Sweetwater Union High School District

District office in Chula Vista, California

The Sweetwater Union High School District is a school district headquartered in Chula Vista, California.^[1] As of 2011^[update], the school district is the largest secondary school district in California.^[2]

The union high school district serves over 42,000 high school-aged students and over 32,000 adult learners. Located in the southwestern part of San Diego County between downtown San Diego and the International Border with Mexico, the district serves the communities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and the San Ysidro portion of San Diego.

Sweetwater is one of the most ethnically and economically diverse districts in California. Approximately 87 percent of students belong to an ethnic minority group and over 40 percent of students qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.

Overseen by a five-member Board of Trustees, the district operates 14 high schools (11 regular, two alternative, one charter); 11 middle schools; 4 Adult schools; a regional occupational program (ROP); and special education.

The district has earned recognition for its "Compact for Success" program, a deal made with San Diego State University that guarantees Sweetwater graduates admission to the university if they meet certain requirements all throughout their High School career.

Governance

Board of Trustees: John McCann, President; Pearl Quiñones, Vice President; Arlie N. Ricasa; Bertha J. López; Jim Cartmill

Superintendent: Edward Brand (Temporary through end of 2011, replacing Jesus M. Gandara, Ed.D. who was ousted June 21, 2011)

Assistant Superintendents:
Rita Sierra Beyers (Human Resources)
Karl Bradley (Facilities and Operations)

Executive Directors:
Maria Castilleja (Curriculum and Instruction)
Diego Ochoa (Instructional Services, High Schools) - July 1, 2011
Lee Romero (Instructional Services, Middle Schools) - July 1, 2011

Schools

High schools

• Bonita Vista High School [6]
• Castle Park High School [7]
• Chula Vista High School [8]
• Eastlake High School [9]
• Hilltop High School [10]
• Independent Study High School [11]
• MAAC Community Charter School [12]
• Mar Vista High School [13]
• Montgomery High School [14]
• Olympian High School [15]
• Options Secondary School
• Otay Ranch High School [16]
• Palomar High School [17]
• San Ysidro High School [18]
• Southwest High School [19]
• Sweetwater High School [20]

Middle schools

• Bonita Vista Middle School [21]
• Castle Park Middle School [22]
• Chula Vista Middle School [23]
• Eastlake Middle School [24]
• Granger Junior High School [25]
• Hilltop Middle School [26]
• Mar Vista Middle School [27]
• Montgomery Middle School [28]
• National City Middle School [29]
• Rancho Del Rey Middle School [30]
• Southwest Middle School [31]

Senior Portfolio Controversy

In December, 2005, the school board voted to eliminate its senior portfolio project as a requirement for high school graduation after months of student protests.^[3] Students, led by Bonita Vista High School senior Gordon Siu, protested outside district offices and made their case during the October school board meeting. In one example presented during the meeting, a student passed the requirement despite writing an essay about how he learned a valuable lesson in using a glue stick to make greeting cards. While portfolio supporters argued that the portfolio "gives students the chance to connect their learning to the real world," Siu criticized the portfolio in an editorial in the San Diego Union-Tribune, lampooning the portfolio's "magical ability to instill communications and life skills in students, which apparently make up for four years of lousy instruction."^[4][5]
Because the school board voted to end the requirement beginning with the class of 2007, Siu, Bonita Vista's co-salutatorian, submitted a satirical portfolio to demonstrate how lax the requirements are to pass. School officials failed him, which Siu believed was retaliation. He redid the portfolio and was allowed to graduate.^[6]

This controversy helped spark a national debate over alternative assessment, and was covered in a U.S. News & World Report article which asked, "Are students working too hard for a high school diploma?"^[7]

References

1. ^ "Home." Sweetwater Union High School District. Retrieved on March 30, 2010.
2. ^ "Community". 2011 membership & resource guide. Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce. http://www.chulavistachamber.org/PDF/CommunitySection.pdf. Retrieved 25 July 2011. 
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ [2]
5. ^ [3]
6. ^ [4]
7. ^ [5]

External links

• SUHSD Website
• Compact for Success Website