VUSD at a Glance
Framework for the Future
In the fall of 2021,the Vista Unified School District Board of Education and the Superintendent, Dr. Matt Doyle, launched a collaborative process with the Vista community to develop a long-term Framework for the Future. This framework includes a revised vision for public education in Vista. This vision seeks to promote equity, collaboration, trust, kindness, and respect, giving students real-world experiences as well as strong academic preparation. In this vision of the future, we want to create the conditions where every child and adult is supported, challenged, and inspired by engaging learning experiences. The framework also includes three portraits that will define the characteristics of what learners need to know and be able to do, what adults need to know and be able to to do to support learners, and how the system is redesigned to promote a learner-centered educational environment. The final component of the framework is the commitment to a set of values that outline how we behave and treat each other as we all strive to realize our vision for the future.
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Our Vision
Every student graduates from Vista Unified as a resilient, agile learner and creative problem solver who navigates the world with confidence and kindness and eagerly embraces local and global challenges.
Portraits Quick Reference
As we begin to operationalize and socialize this new framework, it is important that we have quick references, similar to our House of Learning, which provide an overview of our Blueprint. Quick references encapsulate the core ideas of each of the portraits and are complements to the more detailed system descriptions.
Learner Portrait
Kind and Confident Students are positive, patient, appreciative, reliable, and responsible. Students are resilient, self-directed learners who are self-aware and focused on a hopeful future. Curious and Connected Students are inquisitive, innovative, and able to adapt to new ideas, and situations.Students are committed to positively impacting their family, their community, and the world.
Capable and KnowledgeableStudents develop and apply deep core academic knowledge and skills and can make connections across subjects.Students know how to purposefully adapt communication to deliver information.
Adult Portrait
Compassionate Champion Adults are motivating, inspiring, kind, compassionate, and empathetic champions for all students. Adults see and support all students, family members, and co-workers from a strength-based perspective, including inherent cultural wealth and identity. Adults hold high expectations for all students (just hard enough) while feeding aspirations and possibility-thinking (future self).
Flexible and Innovative FacilitatorAdults work well together, are trustworthy, honest, and committed to collaborate and to build connections with students, families, and other staff. Adults support learning that is student-centered, innovative, and tailored to meet the individual strengths, interests, aspirations, and needs of students.
Open-Minded and Equity-Centered Learner Adults are learners open to new ideas, strategies, and practices that lead to continuous improvement in order to serve each and every student well. Adults engage in practices that are free from bias, are anti racist, and build on the unique strengths each learner brings to the classroom or each colleague brings to their role.
System Portrait
Inclusive Culture Focused on Growth Our system builds a culture that fosters equity, empathy, and inclusion. Our system reinforces a values and strengths-based culture of growth.
Joyful, Innovative, Rigorous, and Equitable Learning Environments Our system supports a culture of joyful learning, educational rigor, and innovation. Our system promotes care, belonging, and connection. Our system fosters creativity, curiosity, and engagement.
Future-Oriented, Forward Thinking Our system is designed to be future-oriented and aligned to a dynamic, fast-paced global ecosystem.
Our system creates sustainably designed, future-focused learning environments.
Our system creates sustainably designed, future-focused learning environments.
Family and Community Partnerships Our system is built on a foundation of active community and business partnerships. Our system intentionally supports collaboration with schools and the community to provide service and real world experiences.
Our Mission
The purpose of Vista Unified School District is to inspire every student to persevere as a critical thinker who collaborates to solve real world problems.
Values
RESPECT: Knowing, valuing, and treating all with dignity
TRUST: Focusing every decision on the best interests of our learners through transparency, honest communication, and integrity
COLLABORATION: Creating a culture of continuous improvement, working in partnership with students, families, staff, and the community
EQUITY: Valuing diversity and providing equitable access and resources across the district for all students and adults to reach their full potential
KINDNESS: Developing a compassionate, nurturing, and kind learning and working environment
WHO WE ARE
Vista Unified School District is a Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 12 district. The district also offers preschools services (part day and full day) through our partnership with Educational Enrichment Systems to over 700 students ages 2-5 years old at 12 locations in the district.
We are one of northern San Diego County's largest educational agencies. Our district stretches 39 square miles across most of Vista, a large portion of eastern Oceanside, some unincorporated areas and small slivers of Carlsbad and San Marcos.
SCHOOLS
We have a total of 29 schools:
- 15 Elementary Schools
- 5 Middle Schools
- 3 Comprehensive High Schools
- 2 Alternative High Schools
- 1 Early Childhood Special Education Center
- 1 Blended Learning/Independent Study Middle/High school
- 1 Adult School
- 1 Adult Transition Center (Serves Students with Special Needs)
With 29 schools serving nearly 19,000 students from preschool to 12th grade, Five additional schools serving over 3,000 children operate as independent charter schools authorized by Vista Unified. Vista Unified also includes one of the county's largest adult-education programs with approximately 25,000 students enrolled each year.
Click here for a listing of our schools
STUDENTS
The district serves approximately 19,000 students including more than 2,600 students in special education programs and more than 3,100 who are learning English as a second language.
Student demographics include:
- 63.58% Free/Reduced Lunch
- 17.62% English Learners
- 5.83% Homeless
- 65.39% Hispanic
- 23.72% White
- 1.60% African American
- 2.03% Asian
- 4.79% Two or more races
- 1.45% Filipino
- 0.67% Pacific Islander
- 0.35% Other
EMPLOYEES
We employ more than 2,600 people including:
- 1,100 teachers,
- 1,500 support employees
- 62 administrators
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Our five-member school board oversees a budget of over $300 million. Each trustee is elected from a specified area within the district.
- Area 1 is the northern portion of the district
- Area 2 is the eastern portion
- Area 3 is the western portion
- Area 4 is the central portion
- Area 5 is the southern portion
Our current Board members are:
- Martha Alvarado, President, area 3
- Julie Kelly, Vice President, area 5
- Rena Marrocco, Clerk, area 2
- Rosemary Smithfield, Member, area 1
- Cipriano Vargas, Member, area 4
Click here to see more about the Board of Trustees