This week, we had the honor of celebrating one of our own on a statewide stage. Corina Martinez, California Teacher of the Year, was recognized at a gala in Sacramento, where she proudly represented Escondido Union School District and Pioneer Elementary. I was grateful to join Ms. Martinez alongside Incoming Superintendent Andy McGuire, Pioneer Principal Ellyse Jimenez, Board President Zesty Harper, and Board Member Doug Paulson as we celebrated her extraordinary dedication to students and the teaching profession. We are also excited to share that Ms. Martinez will be honored again next week by the San Diego County Office of Education at their Board of Education meeting. Her impact reflects the very best of EUSD, and we are incredibly proud.
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
Spring EXPLORE Classes:
We invite every student to join us this season and EXPLORE your unlimited potential after school! Our spring menu of EXPLORE classes is officially live, featuring a wide array of activities including sports, theatre, STEM, the arts, and more. Whether your child chooses a teacher-led session or a vendor-led program, there is truly something for everyone. Visit your school’s Student Interest Form today to secure a spot before classes begin on January 26. Let’s make this a season of new discoveries!
Holiday reminder:
EUSD schools and the district office will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage Americans to volunteer in their communities. The website for Americorps provides information on how to get involved in one’s community. Close to home, visit the city’s Volunteer Escondido webpage and the website for local nonprofit Love Esco for upcoming community service events.
Foundation fundraiser:
We invite you to join the all-volunteer Escondido Education Foundation for its annual “Fall in Love with Escondido Schools” fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 6, at St. Petka’s Serbian Orthodox Church. The foundation welcomes parents, colleagues, and community members to this lively event that features good food, great friends of education, exciting auctions, and a special recognition of “caring hearts” – individuals and organizations that go above and beyond for our students. Reserve your spot early for the best price! Tickets are $60 per person if purchased by February 5. Tickets purchased after that are $75 per person at the door. Tickets are available on the foundation’s website. All proceeds go toward the Dr. Mike Caston Innovation Awards, which fund classroom and school grants in our district.
School Choice:
The School Choice application window for the 2026-2027 school year will be open Tuesday, December 2, through Friday, January 30. Typically, students attend the schools that serve the neighborhood attendance areas in which they live. School Choice is an opportunity for families to apply for an intradistrict transfer for their child to attend a school other than their neighborhood school of residence, such as one of EUSD’s specialty schools:
Quantum Academy, a project-based learning school of choice for grades 4 through 8. Students live by Quantum’s five core values: lead with empathy, ask questions and seek answers, create, impact the community, and perseverance.
Dual Language Immersion at Farr, Glen View, Lincoln, and Pioneer, with a pathway to continue at Mission Middle School. The program begins in TK and follows an instructional model that is designed to promote bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism for students whose primary language is English, as well as those whose primary language is Spanish.
Conway Academy of Expeditionary Learning, follows the expeditionary learning model, or EL Model, which is a project-based learning approach with the core of the work's emphasis on authentic, multidisciplinary experiential learning and integration of rigorous content with real-world experiences that foster relational character development, and empower students to make the world a better place.
Explore all of our schools online. School Choice details and application links can be found on our website.
Early Education Enrollment:
New Student Enrollment will open on January 13, 2026, for Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Special Education Preschool. EUSD offers a full-day Transitional Kindergarten program to bridge the path between preschool and Kindergarten. For the 2026-2027 school year, children are eligible for TK if their date of birth is between September 2, 2021, and September 1, 2022. Students applying for Kindergarten must be age 5 on or before September 1, 2026. Students in EUSD TK and Kindergarten programs are eligible to participate in their school’s optional Expanded Learning program. The Expanded Learning program provides before- and after-school student care, from 6:30 a.m. to the morning bell and from the dismissal bell to 6:00 p.m. To find your neighborhood school of residence, use our online school locator tool. For questions regarding Special Education Preschool or about your student’s Special Education needs for next school year, contact the team at spedsupport@eusd.org.
Resources for Food Assistance
We want to make sure families are aware of local resources that offer free food and support for those who may need it. Here are a few options available in our community:
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help connecting with these resources.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus:
All EUSD students have access to no-cost breakfast and lunch. Families can view our new online menus. Select your school and menu to see what is being served every day.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools