"Citing mounting budget pressures, the Sequoia Union High School District board voted unanimously Wednesday to close Menlo Park's TIDE Academy, an institution that has been open for less than a decade in one of the nation's wealthiest counties. Officials said the decision comes as the district faces a projected $6 million structural deficit by the end of the school year, alongside declining enrollment and rising costs that they warned could otherwise lead to teacher layoffs and program cuts across other campuses. Total projected spending for the district in the 2025-2026 school year is $259,562,294."
"Opened in 2019 as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics school, TIDE Academy was built at a cost of $50 million utilizing bond funds. It was designed to accommodate up to 400 students. Currently, the school serves nearly 200, down from 242 in the 2022-23 school year, according to district data."
The Sequoia Union High School District board voted unanimously to close Menlo Park's TIDE Academy, citing mounting budget pressures and a projected $6 million structural deficit. District leaders cited declining enrollment and rising costs that could force teacher layoffs and program cuts. TIDE Academy opened in 2019 as a STEM school, built with $50 million in bond funds to hold 400 students but now enrolls nearly 200. The campus offers dual-enrollment with Foothill College, specialized support for students with disabilities and neurodivergent learners, and reports a near-100% graduation rate. District staff reported costs near $40,000 per student.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]