Construction on La Jolla Elementary School‘s $70.4 million modernization is complete and students, teachers and district leaders on Tuesday marked the milestone.
The project at the San Diego Unified School District campus began in the winter of 2020 during the pandemic.
“It’s been a rewarding process of planning, designing, and constructing these much-needed improvements,” said Principal Stephanie Hasselbrink said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We are so thankful for our new facilities and for the construction workers who worked during the pandemic.”
Funded through Propositions S and Z and Measure YY, the project, dubbed the Whole Site Modernization, includes a new student services and classroom facility, kindergarten facilities and collaboration spaces.
There’s also an outdoor learning area, security upgrades, food service improvements and campus technology upgrades, along with an expanded parking lot with student drop-off and pick-up areas.
The new facility creates a secure single point of entry at Girard Avenue and includes 10 general-education classrooms and an engineering and robotics space. The playground includes new hardscape play areas and structures, and the old field was replaced with a new grass field and walking track.
Dr. Fabiola Bagula, the district’s interim superintendent, called the project “not just structures (but) investments in the future of our students, designed to ensure our students have the tools and resources to learn, grow, and succeed.”
First opened in 1896, the school was ranked the second-best California elementary school in 2022-2024 by U.S. News and World Report. It also has been named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon school and is a three-time California Distinguished School.
This project is one of several in the La Jolla, University City, and Mission Bay clusters. Currently, Pacific Beach Elementary, Spreckels Elementary and Crown Point Junior Music Academy are under construction.
