Schools across the Folsom Cordova Unified School District turned out in record numbers this week as students, families, teachers, and staff participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, a nationwide event honoring the civil rights trailblazer whose courage helped change American education.
Throughout the morning, hundreds of students made their way to school on foot, joined by principals, teachers, and parents from a growing list of campuses. Participation stretched from Folsom to Rancho Cordova and included White Rock Elementary, Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary, Folsom Hills Elementary, Russell Ranch Elementary, Alder Creek Elementary, Natoma Station Elementary, Cordova Villa Elementary, Gold Ridge Elementary, Rancho Cordova Elementary, Mangini Ranch Elementary, and Sutter Middle School. Staff at the FCUSD District Office also walked together in solidarity.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day has become an increasingly meaningful tradition across FCUSD. The annual event commemorates the historic moment in 1960 when six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Her bravery, under national scrutiny and daily hostility, remains a powerful symbol of courage and justice for students today.
At each campus, students and staff gathered for morning walks through neighborhoods and across school grounds, celebrating not only a pivotal moment in history but also the ongoing work of building school communities rooted in kindness, inclusion, and fairness. Many principals and teachers shared messages with students about why Ruby’s story still resonates more than six decades later.
“A heartfelt thank you to all the school leaders, teachers, and parents who helped make today’s events such a success, your dedication made this celebration meaningful for students across the District,” FCUSD said in a statement.
District officials noted that participation has continued to grow each year, with schools embracing the day as an opportunity to teach students about empathy, equity, and standing up for what’s right—values that align with the district’s broader Social Emotional Learning and Equity initiatives.
With more campuses joining the movement annually, FCUSD leaders say the district expects Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day to remain a fixture each November, giving new generations of students a chance to honor history while walking together toward a more inclusive future.
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