San Diego Unified Approves Clairemont High Athletics Name Change

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The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education has approved changing the nickname of Clairemont High School's athletic teams from 'Chieftains' to 'Captains'. The change was made to comply with a state law banning the use of derogatory terms for Indigenous people as team names. The new 'Captains' nickname was selected after a nearly year-long community engagement process that included town halls, a naming committee, and a community survey.

Why it matters

This decision reflects a broader effort by school districts across California to re-evaluate team names and mascots that may be considered offensive or insensitive to Indigenous communities. The change at Clairemont High is part of the San Diego Unified School District's updated policy to ensure school names and mascots are inclusive and do not reflect historical harm.

The details

Clairemont Principal Karly Johnstone wrote that the 'Captains' nickname was chosen for its 'inclusive application' and because it represents a title students can aspire to. The district said the change will go into effect in the 2026-27 school year, though not every instance of 'Chieftain' may be changed by then. The renaming process included a 10-person committee, town hall meetings, a community survey, and regular updates on a dedicated website.

• In April 2025, San Diego Unified and Clairemont High first considered changing the school's nickname.
• The Board of Education revised its policies in 2025 to provide clearer direction on changes to school names and mascots.
• The nearly year-long community engagement process took place in 2025-2026.
• The new 'Captains' nickname will go into effect in the 2026-27 school year.

What’s next

The district said it is not likely that every iteration of 'Chieftain' will be changed by the time the 'Captains' nickname goes into effect in the 2026-27 school year.