By Joan Wojcik

School bells rang out on Wednesday, Sept. 2, announcing the opening of Urban Discovery Academy, located at 840 14th St., in East Village.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Councilmember Todd Gloria, and Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman were all in attendance to welcome the new charter school to the neighborhood.

Urban Discovery Academy, the first K-8 grade charter school to be located Downtown, was inaugurated into the community with the ringing of the $30,000 bell located in the bell tower, which is named Angela’s Tower. The bell will continue to be heard every school day to welcome UDA students to class.

Although the students did not actually start school until Sept. 8, the opening celebration the week before highlighted the long awaited completion of the UDA and it was definitely worth the wait.

The Academy is a state-of-the-art, modern-looking school that reflects the air of an urban school environment. The classroom windows look out onto the busy streets of Downtown San Diego’s East Village.

Because land is at a premium in urban areas, UDA utilized their limited space with very efficient classroom settings, but at the same time, the classrooms promote a feeling of openness. Each room is filled with brightly colored walls that use fun artwork to enhance the atmosphere for learning. One gets a feeling of brightness and airiness when walking through the corridors.

There are approximately two classrooms for each grade level spanning the first two floors. The third floor opens up to a rooftop activity yard with a spectacular panoramic view of the city.

An art room provides students the opportunity to produce art projects, and even includes a printing screen to make colorful, individualized T-shirts.

A doorplate reading “studio room” welcomes students to a performing arts room, with a brightly colored backdrop of abstract pictures of people, guitars, and piano keyboards. The library is located on the first floor and offers books in a wide range of ages and is open to use by UDA families. The library room lends a relaxing, enjoyable feeling to encourage families to read together.

Students will be enjoying their lunch period under bright lights, soothing gray and blue lunch tables and chairs, gray and black tile floors, bright and colorful painted walls, and a wall to wall window overlooking a playground area.

For the first time in the history of East Village, over 400 children between the ages of five-13 years old will be attending school in here.

Welcome Urban Discovery Academy to our Downtown neighborhood! For more information, visit urbansd.com.

— Joan Wojcik is the president of the East Village Residents Group. Learn more about the EVRG at or contact joan at [email protected] or visit evrgsd.org.