San Diego, CA
Albert Einstein Charter Academy booming in San Diego, reflecting growth outside of traditional public schools
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — In South Park, a charter school named after a famous scientist just keeps growing.
Albert Einstein Academies even has a long waiting list to enroll — at a time when many traditional public schools are losing kids.
So, what’s the secret?
“I enrolled my kids at Einstein because the community aspect was so attractive,” said Amanda Rowe, who has two young kids at Einstein. “The students. The parents. The teachers. I feel like it’s a really safe, nurturing environment”
Rowe said Einstein offered her children an opportunity to learn German as well as the basics.
“The language provides them a chance to get to know other parts of the world and also expand their minds while their minds are so elastic,” she said.
Albert Einstein Academies, 3035 Ash St., opened in 2002, and it’s under the San Diego Unified School District.
In 1992, California became the second state in the nation to pass a charter school law. As of May, there were 1,283 charter schools and seven all-charter districts in California, according to the state Department of Education.
In 2022–23, nearly 12 percent of all public school kids were n charter schools.
Charter schools in California typically are under the supervision of a local school district.
What makes charters unique is they can offer parents a different type of education such as an emphasis on a foreign language to performing arts.
At Einstein, students can enroll in German or Spanish immersion programs, and there’s an international baccalaureate curriculum.
There also were new classrooms when school began Aug. 12.
“Our students, after a long time of being in in temporary housing, so to speak, now get to have modern, clean, up-to-date classroom,” said Superintendent David Sciarretta.
Enrollment has boomed so much at Einstein that the elementary campus has been under construction the past two years.
Einstein has been able to tap into school bond funds approved by San Diego voters to expand its campus.
Next comes a new high school that will be located about a mile away next to Einstein’s middle school, 458 26th St.
“Our high school will be opening in fall 2027,” Sciarretta said. “At full capacity, we will be just over 2,300 students.”
The enrollment growth at Einstein is similar to what has been seen at other charter schools in San Diego County.
There were 62,672 kids enrolled in charter schools about a decade ago. Last year, there were 84,431, according to school enrollment records.
That’s a roughly 35% increase.
Sciarretta said charter schools first became popular more than 30 years ago by giving parents an educational choice for their kids.
“Charters were billed as the kind of hothouse for innovation, for practicing, kind of new approaches, a new vision to education,” he said “We currently have just under 500 students on our waiting list.”
Sciarretta credits his teachers for the high demand at Einstein.
“Just a relentless focus on connecting with our families,” he said. “That’s really what makes people keep coming back. When parents walk on our campus, it’s inviting. It’s beautiful.”
However, the overall growth of charter schools in greater San Diego could be slowing down.
More families are home schooling their kids since the pandemic and that means fewer kids in public schools.
Richard Barrera has been on the San Diego Unified School District Board since 2008.
He said many charters are now facing the same enrollment challenges as traditional public schools, and the district has not seen “many new charter petitions” the past seven or eight years.
“The other thing that’s happening with both charters and district run schools is the housing affordability crisis is pushing families out of San Diego,” Barrera said.
However, Sciarretta said Einstein will continue to be an attractive option for parents.
In fact, he says the school has a bit of a secret weapon.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a pretty amazing namesake,” he said. “Who doesn’t want to send their kids to a school named after Albert Einstein?”
The Killer Tomatoes are loose in San Diego, and they’re ready to get sauced.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is taking over Good Night John Boy (401 G Street) in the Gaslamp on Saturday, July 25 from 7pm-11pm for the official Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence after party, celebrating the wild new chapter in the cult classic franchise that first got its start in San Diego back in 1978.
Fans can party alongside cast and crew with meet and greets, “killer” cosplay, exclusive giveaways, DJs, and dancing. There will also be specialty themed cocktails and bites available for purchase, because fighting off killer produce apparently works up an appetite.
Tickets will be available here, though they’re not yet available. We’ll update once we know more.
Skip to content
Contact Us
Jannik Sinner is starting to make a habit of responding to adversity in Paris with Wimbledon titles.
The top-ranked Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 Sunday for his second consecutive title at the All England Club after his German opponent appeared bothered by a knee issue following a slip to the grass on a key point in the third set.
Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam title came in his first tournament since a second-round meltdown at the French Open, when he wilted in a Paris heat wave.
A year ago, Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club after wasting three match points against his rival in the Roland Garros final.
It was Sinner’s 10th straight victory over Zverev, who was coming off his first Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women’s final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title.
Prince William joined his wife Kate and two of their children for the final in a star-studded Royal Box that also included actors Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman and Ben Stiller.
Zverev slips
The top two seeds appeared perfectly matched until Zverev earned his first break point of the match at 3-3 in the third set — 2 hours and 42 minutes in. Sinner produced a drop shot and Zverev slipped and appeared to hyper-extend his right knee as he attempted to change directions behind the baseline.
Zverev grasped his knee in apparent discomfort and Sinner went around the net and helped his opponent up off the grass. Zverev quickly resumed playing but he appeared slightly hampered and slung his racket across the baseline in frustration when he missed a forehand and handed Sinner the first break of the match and a 5-3 lead in the third. Sinner then served it out.
Zverev had also lost 14 straight sets to Sinner and when he claimed the opening set of the final with a forehand winner up the line to conclude a tight tiebreaker, he let out a loud roar toward his box as he bent over in celebration.
Zverev continually cranked out serves at up to 139 mph (224 kph), while Sinner produced a series of well-placed aces at a slightly lower speed.
But Sinner began to read Zverev’s serve better in the second-set tiebreaker and Zverev started to miss forehands.
Paris meltdown
Amid stifling heat and humidity in Paris in late May, Sinner had his 30-match winning streak ended after coming within one game of a straight-set victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who was ranked No. 56.
Conditions were cooler in southwest London for the final, with clear skies and a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 Celsius) but it was also breezy — which led to a series of shanked shots from both players.
Sinner went in for medical exams in Milan after the Paris defeat and didn’t play an official match again until he arrived at Wimbledon, where he twice had to come back from a set down in a five-set marathon against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
Sinner then didn’t drop a set the rest of the way until the final, having dominated against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
Despite the defeat in the final, Zverev will leapfrog Alcaraz into the No. 2 spot in the rankings on Monday.
Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon this year due to a right wrist injury.
Associated Press writer Mattias Karén contributed.
Wimbledon is keeping the World Cup off its official screens, even in the players’ lounge. Fans and players can still watch on their phones, but tournament TVs will stay focused on tennis.
-
Maine6 minutes agoPlatner’s voters are reeling as Maine Democratic Party races to choose his replacement
-
Maryland6 minutes agoWineries in Delaware and in nearby Maryland, Pa., are summertime lure
-
Michigan12 minutes agoHard to see embattled Michigan AD Warde Manuel emerging unscathed
-
Massachusetts18 minutes agoThis Massachusetts beach has the ‘best etiquette’ in the state.
-
Minnesota24 minutes agoBlazers, Yang Get First Summer League Win Over Minnesota
-
Mississippi30 minutes agoMississippi AI task force hears competing claims on data center costs, community impacts
-
Missouri36 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 13, 2026
-
Montana42 minutes agoMissoula and Western Montana neighbors: Obituaries for July 14
