Schools in University City area of SD? (San Diego, Poway: low income, apartment complexes)

[gobruins]

Can anyone give me feedback on the elementary, middle & high schools in the University City area of San Diego?

[Sassberto]

Good across the board. Some bussing issues in the high school, but I think with Lincoln open that has stopped. Among the best in SDUSD

[gobruins]

Okay. Thanks. I guess I am confused though b/c the API scores of the schools in this area are not all that high. I am comparing them to some bay area districts where the api scores are mid-high 900s, so perhaps it isn't a fair comparison. If you were to compare the UTC schools to La Jolla schools, are they similiar or would there be a difference?

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by gobruins

Okay. Thanks. I guess I am confused though b/c the API scores of the schools in this area are not all that high. I am comparing them to some bay area districts where the api scores are mid-high 900s, so perhaps it isn't a fair comparison. If you were to compare the UTC schools to La Jolla schools, are they similiar or would there be a difference?

You will find that in general, the San Diego schools are not going to compare favorably to the good districts in the Bay Area. UC schools are not the top-scoring schools in San Diego, but are among the best in San Diego Unified district. La Jolla is better (SDUSD) but the best-scoring schools are in places like Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Poway, which have their own districts.

[sav858]

I lived in UC for 2 years and I remember in the community newsletter seeing statistics about the schools and the majority of students at the high school and middle schools were part of programs, can't remember the acronym, that bused in kids from outside the community. Meaning the majority of kids at those schools don't actually live in UC. There seemed to be more low income and minority students at those schools compared to the demographics of that community, so that might have something to do with the lower test scores. But overall I think the schools are RELATIVELY good for the SDUSD. Also it depends where in the Bay Area you are comparing it too b/c it might not be a fair comparison, especially if you're comparing it to a smaller, wealthier district.

La Jolla has the best schools as far as I know, I don't think any other high school is better than LJ in the SDUSD.

[gobruins]

Gotcha! Okay this helps make things more clear. Much appreciated. And if anyone else has more info on these schools, let me know!

[gobruins]

sav858-- thanks so much. More good info.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by sav858

I lived in UC for 2 years and I remember in the community newsletter seeing statistics about the schools and the majority of students at the high school and middle schools were part of programs, can't remember the acronym, that bused in kids from outside the community. Meaning the majority of kids at those schools don't actually live in UC.

the kids are being VEEP'd in. That is basicaly a fancy term for "bussing". UC is an area with an older population and home prices that are too high for most young families with school-age children. Poway or 4S, tends to offer more house for the dollar and has a younger, more family-centric demographic.

[esmith143]

There are three elementary schools, Curie, Doyle, and Spreckels. Curie and Doyle are regular good schools with high APIs. Curie has better demographics and higher scores, because it's in suburbia, and Doyle boundaries mostly include apartment complexes and condos. Spreckels (south of the canyon and west of Genesee) is a charter school with emphasis on Spanish language development. Many students are bussed in to Spreckels from poorer Latino parts of the city, and they continue downward pressure on scores through middle and high school.

On top of that there's voluntary VEEP bussing from other parts of the city to University City High.

La Jolla schools are better across the board. If you live in UTC area west of 5, your kids go to Torrey Pines Elementary / Muirlands Middle / La Jolla High.

2008 APIs:

Torrey Pines Elementary - 955 (white: 968)
Curie Elementary - 928 (white: 942, hispanic: 850)
Doyle Elementary - 887 (white: 901, hispanic: 815, asian: 943)
Spreckels Elementary - 825 (white: 905, hispanic: 731)

University City High - 759 (white: 828, hispanic: 670, asian: 864)
La Jolla High - 818 (white: 863, hispanic: 697, asian: 914)