Hayward Unified School District - Cesar Chavez Middle School

Cesar Chavez Middle is thriving in the face of adversity. The school is located in a challenging neighborhood that has faced many hardships recently. Many of its students come from immigrant families who have recently relocated to the United States, and for many of them this is their first time going to school at all. The rest of the student body come from working-class families who face daily struggles themselves. Almost the entire student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Despite all of these challenges, Cesar Chavez provides amazing opportunities for its students. They have a thriving science program which has a direct track to CSU East Bay and other college science programs. They have also won an environmental recognition award from the City of Hayward two years in a row for their work on their school garden, which their students fully maintain. The school also has a dedicated leadership class of students who truly want to make a difference in their own education.