As your child prepares for the exciting middle school years, we want to take a moment to highlight what makes our district’s 5th–7th grade experience truly special—and why so many families choose to stay and thrive in our K–8 schools.
Expanding Opportunities
Our middle school students benefit from a well-rounded experience that goes far beyond core academics. Students can explore a variety of rotating electives, with offerings that vary by school and may include Life Skills, Cooking, Intro to Technology, Broadcast Media, and more. These courses allow students to discover new interests, build confidence, and develop practical skills.
Students can also get involved in a wide range of clubs and activities, such as ASB, Yearbook, Media & Broadcasting, and Hope Squad—creating strong connections and a sense of belonging on campus.
Check out this blog or watch the video below for a sneak peek into one of our tech electives.
We’re also proud to offer our competitive middle school sports league, launched in 2025 for students in grades 6–8. With soccer, basketball, and flag football teams at each school, students have the opportunity to learn new sports, strengthen their skills, and represent their school in a fun, supportive environment.
Preparing Students for the Future
We are excited to expand opportunities even further through our new Career Technical Education (CTE) program, made possible by a $215,000 Strong Workforce Program grant. Beginning in Fall 2026, 7th and 8th grade students will have access to hands-on, career-connected learning experiences.
The first course, Digital Media, was developed in partnership with high school educators and introduces students to real-world skills in a high-demand field. Additional pathways in Health Science (Sports Medicine) and Information & Communication Technologies will follow in the fall of 2027, creating a full-year elective experience.
CTE courses are designed to help students explore interests, build essential skills like communication and collaboration, and make meaningful connections between what they learn in school and future careers.
Academic Excellence You Can Trust
Our district continues to demonstrate strong academic performance. In 2025, we were recognized by leading education research organizations as one of only 100 districts nationwide outperforming pre-pandemic levels in both reading and mathematics.
The 2024–25 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) results highlight strong academic achievement across our district. Overall, 59% of our students met or exceeded standards in English Language Arts, while 49% met or exceeded standards in Mathematics. These results significantly outperform those of neighboring districts, as illustrated in the graph below.
The California School Dashboard is another indicator of student success and well-being. The Dashboard results provide valuable information to educators about the effectiveness of learning acceleration efforts and other programs implemented to support student success. According to the California School Dashboard:
- Our district is back in the Green in English Language Arts, Math, and Science
- Student achievement exceeds both county and state averages
- We are the only district in East County in the Green across key academic and school climate indicators
Just as importantly, we’ve made significant progress in student well-being:
- Chronic absenteeism and suspension rates are now also in the Green
- English Learner progress continues to improve steadily
These results reflect the dedication of our staff and our ongoing commitment to ensuring every student is supported, engaged, and successful.
Choosing where your child continues their middle school journey is an important decision. In our K–8 schools, students benefit from a close-knit environment, strong relationships with staff, and expanded opportunities that prepare them for high school and beyond.
We are proud of the experiences we offer—and even more proud of the students who grow, achieve, and succeed here every day.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about programs at each school, please reach out to the school principal.