City of San Diego Economic Development Education

Education is a top priority in San Diego. As a result of recent legislation, class sizes from kindergarten to third grade have been reduced to less than 20 students per class. Studies show that the K-3 years are the most formative, and that by reducing class size, teachers can give more personalized attention to each student to raise their quality of education. To achieve the smaller class size, more than 250 new teachers have been hired and new schools are planned and funded for construction. Also, measures approved by voters in 1998 will pay for new schools and fund major improvements to all public schools in the City with new facilities, repairs, and upgrades.

San Diego's institutions of higher learning are well-respected throughout the world. San Diego has five highly-respected, four-year universities and has the highest percentage of college graduates of any city in the country. San Diego also tops all other U.S. cities in the number of Ph.Ds per capita.

San Diego is a Great Place for Education

The University of California, San Diego is known worldwide as a center for scientific learning and research. The institution annually rates in the top 10 universities nationwide for the high quality of programs offered and as a leading recipient of research funds. Many of San Diego's bio-technology and bio-medical companies are located close to the university campus.
San Diego State University is the largest California State University campus and is home to the Defense Conversion Center that focuses on industries converting from defense products to commercial products.
The City of San Diego and the San Diego Unified School District are collaborating on a program that opens schools before and after the school day, providing a safe and fun environment for kids to learn new skills. Known as the "6 to 6" Extended School Day Program, it has become a model for the nation.
The number of high school students taking the SAT increased 58 percent between 1983 and 1996. This compares to a 30 percent increase for the state and 13 percent for the nation during the same time period.
There are 10 community colleges located throughout San Diego County, and many private institutions of higher learning and business and vocational schools.
There are more than 540 public K-12 schools in San Diego County with more than 413,500 students. Approximately 93 percent of students attend public schools.
More than 175,000 students are enrolled in higher education institutions throughout the county, and each year more than 12,000 graduate from those institutions. As a result, 30 percent of San Diego County's workforce has a college degree, the highest rate among any major city in the United States.