San Diego East County
Elementary/Middle School Districts
- Lakeside Union School District consists of seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one home school flex program. This district offers several programs for students in Prek-8th grade. The student population is approximately 5,000 students and the district is located approximately 20 miles from Naval Base San Diego. https://www.lsusd.net/
- Santee School District is located approximately 22 miles from Naval Base San Diego. The district consists of nine school sites all of which provide instruction for students to 8th grade, except for one school site. Middle school students have their own separate area on school campuses. http://www.santeesd.net/
- Lemon Grove School District is located about 10 miles from Naval Base San Diego. The district consists of 7 school sites and provides academic instruction for approximately 4,000 students. Programs include STEM, school social worker on every campus, and one-to-one computer to student device ratio. https://www.lemongrovesd.net
- Cajon Valley Union School District provides instruction at 19 elementary schools and six middle schools for students in Prek-8th. The district is located approximately 23 miles away from Naval Base San Diego. This district participates in several TEDx events allowing students, youth, educators, and the community to participate in storytelling and hands-on activities that encourage learning about and experiencing the world in new and different ways. https://www.cajonvalley.net/
- La Mesa-Spring Valley School District is located approximately 12 miles from Naval Base San Diego. The district provides instruction at 22 school sites consisting of elementary schools, middle schools, specialty academies, a home independent study option and community day school. Student population is around 12,000 students in Prek-8th grade. https://www.lmsvschools.org/
High School District
- Grossmont Union High School District area encompasses all the previously listed school districts. The district offers several options for students at the 18 school sites, consisting of comprehensive high schools, charter schools, a middle college high school, special education programs, career technical education pathway programs and more. Student population for the Grossmont Union High School District is over 23,000 students in grades 9th-12th. https://www.guhsd.net/
Southeast area of San Diego County – The below schools follow a year-round school calendar and usually begin instruction in July and end in early June.
Elementary School Districts
- Chula Vista Elementary School District with its 49 schools provides academic instruction to over 29,600 students primarily in grades K-6th. The district does offer Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten and middle school grades at some of their charter schools. This is the largest elementary school district in the state and will continue expanding https://www.cvesd.org/
- National School District borders some areas of Naval Base San Diego and consists of 10 school sites and over 5200 students in grades PreK-6th grade. This district offers programs such as GATE, Bilingual Education and Ocean Connectors. https://www.nsd.us/
Middle/High School District
- Sweetwater Union High School District’s student population is more than 40,000 students in grades 7 through 12 and more than 22,000 adult learners. The district’s 30 campuses are in the cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego, including the communities of Bonita, Eastlake, Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and South San Diego. Career Technical Pathway Programs, National Math Science Initiative and the Compact for Success are some of the programs available in this district. http://www.sweetwaterschools.org/
Enrollment Information
School districts here in San Diego enroll students in their neighborhood school based on home address. Documentation needed to enroll a child in a public school in San Diego include a birth certificate, immunizations, previous school records (if possible), and a form of proof of residency. Utility bills, rental agreement, rent receipts, property tax payment receipt, mortgage documents, or your Lincoln Housing Agreement are all forms of proof of residency.
If you are temporarily residing in a military lodge or hotel, you can use that address to register your child in the school site that is in the boundaries of that temporary lodging. A receipt will be your proof of residency.
If you are going to be staying with friends or relatives, some school districts might require a home visit along with documentation to confirm you are actually residing at the location before you can register your child. Documentation would include a letter from the owner of the property and current utility bill in the owner’s name. The school district might require them to accompany you at time of registration.
If you are going to be moving into Lincoln Housing and are on a waitlist, the documentation provided by Lincoln Housing should suffice as proof of residency. Please note that some school districts will accept documentation from Lincoln Housing if the family is planning on moving into the home within a certain timeframe. For example, within 30 days or within 6 months.
Several school districts have online registration processes for new students. For those school districts that do not offer that option, parents will have to contact the school site directly and might have to make an appointment for registration.
Types of Student Transfers
- Intra-district Transfers are transfers in which the student’s parents request their child attend a school other than their home school, but within the same boundaries of their current school district.
- Inter-district Transfer are transfers in which the student’s parents request their child attend a school in another school district.
Submitting an Intra and Inter-District Transfers begins at the home school district. Parents will complete either form and deliver it to the district office. Some school districts will allow parents to hand carry the form to the new school district, while others will send the form via mail to the receiving school district.
Acceptance into another school is based on space availability and not because the form has been filled out. Transportation to the new school is the parent’s responsibility. In addition, some school districts have deadlines in which they accept these forms and some districts will accept transfers for new military families throughout the year.
School District Transportation
Transportation provided for students to and from a school site varies by districts. Some districts do require bus passes to be purchased and the fee varies by district. Other districts only provide transportation for students receiving special education support.
Guidance regarding transportation is for eligible students living beyond the below distances from their home school site. Every school district has established specific guidelines regarding transportation. Fees might be charged for students to ride the bus. In addition, waivers might be granted for fees based on income.
- Kindergarten – ¾ mile
- 1st grade students – 1 mile
- 2nd-3rd grade students – 1 ¼ miles
- 4th-6th grade students – 1 ½ miles
- 7th-8th grade students – 2 ½ miles
- 9th -12th grade students – 3/5 miles
Magnet Schools and Charter Schools in San Diego
Magnet schools, charter schools, academies, dual immersion programs, STEAM, STEM are offered throughout the districts in the East and Southeast school districts. The enrollment process might vary by each district.
Magnet schools focus on specific disciplines such as, STEM, STEAM, foreign languages, or creative performing arts, etc. Charter schools can be dependent or independent schools based on how the charter school is sponsored.
Homeschooling
Information about the options for homeschooling in California can be found at, https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/homeschool.asp Some school districts offer home schooling options to parents through an Independent Study or Home-based Study Program.
Preschool, Early Admission to Kindergarten, Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten
- All school districts in the East and Southeast areas of San Diego County offer preschool programs. The types of preschool programs do vary. All school districts offer state funded preschool programs, in which eligibility is determined by family income. Other preschool programs that might be offered are fee based preschool programs. Fee based preschool programs will usually allow the parent to select from 3-4-5-day preschool programs. School districts decide the school site that will offer preschool programs, so your neighborhood school site might not be the location where your child will attend preschool.
- Early Admission to Kindergarten (EAK) Program is not offered at all school districts. Students eligible for EAK will have to have turned 5 years old by Feb. 15th of the year of entrance.
- Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year Kindergarten Program. Students are eligible for this program if they turn 5 years old during Sept. 2nd and Dec. 2nd of the current school year. After students complete their TK year, students will then be enrolled in Kindergarten the following school year.
- Kindergarten is not a required grade in the state of California. Incoming Kindergarten students must turn 5 years old by Sept. 1st of the current school year.
Immunizations for Enrollment
California Legislation states that military students have 30 days from the date of enrollment to obtain any immunizations required by the state. For a series of immunizations, initial vaccinations must be obtained within 30 days. Additional information and immunization requirements can be found at, https://www.shotsforschool.org/
Physical and Health Screening
California law states that all children must have a health checkup within 18 months before first grade or up to 90 days after starting first grade.
K-1 Dental Exam, Oral Health Assessment, by a licensed California dental health professional is required for children entering public school for the first time (at kindergarten or 1st grade). The Oral Health Assessment must be completed and returned by May 31 of the year of entry. Assessments done 12 months prior to school entry also meets this requirement.
Special Education
If you have a child with a disability, all school districts provide programs for students with special needs. New families with children that have an IEP from another state, should contact the receiving school district to begin discussion regarding support services for their children. School Liaison Officers can also discuss with parents how to navigate the special education process and connect you with the Special Education Director to assist with specific questions that pertain to your child’s needs.
We encourage families with members enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) to contact their Case Liaison, so the medical needs of your family members are met. The local number in which you can contact the EFMP Case Liaison is 619-545-0569.
Partnerships in Education
How are Navy commands providing support in the local schools?
Sailors are volunteering in the local schools by providing support for fall festivals, assemblies, STEM, STEAM, tutoring, mentoring and other special events on the school sites.
What partnership opportunities are available to my command?
If your command is looking for a COMREL opportunity, contact the School Liaison Officer. The School Liaison Officer always has opportunities for sailors to volunteer in the local schools.
