REBECCA MCMURRIN
Ulysses S. Grant High School College Prep and Digital Arts Magnet
Los Angeles Unified School District
Rebecca McMurrin, principal of Ulysses S. Grant High School College Prep and Digital Arts Magnet in Los Angeles, has been honored as the 2024-2025 Magnet Schools of America Region II Principal of the Year. A dedicated advocate for equity, inclusion, and academic innovation, McMurrin has transformed Grant’s magnet program into a thriving, diverse, and future-focused learning environment.
Under her leadership, Grant High School’s magnet program has flourished, serving students from 27 different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. She has spearheaded initiatives such as integrating special education students into general education classrooms, expanding culturally relevant teaching, and establishing a project-based learning curriculum that fosters student engagement. Her commitment to student voice is evident in programs like the Black Student Achievement Plan and student-led social justice projects that empower learners to become community leaders.
McMurrin’s impact also extends to professional development, where she champions teacher-led instructional growth and data-driven strategies to close achievement gaps. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning experiences, she ensures that Grant students are prepared for success in college, careers, and beyond.
“We are not just shaping students academically,” McMurrin shared. “We are shaping leaders, creators, and changemakers.”
Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish. Magnet Schools of America’s national certification process is designed to recognize the hard work of the best magnet schools in the nation and to help them as they grow.
