Wednesday, November 5, 2025

PUSD Launches Student Council Elections

Pasadena Unified high school students campaign to lead as balloting will open November 10

Pasadena Unified School District’s Election Week has begun, with high school students from six campuses campaigning to represent thousands of their peers before the Board of Education.

From November 10 to 14, ballots are distributed via teachers as part of the district’s third round of Student Assembly and Council elections—an initiative driven by student advocacy for formal representation.

This year, 23 students are running for seats; some races are uncontested while others see up to four candidates competing for a single spot.

The Student Assembly includes 24 representatives: one from each grade, nine to 12, at Blair High School, John Muir Early College Magnet High School, Thurgood Marshall Secondary School, Pasadena High School, Rose City High School, and Center for Independent Study (CIS Academy), which is taking part for the first time.

Six juniors—one per school—also serve on the Student Council, rotating to attend Board meetings and casting preferential votes.

Student Think Tank oversees the election and enforces strict campaign guidelines: candidates get only 25 posters per campus and may use a single image to direct students to the district’s website, where all information is centralized. These steps are designed to ensure equity and minimize the role of social media.

After voting closes at midnight on November 14, new representatives will be sworn in at the December 11 Board of Education meeting. Assembly and Council members commit to weekly in-person meetings, districtwide assemblies, and service hours.

The election marks a return to full student participation after the January Eaton Fire disrupted campuses and amid current budget constraints. Full candidate profiles and election details are available at www.pusd.us/StudentAssembly.