SIERRA SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Sierra Sands Unified presents a wide range of strong academic programs and highly successful co-curricular programs. Listed below are a few recent accomplishments of our schools, students, and staff. The level of student achievement recognized at the secondary level, is a reflection of the cumulative efforts of the entire educational program K-12.
• California Distinguished School Awards - Burroughs High School (2005),
Faller (2004 & 1998), Inyokern (2004), Richmond (2004), Murray Middle (2003),
Las Flores (Honorable Mention 2004), and Monroe Middle (Honorable Mention 2003)
• Blue Ribbon Title 1 Nominated Achieving schools - Inyokern and Richmond
(the only 2 in Kern County)
• Charles Schwab Foundation for Learning Collaborative Challenge Award –
Leadership site - Richmond (1999-2005)
• Up- to-date standards based instructional materials in all classrooms
• Burroughs High School consistently scores 30+ points above state and national averages on the SAT
• Over 80% of Tenth grade students pass the CAHSEE on their first attempt.
• Extensive inservice opportunities offered during buy back days, throughout the
school year and in the summer.
• A strong comprehensive K-12 substance abuse prevention and education program
• Officer in the Classroom and Officer on Campus programs
• State Middle School Partnership Network (only Kern County school selected)
• Sand Canyon Environmental Education Program for fourth grade
• District-wide Student Assistance Program
• Consistently ranked in top 20% of California districts in student achievement on
Advanced Placement exams
• Extensive ROP vocational classes offerings with 70% completer rate
• Local, regional, state, and national winners in a variety of programs including:
• County and State Science Fair
• Knowledge Master
• Speech and Essay Contests
• Musical Festival Winners
• Spelling Bees/ History Days/ Oral Language Festival
• Math Counts
• ROP Skills Olympics
• Several secondary students selected annually to participate in State Honor Band, Orchestra, and Choir
• Orchestra and Band are regularly invited to attend Music Festivals
• Over $900,000 annually awarded for scholarships with an additional $700,000 in
military scholarships and college funds
• Athletic Achievement-
• League Championships- Football (2002,2003), Girls Basketball (2003),
Boys Soccer (2003), Golf (2003, 2004), Girls Swimming (2003, 2004, 2005),
Boys Swimming (2003, 2004, 2005), Boys Tennis (2004)
• CIF championship- Girls swimming (2003)
• Desert Sky League Awards- All Sports Championship (2000-2001, 2002-2003)
and Sportsmanship Award (2002-2003, 2003-2004)
• Staff members selected for Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program (Wales and Spain)
and Rotary Visiting Educator Program (Africa)
• Recipients of various grants such as Enhancing Education through Technology,
Digital High School, English Language Acquisition Program,
School Renovation Grant, Community Based English Tutoring