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San Marino Unified highlights AP Platinum status, new internships and signature programs
Summary
District and school leaders showcased academic achievements — San Marino High’s AP Honor Roll Platinum status, the first Medical Arts program graduating class, humanities and STEM partnerships, new AP Research Capstone and expanded internship opportunities.
San Marino Unified School District leaders used the State of the District presentation to highlight academic and programmatic achievements across grades TK–12.
Superintendent Dr. Linda De La Torre framed the evening by stressing districtwide commitments to coherence, capacity building and stewardship. School principals then described successes on their campuses, focusing on student outcomes and signature programs.
San Marino High School Principal Dr. Benjamin Wolf noted the high school’s recent recognitions, including the National Blue Ribbon Award and placement on the College Board’s AP Honor Roll Platinum list. Wolf explained the College Board’s platinum criteria described in his remarks: 80% of students must take at least one AP exam during high school, 50% must score a 3 or higher on an AP exam, and 15% must take five or more AP exams (with one taken as early as ninth or tenth grade). He said the district now meets the platinum thresholds that place the school among the top U.S. high schools.
Wolf also described three signature programs: the Medical Arts program (dual‑enrollment courses in partnership with Pasadena City College that include donated Anatomage tables and student internship opportunities), a humanities program partnered with the Huntington Library, and a STEM partnership with Caltech that sends student groups to Caltech twice monthly. He announced a growing AP Research/Capstone program and described recently added internship placements with local medical providers.
Elementary and middle school principals reported strong assessment results and student engagement programs. Valentine Elementary reported high proficiency on state assessments (principal remarks listed 90% third‑grade ELA proficiency and 85% math proficiency for a referenced cohort) and expanded kindergarten; Huntington Middle School described expanded wellness supports, enhanced safety measures, and designation in a national middle‑school ranking.
The presentations emphasized partnerships — PTA, San Marino Schools Foundation, Caltech, Huntington Library and Pasadena City College — as central to the district’s program offerings. No formal policy decisions or votes were taken during the presentations; school leaders urged families to attend upcoming events and performances to see student work first‑hand.
