San Diego Unified’s Primetime Program Celebrates 26th Annual Lights on Afterschool

San Diego Unified’s Primetime Program Celebrates 26th Annual Lights on Afterschool

San Diego Unified School District joins thousands of schools and communities nationwide in celebrating the 26th Annual Lights On Afterschool, a national movement highlighting the critical role of expanded learning programs in supporting student success and family well-being.

The Lights On Afterschool celebration being held at Mason Elementary School will showcase the diversity of experiences available through the district’s PrimeTime afterschool programs fostering academic growth, creativity, leadership, and wellness—ranging from STEM and art projects to physical fitness, leadership development, and social-emotional learning. Students, parents, district leaders, and community partners—including representatives from the Office of Congresswoman Sara Jacobs and the San Diego County Office of Education—attended the event to show their support for sustained investment in afterschool programs.

Afterschool programs like PrimeTime create safe, engaging spaces where students can explore their interests, build confidence, and connect with caring adults. They bridge the gap between the school day and home, and they strengthen our entire community by helping students thrive both academically and emotionally.

Serving more than 16,000 students across 144 elementary, middle, and UTK–8 schools, PrimeTime is one of the largest and most successful expanded learning initiatives in California. The program eliminates financial barriers by offering no-cost before- and after-school programs for families.

Since the 2022–23 school year, when California began its $4 billion annual investment in expanded learning, San Diego Unified has expanded PrimeTime to 27 new schools, nearly doubling participation and broadening access to high-quality enrichment for working families.