Summer is an exciting time in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. While students and many staff members enjoy a well-deserved break, district teams are hard at work putting the final pieces in place for another successful school year.
Planning for the upcoming year doesn’t begin in the summer—it begins each January. Over the past several months, district teams have worked collaboratively to develop plans, allocate resources and prepare for the work ahead. Summer is when those plans come together. It’s when projects move from planning to implementation, campuses come alive with construction and preparation, and the foundation is built for a strong start to the school year.
Before looking ahead, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on what was accomplished during the 2025–26 school year. It was a year filled with meaningful progress for students and the community. FCUSD received statewide recognition for its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) efforts, Community Schools work and initiatives to reduce chronic absenteeism.
The district also officially launched the FCUSD Foundation to strengthen community partnerships and expand opportunities for students while kicking off its Early Literacy Initiative to ensure every student builds a strong foundation in reading. FCUSD adopted a Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan that provides a roadmap for the next decade of improvements and continued expanding partnerships with local businesses, organizations and higher education institutions to create even more opportunities for students.
Another highlight was graduation. Watching students from the district’s seven comprehensive and alternative high schools cross the stage serves as a reminder of the perseverance, growth and support that helped them reach this important milestone.
Turning Plans Into Action
One of the most visible signs of summer is the work taking place across FCUSD campuses. Thanks to voter approval of Measures R and S in 2024, the district is making significant investments in schools that will benefit students for generations to come.
At Cordova High School, the $44 million modernization and expansion project continues moving forward. This summer, 13 interim classrooms are being installed while the C Wing is demolished and major utility work begins. Years of planning are becoming reality as the campus transforms for future generations of students.
Construction is also well underway at Cordova Villa Elementary School, where demolition, grading and underground utility work are preparing the site for a modern learning environment scheduled to open in 2027. The project also includes improvements to playgrounds, parking areas and other campus spaces that will benefit students and families for years to come.
In addition, more than 10 schools across the district are receiving improvements this summer, including new transitional kindergarten and kindergarten playgrounds, enhanced safety fencing, parking lot upgrades and portable classroom installations.
Building on What Makes FCUSD Special
Summer is also a time when the district prepares to expand the opportunities that make FCUSD a special place to learn.
This year, FCUSD will continue growing its Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, which now offer students 22 career pathways across 11 industries. These experiences help students discover their passions while preparing them for college, careers and life beyond graduation.
The district is also expanding Dual Enrollment opportunities so more students can earn college credit while still in high school. New Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) pilot programs will increase access to high-quality experiences in visual arts, music and drama. In addition, FCUSD is evaluating opportunities to broaden access to its International Baccalaureate (IB) program so more students can benefit from its rigorous and globally focused approach to learning.
Each of these efforts reflects the district’s commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities that prepare them to pursue their goals after graduation.
One District. One Purpose.
One of the things that makes FCUSD unique is that while it serves a diverse student population, the district remains united around one shared purpose: ensuring every student has access to an excellent education.
That work takes everyone. Families, staff, students, community partners and residents all play an important role in helping schools thrive.
District leaders also encourage community members to continue sharing feedback, whether it’s recognizing a teacher or staff member, asking a question, sharing a concern or reporting a safety issue through the district’s Community Feedback page. Hearing from the community helps celebrate successes while identifying opportunities for continued improvement.
The first day of school will be here before long. Until then, FCUSD will continue putting its plans into action to ensure every student has an exceptional start to the 2026–27 school year.
Copyright © 2026, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Erik Swanson authored this article and is the Superintendent of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.
