7221 Rue Michael, La Jolla, CA 92037

Unfortunately, our experience at this elementary school was deeply disappointing, particularly when it came to race and inclusion. My son attended this school from 1st through 5th grade, and over those years I became increasingly concerned about what I felt was racial segregation and unequal treatment of students of color.What stood out to me was that the students of color were often seated together and frequently placed in the same classes. This was especially noticeable because there were so few students of color in the grade to begin with — sometimes what seemed like only around 10 students in the entire grade. When such a small group of minority students is repeatedly grouped together, it becomes very noticeable as a parent.One experience that particularly bothered me occurred when my son was placed in a combined 4th/5th-grade classroom that appeared to consist overwhelmingly of students of color. We were told the combined class was necessary because there were too many students, but I found it very troubling that so many of the students selected for that classroom were students of color.Over the years, I also noticed students of color being seated together in ways that made the separation feel even more obvious. From my perspective, it created an environment where my son could easily feel like he was part of a separate group rather than fully included with the rest of his classmates.There have also been public controversies involving allegations of racial bias associated with the school and its leadership, which only reinforced the concerns I already had based on our family’s own experience.Ultimately, after my son finished 5th grade, we moved to another city. I did not want him growing up feeling that he didn’t belong or that certain opportunities weren’t meant for him because of his race. As a parent, that was heartbreaking.I understand that this school is highly rated academically and that other families may have had completely different experiences. However, a high rating does not necessarily mean a school will be the right environment for every child. Based on our experience, I did not feel that students of color were always given the same sense of belonging, inclusion, and opportunity as other students.No child should ever leave elementary school feeling that their race determines where they sit, who they are grouped with, where they fit in, or what opportunities are available to them.