Parents at Audubon, Fulton, Golden Hill and Bethune were notified that the schools will eliminate 6-8th grades beginning as soon as next school year.
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Unified School District’s decision to transition four K-8 schools to K-5 has sparked criticism from parents and community members. Superintendent Dr. Fabi Bagula responded to concerns in an interview with CBS 8, explaining the rationale behind the controversial move.
“I know there’s a lot of unrest when there’s change, but there’s a lot of story behind it,” said Bagula.
The decision affects Audubon, Fulton, Golden Hill and Bethune schools, with the first three set to lose their 6-8th grades starting next year. Bethune is scheduled to follow in 2027, though Bagula indicated she remains open to further discussion about this particular school.
According to Bagula, the transition plan originated in 2023 when she was serving as Deputy Superintendent. School leaders approached her with concerns about the K-8 program’s effectiveness.
“Three principals from K8 told me that the program was not working and that they needed support. And then I also heard from the area superintendent, and then I also heard from the person that was in charge of instruction. So to me, as deputy, I’m hearing five different instructional leaders telling me this isn’t working,” said Bagula.
The superintendent cited data showing lower high school graduation rates for students from Audubon, Bethune and Fulton K-8 schools compared to those who attended Bell Middle School in the same area. She emphasized that the decision was not related to lower enrollment or budget issues, but focused on improving student outcomes.
However, parents argue that they chose these schools specifically for their offerings and academic performance. Test scores show that Bethune outperforms Bell Middle School in both math and English proficiency.
“We love our teachers. We love our programs that we have here. Our kids are excited to come. Our parents are excited to come. So they need to keep our school,” said a parent at Bethune.
Parents have expressed frustration over the lack of community input in the decision-making process. Bagula acknowledged this concern and stated that the district is planning community meetings to address issues and problem-solve.
The superintendent assured that no layoffs would result from this transition and that Bell Middle School would be prepared to handle the influx of students. Students at Golden Hill have the option to attend Roosevelt, Dana or Correla middle schools. She also emphasized her commitment to making decisions that will improve student outcomes in the long term.
“As superintendent, I have to make decisions that not only will improve the outcomes for students now, but I’m going to say 10 to 20 years from now as well,” said Bagula.
The district plans to continue discussions with affected communities, particularly regarding Bethune, as they move forward with the transition process.