Case Study: El Monte Union High School District creates a safer, healthier campus with Verkada

El Monte Union High School District - Customer Case Study

El Monte Union High School District, a public high school district serving more than 8,000 students in California, faced a growing problem with student vaping on campus, especially in bathrooms. The district needed a more proactive way to deter vaping while also improving overall campus safety, privacy, and responsiveness. Verkada’s integrated security platform, including vape detection sensors, cameras, access control, intercom, and air quality sensors, was used to help address these challenges.

Verkada deployed vape detection sensors in student bathrooms, with nearby cameras for privacy-conscious verification, instant alerts to staff, and dashboards to track trends across campuses. The district also expanded use of Verkada cameras, access control, guest management, and horn speakers to strengthen security and emergency communication. As a result, El Monte Union High School District saw a 25–50% reduction in vape detections within the first year, faster incident response, quicker investigations, better privacy protections, and improved emergency readiness.

El Monte Union High School District

Erick Steelman

Chief Technology & Innovation Officer