Dear Members of the School Board,
I was stunned to learn that TIDE Academy may be at risk of closure. As a mother, physician, and scientist, this news is deeply concerning.
Let me begin with the evidence.
Small schools are inherently less financially efficient, since there are fewer students to teachers. That was understood at TIDE's inception and when the community voted on the original funding Bond measure. I am hoping the board is not using dollars as its only metric in determining a school's value and is truly focused on a "student centered" pathway forward. (1).
Why TIDE Matters -- Evidence-Based Reasons to Keep It Open:
- Equity and Access: Closing TIDE will deepen existing disparities in wealth and educational opportunity in our community.
- College Success: Research shows small schools significantly boost college enrollment, especially for low-income and minority students. (2) (3)
- Mental Health Support: With youth mental health challenges at epidemic levels, it is counterintuitive to move away from the small school structure that has been shown to best help these students thrive. (5)
- Inclusive Culture: Small schools foster identity, belonging, and agency -- critical for student safety and expression that are increasingly under attack. (4)
- Safety and Engagement: Smaller environments strengthen teacher-student relationships, reduce violence and risky behaviors, and improve engagement. (5)(6)
TIDE is not just a school -- it is a lifeline for students who do not thrive in large, traditional high schools. My son is living proof. He faced serious health challenges during his first two years of high school. TIDE provided flexibility and individualized support that allowed him to succeed -- something impossible in a mega-school setting. Today, he is thriving because of TIDE and its dedicated teachers.
TIDE is effectively only three years old post-pandemic. Instead of closing it, we should be investing in its success. Silicon Valley should lead in educational innovation, not revert to a cookie-cutter model. Many of our tech leaders are looking for diversity in learning environments -- why shouldn't our schools reflect that? We of all people, living the global hub of creativity should be able to make this work for the good of all in our community.
Thank you for your consideration.
[REDACTED] and mother to a TIDE junior.
(1) Office of the Superintendent letter to parents 11/12/2025.
(2) Abdulkadiroglu, Atila, Weiwei Hu, and Parag A. Pathak. Small High Schools and Student Achievement: Lottery-Based Evidence from New York City. Working Paper 19576, National Bureau of Economic Research, Oct. 2013, www.nber.org/papers/w19576
(3) (Wasley et al., 2000; MDRC) [www2.wested.org], [ascd.org]
(4) (Fine, 2005) [casel.org]
(5) (Bloom et al., 2010; MDRC) [files.eric.ed.gov], [www2.wested.org]
(6) (Lee & Ready, 2007) [jstor.org]
