D and F grades fell across San Diego Unified after the district moved its school year start into early August.

The district-wide share of D and F grades at the end of the first semester dropped from 12.5% in 2023-24 to 11.1% in 2024-25, according to grade distribution data the district released. Among high school students, the rate fell from 13.9% to 12.2%. Middle schoolers went from 10.6% to 9.7%.

The trend held across student groups. Special education students saw their first-semester D and F rate drop from 18.5% to 16.5%. English learners fell from 26.9% to 25.6%.

Five La Jolla campuses in the district opened Aug. 10 for the second year under the earlier calendar: La Jolla High School, Muirlands Middle School, La Jolla Elementary, Bird Rock Elementary and Torrey Pines Elementary. The change means students are back in classrooms weeks before Labor Day.

Nicole DeWitt, San Diego Unified's deputy superintendent of instruction, told Voice of San Diego on Aug. 31 that the calendar was built around student outcomes, not air conditioning costs. Before the shift, the district's semester schedule often left finals and major projects due right after winter break.

"Having two weeks off of school and then coming back and having to take a final exam was not ideal," DeWitt said.

Starting earlier lets the district wrap up the first semester before the holiday. Students return in January with more weeks to prepare for Advanced Placement exams, which begin in May.

A district Calendar Committee reviewed several data points while developing future schedules, according to a June 9 board agenda item. The committee examined grade distribution, attendance rates, athletic participation, employee well-being surveys and student behavior incidents. DeWitt is listed as the district's point of contact for the calendar item.

The board considered approval of academic calendars for 2027-28 and 2028-29 at that June 9 meeting. District calendars are set for the next two years, Voice of San Diego reported.

The Bishop's School on La Jolla Boulevard started its school year Aug. 17. La Jolla Country Day School on Genesee Avenue began Aug. 19.