Welcome to Wilson Middle School. It is located in a densely populated, long-established neighborhood in San Diego's City Heights area. Wilson Middle School operates year round and serves approximately 570 students in Grades 6-8. Although it is in a community that has a high mobility rate, 82.1 percent of the students stay for the entire school year. Wilson students come from various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Seventy-seven percent of the students speak a language other than English at home. More than 65 percent are English learners, and all of the students participate in the federally funded free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch program.
Our mission is to provide a positive, integrated, and student-centered program to ease the transition from elementary to high school. We focus on academic achievement, social skills, and discipline. It is our strong belief that as educators, it is our calling to develop students who are literate, thinking individuals with strong self-esteem and multicultural sensitivity. Because of this belief, we strive to establish a place of excellence where student learning is the center of all decisions. Our school features award-winning teachers and resource centers equipped with current curricular materials.
Our staff, students, and parents are to be commended for exceeding our Academic Performance Index (API) school-wide growth targets. Our Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) assessment scores showed significant gains across all grade levels. We will continue to focus on improving our students' academic achievement in all areas.
In addition, our Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program was recognized for its excellent work, enabling us to maintain national AVID demonstration school status. AVID has been instrumental in developing students' determination to set high goals and work towards achieving their dream of attending college. Many of our AVID students have been recognized as College Padres Scholarship winners. We are proud of our students' achievements.
There are many innovative and inspiring programs and ideas that have been implemented throughout the last four years to develop an environment where students can prosper. In 2002-2003, Wilson joined the Josten's Renaissance Program. It remains an integral part of our school and serves as the vehicle by which all within the learning community is encouraged to compete for EXCELLENCE. Renaissance is an incentive program aimed at moving all students towards academic and social success.
In 2005-2006, Wilson restructured in order to address the changing needs of its community. It adopted and lived the philosophy of a small village or community. Each grade level became its own unique community, aimed to know each child, family, and utilized resources to shelter, aide and help each student experience success in school. Through this effort relationships were strengthened between school and home. It is our belief that success requires that we MUST know and work to develop the whole child. It is with this focus that we will continue our work this school year.
History of the School:
Wilson Middle School was established in 1935. It was originally a Junior High School. It's student population was predominately students with Caucasian origins. Major construction was deemed necessary when earthquake guidelines were established, and San Diego was found to be within earthquake zones. The original building was reconstructed to meet earthquake standards. It's colonial architectural style was taken down and the current building was built. In additional to the physical change, Wilson also changed from a junior high to a middle school. For many years, it was named Wilson Academy of International Studies to reflect the ethnic diversity of its students, as well as the foreign languages offered as electives. In 2005, Wilson underwent yet another restructuring and received a name change. It is now known as Wilson Middle School. |