Over the past three school years, data from Lewis Middle School reveals a disturbing and persistent pattern: Black students are suspended at rates far exceeding those of their White peers, despite making up a small fraction of the student body.

Data were extracted from https://www.ed-data.org/school/San-Diego/San-Diego-Unified/Lewis-Middle

⚠ Key Facts:

Black students make up just 5–6% of the student population, yet account for as much as 13.1% of all suspensions.
In 2022–23, Black students were suspended at nearly 6× the rate of White students at Lewis.

For comparison:

• Across California, the Black/White suspension disparity that same year was 2.8×.
• Across San Diego Unified School District, it was 2.1×.
• Lewis Middle School’s disparity is more than double the state average and nearly triple the district's.

📉 A Troubling Trend Under New Leadership:

When Principal Justin Philips was hired in August 2021, suspension rates for Black students more than tripled in one year with a 281% increase. Meanwhile, suspensions for White students rose by only 138%.

In his second year (2022–23), the suspension rate for Black students hit its highest point and the racial gap widened even further: a clear sign that existing disciplinary policies and practices are not working equitably.

📣 Why This Matters:

These racial disparities aren’t just numbers — they reflect real harm and lost learning time for students who are already marginalized. They raise serious concerns about racial bias, equity, and compliance with civil rights protectionsunder both California state law and federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. 

We demand action:

✅ A full investigation into disciplinary practices at Lewis Middle School
✅ Transparent reporting and oversight of suspension data by race
✅ Implementation of restorative justice and equity-centered interventions
✅ Training for all staff on implicit bias and equitable discipline

📢 Please sign and share this petition to demand justice for all students at Lewis Middle School. Equity isn’t optional.

It’s the law.

What else can you do?

🔗 Share Widely

• Post the petition link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Tag your friends, family, and local community groups—amplify our voices!
• Use hashtags #EquityAtLewis

📧 Email Decision-Makers

• Send a quick note to Senior Management:
  • Area Superintendent of Middle Schools, Michele Irwin (mirwin1@sandi.net)
  • Wendy Ranck-Buhr, Senior Executive Director of Equity, Access, and Opportunity (wranck-buhr@sandi.net)
  • Senior Executive Director of Human Resources, Kristine Morshead (kmorshead@sandi.net)
  • Executive Director, Office of Investigations, Compliance & Accountability, Farshad M. Talebi (ftalebi@sandi.net)
  • Executive Director of Equity & Belonging, Ebonee Weathers (she/her; eweathers@sandi.net)
  • Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee for Racial Justice and Equity, Marcus Los Banos (mlosbanos@sandi.net)
• Template subject line: “Demand Equitable Discipline at Lewis Middle School”

🏫 Show Up

• Attend the next School Board meeting (check the SDUSD website for dates https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education
• Speak during public comment—let them hear your story.

💬 Spread the Word

• Encourage local parents, educators, and students to join our movement.
• Share your own experiences in the comments below: real stories build real change.