Community Partners

We are incredibly fortunate to have a network of robust partnerships that play a vital role in supporting our schools. These partnerships form the cornerstone of our learning alliance and contribute significantly to the educational journey of our students.

At SCSD, we understand that education extends beyond the classroom walls. Our community partners bring unique expertise, resources, and perspectives that enrich the learning experience for our students. These collaborations enable us to offer diverse opportunities, innovative programs, and impactful initiatives that prepare our students for a dynamic and interconnected world.

Whether it's local businesses providing mentorship and real-world experiences, non-profit organizations extending educational outreach, or community leaders fostering a sense of belonging, our partners demonstrate an unwavering commitment to our students' success.

Together, we are creating a comprehensive support system that nurtures the potential of every learner, promotes lifelong learning, and strengthens the fabric of our community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our institutional partners for their dedication, passion, and investment in shaping a brighter future for our students.

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The San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF) – a volunteer organization that raises over $3 million per year for San Carlos schools, or more than 6% of the entire District budget. Without the support of SCEF, the District would not be able to fund so many of its high quality programs. SCEF relies on parent volunteers and financial support from parents, community members and businesses to meet its annual goal. To learn more, visit www.scefkids.org.

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The 17th District PTA – a branch of the California State PTA (which in turn is part of the National PTA) and is the umbrella organization for all of the PTAs (Parent Teacher Associations) at SCSD schools.  Each school PTA is a central coordinating point for parent volunteering and involvement at the school level and is a forum for engagement with the school principal and other district staff.  All SCSD PTAs come together in a PTA Coordinating Council (PTACC) that coordinates activities among schools and works with the District on larger areas of policy-making, community engagement, and overall feedback.  The PTACC is also a co-sponsor of the biennial Chicken’s Ball which raises money for the District.

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The Sequoia Healthcare District – a government agency tasked with improving the health of residents by enhancing access to care and promoting wellness.  The healthcare district support’s SCSD’s wellness programs, including providing  funding for nursing and health and wellness education.

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Healthy Cities Tutoring – a local non-profit organization that matches members of the community with SCSD students to serve as tutors and mentors for those students needing additional support in one or more subjects. The tutoring program currently has over 190 volunteers who share their time and expertise with about 200 elementary and middle school students each year, making a real difference in the child’s learning. Students in the program consistently demonstrate material progress in academic skills as well as in areas such as behavior and self-esteem.

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The City of San Carlos is the District’s sister government agency serving this community. The city provides municipal services to the citizens including public safety, public works, zoning and building, economic development, and parks & recreation. The City and the District have a strong partnership collaborating on areas such as joint facility use (for local youth and adult sports as well as other recreation programs), education safety, disaster preparedness, general campus safety, traffic, and parking.

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Each Green Corner's Living Campus Program collaborates with schools and community sites to design garden-centered outdoor educational settings and then assist with the installation, maintenance, and harvesting of produce grown within the gardens for donation. Outdoor classrooms built by EGC enable students to learn about the connection between our food system and our environment, about food insecurity and how community members of all ages can have a positive impact. Students will develop competence and interest in agriculture, leading their own families and the broader community.

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RethinkWaste values education and seeks to empower children and adults to reduce waste and protect the environment by providing knowledge and resources including:
- Assemblies and in-class presentations focused on the 4R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot/Compost)
- Lessons and workshops about composting at school and at home
- Educator support in connecting waste reduction and resource conservation themes to state-mandated Common Core standards for classroom curriculum
- Assistance establishing and engaging green teams, environmental clubs, and other student groups on campus
- Waste audits and assessment to help identify opportunities to improve recycling, composting, and reuse on school campuses
- Teaching tools to supplement education provided during RethinkWaste presentations and Shoreway Tours 

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The San Mateo County Office of Education – serves as an oversight role for all school districts in the county and provides a set of services to our district and our students. In addition to administrative services such as payroll and human resource support, SMCOE supports our teaching staff through professional development and a highly acclaimed STEM center, manages the District’s Outdoor education program to Jones Gulch, and provides direct instruction and support to many of our students in the area of special education.

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The San Carlos Children’s Theater (SCCT) – a non-profit organization that fosters personal growth by teaching a strong appreciation for the arts and giving participants the experience of developing valuable skills through its offerings of drama electives, classes, workshops, camps, and full scale play and musical productions. SCCT forms the backbone of the District’s drama program.

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Legarza Sports – providing physical education programs at the District’s elementary schools as well as providing administrative and Athletic Director services of the after school sports program for the District’s two middle schools.

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Music for Minors – providing an in-school music education program that is sequential and in alignment with the California Content Standards for Music. SCSD has partnered with Music for Minors to provide music instruction in its elementary schools as well as choir classes at both middle schools.

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In addition, SCSD is supported by local civic organizations such as Rotary, San Carlos Lions and Kiwanis Clubs, through partnerships with San Carlos AYSO, San Carlos United Soccer Club, San Carlos Little League, San Carlos Youth Softball Association, San Carlos Tennis Club, and Hummingbird Music School, as well as many leading technology firms located in the Bay Area, including Google and Oracle.