News Summary
The San Dieguito Union High School District has been named the top school district in San Diego by Niche’s 2026 Best School Districts in America list. Serving over 12,000 students, the district boasts impressive academic performance and a favorable student-teacher ratio. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding air conditioning issues at McKinley Elementary School. While the district celebrates its achievements, including improved graduation rates, it continues to prioritize infrastructure improvements and student welfare.
San Diego – The San Dieguito Union High School District has been recognized as the top school district in the San Diego area according to Niche’s 2026 Best School Districts in America list. The ranking is particularly significant for parents in San Diego County, who prioritize school quality when choosing where to live.
The San Dieguito Union High School District serves approximately 12,364 students in grades 7-12. It boasts a favorable student-teacher ratio of 24 to 1. Academic performance in the district is commendable, with 66% of students achieving proficiency in math and 77% proficient in reading, as indicated by state test scores. These achievements contribute to the district’s high ranking on Niche, which evaluates schools based on input from students, alumni, and parents alongside quantitative data from reputable sources such as the U.S. Department of Education. Niche has conducted these rankings for the past 11 years.
While the district celebrates this recognition, it also faces challenges. At McKinley Elementary School, teachers have expressed concerns about ineffective air conditioning, with reports of unbearably hot classrooms. The current air conditioning system at McKinley dates back to 1997, leading to discomfort for students and staff. Kindergarten teacher Frances Mackenzie has been seeking repairs for nearly 10 weeks, highlighting the impact on ninety students and multiple staff members across nine classrooms. High temperatures have reportedly resulted in health issues, including headaches and fatigue among those affected.
Efforts to address the situation have been met with delays. The principal confirmed that a maintenance request to fix the air conditioning was submitted in July, but repairs are still pending. In the meantime, the district has supplied portable AC units, which have proven problematic as they leak and require daily maintenance from teachers. On particularly warm days, classroom temperatures have soared to 86-87 degrees.
Union leaders have pointed out that this issue extends beyond McKinley, indicating a widespread problem within the district. A grievance filed by McKinley teachers concerning the air conditioning issue was denied. However, the district’s Facilities Manager has indicated that a new compressor for the classroom unit has been ordered, with repairs anticipated to be completed soon. Scheduled installation of the crucial repair will occur on a Thursday when students are not present, with the expectation that the air conditioning system will be fully operational by the following Monday.
In addition to addressing infrastructural issues, the district has made strides in student success. Recent announcements indicate that high school graduation rates for the class of 2025 have increased by 2% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the rates of college and career preparedness saw a promising improvement of 4.2% over last year. Despite this progress, there has been a slight decline of 0.9% in the number of students opting for San Diego Unified School District’s career technical education (CTE) path. Nonetheless, CTE programs are known to enhance graduation rates and contribute to university persistence.
The district plans to leverage a Golden State Pathways grant to provide better guidance for students regarding their CTE options, which will support efforts to ensure all students graduate prepared for their future endeavors. As the district navigates its challenges and celebrates its achievements, it remains focused on the educational needs and welfare of all its students.
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Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego: San Diego Unified’s Graduation Rates Improved 2 Percent
- Wikipedia: San Diego Unified School District
- NBC San Diego: Graduation Rates Climb for San Diego Unified’s Class of 2025 Students
- Google Search: San Diego Unified School District graduation rates
- Patch: Best School Districts in San Diego County
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Education
- Fox 5 San Diego: San Diego Unified to Shift K-8 Schools to K-5 by 2026-27
- Google Scholar: San Diego Unified School District
- NBC San Diego: San Ysidro School District Lawsuit Alleged Molestation
- Google News: San Diego school districts
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.
