The doors of Pacoima Middle School opened this school year as staff prepared to welcome students with various programs and academic goals. Teacher Raquel Chacon distributed Algebra 1 workbooks to seventh-graders. Justin Cole organized school uniforms for unhoused students. Florian Ospina ensured the library’s chess sets were complete, while Scott Mandel aimed to fundraise $60,000 for a student trip to Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) launched its 1,300 schools, presenting an image of stability amid looming challenges. Despite improvements in academic performance, the district faces a possible deficit of up to $3.6 billion, necessitating painful cuts that could lead to more than 6,000 job losses. Enrollment continues to decline more sharply than in other California districts.
Adding to concerns, families are anxious about federal immigration enforcement as LAUSD battles the Trump administration in court. Meanwhile, families in Boyle Heights are sending children to school post-summer, having endured a neighborhood affected by toxic smoke, ash, and rats following the Lineage warehouse fire.
District officials assure parents of safe, sanitized campuses with high-grade air filters installed. The school year begins following significant leadership changes. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho departed in June after a raid by the FBI over dealings with a tech contractor, resulting in Andrés E. Chait stepping in as superintendent.
Pacoima Middle School illustrates district-wide challenges and achievements. Enrollment fell from 1,500 a decade ago to about 700, partly due to increased federal immigration enforcement. Despite this, the school boasts advanced academic offerings, rising test scores, and new technology, including a robotics lab and fitness equipment.
Teacher Raquel Chacon is fostering high achievers in math, with accelerated math enrollment increasing from 30 to 75 students. Chacon also champions an e-sports program, integrating computer science training with problem-solving.
The school serves about 30 students classified as homeless, with a free boutique providing essentials. Cole ensures the boutique, serving the wider San Fernando Valley, is ready for these students.
Florian Ospina, a former history teacher turned librarian, promotes library usage and reading engagement. The library offers popular books and chess as an interactive activity. In six years, only two chess pieces have gone missing.
Scott Mandel leads Pacoima Singers, renowned for its choir. He anticipates raising travel funds amidst increased expenses due to tariffs and inflation linked to ongoing conflicts in Iran. Mandel insists on an inclusive approach, ensuring all students participate in trips.
District-wide, major programs currently remain intact despite potential budget cuts. However, officials must plan to update the system with necessary spending reductions. If cuts don’t occur, county education officials will enforce them. The district is addressing safety concerns in Boyle Heights after the warehouse fire, adding air filters and purifiers, while some demand soil testing and potential student relocation.
The decision ultimately rests with Chait, who recently emphasized attendance at a media event with Principal Simer Garcha at Pacoima. Aayden Vasquez, a new student, expressed excitement about his school start, hoping to join sports and learn the violin, supported by his mother, Mary Rodriguez.
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