For too long, we have overlooked an uncomfortable truth about San Diego County’s K-12 public education system: Our most well-resourced schools are thriving, in spite of insufficient government support, thanks to the generosity of their communities. In certain areas, like coastal North County, families are asked to contribute, on average, over $750 per student annually, enabling funding for everything from science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics teaching specialists to mental health services and extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, just across town in southeastern San Diego, schools are scraping by, many with no access to community fundraising.
Public schools should be funded equitably, ensuring that every child has the same opportunity to succeed. However, the reality is that a child’s education can vary dramatically based on neighborhood. The difference between well-resourced and underserved schools comes down to one primary factor: private donations.
Schools in wealthier neighborhoods have access to foundations and PTAs that raise substantial funds to supplement government funding. This financial support provides vibrant events and thriving arts and science programs, offering students valuable enrichment.
Schools in historically underserved areas face systemic barriers — underfunding and limited infrastructure for fundraising, which make it more difficult to provide these opportunities, despite strong commitment and involvement of families in their childrens education. Still, families in these communities consistently show up, creatively leveraging the resources they have and advocating for their schools. It’s a testament to their resilience and dedication, and, as a community, we need to support their efforts and continue working together toward educational equity.
Without the same community resources, these schools rely almost entirely on government funding, which often fails to meet their students needs. These schools work tirelessly, but the lack of equitable financial investment results in fewer resources for their students. Students miss out on enrichment opportunities, and encounter fundamental challenges such as limited access to mental health resources, a functional library, English language services and sometimes even essential school supplies.
By allowing this inequity to persist, we condone that it’s acceptable for one child to receive a well-funded education while another struggles because of their ZIP code. At an elementary school in southeastern San Diego, where 97% of students come from socioeconomically disadvantaged families, 23% of students meet grade-level standards in reading. In contrast, that number exceeds 80% in a coastal North County school. This gap is unacceptable — a consequence of systemic financial inequality.
There’s a practical and urgent solution on the table: the Sister Cities Project Equitable Schools Fund, launched on Nov. 2 in partnership with San Diego Unified School District’s Community Schools Initiative. This fund directly invests in schools in underserved communities, providing essential resources they currently lack. These investments will help level the playing field for students across San Diego.
We have witnessed the positive impact of community support in affluent areas. Now it is time to address inequities that exist within our county. The Equitable Schools Fund is a commonsense solution that allows all San Diegans to make a difference in the lives of students. This initiative is about fostering equity and ensuring that every child has access to quality education, regardless of ZIP code. By supporting the Equitable Schools Fund, we can collectively work toward closing the resource gap and advocating for equitable policies that benefit all San Diego students.
Imagine a San Diego where every child, regardless of neighborhood, can enter a classroom equipped with the necessary resources for success, in addition to the support needed to provide comprehensive counseling and extracurricular activities. This vision is achievable. It requires us to rethink how we approach private donations and use that collective support to foster equity in our schools.
This year, when my neighborhood school asks for a donation, I will donate, and I will also be giving to the Equitable Schools Fund. It is time for us to step up and show that as San Diegans, we ensure that every child has access to a quality education.
Join us in supporting this fund today, and let’s work towards a future where every child will thrive.
McGarry is an advocate for educational equity and lives in Solana Beach.