September 16, 2025

San Diego Schools Transition to K-5 Model Sparks Outrage

News Summary

The San Diego Unified School District’s decision to convert three K-8 schools—Bethune, Fulton, and Audubon—into K-5 institutions has ignited anger among parents. Many are concerned about the potential loss of valuable programs, particularly at Bethune, which has shown strong academic performance. Parents criticized the district for inadequate communication and lack of community input during the decision-making process. As frustrations mount, families are preparing to voice their concerns at an upcoming school board meeting, advocating for their children’s educational environment.

San Diego, CA – The San Diego Unified School District has announced its decision to transition three K-8 schools—Bethune, Fulton, and Audubon—into K-5 institutions starting in the 2027-28 school year. This change has sparked significant outrage and frustration among parents, who learned of the plan through an unexpected email from the district.

The district asserts that the rationale behind this transition is to enhance educational opportunities for students. By converting to K-5 schools, the district aims to provide more course offerings and programs that are deemed unavailable in smaller K-8 settings. However, many parents are questioning the decision, particularly at Bethune Elementary School, which boasts high academic performance and successful programs.

Test score data reveals that 49% of Bethune’s students meet or exceed state math standards, while only 15% of students at Bell Middle School achieve the same benchmark. In English, 53% of Bethune students meet state standards compared to 29% at Bell. Parents are expressing strong discontent with the district’s decision, citing the effective programs and supportive environment at Bethune as pivotal to their children’s education.

Parent Rowena Calilong criticized the district for not communicating effectively with families regarding this significant change. Another parent, Sally Fonseca, has highlighted the importance of Bethune’s championship sports, active ASB program, and various clubs that foster a caring school culture, which she feels would be adversely affected by the transition to a K-5 model.

Students at Bethune have shared their emotional attachment to the school, valuing the strong support network and the lessons they have learned. This emotional aspect adds complexity to the situation, as many students and parents feel they are being uprooted from an environment that they cherish. As the announcement sinks in, parents are organizing to articulate their concerns at the next school board meeting, with some expressing their willingness to leave the district if the decision is carried out.

The district plans to phase out the middle school grades (6-8) at the affected schools, providing families the option to close programs by either the end of the current school year or by the end of the 2026-27 school year. Students from Bethune, Fulton, and Audubon are expected to transfer to Bell Middle School, which could result in a significant increase in enrollment for the middle school.

Adding to the discontent is the fact that the district did not solicit any input from the affected school communities or teachers during its decision-making process. This lack of consultation has further exacerbated parent and staff grievances, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding district decisions that seem to overlook the perspectives of stakeholders, particularly in low-income communities in southeastern San Diego.

As the school board meeting approaches, parents are hopeful that their voices will be heard and that considerations will be made to rethink or revise the district’s plans. The situation at San Diego Unified School District reflects broader issues within educational governance, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in decisions that profoundly impact students and their families.

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER

SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.

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