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Dear NVUSD Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! 

I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer. As we launch this new academic year, NVUSD begins with extraordinary momentum, deep gratitude, and great optimism for what our students will accomplish.

My summer began with a work trip to Chicago, where I joined higher education leaders from across the nation to present on NVUSD’s first year as the national pilot district for the STARS College Network. It was an incredible opportunity to highlight how we are opening doors to selective four-year universities for our students. You can learn more about our first year of impact here. 

Expanding college access is a vital part of our mission, but true "future readiness" requires a dual focus: preparing students for higher education and the modern workforce. We are equally excited about our robust career readiness programs, including 13 specialized CTE pathways across our high schools and hands-on, state-of-the-art learning at our new Agricultural & Culinary Innovation Student Center adjacent to Vintage High School.

Throughout the summer, our campuses were alive with progress.

Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) students demonstrated notable academic progress on the Spring 2026 state assessments (CAASPP and CAST), highlighted by district-wide gains in mathematics and science proficiency. These preliminary results validate the effectiveness of NVUSD’s targeted instructional framework while providing valuable data as NVUSD continues to sharpen its ongoing professional development initiatives, including LETRS and High Impact Instructional Teams (HIIT).

District-wide science proficiency increased by over four percent, with 15 out of 26 school sites demonstrating measurable growth. Standout performance was led by elementary and middle schools, including double-digit gains at Pueblo Vista Elementary (+19.0%), Northwood Elementary (+14.6%), Napa Junction Elementary (+11.9%), American Canyon Middle School (+11.6%), Snow Elementary (+10.8%), American Canyon High School (+9.2%), Vintage High School (+9.2%), Napa High School (+5.6%), and McPherson Elementary (+4.8%).

Building on the previous year's gains, mathematics scores increased district-wide by nearly two percent, with 15 of 26 schools posting positive growth. Progress was observed across nearly all tested grade levels, highlighted by double-digit math growth at Pueblo Vista Elementary (+12.8%) and strong gains at Alta Heights Elementary (+9.3%), New Technology High School (+8.3%), Napa Junction Elementary (+6.5%), Browns Valley TK-8 (+5.2%), American Canyon Middle School (+5%), and Shearer TK-8 (+5%)

Dear NVUSD Community,

As I look back on the past school year, I am filled with immense gratitude for our community. Because of your unwavering support, advocacy, and partnership, Napa Valley Unified School District staff, families, and students have continued to learn, grow, and thrive together.

We invite you to review our 2025–2026 Annual Report, which highlights our collective efforts to advance the work outlined in our 2024–2029 Strategic Plan as we turn our Vision 2040 into a reality.

Click here to view the 2025–2026 Annual Report.

In the buzzing World Language building at Vintage High School, I meet with Hudson, a Vintage High senior, NVUSD Student Board Member, and varsity runner. During our interview, Hudson reveals a surprising truth: for many years, his default setting wasn’t "yes." He shares that he was a "no" person.

It took his own innate abilities, the guidance of a coach and college counselor, and hundreds of miles on the pavement to shift towards "yes."

As I sat down to interview Dustin, he quickly paused to sign a friend’s yearbook. Turning back to me, he asked with striking honesty, “I am very social. I am also high-functioning autistic-could you tell?”

As we spoke, I was struck by his thoughtful demeanor, resilience, and the subtle, observant way he regarded the world. In many ways, it felt as if I was talking to a wise elder rather than a high school senior. 

Before the interview began, Michelle asked, with genuine humility, why she was selected as a student to represent her high school by Principal Karin Hatton. The moment she began sharing her story, the answer was clear: Michelle was someone who spent her educational journey quietly achieving the extraordinary.