Families in Southeast San Diego are celebrating after San Diego Unified School District leaders announced Bethune K-8 School won’t become an elementary school after all.

Bethune was one of set to lose its middle school grades in the next two years. In a letter to families sent Sept. 12, district leaders said middle schools .

At a community meeting Wednesday night, teachers highlighted Bethune’s strengths, including Spanish language classes, a leadership program and sports.

Teachers there get to know entire families, Spanish teacher Desiree Rauterkus said in an interview. She teaches most of her students two or three years in a row.

“The kids know us. The families know us. We don't need that time to build those relationships that other schools would need at the beginning of the year,” R

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