Every Student, Every Day
Our goal is to help children realize their potential and pursue their dreams.
Generous individuals and community partners help fund enriching experiences for every student, every day. Learn more about the opportunities offered at every grade in Carlsbad Unified School District.
Elementary School Programs
Each of the Carlsbad Unified School District’s nine elementary schools receives dedicated funding for elementary programs.
This encompasses programs in music, science, and innovation that enrich the elementary experience for every student, every day.
At this age, it’s vital that we introduce students to concepts and experiences that open their minds to a whole new world of possibility.
Coastal Roots Farm
A multi-week unit that includes a mobile or in-person field trip to Coastal Roots Farm and helps students apply NGS Standard STEAM lessons in a hands-on and immersive outdoor experience.
Environmental Stewardship
The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation’s Third Grade Academy for Environmental Stewardship provides students with a deeper understanding about the environment and conservation. All CUSD 3rd-grade students partake in three onsite visits with hands-on instruction that emphasize responsible interaction with our natural surroundings and develop awareness of the environmental impact of day-to-day human activities.
FIRST LEGO League Jr. Robotics
Grade 2
An in-class, 12-week introduction into robotics from FIRST LEGO League that teaches the foundations of engineering and coding through examining real-world problems.
FIRST LEGO League Robotics
Grades 4 – 8
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League Robotics is a national robotics program designed for students to develop critical STEM and life skills. In the FIRST Lego League Robotics (FLL) Program, students get to:
- Design, build, and program robots
- Learn from professional engineering mentors
- Use sophisticated software, hardware and power tools
- Apply math and science concepts to solve real-world problems
- Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills; and
- Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments.
Junior Achievement BizTown
Students engage in a 6-week curriculum culminating in a trip to a simulated town to get a glimpse into the workforce. They select a profession, work shifts, write and cash checks, and vote for mayor. The program introduces students to the concept of career and connects the dots between what they learn in school and what they observe in real life.
Middle School Music Recruitment
Grade 5 – 8
Music students in grades 6 – 8 visit 5th grade classes to showcase what music electives are available in middle and high school and to promote the electives.
Music Teachers
Grades K – 5
Students visit their music teacher weekly to learn the fundamentals of music and explore an assortment of instruments while being exposed to a variety of cultures, genres, dances, and the history of music.
Project Lead the Way
Grades K – 5 at Calavera Hills Elementary
Supports a K – 5 thread of the PLTW program in Carlsbad Unified School District and provides ongoing professional development for PLTW teachers and supports PLTW teacher to provide weekly enrichment lessons for students K – 5.
Robotics Carts
Grades K – 5 at Magnolia Elementary
Pilot program launched at Magnolia Elementary that provides access to robotics equipment, including a variety of robots and computer programming equipment. Classroom teachers may rent Robotics Carts from Magnolia’s dedicated STEAM Lab, allowing for project-based learning.
San Diego Children's Discovery Museum Mobile Lab
Each first-grade class throughout CUSD receives a guided, hands-on workshop with the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum Mobile Lab. The mobile lab visits every elementary school to engage our first-grade students through NGSS-aligned challenges, specifically targeting hands-on engineering practices.
Science Days
Grades K – 5
Students participate in a series of activities throughout the day, led by staff, parent volunteers, community members, and industry partners to engage in science activities and career exploration. Our community partners in STEAM industries help provide hands-on science experiences that apply to real-world concepts in these full-day explorations.
STEAM Lab Supplies
Grades TK – 5
Science equipment and materials to support hands-on activities and lessons.
STEAM Teachers
Grades K – 5
Elementary STEAM instructors work with students and teachers to learn how to maximize designated STEAM labs.
Middle School Programs
Each of the Carlsbad Unified School District’s three middle schools receives dedicated funding for STEAM, music programs, science labs, robotics, advanced technologies and more.
This young age is where many students start to discern their academic path. These programs help pave the way and open their world to many possibilities.
3D Printers
Grade 7 – 8 at Calavera Hills Middle
3D printers to enhance PLTW design and modeling course as well as 3D printing units and opportunities in 7th grade science.
Art Studio Supercharge
Grades 6 – 12
Teachers can integrate new techniques and projects in art and ceramic classes, giving students opportunities to expand their learning and creativity.
Environmental Stewardship
A continuation of the 3rd grade program includes in-class lessons and an onsite visit where every 7th grade student experiences six hands-on learning stations that connect real-world scenarios with in-class lessons. Students are introduced to careers related to environmental stewardship and develop an understanding of environmental issues in our community and the world around them.
FIRST LEGO League Robotics
Grades 4 – 8
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Robotics is a national robotics program designed for students to develop critical STEM and life skills. In the FLL Robotics, students get to:
- Design, build, and program robots
- Learn from professional engineering mentors
- Use sophisticated software, hardware and power tools
- Apply math and science concepts to solve real-world problems
- Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills; and
- Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments.
Middle School Music Recruitment
Grades 5 – 8
Music students in grades 6 – 8 visit 5th grade classes to showcase what music electives are available in middle and high school and to promote the electives.
Music Coaches, Instruments, and Repairs
Grades 6 – 12
Purchases new instruments and funds repairs to the current instrument inventory. This also provides small-group instrument coaching to give students meaningful and timely feedback.
Musicals & Show Choir
Grades 6 – 8
Engaging students through the participation of their school’s annual musical or show choir performance with opportunities in singing, acting, set design, and theater tech.
Project Lead the Way
Grades 6 – 8 at Calavera Hills Middle
The program supports STEM Pathways from middle school through high school through engaging, innovative learning opportunities in biomedical sciences, computer science, and engineering.
Science Days
Grades 6 – 8
Students participate in a series of activities throughout the day, led by staff, parent volunteers, community members, and industry partners to engage in science activities and career exploration. Our community partners in STEAM industries help provide hands-on science experiences that apply to real-world concepts in these full-day explorations.
Science Lab Supercharge
Grades 6 – 8
Classrooms transform into a high-quality science lab with elevated equipment and materials to engage students in hands-on activities and projects.
Science Olympiad
Grades 6 – 12
An afterschool STEAM program that allows students to explore various scientific topics beyond the classroom in a mentor-led, collaborative, and competitive forum.
High School Programs
Carlsbad Unified School District’s high schools receive dedicated funding for music programs, STEAM, and robotics programs. At this age, students look beyond high school, and programs like Finance Park prepare them for their future. The Foundation contributes to college and workforce readiness through innovative programs that make an impact.
Art Studio Supercharge
Grades 6 – 12
Teachers can integrate new techniques and projects in art and ceramic classes, giving students opportunities to expand their learning and creativity.
FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics
Grades 9 – 12
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics teams design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in head-to-head challenges in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students continue to develop their STEM skills and practice engineering principles while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team. Additionally, teams design and build robots, raise funds, design, and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards.
Genius Project
Grades 11 – 12 at Sage Creek High
Students pursue a passion project during their junior and senior year and reflect on the experience in a TED-style talk for peers and the community.
Music Coaches, Instruments, and Repairs
Grades 6 – 12
Purchases new instruments and funds repairs to the current instrument inventory. This also provides small-group instrument coaching to give students meaningful and timely feedback.
Musical Theater Productions
Grades 9 – 12
Engaging students through the participation of their school’s annual musical performance with opportunities in singing, acting, set design, and theater tech.
Nobody Knows: Voices (Un)Muted
Grades 9 – 12
A student-driven, collaborative project within the VAPA department that addresses the trials and tribulations experienced by marginalized individuals and gives a voice to those communities.
Project Lead the Way
Grades 9 – 12 at Sage Creek High
The program supports STEM Pathways from middle school through high school through engaging, innovative learning opportunities in biomedical sciences, computer science, and engineering.
Project Lead the Way Capstone
Grades 11 – 12 at Sage Creek High
A class that takes students through the engineering design process from empathically researching a problem, understanding the marketplace and prior solutions, seeking stakeholder input, designing and building prototypes, testing and improving the prototypes, and then presenting their solution to a panel of engineers (and families) for feedback.
Science Lab Teaching Assistants
Grades 9 – 12
Credentialed science lab teaching assistants assist our high school science teachers with in-class science experiments to ensure high school students are provided exceptional hands-on science labs as part of their science curriculum.
Science Olympiad
Grades 6 – 12
An afterschool STEAM program that allows students to explore various scientific topics beyond the classroom in a mentor-led, collaborative, and competitive forum.
Senior Scholarships
Grade 12 at Sage Creek and Carlsbad High
Senior scholarships support students who are furthering their education. The Foundation awards scholarships to students who have achieved academic milestones and are passionate about learning.
Student Leadership Council
This empowering program for high school students provides members the opportunity to develop life-long leadership skills. Students focus on understanding themselves as leaders and set personal and group goals to develop their leadership skills through monthly meetings, volunteer opportunities, and student ambassador roles.