SAN DIEGO -- Gompers Charter Middle School in San Diego was awarded a three-year, $296,277 state grant, it was announced Wednesday.

The charter school was one of 21 statewide that will share $9 million in funding from the State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program through the California School Finance Authority.

According to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, the grants are intended to help charter schools that focus on economically disadvantaged students.