Oak Ridge students return Wednesday to colorful greeting in El Dorado Hills
Classrooms were filling with excitement, new backpacks, and fresh faces Thursday morning as more than 22,000 students across the Folsom Cordova Unified School District officially began the 2025–26 school year.
From Folsom to Rancho Cordova, families arrived at campuses early on August 7, greeted by staff and administrators who had spent weeks preparing for this very moment. At Riverview STEM Academy in Rancho Cordova, students received an especially warm welcome from Superintendent Erik Swanson, FCUSD Board of Trustees President Chris Clark, Clerk Jennifer Laret, and Rancho Cordova Mayor Siri Pulipati, who helped kick off the school year at one of the district’s fastest-growing campuses.
The new year also marks a major milestone for Riverview STEM Academy. Long known for its award-winning magnet program, the school has now officially expanded to serve grades K–8—making it the first K–8 campus in the entire district. Sixth-grade students joined the school this year, with seventh- and eighth-grade grades set to be added in the 2026–27 school year.
“Expanding this award-winning STEM magnet program to a K–8 school is an exciting step forward for Folsom Cordova Unified and our community,” said Superintendent Swanson. “We’re building on a legacy of excellence to give students a world-class education right in their own neighborhood.”
Rancho Cordova Mayor Siri Pulipati also joined in the celebration at Riverview Thursday morning, emphasizing the city’s partnership in supporting local students and schools.
“Riverview STEM Academy’s expansion to a K–8 school is a milestone that reflects the City of Rancho Cordova’s shared commitment with Folsom Cordova Unified School District to investing in high-quality, hands-on education,” Pulipati said. “We’re proud to support the future of learning right here in our city and to celebrate the exciting opportunities this will bring for our students.”
While students and families spent recent days checking off supply lists and choosing first-day outfits, FCUSD staff and educators were busy behind the scenes getting every school site ready. Maintenance crews worked through the summer deep-cleaning classrooms, prepping landscaping, and ensuring HVAC systems were running smoothly. Teachers and administrators gathered for campus-wide planning sessions to align instruction and prepare classrooms.
In the days leading up to the start of school, new teachers across the district also met for orientation at Vista del Lago High School. The event introduced them to FCUSD’s values, mission, and collaborative spirit, providing a strong foundation as they joined the district’s 4,355-member team of educators and support staff.
Altogether, Folsom Cordova Unified serves 22,338 students across 37 campuses, including elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as specialty programs. Thursday marked the beginning of a new chapter not just for students, but for the many people working year-round to create a positive, engaging, and inclusive learning environment districtwide.
New leadership at Vista del Lago High School
Meanwhile, at Vista del Lago High School, students arrived to a familiar face in a brand-new role—Phil Leonhardt has officially stepped into the position of principal for the 2025–26 school year. While the title is new, Leonhardt is no stranger to Vista. He previously taught math and served as an instructional leader and intervention coordinator at the school, where he helped develop student support programs and led campus-wide improvement initiatives.
Prior to taking on the principal role, Leonhardt most recently served as an assistant principal at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, where he further built his reputation for collaborative leadership and student-first decision-making. His return to Vista marks a full-circle moment, and students, staff, and families are welcoming him back with enthusiasm.
Leonhardt brings not only experience, but a personal investment in Vista’s success, having built deep relationships within the campus community during his earlier tenure. He officially assumed the principal role this summer, following the departure of longtime principal Kim Moore. You can see the full story on Leonhardt HERE
Oak Ridge students welcomed with new garden mural
While Folsom Cordova students returned on Thursday, Oak Ridge High School students in neighboring El Dorado Hills kicked off their school year a day earlier, on Wednesday, August 6. And for students on that campus, the return came with something extra special: a vibrant new mural, now on display at the center of the school’s newly developed garden.
The colorful mural, designed by rising senior Kate Woodley, greets students with bold visuals and nature-inspired themes that tie into the surrounding garden space. The project is the first initiative from the Campus Improvement Team (CIT), a student-led group created to enhance the school environment through lasting, meaningful projects.
“Normally, when I’m creating art, it’s something personal, something that speaks to me,” said Woodley. “But with this mural, I had to think about the bigger picture. I had to factor in approvals, funding, timing and so many little things I had no idea about before we started the project.”
Woodley collaborated with Samantha Liu, a recent Oak Ridge graduate and rising freshman at UC Berkeley, who led the campus chapter of One Green Step—the group responsible for developing the garden. Together, the pair secured a $10,000 grant from the Oak Ridge Foundation and applied for additional support from Raley’s and Sprouts Market to help fund the project.
Local muralist and graphic designer Lora Watts served as a mentor throughout the process, guiding Woodley on materials, layout, and techniques to bring the mural to life with a professional finish.
“I couldn’t have done this without Lora’s help,” Woodley said. “She’s been an amazing mentor, sharing so many tricks of the trade. I’ve learned so much from her and I’m so grateful for her support every step of the way.”
Woodley also praised the many volunteers who showed up to help paint the mural during the summer. “During meetings and even while we were working on grants, the mural was just an idea. Seeing volunteers show up on that first day of painting, I was like—this is really going to happen,” she said. “It was kind of emotional seeing people show up who cared about art and wanted to make this project a reality.”
The mural is now a permanent fixture on campus and symbolizes not only artistic expression but student leadership and initiative. Woodley says the CIT club is already fielding interest from teachers with new project ideas, and she hopes this is just the beginning of many more improvements to come.
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