In 1987, Challenger Middle School started as a junior high with a double-session schedule of 840 seventh graders sharing the site of Wangenheim Junior High School. We moved to temporary bungalows located next to our current site later that same year. Our permanent buildings opened in 1990 with eighth graders joining us in 1991. We became a middle school with 6th, 7th and 8th graders in 1996.
Our school is named in honor of the space shuttle Challenger and her courageous crew. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger disintegrated during lift-off, ending the lives of all seven crewmembers including the first "Teacher in Space", Christa McAuliffe.
The name "Challenger" captures the energy and the inspiration associated with commitment to success. It dares one to go beyond one's limits, to have high expectations, to touch the future. The crew's love for their country, commitment to excellence and appreciation of education were elements that led to their success. The memory of that crew will serve as a role model for our multi-ethnic student population.
Challenger in the News
We were honored to have 10 News on site for our annual memorial for the Challenger space shuttle crew on January 29 for the 40th anniversary of the accident. You can view the news segments at the links posted below:
Focus on Challenger Middle School
Focus on a La Jolla Teacher (former astronaut candidate) and our school.
We want to thank all of the students and staff who made this event possible including the JROTC from Mira Mesa High School.
