The Significance of 243,349
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Did you know that a Title I school is a school where 40% or more of the student body receives a free or reduced fee lunch? What that really means is that these students live slightly above, at, or below the line of poverty set by the federal government.
San Diego is an area of such abundance, that sometimes it's easy to forget that there are those among us who simply cannot afford many of the things we take for granted - like the $15.00 to $25.00 dollars needed to send your child on a school field trip.
As a former teacher, I can share that all students basically require the same things: a safe school, caring and competent teachers, and access to a range of sound and enriching educational resources; whether that is a well-supplied classroom, or access to the enriching informal learning opportunities that occur on field trips to the San Diego Air & Space Museum, Living Coast Discovery Center or Cygnet Theater.
Now, about that 243,349.
According to EdData, there are 476,760 K-12 students enrolled in public and charter schools in San Diego County. Out of these, 243,349 qualify for a free or reduced fee lunch.
More than half.
ArtsBusXpress is the only organization in San Diego County that provides funding directly to teachers to cover or reduce the cost of field trip bus transportation.
By supporting us, you are removing financial barriers and helping to create equal access for those 243,349 K-12 students so that they may participate in the incredible learning opportunities on offer at museums, theaters, zoos, aquariums and science centers throughout San Diego County.
“On behalf of Wegeforth Elementary, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for providing buses. It is only because of this program we were able to take 3 buses of kids and chaperones to the San Diego Zoo. Thank you for making this possible
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Ms. Alquero
Wegeforth Elementary