The Val Verde Unified School District Data Use Case explores the establishment of Wellness Centers across its school sites—quiet, safe spaces that students can visit for a designated period during the school day to unwind and use self-care tools. These centers are staffed by restorative practitioners or counselors who coach students in socio-emotional learning and connect them to tiered mental health resources when additional support is needed. At Tomás Rivera middle school, student support is guided by a data-informed, needs-based approach rooted in the culture and context of the community. The case outlines Tomás Rivera’s collaborative, multi-pronged approach, school leaders use various data sources including surveys to: a) identify students who may need additional support, and monitor their progress so services can be reallocated as they improve, and b) proactively address school-wide behavioral challenges.

Suggested Citation

Durazi, A. (2025). Val Verde Unified School District: Leveraging Local Data to Improve Student Well-Being. UCLA Center for Community Schooling. https://ucla.box.com/s/0ab4cxe7sh92vqg3pldtdrko8c66y3wm