BHUSD Celebrates Strong Start to 2026-27 School Year

Beverly Hills Unified School District students returned to classrooms Aug. 12, beginning the 2026-27 school year at Horace Mann Elementary School, El Rodeo Elementary School, Beverly Vista Middle School and Beverly Hills High School.

The new year begins with approximately 3,000 students enrolled across the district and a series of academic, extracurricular and student-support initiatives that BHUSD officials say will continue expanding during the months ahead.

Students are returning to High-Impact Tutoring, the District's growing Dual Language Academy, expanded arts and athletics opportunities and Unified Physical Education through BHUSD's partnership with Special Olympics Southern California. Beverly Hills Preschool is also beginning its transition from City administration to BHUSD during the 2026-27 school year.

The District is simultaneously implementing new policies approved by the Board of Education aimed at changing how technology is used in classrooms and strengthening student engagement. BHUSD is beginning implementation of its technology and screen-time policy as well as new closed-campus procedures.

Another initiative under consideration could eventually affect graduation requirements at Beverly Hills High School. District leaders are exploring an artificial intelligence graduation requirement centered on practical AI literacy and skills students are increasingly expected to understand in higher education and the workplace. No final graduation requirement has been adopted.

"Our responsibility is simple: put students first and make every day they spend in our schools count," Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss said. "That means challenging them academically, supporting them when they need help, creating opportunities for them to discover what they are capable of, and continuing to evolve as their needs and the world around them change."

Board of Education President Judith Manouchehri said the beginning of a new school year also brings a responsibility to continually raise expectations for the District and the opportunities available to students.

"Putting students first means listening to them, believing in them and never accepting that what was good enough yesterday will be good enough tomorrow," Manouchehri said.

The opening also begins BHUSD's 90th year serving Beverly Hills, following a summer in which employees prepared campuses and District leaders outlined priorities for the year ahead.