This page was created to provide information about the districtwide grade span changes coming next school year (2024-25).
Background
In response to the statewide implementation of universal transitional kindergarten (TK), the Board of Education approved a change in the grade levels served at each school, beginning with the 2024-25 school year. In order to meet the state requirement to provide TK to resident four-year-olds our elementary schools will transition to TK-5th grade and the academy middle schools will transition to 6-8th grade (starting with the 2024-25 school year).
Important
Grade span changes will not take effect until the 2024-25 school year.
Academies (LMAAC, Parkway Academy, Spring Valley Academy, STEAM Academy) will continue to be academies with their unique focus areas. Click here to see promotional videos about the 6th grade transition at each of our academy middle schools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What grades do our schools serve currently?
All Elementary Schools
K-6th grade (TK is also served in a limited capacity)
La Mesa Arts Academy (LMAAC)
4-6th grade (transfer required)
7-8th grade (transfer and resident students)
Parkway Sports and Health Science Academy
6th grade (transfer required – beginning with the 2023-24 school year)
7-8th grade (transfer and resident students)
Spring Valley Academy (SVA)
7-8th grade (transfer and resident students)
STEAM Academy
5-6th grade (transfer required)
7-8th grade (transfer and resident students)
Trust Blended Learning (home school program)
K-8th grade (transfer required)
What changes will be made specifically?
Effective with the 2024-25 school year
– Elementary schools will serve grades TK-5 only
– Parkway Academy, Spring Valley Academy, and STEAM Academy will serve grades 6-8 only
– LMAAC will serve grades 5-8 only (5th grade will be available to prior year LMAAC 4th graders only)
Effective with the 2025-26 school year
– Elementary schools will continue to serve grades TK-5 only
– All academy middle schools will serve grades 6-8 only
When do the changes go into effect?
Changes would not take effect for another year (starting with the 2024-25 school year).
What will happen to next year’s 4th and 5th grade students at LMAAC?
LMAAC will have a 4th and 5th grade class next year. However, 4th and 5th grade will be phased out once next year’s students matriculate up to 6th grade.
In other words, next year’s 4th grade students will go on to attend 5th grade at LMAAC (in the 2024-25 school year), and 6th grade at LMAAC (in 2025-26) . Next year’s 5th grade students will go on to attend 6th grade at LMAAC in 2024-25.
What will happen to next year’s 5th grade students at STEAM?
STEAM will have a 5th grade class next year. However, 5th grade will be phased out once next year’s 5th grade class matriculates up to 6th grade (in the 2024-25 school year).
Will the Academies still be Academies?
Yes! LMAAC, Parkway Academy, Spring Valley Academy, and STEAM will all continue to be academies. All will continue with their focus areas, and students will have two elective periods in their schedules. We believe that the standardization of grade spans across the district will serve to strengthen the focus areas and academic rigor of our academies.
Would academy enrollment be limited to resident students?
No. As space permits, the academies will continue to accept transfers. Transfer policies have not changed. Transfers will still be accepted at all district schools, based on grade level and program capacity.
Is 6-8th grade a better model than 7-8th grade for the middle school/academies?
There are lots of opinions on this issue. Although the pendulum has swung back and forth over the years, 6-8th grade is now the dominate model statewide. In fact, state approved curriculum is based on a K-5th grade elementary school model and a 6-8th grade middle school model. As you can see below, the majority of the middle schools statewide serve 6-8th grade:
Number of Middle Schools by Grade Span Statewide
6-8th grade – 867 schools statewide
7-8th grade – 348 schools statewide
Source: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/ad/cefenrollgradetype.asp
What will happen to 6th grade teachers at the elementary schools?
6th grade teachers will either move to 6th grade at an academy or move to a different grade level at an elementary school.
What will happen to 4th and 5th grade teachers at LMAAC and 5th grade teachers at STEAM Academy?
Once current 4th and 5th grade classes have been phased out, 4th and 5th grade teachers will either move to another grade level at the academy or move to an elementary school.
Will teachers be laid off?
No. Teachers will not be laid off as a result of the grade span changes.
Is it true that academies (like LMAAC) are becoming “normal” neighborhood schools again?
The quick answer is “no.” The academies will continue to have focus areas like they do now. They will not become “traditional” middle schools.
The longer answer is that there is confusion about what the academies are and are not. A neighborhood school is simply a school with an attendance boundary. The academies are, and always have been, neighborhood middle schools. In other words, the academies have always had attendance boundaries and they have always accepted transfers (like all schools in the district). LMAAC (for instance) is not a magnet school or a charter school. It is a neighborhood school, with an arts focus (which means its an academy).
What if I have more questions?
If you have questions that are about a specific school, or a specific student, please contact the principal. Other questions are best submitted via email to info@lmsvschools.org.
