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The city of Chula Vista has so many children that the Chula Vista Elementary School District is now the largest K-6 district in California.

As of Thursday morning, the district had 28,367 students -- 535 more than it had this time last year.

"I mean, that's a whole school," said Chula Vista Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. Francisco Escobedo.

The district's enrollment helps get additional funding from the state. A construction boom in Chula Vista has also helped, as has the introduction of transitional kindergarten.

Dozens of students are too old for preschool, but have missed the age cut-off for kindergarten in California. The state now funds the transition-level class and Chula Vista took advantage in seven of its 45 schools.

"It's an exciting place to live, not just to be employed in," said Angela DeAlva, a new transitional kindergarten teacher at McMillin Elementary School.

Despite the increase in students, the district's API test scores have increased every year the past six years. They've been above 800 the past four years, and that number is expected to go up again this year.

"We have more kids living in poverty. We have more English language learner kids. We're defying the odds," said Escobedo.

The district is also defying the economy, as they have been able to hire 24 teachers. They're also building their first new school since 2007.

"So having this new school open in 2013, the Enrique Camarena School, is very timely," said Escobedo.

The district is also preparing to build another school after Camarena School opens.