Staff Portal

The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education today unanimously appointed Dr. Fabi Bagula to be the permanent Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.

Thomas is retiring after 34 years of teaching in the classroom. That work included time at both Lewis Middle School and Patrick Henry High School where she taught seventh-grade Seminar World History, AP World History, and AP Art History.

San Diego Unified School District and its Board of Education took proactive steps last December to prepare their own educators, students and families for the possible uncertainties the Trump Administration might create for Immigrant rights, LGBTQIA rights and the rights of other marginalized groups. As a result, the District said Wednesday it has no confirmed reports of ICE agents on its campuses.

San Diego Unified School District is now enrolling 3-year-olds through June 16 for preschool classes at 18 elementary schools for the 2025-26 school year. San Diego Unified is offering two free, separate options for the littlest learners.

San Diego Unified School District today announced it will support 34,000 students this summer with its comprehensive Extended Learning Opportunities program; and as many as 250,000 nutritious meals will be provided to its students, and other children, at 70 locations. The programs will operate during the months of June and July.

The 2024-25 school year is coming to a close this month and 6,009 seniors in the San Diego Unified School District are projected to graduate with their peers. San Diego Unified School District’s projected graduation rate for the 2024-25 school year is preliminarily estimated at 90.9%, with final numbers available after summer school is complete.

As summer approaches and college acceptance letters arrive in mailboxes across San Diego, San Diego Unified School District will host its third CalKIDS Money Festival of the school year on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Crawford High School. This event continues the district's ongoing initiative to help families and students access unclaimed college funds, building on the momentum of two successful Money Festivals held earlier this academic year. So far, over 300 students have received access to more than $150,000 in accounts opened through this program.

San Diego Unified School District is not immune to the Chromebook Challenge craze that is impacting school districts across the nation. Student Board of Education Trustees Joseph Cruz and Quinton Baldis are encouraging their classmates not to buy-in to the Chromebook craze because it’s unsafe, irresponsible and wastes precious district resources.

The San Diego Unified School District is proud to once again celebrate the incredible success of its schools in the 2025 ‘Be A Pro and Always Go’ Attendance Challenge, in partnership with the San Diego Padres. Over an 8-week period this spring, a time when attendance typically declines, 35 out of 46 participating schools increased their attendance—a remarkable achievement for students, staff, and families.

As the San Diego Unified School District continues its work to finalize its balanced budget and present it to the Board of Education in June, the District is currently evaluating impacts following the May Revise presented this morning by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

San Diego Unified School District has expanded its number of student Wellness Centers from three to 12 and on Friday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m. Interim Superintendent Dr. Fabi Bagula, students and Board of Education members will celebrate the opening of Mission Bay High School’s Wellness Center. Services offered at Wellness Centers include Self-Regulation Support, Tailored Care Navigation, along with Peer Engagement and Programming.

In a unanimous vote, the San Diego Unified Board of Education on Tuesday night voted to revise its Administrative Regulation and Board Policy 7310 to provide clearer direction on changes to school names and mascots. This change comes after the 2024 passage of Assembly Bill 3074 (AB3074), which prohibits “using any derogatory Native American term” and after several dust-ups over the years involving district school name changes.

Aspen Challenge: San Diego—a partnership between the Aspen Institute and the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) supported by the Bezos Family Foundation—concluded this week after local students showcased their solutions to support their communities and tackle big issues. Over the past nine weeks, 15 high school teams from across SDUSD took aim at critical challenges close to home, with the goal of building a stronger, more connected city.

San Diego Unified School District Interim Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Trustee Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, school students and members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority today unveiled new signage for the Dr. Bertha O. Pendleton Elementary School in a celebratory fashion to conclude Women’s History Month. Dr. Pendleton in 1993 became the first woman, and first African American to serve as Superintendent for San Diego Unified until her term ended in 1998.

Earlier this month, Spreckels Elementary School unveiled a mural, “Paws for Peace Pillars,” that was inspired by the colorful art that graces the Barrio Logan park. The homage was created by hundreds of students, ranging in age from kindergarteners to fifth graders.

For the second consecutive year, the San Diego Padres are partnering with San Diego Unified School District to combat chronic absenteeism through the expanded "Be a Pro and Always Go" attendance campaign. Building on last year's successful collaboration, this year's initiative emphasizes the critical importance of consistent school attendance for academic achievement and long-term success.

Forty-one San Diego County schools, the most in one year since the program began in 2021, have been recognized as 2025 Purple Star Schools. The California Department of Education’s Purple Star School Designation Program publicly recognizes schools that are committed and equipped to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.

San Diego Unified School District has experienced great success as 26 participants entered its TEACH-LEAD San Diego Teacher Residency Program (TRP) last fall, and the Board of Education approved new contracts for its ongoing partnership with San Diego State University (SDSU), the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the University of San Diego (USD).

Hip-Hop and Polynesian Dancers Joined Orchestra and Theater Students to Celebrate the New Stage, Theater

SAN DIEGO - Oliver Hazard Perry Elementary School celebrated National Veterans and Military Families Month with a construction groundbreaking for its campus transformation and new joint-use field. Held on Wednesday, November 8, the celebration included the Morse High School Army JROTC’s Color Guard, National Anthem singer, and Drum Corps. Each performed to Perry students, military families, and San Diego Unified School District leaders.

SAN DIEGO - One of Southcrest’s oldest elementary schools celebrated its new state-of-the-art facilities and the completion of campus-wide renovations on Thursday. Emerson Elementary School students joined San Diego Unified School District District D Board of Education Trustee Richard Barrera, Principal Veronica Reyes, students, the San Diego Loyal Soccer Club, the Master Gardener Association of San Diego, and community members in dedicating the campus.

A top female executive from one of Major League Baseball’s most decorated teams made a stop at Hoover High School Monday to inspire female students and athletes to dream big. The Boston Red Sox’s Pamela Kenn, who currently serves as the team’s Vice President of Community Relations, took photos with the female athletes and provided them words of encouragement about being a woman in a male-dominated business.

The hard hats were on and markers were out at Franklin Elementary STEAM Magnet School today, as the campus modernization reached a major milestone. Franklin Elementary students joined incoming San Diego Unified School District Board of Education Trustee Shana Hazan, alumni, and staff in signing the final steel beam for the future two-story classroom facility. The group celebrated as construction crews hoisted the beam into place.

Students from The Language Academy were awarded diplomas by the French Consulate for their proficiency in French.

SAN DIEGO - Generations of San Diego High School alumni watched as the contents of a 1976 time capsule were unveiled and a fallen Army nurse and alumni was honored during the annual All Class Reunion Saturday. Inside the time capsule were an ASB constitution, pictures of the old school buildings, a videotape showing the demolition of the old building, shots of the then-new building, Election Day editions of local newspapers, a San Diego telephone directory, copies of the student handbook, and a 1976 yearbook.

Students in the Mandarin language programs at Pacific Beach Middle School (PBMS) had a taste of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival earlier this month, as they prepared and then feasted upon traditional mooncakes.

Three San Diego Unified campuses that underwent major bond-funded transformations are now up for architectural awards.