Carlsbad Municipal School District

Greetings, Cave Nation!

We are happy to welcome students back into our schools for the 2024-2025 school year. Our journey in education is driven by a profound commitment to shaping the future. Every day, we walk into our schools with a clear purpose: to nurture, inspire, and empower our students. This mission is not just a job but a calling that demands our unwavering focus, energy, and heart. We do this work because we believe in the potential of every child who walks through our doors. We believe that education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and we must provide every student with the tools they need to succeed.

As we enter the year, we continue work that started this past year in several areas. First, we are completing our work on the district's new strategic plan. We have also completed our work on The Portrait of a Carlsbad Graduate. We continue working with the Holdsworth Center to develop current and future district leaders. And we begin our second year of Opportunity Culture in our schools.

We are opening the brand-new Monterrey Elementary School and are in the final stages of completing the construction of our new high school field house and our new 1800-seat performing arts center. We are completing design work on our new middle school on the south side of Carlsbad and the new Sunset Elementary School. We expect construction to begin in January 2025. We also are extending Captain Williams Drive to create another entrance to Ocotillo Elementary School. We hope that the work will be done by March 2025. We appreciate the support of our community in passing the bond elections that make this work possible.

Our community is critical to our students' educational journey. We are all in this work together—teachers, students, families, administrators, and community members. By working collaboratively, supporting one another, and sharing our successes and challenges, we can build a stronger, more resilient educational system. Let us work together to cultivate a sense of belonging and purpose, where every member of our community feels valued and empowered. Together, we can transform our schools into places where every student has the opportunity to thrive, grow, and make a difference in the world.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead, filled with learning, growth, and the courage to do what is best for our students.

All in Cave Nation!

Gerry C. Washburn,

Superintendent