San Ysidro Education Vanguard Foundation

The San Ysidro Education Vanguard Foundation (the Foundation) was established to address economic and racial/ethnic disparities that have had a particularly significant impact on the San Ysidro School District (SYSD), its' students and families, and the community. San Ysidro has a population of 29,429 according to the 2010 US Census. Hispanics or Latinos make up the majority of residents in San Ysidro (93.2%). Almost 30% are living at or below the poverty level; resulting in 86% of the districts enrolled children eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. SYSD ranks highest in numbers of English Language Learners in California and the county of San Diego; nearly 90% of the 5,500 children are learning English. Approximately 47 percent of residents 25 or older do not have a high school diploma, compared to less than 15 percent citywide and countywide. Of those, 28.1% have less than a 9th Grade education. Understandably, residents also have a low college attainment level, with 17 percent having a college degree, compared to 48 percent citywide and 42 % countywide. It is our mission to provide the children in the SYSD with the necessary support they need to achieve academic success.The very essence of the Foundation is to create a culture of firsts for the students of SYSD. We are encouraging children to be the first person in their family to stay focused on academics, to be the first to graduate from middle school and high school, and the first to look beyond the limitations of poverty to envision opportunities that include college and successful careers.To that end, the Foundation raises auxiliary funds in support of the District's Local Community Action Plan, that is developed by parents and teachers and includes efforts to increase parental involvement in their children's education/learning; and provides a mentoring program designed to re-engage students in their education and provide positive role models.