Hesperia Unified School District (HUSD) is proud to announce that the district and four of its schools have been named finalists for the 2026 Daily Press Best in the Desert Awards. True to its mission of "preparing today's students for tomorrow's world," HUSD is honored to be recognized alongside top-tier educational institutions across the High Desert. Cast your ballot daily during the public voting period from September 9th through September 23rd at yourchoiceawards.com/victorville/.
The 2026 HUSD finalists include:
Hesperia Unified School District (hesperiausd.org/)(@HesperiaUnified)
Carmel Elementary School; #YouAreALeader (carmelelementary.org/)(@Carmel_Cougars)
Hesperia Junior High School; Home of the Roadrunners (hesperiajrhigh.org/)(@HJHRoadRunners)
Oak Hills High Schools; Its a Great Day to be a Bulldog! (oakhillsbulldogs.com/)(@OHHS_Bulldogs)
Ranchero Middle School; RISE (Responsibility, Integrity, Service, Excellence) (rancheromiddle.org/)(@RancheroMiddle)
Sultana High School; #TealLife (sultanahighschool.com/)(@SultanaHighSchool)
Hesperia Unified School District (Best School District Finalist): True to its mission of "preparing today's students for tomorrow's world," Hesperia Unified School District leads the region through innovative learning models, dedicated educators, and strong community partnerships. HUSD brings together diverse campuses under one unified vision of excellence, ensuring every student in the High Desert has access to a world-class education. Recently, HUSD has seen its graduation rate rise to 95.1%; 75% of graduates were A-G completers; 60% completed a career technical pathway, and 122 students completed their associate’s degree at the same time through HUSD’s dual enrollment program. All this while suspensions have decreased 25.4% and expulsions have decreased 38% over the last 4 years. The district’s continued commitment to music and arts programs from elementary through high schools provides well-rounded education for students. HUSD’s dominant athletics programs resulted in 4 HDAL team championships, 14 team Mojave River League Championships, 12 individual MRL championships, 2 CIF team finalists, 3 individual CIF champions, 1 team CIF champion, and over 30 college athletics signings. A vote for HUSD supports academic excellence, well-rounded music and arts opportunities, career technical education, and elite athletics programs.
Carmel Elementary School: Embodying its motto #YouAreALeader, Carmel Elementary sets the gold standard for elementary education by instilling confidence, character, and a lifelong love of learning from day one. Carmel creates a safe, nurturing environment where young learners are empowered to take ownership of their education and step up as student leaders. A vote for Carmel is a vote for a school dedicated to building strong foundations where young voices are heard and future leaders are born.
Hesperia Junior High School: Our school’s mission is that every student leaves with the attitude and skills necessary to be successful in high school and beyond. We prioritize student safety above all else to ensure students have the space to grow academically and socially. HJH strongly believes in partnering with parents and the community to accomplish these goals. Hesperia Junior High School provides students with a rigorous curriculum and a wide array of extracurricular activities and sports to help shape their junior high school experience and best prepare them for what comes next. Voting for Hesperia Junior High School is a vote for a school whose students are well rounded and prepared for the future.
Oak Hills High School: Embracing the proud motto #ItsAGreatDayToBeABulldog, Oak Hills High School stands as a premier High School recognized as a California Distinguished School. Guided by its commitment to BARC, which is positive Behavior, Academic excellence, college/career Readiness, and strong Community engagement. OHHS empowers students to excel in an ever-changing world. Bulldogs thrive through a rigorous curriculum featuring expanding Dual Enrollment options, high-achieving Advanced Placement courses, and industry-aligned Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways including welding, auto, construction and much more. Complemented by , vibrant performing arts and championship athletic programs, including elite basketball and football programs. Oak Hills fosters a culture of leadership and excellence. Voting for Oak Hills High School is a vote for academic distinction, powerhouse athletics, student empowerment, and unmatched Bulldog pride!
Ranchero Middle School: Guided by its foundational RISE values, Responsibility, Integrity, Service, and Excellence, Ranchero Middle School transforms early secondary education into a character-defining experience. RMS balances rigorous academic standards with a strong emphasis on community service, athletics (especially basketball and volleyball), robotics, and personal accountability. A vote for Ranchero recognizes a school community that consistently pushes students to rise above expectations in everything they do.
Sultana High School: Rallying under the pride of #TealLife, Sultana High School offers an exceptional secondary experience defined by top-tier academics, robust career technical education, thriving arts programs, and championship athletics—especially in wrestling, softball, baseball, and soccer. Sultana equips graduates with the real-world skills, resilience, and ambition needed to thrive in college and career.
Student successes include: reaching a historic 76% A-G completion rate—the highest in school history—alongside a site-wide 15% increase in AP exam pass rates (highlighted by a perfect 100% pass rate in AP Art). Expanding Dual Enrollment opportunities with a 90.1% overall pass rate, enabling 32% of the Class of 2026 to complete at least one college course and celebrating a 250% surge in students graduating with full Associate of Arts (AA) degrees. Logging over 4,000 student visits to the College & Career Center, hosting dozens of workshops and campus field trips, and seeing 75% of seniors complete a full CTE pathway.
Behind these achievements stands a dedicated staff whose extraordinary hard work and tireless efforts make this growth possible. Winning the "Best in the Desert" award isn't just a title for Sultana—it is a reflection of a proven track record, vibrant school culture, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Cast your vote for Sultana to celebrate a high school that continuously elevates the standard for secondary education and truly stands as the absolute best in the desert!
Show your support for these outstanding institutions by casting your ballot daily during the public voting period from September 9th through September 23rd at yourchoiceawards.com/victorville/.