ENCINITAS — Leucadia residents said goodbye over the summer to the school campus that served generations of families for decades.
Demolition of the Paul Ecke Central Elementary School campus began Aug. 12, the first day of classes for Encinitas Union School District students.
The school will be rebuilt “as a contemporary school in a garden” intended to capture the spirit of Leucadia, according to architectural firm DLR Group.
“Our design draws on the area’s coastal identity and the horticultural legacy of Paul Ecke, celebration cultivation, growth and stewardship,” the architect states.
Under the plans, the new building’s “fluid architecture,” featuring glass walls and natural materials, will connect the building with the surrounding landscape, with classrooms clustered around gardens and outdoor learning spaces.
District leaders determined the campus needed to be rebuilt after evaluating the aging buildings and the school’s long-term needs. The approximately $60 million project is being funded through Measure Z, a district bond measure approved by voters two years ago.
“Watching Paul Ecke Central School buildings come down marks the end of a long chapter and decades of good memories for our community,” stated North County Advocates, a local group dedicated to preserving the character, quality of life and environment of coastal North County, with an emphasis on Encinitas and the La Costa community.
School history
Originally named Central School when it opened in 1927, the school was renamed in 1986 to honor Paul Ecke, a prominent local horticulturist. The campus is considered a historical treasure by generations of Leucadia families who attended the school.
“Paul Ecke Central has been an important part of the Leucadia community for nearly 100 years, with the original schoolhouse dating back to 1927,” Lucy Finlayson, the school district’s public information officer, said in an email. “Generations of students and families have passed through the campus, and the District recognizes the deep connection that many current and former families, staff and community members have to the school.”
Many community members have expressed sadness at seeing the school demolished. Some believed the buildings, which were added at different times over the decades, should have been preserved as part of the campus’s history and the community’s overall character.
According to EUSD Director of Facilities and Safety Eric Smith, the administration building was constructed in 1947; the kitchen and staff workroom and classroom building in 1953; the original section of the 200 wing in 1953 and the second section in 1968; the multipurpose room in 1962, with a major addition and renovation completed in 2007; the media center in 1974; and the kindergarten building in 1989.
While most of the campus is being rebuilt, the district worked with the Encinitas Historical Society to preserve the nearly 100-year-old original schoolhouse. Its interior will be renovated and transformed into the school’s library media center.
Finlayson said the move allows “one of the most recognizable and historically significant pieces of the campus to remain an active part of student life.”
Design process
According to Finlayson, the district held three community design meetings to give families, staff, neighbors and other community members an opportunity to provide input on the new campus. That feedback helped shape the “school in a garden” concept.
The district also formed the PEC Steering Committee, made up of school and district staff members, to provide input. Teachers also gathered ideas from students during listening sessions about what they would like to see in their future school.
The district held a farewell open house for the school in May. Finlayson said more than 300 people attended, including some whose parents attended the school when it first opened.
“It was incredibly meaningful to see generations of the PEC community return to walk the campus, reminisce about their time there, and share memories of what the school has meant to them and their families,” Finlayson said. “The deeply rooted history of Paul Ecke Central in the Leucadia community is why the District has made it a priority to find meaningful ways to honor and preserve that legacy throughout the rebuild process.”
Relocation and timeline
While the school is under construction, students have been temporarily relocated to El Camino Creek and Park Dale Lane elementary schools. Students in kindergarten through third grade are attending El Camino Creek, while fourth- through sixth-graders are attending Park Dale Lane.
The district is also providing busing for all Paul Ecke Central students throughout construction.
Over the summer, the district prepared for the move by packing and transferring materials and equipment, installing portable classrooms at both schools, expanding the Park Dale Lane kitchen and reconfiguring space at El Camino Creek.
The district originally anticipated completing construction by August 2027, in time for the 2027-28 school year. However, summer delays pushed back the anticipated completion date, stirring frustration among the school community.
“While we understand the concern that any delay can create for our families and community, the district has continued working closely with the city and other agencies throughout the process to move the project forward as quickly and responsibly as possible,” Finlayson said.
Finlayson added that the district has submitted all requirements for the next phase of permitting, which are under review.
“Although it is unlikely the school will be completed by August of 2027 as originally estimated, we will continue to communicate openly with the community and provide updates to families as additional permitting and construction milestones are reached,” Finlayson said.
