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Public hearings draw strong community support for City Heights Prep and KIPP Adelante renewals
Summary
Community members and students urged the San Diego Unified board to renew City Heights Prep (2‑year renewal due to low‑performance designation) and KIPP Adelante (seeking a five‑year renewal); district staff will review renewal materials and return with recommendations.
The San Diego Unified Board of Education on April 14 held public hearings on two charter renewal petitions: a two‑year renewal request for City Heights Prep (item H5) and a five‑year renewal request for KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy (item H6). District staff said both items will be reviewed and brought back to the board with recommendations.
On H5, Deidra Walsh said the two‑year term (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028) is short because the California Department of Education has designated City Heights Prep in the low‑performance category. Dr. Elias Vargas, listed as director at City Heights Prep, testified the school serves a highly diverse student population and urged trustees to renew the charter as a community‑based program that supports multilingual and newcomer families.
Students who attend City Heights Prep described small classes, individualized support and pathways to college. “I believe this is an excellent school and it should not be closed down,” said Hector Escalante, a senior who testified about language barriers and how the school supported his college aspirations.
On H6, Angela Martinez, CEO of KIPP SoCal Public Schools, and a string of KIPP students, parents and staff made the case for renewal, citing KIPP’s enrollment of more than 300 middle‑school students, programs such as KIPP Excel and KIPP Forward, and community partnership with the Lincoln cluster. Mikael McHynes, KIPP Adelante’s student body president, said the school created a safe, supportive environment where students can lead and succeed.
District staff noted they will review performance data, enrollment projections and charter materials and will return to the board with recommendations to grant or deny each renewal.
What’s next: Staff review and formal recommendations on both renewals at a subsequent board meeting.
