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Starting in this fall for the 2025-26 school year, Morongo Unified School District will be moving Twentynine Palms sixth graders from Twentynine Palms Elementary to Twentynine Palms Junior High, as announced on the MUSD website along with a notice to parents on January 29th.
Expanding the junior high to serve students grades six through eight, MUSD says this transition will “create a more cohesive and enriching learning environment for middle-grade students.”
Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas said, “At Twentynine Palms Junior High School, students will have access to subject-specific teachers, offering more focused and specialized instruction as they navigate increasingly complex material.”Sixth-grade students will also have access to a broader range of electives and extracurricular activities, which are not typically available in elementary schools, which Vargas adds, “… will help students grow academically, socially and emotionally as they prepare for the challenges of high school and beyond.”
This adjustment aligns Twentynine Palms Junior High School with neighboring districts across the state, streamlining the transition process for incoming students, including the many military families the district serves. This change applies only to Twentynine Palms schools and will not impact students on the west end of the Morongo Basin.
In a “Frequently Asked Questions” bulletin offered to parents, MUSD states that this will not affect transportation: “sixth graders will be transported directly to TPJHS.” The junior high begins at 7:10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Sixth grade students will be placed in a cohort and will have two main academic teachers; one to teach math and science, another to teach English and history. Remaining periods will be available for electives and P.E.
To support this transition, both current fifth and sixth-grade students will participate in year-end celebrations and promotion events, recognizing their advancement to the next phase of their education.
For questions or concerns, please call Twentynine Palms Junior High School Principal Derek Swem at (760) 367-9507 or the MUSD Communications Department at (760) 367-9191 Ext. 4272
