As we wrap up an incredible school year, we’re excited to bring you the final edition of Surfside Stories before we head into summer break. It’s been a year defined by growth, collaboration, and empowerment—and we’re so proud of what our students, staff, and community have accomplished together under this year’s theme, HBCSD Empowers.

In this edition, you’ll find:

In classrooms across Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD), students are mastering more than academics—they’re gaining the confidence to thrive in any language. This year, HBCSD proudly celebrates the reclassification of 70 English Learner (EL) students, marking a major milestone in their educational journeys.

These students, who represent 30% of the District’s English Learner population, have achieved a level of English fluency that allows them to fully access the general education curriculum without the need for language development support.

“Reclassification is more than a language milestone—it represents academic growth, perseverance, and a collaborative commitment from students, families, and educators,” said Director of Educational Services, Dr. Danielle Phillips.

Reclassification occurs when a student is formally designated as having achieved English proficiency, based on several rigorous criteria:

It’s a process that reflects not just language ability, but a student’s readiness to engage fully and independently in academic content across all subjects.

HBCSD is proud to serve a richly diverse community, where 29 languages are spoken across our school sites. Languages such as Spanish, Vietnamese, Farsi, Korean, and Tagalog are part of the District’s vibrant linguistic landscape. This diversity strengthens classroom conversations and broadens the cultural perspectives students experience daily.

“We see multilingualism as a strength,” said Smith Elementary Principal Mrs. Maria Ashton. “We’re proud of our multilingual students—not just for reclassifying, but for bringing such rich experiences and strengths to our school community.”

While we continue to build upon our support systems, our schools are already making meaningful strides in helping English Learners succeed. Across the District, principals, teachers, and staff work closely with students and their families to set goals, track progress, and celebrate growth.

Some schools hold one-on-one meetings with students and families to talk through learning goals and where extra support may be needed. Staff also help students create plans tailored to how they learn best. Most importantly, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and build confidence in their abilities, both in and out of the classroom.

These growing efforts reflect HBCSD’s commitment to supporting every student and building strong partnerships between home and school.

Reclassified students don’t just show progress in English Language Arts—they grow across the board. From math to science to social studies, these students demonstrate increased confidence and achievement in every subject. Reclassification is a sign that students are not only mastering a new language but also unlocking their full academic potential.

Once students meet the criteria, they continue to be supported and monitored to ensure they stay on track. The data is clear: reclassified students consistently meet—and often exceed—grade-level benchmarks, thriving with the skills and confidence they’ve built along the way.

Schools honor reclassified students during awards assemblies to celebrate these meaningful milestones, presenting them with certificates of achievement in front of their peers, families, and staff.

While this year’s reclassification numbers are worth commemorating, the work continues. HBCSD remains committed to providing robust English Language Development (ELD) instruction and resources to all multilingual learners.

From early elementary through middle school, the District will continue fostering a learning environment where every student has the tools to succeed, lead, and inspire.

“When we empower students to embrace their identity and take ownership of their learning, the results speak for themselves,” said Dr. Phillips. “Being multilingual is a strength—it helps students think more flexibly, communicate more effectively, and see the world through a broader lens. ”

Reintroduced last school year, the Harvest of the Month program has quickly grown into a student favorite. Over the past eight months, 115 teachers have integrated nutrition education into their classrooms, reaching more than 4,250 students—approximately 90% of our total enrollment. Students explored a wide range of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic dragon fruit, finger limes, crab apples, persimmons, kumquats, and more. With each month’s new feature, excitement grew as students learned about—and tasted—something new.

The results speak for themselves: on featured item days, overall fruit and vegetable consumption increased by 15%, with some schools seeing increases of up to 70%. Student curiosity and enthusiasm soared across all grade levels.

“This program not only encourages healthy habits, but it also creates meaningful connections between what students are learning and what they’re eating,” said Director of Food Services, Mrs. Ashlin Connolly. “It’s a great example of what’s possible when we work together across departments to improve student wellbeing.”

The District looks forward to continuing this impactful initiative next school year and remains committed to promoting wellness and healthy choices for all students.

Students can access the following apps during the summer through the Clever Single Sign-On (SSO) platform. Log in to Clever to start exploring and learning!

We encourage all students to use these tools to continue learning and growing, wishing you a fun and educational summer!

While many of these changes will be implemented over the next decade, the District is already moving forward. Our Food Services team has been proactive in shaping our menus to offer the best for our students, which has allowed us to align with several of these guidelines ahead of schedule, and we continue to take intentional steps to ensure full compliance. Here's how:

As the summer season nears, our dedicated Grounds and Facilities teams are already hard at work preparing campuses for the return of students this fall. From repurposing and relocating materials to completing targeted site improvements, the team's efforts reflect a continued commitment to sustainability, safety, and creating welcoming learning environments across HBCSD.

As part of the Sowers campus reconstruction, two trees initially slated for that site were no longer needed due to adjustments with the landscape. Instead of returning them, the District identified an opportunity to repurpose the trees at Smith Elementary. Thanks to quick coordination by our Grounds team, and partnership with Construct 1, the trees were successfully planted, enhancing the landscape and demonstrating our resourceful approach to beautifying campuses.

Several important projects wrapped up in April across multiple school sites:

These updates demonstrate our team's thoughtful approach to maintaining safe, functional, and vibrant school environments. We’re grateful for the continued dedication of our Maintenance and Grounds teams as they launch into a busy summer of preparations.

Building and maintaining trust through clear, responsive communication remains a District priority. Feedback from this survey will inform ongoing efforts to improve outreach and foster stronger connections across the community. 

HBCSD values the continued partnership of families and community members in this process and appreciates the time taken to share meaningful insights.

The Communications Survey presentation is linked for additional detail and review.

At this year’s Retirement Reception, Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD) proudly honored three extraordinary individuals whose years of dedicated service have shaped the lives of countless students and families. Celebrated under the theme “The Next Chapter Begins—Writing a New Chapter,” the event provided an opportunity to reflect on the stories these retirees have written—and the exciting chapters ahead… Read More