Pasadena Unified Superintendent Welcomes Students in Back-to-School Email

Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco welcomed the district community back to school in an Aug. 14 email, telling recipients the 2026-27 year begins with PUSD’s graduation rate risen to 91%, exceeding the state average.

Classes begin Monday, Aug. 17. Teachers and staff are already back at schools preparing classrooms and campuses, Blanco said.

Preliminary results also show promising increases in math and science achievement across the district, Blanco said, crediting the work of students and the educators and staff who support them.

The district’s theme for the year is “The Power of Us: Forward Together,” which Blanco said reflects what the district can achieve by moving forward with shared purpose, belief in its students and a clear vision for the future.

Over the past year, the community has continued recovering from the Eaton Fire while navigating significant change across PUSD, Blanco said. Summer work to prepare campuses included adding new fencing and playgrounds, extensive cleaning at all schools and environmental work at several sites, she said.

“Through every challenge, our focus remained where it belongs: on welcoming our students back to campuses that are safe, healthy, and ready for learning,” Blanco wrote.

The district will build on that progress with three priorities, she said: academic success for every student, visioning for the future, and effective operational systems that support teaching and learning.

“Our goal remains clear: prepare every student for the future,” Blanco wrote. The district wants students to become critical thinkers, effective communicators and people of character who contribute to their communities, she said.

Families preparing for the first day can download the updated PUSD Welcome Kit, which includes the school year calendar, bell schedules, after-school programs and other resources. The English edition is posted at https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1785774236/pusdus/obb2mwqf5ar6c06kqgnl/PUSD_WelcomeKit_v13en8326.pdf. A Spanish edition is also available.

Questions about registering for school should go to a school’s registrar. The PUSD Office of Enrollment can also be reached at (626) 396-3639 or at https://www.pusd.us/departments/enrollment/office-of-enrollment.