News Summary
Dr. Fabiola Bagula, Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, announced that Bethune K-8 School will continue to offer 6th through 8th grade classes. This decision was made during a community meeting, influenced by positive student performance data compared to nearby schools. Despite previous plans to transition Bethune into a K-5 school, the unique community and educational success at Bethune prompted the change. The move has sparked discussions about changes in other local schools as the district looks to enhance educational offerings.
San Diego – Dr. Fabiola Bagula, the Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, confirmed that 6th through 8th grade classes will remain at Bethune K-8 School in Bay Terraces. The decision was announced during a community meeting held in Bethune’s auditorium, which garnered an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Dr. Bagula emphasized the unique sense of community at Bethune, acknowledging the vital role it plays in the school’s success. Despite the district’s earlier plans to transition Bethune and three other K-8 schools to K-5 schools starting in the 2026-27 school year, the positive data presented by staff and community members led to the decision to maintain the middle school grades at Bethune. In contrast, Audubon, Fulton, and Golden Hill schools will lose their 6th to 8th grades as part of the transition plans.
At the meeting, faculty and community advocates from Bethune presented compelling evidence of student achievements, arguing for the importance of retaining middle school grades. Recent data revealed that 49% of Bethune’s students meet or exceed state math standards, a dramatic contrast to the 15% at nearby Bell Middle School. In the English subject, the difference was even more pronounced, with 53% of Bethune’s students29% at Bell.
Since 2014, Bethune K-8 has celebrated the achievements of 11 graduates who have become valedictorians and salutatorians, signifying the school’s successful track record in education. Notably, alumni like Morse High senior Raymond Nonato returned to express their gratitude and support for the school, attributing their academic success to the strong foundation provided by Bethune.
The emotional atmosphere within the community was palpable; several current students, including Imani, expressed their happiness that younger siblings would have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps at Bethune.
While Dr. Bagula noted that programming concerns had been raised regarding K-8 schools, it was clear that Bethune’s successful educational model would not face disruption. Furthermore, the superintendent indicated future plans to enhance high school preparatory programs at Bethune, supporting students as they transition to higher education.
The transition plans for Audubon, Fulton, and Golden Hill schools have met with resistance, as parents and community members voiced their opposition to the changes. In light of these developments, the San Diego Unified School District has initiated a priority Choice enrollment window for families looking to explore new curriculum options for the upcoming 2026-27 school year, which is open until November 3. The Choice program allows families to apply for access to schools outside their neighborhood, including specialized programs in International Baccalaureate (IB), STEM/STEAM, and visual and performing arts.
According to the district, 80% of families
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego
- Wikipedia: San Diego
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Google Search: San Diego Unified School District
- ABC 10 News
- Google Scholar: San Diego education
- Times of San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education in California
- CBS 8
- Google News: San Diego school district
