Discovery Charter School opened in 1994 and became the 54th charter school in the state of California. With a current student population of over 800 students, the Discovery learning community is rich with diversity. Fifteen languages are recorded as native to students attending Discovery. The school's 250 English language learners receive instruction in English Language Development, as well as through an after-school literacy program. Their parents participate in the school's English Language Acquisition Committee, as well as classes in English offered through the Chula Vista Elementary School District.


In support of the community, Discovery opened a privately funded preschool in 2000. Sixty preschool students from the community are currently enrolled in two half-day classes under the direction of two credentialed teachers, as well as an instructional assistant. The staff works closely with the preschool students and their families by offering parent support classes, such as "Reading Readiness". Discovery's preschool received national accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2004, and granted renewal of the accreditation in 2008. The arduous process of renewing the accreditation is directly attributed to the dedicated staff working with our three and four year old preschool students.
Preschool parents opt to transfer their children from their neighborhood schools to Discovery each school year.


In 2005, the school implemented a full-day Kindergarten program following a year-long planning process with parents and staff which aims to build an academic bridge of support for students exiting preschool and entering the rigors of a Standards-based curriculum at Discovery.


All Discovery students receive Standards-based instruction from credentialed teachers. Physical Education classes are provided weekly by certified teachers, and students receive instruction in Spanish four days per week, thirty to forty-five minutes per day, in all classrooms. Drama, dance, visual art and music are provided bi-weekly as part of a Fine Arts rotation. Teachers are released during these rotations to collaborate on curriculum, instruction, assessment and strategic plans.


Discovery takes pride in the continued academic success of all students. The school's Academic Performance Index increased to 836 in 2006, and decreased to 823 in 2007. We contribute this decline to a 30% mobility rate among our student population. We have made adjustments in our instructional practices to meet the needs of these new students, and anticipate an increase in the overall API in 2008. Staff members participate in professional development and on-going collaboration in the areas of Word Study, Readers' Workshop, Guided Language Acquisition Design and English Language Development, as well as problem solving in Mathematics, to support all students. To prepare for the 21st Century, Discovery students and teachers utilize state-of-the-art wireless, laptop computers. Upgrades throughout the campus allow students and teachers flexibility to engage technology daily to research, assess and communicate.


The community's collective vision of providing a rich and rigorous education for every child is evident in every program, classroom, ceremony and event at Discovery.