Excellence and Justice in Education Academies in El Cajon broke ground on a new middle school on Feb. 23. A dual immersion Spanish and English charter school focuses on social justice, serving more than 800 students in El Cajon, the new school replaces the outdated, unrenovated, and crowded facilities built in the 1940s.
Funded in part by a $9.1 million grant from the state, the new two-story building was designed by award-winning architects, is energy and water efficient, and features a specialized 1,500 square-foot STEAM marker space, and an alumni, college, and career center. Also included is an acoustically designed music classroom with advanced sound systems.
EJEA Founder Eva Pacheco said its students and families are resilient and continue to achieve despite not having equitable access to the technologically facilities they deserve.
“This middle school will change that,” she stated in a press release. “It is the door to an entirely new world of possibilities for our students. It is an investment in new facilities to support the learning, exploration, and achievement of our students, teachers, and staff for decades to come.
Executive Director Janet Vasquez said this is much more than a groundbreaking for a new school.
“This is the beginning of a new path to better futures through equity in education for thousands of current and future EJEA families,” she said.
