Sweetwater Union High School District Launches 12 Community Schools with $21.85M Grant and Co-hosts First-Ever South County Community Schools Summit

After a two-year collective effort that brought together educators, families, students, and community members, the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) is proud to announce the establishment of 12 Community Schools- 4 middle and 8 high schools-across its district, supported by a $21.85 million grant from the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). The grant application was designed with input from more than 16,000 students, families, and community members, reflecting each community’s unique needs and strengths. 90% of participants strongly supported the Community Schools model. This milestone marks another major step in SUHSD’s commitment to equity, student success, and community-driven education.

SUHSD Community Schools Logo

To celebrate this milestone and expand regional collaboration, SUHSD—together with Chula Vista Elementary School District, National School District, San Ysidro School District, South Bay Union School District, and the South County Teachers United associations — recently co-hosted the first South County Community Schools Summit. The summit brought together educators and city officials to celebrate, learn, and maximize the impact of community schools across South County San Diego.

Event Highlights Included:

  • Celebration of progress: Recognition of nearly 50 community schools across South County.
  • An overview of the strategy’s core components and how it strengthens student learning, family engagement, and community partnerships.
  • Panel: Education leaders and teacher unions share best practices, lessons learned, and the impact of community schools.
  • Cross-district collaboration: Dedicated time for leaders, educators, and partners to connect and explore opportunities for collective impact.

California has invested $4 billion in community schools because they transform how schools serve students and families—coordinating academic, health, social, and community services around their needs and strengths to create more equitable opportunities for success.

SUHSD is joining with our South County Community School leaders in this statewide movement of more than 2,500 community schools across California. Together, we are working to expand resources and accelerate locally driven strategies that improve outcomes for all students.