Sequoia Union High School District Faces Backlash Over Proposed TIDE Academy Closure

Community members criticize district for abandoning equity principles in budget-cutting move.

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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The Sequoia Union High School District is facing backlash from the community over its consideration of closing TIDE Academy, a non-charter school that serves the highest percentage of at-risk students in the district. Despite the district's stated commitment to equity, critics argue that closing the school that serves predominantly students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities would be a betrayal of those principles.

Why it matters

The proposed closure of TIDE Academy, which has a 100% graduation rate, raises concerns that the district is prioritizing budgetary expediency over its stated equity goals. The decision could displace some of the district's most vulnerable students and send a message that their needs are not being prioritized.

The details

TIDE Academy serves a population that is 83% students of color, 80% Hispanic/Latinx students, 60% socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and 36% students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans — the highest concentration of at-risk students among the district's non-charter campuses. The school's per-pupil cost of $39,000 is significantly higher than the district average of $26,000, but critics argue that this reflects the additional resources and services needed to support the school's student population, not inefficiency.

  • The Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees will vote on the proposed closure of TIDE Academy on February 4, 2026.
  • TIDE Academy opened in 2019 after the district approved $50 million in Measure A bond funds to build the campus.

The players

Sequoia Union High School District

A public school district serving high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area.

TIDE Academy

A non-charter high school within the Sequoia Union High School District that serves a high percentage of at-risk students, including those who are low-income, students of color, and students with disabilities.

Marijane Leonard

A Menlo Park resident and parent of a TIDE Academy student who has criticized the district's proposed closure of the school.

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What they’re saying

“Equity requires strategic and sustainable action to meet the needs of every student ... through the design and implementation of structures, systems, and policies.”

— Sequoia Union High School District (District's Local Control and Accountability Plan)

“If equity is truly the district's guiding principle, why is the school serving students with the greatest needs (and doing so with a 100% graduation rate) the one being considered for closure?”

— Marijane Leonard, Menlo Park resident and TIDE Academy parent (Guest Opinion)

What’s next

The Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees will vote on the proposed closure of TIDE Academy on February 4, 2026.

The takeaway

The proposed closure of TIDE Academy, which serves a high percentage of at-risk students, raises concerns that the Sequoia Union High School District is prioritizing budgetary expediency over its stated commitment to equity. Community members are urging the district to reconsider the closure and maintain its focus on supporting the needs of its most vulnerable students.