Happy New Year, EUSD!
Don’t forget that school resumes tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, because Every Day Counts in EUSD! We are so excited to welcome your students back tomorrow, and we hope that everyone had a long and restful winter break!
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
eSports Virtual Fall Championship:
On December 10, 2025, the Escondido Union School District held its Fall Esports Championship. Students from all five middle schools, which include Bear Valley, Del Dios, Hidden Valley, Mission, and Rincon, joined with Quantum Academy to compete in Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Rocket League, and EA FC (FIFA). Throughout the season, these students did more than just refine their competitive gaming techniques. They engaged in a curriculum that emphasizes teamwork and strategic thinking while providing valuable insight into the diverse career pathways available within the global gaming and technology industries.
The final results for each competition are as follows:
Rocket League: Champion Juan F. of Hidden Valley Middle School and Runner up Emory U. of Quantum Academy
Super Smash Bros: Champion Gabriel D. of Del Dios Academy and Runner up Isaiah K. of Hidden Valley Middle School
EA FC (FIFA): Champion Adrian Z. of Hidden Valley Middle School and Runner up Joshua L. of Bear Valley Middle School
Mario Kart: Champion Caleb F. of Hidden Valley Middle School and Runner up Lucero P. of Rincon Middle School
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the teachers and staff coaches whose dedication made this season possible. Their mentorship allows our students to explore their passions in a structured environment that fosters both personal and academic growth. We appreciate their commitment to providing these enriching experiences and for helping our students see the professional potential within their interests.
School Choice:
The School Choice application window for the 2026-2027 school year will be open Tuesday, December 2, through Friday, January 30. Typically, students attend the schools that serve the neighborhood attendance areas in which they live. School Choice is an opportunity for families to apply for an intradistrict transfer for their child to attend a school other than their neighborhood school of residence, such as one of EUSD’s specialty schools:
Quantum Academy, a project-based learning school of choice for grades 4 through 8. Students live by Quantum’s five core values: lead with empathy, ask questions and seek answers, create, impact the community, and perseverance.
Dual Language Immersion at Farr, Glen View, Lincoln, and Pioneer, with a pathway to continue at Mission Middle School. The program begins in TK and follows an instructional model that is designed to promote bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism for students whose primary language is English, as well as those whose primary language is Spanish.
Conway Academy of Expeditionary Learning, follows the expeditionary learning model, or EL Model, which is a project-based learning approach with the core of the work's emphasis on authentic, multidisciplinary experiential learning and integration of rigorous content with real-world experiences that foster relational character development, and empower students to make the world a better place.
Explore all of our schools online. School Choice details and application links can be found on our website.
Early Education Enrollment:
New Student Enrollment will open on January 13, 2026, for Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Special Education Preschool. EUSD offers a full-day Transitional Kindergarten program to bridge the path between preschool and Kindergarten. For the 2026-2027 school year, children are eligible for TK if their date of birth is between September 2, 2021, and September 1, 2022. Students applying for Kindergarten must be age 5 on or before September 1, 2026. Students in EUSD TK and Kindergarten programs are eligible to participate in their school’s optional Expanded Learning program. The Expanded Learning program provides before- and after-school student care, from 6:30 a.m. to the morning bell and from the dismissal bell to 6:00 p.m. To find your neighborhood school of residence, use our online school locator tool. For questions regarding Special Education Preschool or about your student’s Special Education needs for next school year, contact the team at spedsupport@eusd.org.
Resources for Food Assistance
We want to make sure families are aware of local resources that offer free food and support for those who may need it. Here are a few options available in our community:
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help connecting with these resources.
Holiday reminder:
EUSD schools and the district office will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage Americans to volunteer in their communities. The website for Americorps provides information on how to get involved in one’s community. Close to home, visit the city’s Volunteer Escondido webpage and the website for local nonprofit Love Esco for upcoming community service events.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus:
All EUSD students have access to no-cost breakfast and lunch. Families can view our new online menus. Select your school and menu to see what is being served every day.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools