Petition To Support The Mandarin Immersion Middle School Pathway At Marina Del Rey Middle School

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge LAUSD leadership to establish the Mandarin Immersion middle school pathway at Marina Del Rey Middle School (MDRMS). 

This proposal is not about limiting opportunity at one school in favor of another. Instead, it is about thoughtfully building the most sustainable and most community-supported long-term pathway for students, families, and the district as a whole.

Marina Del Rey Middle School (“Marina”) presents a unique opportunity for LAUSD to strengthen multilingual education, student retention, and community engagement within West Los Angeles.

Marina is the Best Long-Term Choice:

1. Marina Strengthens the International Baccalaureate Vision

MDRMS is an applicant for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which emphasizes global citizenship, multilingualism, cultural understanding, and internationally minded education.

Adding the Mandarin Immersion pathway would naturally strengthen Marina’s IB identity by:
• Expanding language-learning opportunities for all students
• Encouraging cross-cultural engagement
• Supporting globally focused academic pathways
• Creating a uniquely enriched public school environment on the Westside

Rather than competing programs, IB and Mandarin Immersion complement one another and create broader educational opportunities for the entire school community.

2. Marina Is the Most Accessible and Sustainable Location for Families

Marina Del Rey Middle School is centrally located for the established Mandarin Immersion feeder pathways, located approximately 0.7 miles from Braddock Drive Elementary (only 0.4 miles from Braddock side entrance. 2 minute drive and 10 minute walk) and 2.9 miles from Broadway Elementary (9 minute drive).

Keeping the pathway geographically connected supports:
• Strong parent involvement and booster participation
• Easier logistics for families with multiple children
• Greater participation in after-school programs and school events
• Long-term district enrollment stability.         

The close proximity of Marina and the MI elementary schools, Braddock and Broadway, significantly reduces commute time for parents of multiple children in different grades. Many parents have voiced that they will be forced to leave the district should the commute time increase tremendously.

3. MDRMS Reflects Strong Community Preference 

Families from the established Mandarin Immersion elementary pathway overwhelmingly identified Marina Del Rey Middle School as their preferred continuation campus. 

Families have invested years into building these programs and seek continuity, accessibility, and long-term pathway stability for their children. Honoring community input helps ensure strong enrollment, family engagement, and sustained program success.                               

4. Student Wellness and Environmental Health 

School placement decisions should also consider student wellness and environmental conditions.

Many families have raised concerns regarding prolonged student exposure to heavy freeway traffic corridors and associated air pollution near alternate proposed sites. Marina Del Rey Middle School offers a location farther removed from major freeway congestion, supporting a healthier environment for outdoor learning, athletics, and daily student activities.

We believe LAUSD has the opportunity to prioritize both educational excellence and student well-being. 

LAUSD has the opportunity to create a premier multilingual, internationally focused, and community-centered middle school pathway that benefits both neighborhood students and immersion families alike.

We respectfully urge LAUSD leadership to place the Mandarin Immersion middle school pathway at Marina Del Rey Middle School.

[By signing, you are showing your support for bringing Mandarin Immersion to MDRMS - and that you support educational excellence for all students, multilingual pathways, student wellness, transparent community collaboration, student wellness, sustainable student enrollment. Thank you for being part of this petition to create a better future for our children.]