When San Diego Unified weighed where to locate a desirable new magnet program, two neighborhoods vied to host the school. Magnets are focused around a specific theme, such as languages or technology, and typically draw students from the entire district. The question of where to place the new Millennial Tech Middle School pitted families in southeast San Diego and Logan Heights against each other in a quest for the school, with both sides complaining that they wanted another quality public option for middle schoolers in their area.
A third option posed to the San Diego Unified school board would provide new middle schools to both areas. Millennial would settle into the vacant Gompers High School site, while the charter Memorial Academy of Learning and Technology would share space with a new public program, called Memorial Preparatory for Scholars and Athletes, which combines world languages and inter-district athletics. On first gloss, the Memorial Preparatory program looks like a quasi-magnet: A specialized program without a citywide draw.
It’s the most expensive option, but the two-school plan could save Logan Elementary the $1.5 million expense of converting into a K-8 school as planned, according to the district’s proposal.
School board members will weigh the different magnet options tonight.