Our History
History of Don Riggio
Don Riggio School was founded in 1992 as Pacific School, a school of choice in Lincoln Unified School District. To this day, our school has no attendance boundaries; students from all families are invited to enroll here, regardless of their location.
The campus was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 1995, and soon became known for musical theater productions where students and adults worked together in all aspects of the production. In January 2002, the school moved to its current campus at 3110 Brookside Road and gained its current name. Since then, Don Riggio School, named after a longtime School Board Trustee, has grown from six classrooms to 23. In 2005, Don Riggio also qualified for Title One funding from the federal government, allowing us to provide more resources for students.
Values of Don Riggio
Don Riggio upholds its reputation as a Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) school by designating an Arts Block for every student, and giving each one the opportunity to perform in a musical theater production. Our 4th - 6th Graders also get the opportunity to sign up for band, orchestra and strings classes, which perform for families multiple times each school year.
Don Riggio staff members teach the importance of attendance, and provide quality instruction and rigorous project-based learning to help each student have the tools to succeed. Our intervention programs include Title One, English and other language support services, extended day tutoring, and special education instruction.
We are dedicated to promoting a positive school climate using both PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) and TRIBES. Don Riggio adopted PBIS in 2019 as a way to redefine our schoolwide expectations and support our restorative practices. The Dolphin Way is to be: Safe, Respectful, Responsible, and Kind. This is accomplished through explicit instruction, practice, and regular classroom meetings using TRIBES strategies and philosophies. Behaviors are reinforced/monitored by all staff throughout the school.
Renaming of the Multi-Use Room and Music Rooms
Chris Anderson was a remarkable musician who touched hundreds of students’ lives with his teaching at Don Riggio and throughout Lincoln Unified. He was the heart and soul of Don Riggio’s music program that started in 1992 – teaching classroom music, band and orchestra. In his spare time, he helped students and staff build elaborate sets for school plays.
Mr. Anderson was also influential in our community as the director of the Valley Concert Band, and he played the trombone in the Swingaires, which performed at our Swing Into Spring event each year. He was also involved in San Joaquin Delta College’s Monday Night Jazz Band and the Stockton Civic Theatre’s Orchestra.
Chris Anderson’s death in 2016 was a major loss for all in our school community. He was a mentor and a friend to many, and his legacy is recognized on the Don Riggio campus. In May 2023, our music rooms and Multi-Use Room building was renamed in Mr. Anderson’s honor. He continues to inspire students, families and faculty members every day.