Urban Discovery Schools Home
At A Glance
- Serving T/K-12th Grades
- Open to the Public
- Enrollment is Free to All
- Located in Downtown San Diego
- We Operate Two Campuses
- Award-Winning Design Thinking
- Innovative Project-Based Learning
- 100% of Students Complete Internships
- 95% of Students Graduate
- 92% of Students are College-Bound
DESIGNED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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News + Stories

Orange Tier as of September 9, 2022
UDS is currently in the orange tier which means face masks will now be optional in school beginning Monday September 12th.

UDS Accreditation News
Exciting news! UDS receives a full six year accreditation as a school! Read more here!

IN THE NEWS: FOX 5 Features Urban Discovery
Urban Discovery School is the first school in San Diego County to require kids 12 and older get their shots by late November or convert to online learning at that point if they have not.

IN THE NEWS: KPBS Features Urban Discovery
Sept. 23, 2021 - Urban Discovery Schools takes the lead in safety protocols with an evidence-based approach to vaccination policies for students 12+.

UDS Framework for Virtual Learning and In-School Phased Reopenings
Updated on September 18, 2020, the UDS Framework for Pandemic Response presents the position of our learning community and our vision for the future of learning during the pandemic.
UDS Community Statement on the Loss of George Floyd
Over the course of the last three years together, we have engaged in a series of communications and interactions that we hoped we never would have to . . .
UDA Newsletter
Latest School Newsletter
03/08/2020
03/08/2020
Testimonials
- Bennett & Lilia, Parents
"As a parent, we are diligent about ensuring that our children attend a school that helps prepare them for whatever tomorrow will bring. Frankly, we need all the help we can get so they become confident, resourceful individuals, because what tomorrow looks like is constantly changing. We are truly grateful to the highly motivated, skilled, caring teachers, leaders and staff that inspired our daughter during her 7 wonderful years at UDS.
- Bennett & Lilia, Parents
- Bennett & Lilia, Parents
- Nicolette, Class of 2020
"I feel so grateful for my time at UDS. There, I was encouraged to find confidence in my interests, in how I identify, and in where I come from. The mentorship that I received in high school prepared me wonderfully for college, but more importantly, I was taught to be kind, inclusive, socially conscious, and to thrive in a world beyond the academic. Now that I’m at USC and living by myself for the first time, I see that college requires life skills as much as study skills."
- Nicolette, Class of 2020
- Nicolette, Class of 2020
– Mark and Leslie, Urban Discovery Parents
"Our son has completed 12 years at UDS. We’ve loved watching him grow and they’ve allowed us to grow alongside him. The entire staff at UDS has taken a vested interest in our child and want him to succeed. What an opportunity we were given in Urban Discovery Schools!" – Mark and Leslie, Urban Discovery Parents
- Stephanie NG, TED-Ed’s Director of Programs for TED Conferences
“At the start of the pandemic, Urban Discovery Schools redesigned their district structure in one of the most innovative ways I’ve seen, keeping student and family needs first.” - Stephanie NG, TED-Ed’s Director of Programs for TED Conferences
- Seth, 2021 Urban Discovery Schools Graduate
"The best thing about Urban Discovery Schools is how adaptive their education system is. The teachers and staff take into account how each student learns and makes sure that we learn as effectively as possible. The student life is vibrant and friendly. Overall my experience with UDS has been amazing, for both me and my family. " - Seth, 2021 Urban Discovery Schools Graduate