FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
Tara McNamara, 619-559-6596, tmcnamara@sandi.net
James Canning, 313-580-2845, jcanning@sandi.net
EDITOR NOTE: The celebration for the winning school to be held Thursday, May 15 at 11 a.m. at Hamilton Elementary School. It will feature a surprise visit from special guests - pitcher Jeremiah Estrada and the Friar mascot. Parking located at 4376 Quince St, San Diego, CA 92105. (map) Media are invited to attend and cover the event.
PADRES & SAN DIEGO UNIFIED HIT A HOME RUN WITH SECOND YEAR OF 'BE A PRO AND ALWAYS GO' ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE
More than 75% of participating schools improved attendance—Hamilton Elementary led with a 1.29% jump, and Knox Middle boosted rates by 0.6% during the 8-week campaign
SAN DIEGO (MAY 14, 2025) – The San Diego Unified School District is proud to once again celebrate the incredible success of its schools in the 2025 'Be A Pro and Always Go' Attendance Challenge, in partnership with the San Diego Padres. Over an 8-week period this spring, a time when attendance typically declines, 35 out of 46 participating schools increased their attendance—a remarkable achievement for students, staff, and families.
Top honors went to Hamilton Elementary School and Knox Middle School, the two schools that posted the most significant improvements in their categories. Hamilton Elementary led all schools with a 1.29% increase in attendance, while Knox Middle School saw an impressive .6% boost.
"Improved attendance is about more than just numbers—it's about making sure every child has access to the learning, relationships, and opportunities they deserve," said Dr. Fabi Bagula, Superintendent (Interim). "This challenge shows what we can accomplish when we all work together to support our students. We're grateful to the Padres for helping us spotlight the importance of showing up."
Other standout performers in the challenge included Linda Vista Elementary (+.42%), Hardy Elementary (+0.41%), Zamorano Elementary (+0.40%), and Horton Elementary (+.40%). Across the district, more than 75% of participating schools improved attendance during the campaign period.
"The Padres are proud to team up with San Diego Unified to inspire students to be present and engaged every day," said Tom Seidler, Padres Executive Vice President of Community & International Impact. "This program not only benefits schools across the district in achieving their academic goals and increased financial support, but it also promotes student success both in and out of the classroom at a time that is influential in shaping the future of these young lives."
The challenge, designed to encourage consistent attendance in the final stretch of the school year, delivered measurable academic and fiscal impacts. Improved attendance helps students stay connected and on track academically while helping the district recover critical state funding. Each 1% increase in district-wide attendance represents over $10 million in potential state revenue.
Students at the top-performing schools were rewarded with tickets to the Padres' upcoming Memorial Day game vs the Miami Marlins and a special Padres-themed celebration. The event for Hamilton Elementary, featuring a surprise visit from special guests including Padres pitcher Jeremiah Estrada and the Swingin' Friar, will take place at the school on Thursday, May 15 at 11 a.m.
"Our entire Hamilton community rallied behind this challenge, and the results speak for themselves," said Hamilton Elementary Principal Dr. Brittany Daley. "We used everything from daily encouragement, data analysis, and student created campaigns to school-wide recognition and Padres-themed prizes to keep students motivated. It's been a fun and meaningful way to reinforce the importance of being in school every day."
Since the pandemic, schools nationwide have experienced unprecedented increases in chronic absenteeism. Contributing factors include COVID-19 and other illnesses, mental health challenges, housing and food insecurities, transportation issues, and economic pressures.
San Diego Unified is committed to identifying the root causes of chronic absenteeism, and is working to implement solutions and strategies to support families so all students can regularly attend school and excel.
To learn more about the campaign visit www.sandiegounified.org/alwaysgo, and to learn more about San Diego Unified School District visit www.sandiegounified.org.
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James Canning (He/Him)
Executive Director, Strategic Communications & Information
San Diego Unified School District
jcanning@sandi.net | www.sandiegounified.org
Mobile Phone: 313-580-2845
4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Note: I may send and respond to emails outside of my normal workday or workweek. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule. Thank you.
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