Our Mission

When World War II began in 1941, the City of Lynwood was transformed into one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.  Lynwood became part of the massive West Coast industrial engine manufacturing aircraft, ships, electronics, parts and raw materials for the military.  In ten years, the population more than doubled and Lynwood Unified School District was established in 1950 to provide high quality education for children. After the war, Lynwood continued to grow, as Southern California became a center of growth for the auto, aviation, aerospace, electronics, home-building, transportation, rubber, steel, and entertainment industries, as well as a variety of suppliers and small businesses. Attracted by good jobs and careers, millions of veterans resettled in Southern California with the help of G.I. Benefits, including low-cost mortgages, small business loans, and tuition for post-secondary education and vocational training.

By the early 1970s, post-World War II economic growth and prosperity ended and a slow, steady decline began.  Globalization led to the loss of many high paying manufacturing jobs.  California alone lost more than 840,000 manufacturing jobs from 1979 to 2009, a decline of 40%.  State tax revenues declined accordingly.

Additionally, California made major changes to the way it funds public education.  The greatest change came in 1978 when voters approved Proposition 13, freezing property taxes at 1978 levels, beginning a four decades-long decline in education funding.

The 2008 recession led to deep cuts to education funding.  The new Local Control Funding Formula adopted in 2014 is designed to restore funding.  It is the most comprehensive reform of school funding in 40 years and has benefited Lynwood.  The new formula will be phased in over eight years and is designed to restore funding to pre-recession levels and provide additional funding for high-needs students.