Chula Vista Elementary School District

Founded in 1892, Chula Vista Elementary School District's (CVESD) mission is to create a successful, safe, challenging and nurturing educational experience, while promoting the joy and importance of learning for all children. CVESD believes that 'each child is an individual of great worth' and works with families, staff and the entire community in a collaborative fashion for the benefit of each child's education. Located in south San Diego County, near the US/Mexico border, CVESD is the largest K-6th grade school district in the State of California with a student population of 27,100 students.CVESD serves a diverse student population of which 65% are Hispanic, 12% White, 10% Filipino, 4% African American, 2% Asian and 7% other. As of 2007, 35% of students were English learners and 39% qualified for free or reduced meals, meaning that well over one-third of the student population are limited English speakers and low-income. Twenty-six (26) of the District's 44 schools receive Title I funds due to the large number of children of low-income families.
CVESD is an innovative school district that operates under an pioneering organizational structure, which inverts the traditional top-down 'central office' model to a decentralized approach placing students at the top of the pyramid and viewing principals as CEOs for their sites, accountable for increasing student achievement and school success. CVESD is also fiscally sound -- Standard & Poor's upgraded the district's bond rating from A to A+ for superior issuance and management of Proposition JJ, a $95 million bond measure for school improvements that received overwhelming voter approval. Our most important achievements are the academic progress of students.