lot more competitive from the bottom to the top. So every sport this year was competing, and they seem to be having a good time out there. The middle school sports really drives this. So we're starting them in sixth grade, starting them early, teaching them the basics and getting them excited.”
Regarding College and Career readiness, the high school has a 96.1% graduation rate, which is 8% higher than the state average. The College Career Indicator shows a 17.8% increase with 72.4% prepared. The number of students earning college credits has risen by 108%.
VIRTUAL ACADEMY
The Virtual Academy, which was started in the spring of 2020 to give families a school alternative during the COVID pandemic, is still going strong.
The Virtual Academy’s elementary school has a total year enrollment of 48 students with 32 enrolled at year’s end. The school utilizes Acellus for its courseware and Mystery Writing for improving writing confidence and skills. Each year, several students receive either the Silver Pegasus or Gold Pegasus achievement awards.
Teacher Mrs. Katelynn Madrid joined the school this year. The Virtual Academy offers one-on-one tutoring, in-person activity days and field trips, family interaction, flexible hours, and student can work at an individual level. Both accelerated or remediation is offered.
The yearly enrollment for the Middle/High School is 47 students with six seniors enrolled and two graduating early. By the end of the school year, there were 13 middle school students and 16 high school students.
The Virtual Academy also serves several students with medical or emotional needs. The school has navigated to a new online learning system called Imagine Edgenuity, which has better rigor with video instruction, writing assignments, research assignments and projects.
The Virtual Academy, which is located at Lucerne Valley USD offices on Aliento, provides in-person Science Days, and two teams took 1st place at the annual MEEC Maker Faire. Students had the opportunity to visit the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
“Our virtual program has a lot of activity days,” said Assistant Superintendent Olga Fisher, who serves as the Virtual Academy’s principal. “But we also are so fortunate that our elementary, our middle school, and our high school — when they have these big activities they invite our virtual kids to join and a lot of them choose to participate. So not only do they have opportunity to work here with us, but they also go to the school site.”
