By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–San Diego Unified School District’s 2026 Showcase of Learning takes on a new format this year, bringing together 150 student-led projects from across the district for a hands-on public experience featuring student-built drones, tiny homes, living ecosystems and innovative projects designed to highlight student skills for the future.
The free District Showcase of Learning will be held on April 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Lincoln High School in San Diego.
Thousands of students are graduating future-ready, with hands-on experience, industry certifications, and career-aligned skills developed through the district’s College, Career and Technical Education pathways, Project-Based Learning programs, Visual and Performing Arts programs, and Community Schools initiatives.
“A San Diego Unified education opens doors for students,” said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D. “We are preparing students to have a choice-filled life by connecting them to industries with high-demand, livable-wage jobs and giving them the tools to succeed before they ever leave our classrooms. Walk through that door on April 29 and you will see students who are already building, designing, and solving problems alongside industry professionals.”
Featured student projects span engineering and architecture, building and construction trades, agriculture, arts, media and entertainment, and health science across the district’s 29 career pathways in 13 industry sectors, including:
Rescue Drone (Point Loma High School): Engineering students designed a drone attachment for San Diego Lifeguard Services to help prevent drowning deaths along the city’s coastline.
Tiny Home (La Jolla High School): Students constructed a fully livable structure, including framing, plumbing, electrical and roofing, that will serve as low-cost community housing upon completion.
Garden 2 Class 2 Table (ALBA Community Day School): Community Schools students manage a living aquaponics ecosystem consisting of 60 fish, 160 shrimp and 148 plants. Through the Garden 2 Class 2 Table program, students learn food entrepreneurship skills and sell their harvest at local markets.
“Aquaponics has changed school because it is another interesting thing that we can work on,” said Diego Verdugo, an 11th grader at ALBA Community Day School. “We come together as a school and everyone helps. It’s nice for our families to see because they can see what we are doing outside of the classroom.”
Slow Fashion Day (Crawford High School): VAPA Artivism students transformed discarded fabrics into original wearable art for a city-wide festival now officially recognized by the San Diego City Council.
Student Recipe Competition (Morse High School Culinary Program with Sandi Coast Cafe): Culinary students competed to develop original recipes for district school menus.
Three finalist recipes, selected by the district’s food services team from seven student groups, will be featured at the Showcase, where attendees can taste and vote for their favorite. The winning recipe will be incorporated into the middle and high school menu for the 2026-2027 academic year, giving students a direct voice in their school nutrition program.
“Visual and Performing Arts experiences equip students with career-ready skills while strengthening their connection to the community. As the workforce increasingly values creativity, collaboration and innovation, San Diego Unified is proud to provide the foundation that helps our students adapt and thrive in careers, many of which have yet to be imagined,” said Shane Schmeichel, senior director of Visual and Performing Arts.
That foundation extends into the district’s College, Career and Technical Education programs, where students graduate with more than classroom experience. Beginning with exploratory CTE courses in middle school, students are introduced to a range of career fields and opportunities that continue into 188 high school CTE courses across 29 pathways in 13 industry sectors. These pathways provide hands-on, real-world learning experiences and opportunities to earn industry certifications. In addition, students can earn transferable college credit at no cost through Credit by Exam and College and Career Access Pathways, helping them accelerate toward their college and career goals.
“Students don’t just explore careers. They earn credits, gain certifications and walk away with a head start, whether entering the workforce or walking onto a college campus,” said Rick Cooke, San Diego Unified’s senior director of College, Career and Technical Education.
Ensuring every student sees themselves reflected in that experience is equally central to the district’s approach. Community Schools initiatives work to make learning relevant, inclusive and rooted in the communities.
“All students deserve to see their identities, communities and voices reflected in their learning spaces. An investment in innovative instructional practices that foster student-led projects highlights the efficacy of uplifting our children’s assets,” said Jason Babineau, senior director of Community Schools.
The 2026 Showcase of Learning is free and open to the public. Families, community members and industry partners are invited to attend and experience firsthand what San Diego Unified students are building, creating and solving. The event is also an opportunity for businesses and organizations to connect with the district and explore partnerships that invest in San Diego’s future workforce.
