Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista went into lockdown today after staff reported an anonymous threat, prompting a full sweep of the campus by police. Students were kept inside classrooms, and all entry and exit to the school was halted while officers checked for any immediate danger. Authorities said they deployed a DFR drone and worked alongside school security as they cleared the grounds.
In a post on X, the Chula Vista Police Department said officers were on campus with a drone and were working with school staff to verify that there were no active threats after the anonymous call came in. The department also reminded the public that its social media is not monitored around the clock, urging anyone with urgent information to call emergency lines instead. We have contacted school officials for additional details and will update this story as they respond.
Mater Dei High School is currently in LOCKDOWN (no one can enter/exit from campus & all students are locked inside classrooms). Police on scene with DFR drone, working w/school security to verify no threats after school received call from an anonymous person making a threat.
— Chula Vista Police Department (@ChulaVistaPD) February 26, 2026
What happened on campus
Mater Dei Catholic's main campus sits at 1615 Mater Dei Drive in East Chula Vista and, according to the school website, serves students from TK through 12th grade. After the threat was reported, staff activated a secure-campus protocol that kept students in place and paused movement around the school while police and security carried out a sweep. The campus contact number is listed as (619) 423-2121 on the school’s site.
Past hoaxes and arrests
Mater Dei has dealt with similar scares before. In November 2023, a comparable anonymous call triggered a lockdown that ultimately resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old, as reported by the Times of San Diego, after officers cleared the campus and found no credible threat. That incident was one of a series of hoax school threats investigated by authorities across the region in recent years.
What parents should know
If you have an immediate concern, call 911. For non-emergencies, parents can reach the Chula Vista Police Department at (619) 691-5151 or contact Mater Dei Catholic at (619) 423-2121. Authorities are asking families to stay away from campus while officers complete their checks so they can focus on confirming that the school is safe.
We will update this story with official statements and any follow-up information from police or school officials as it becomes available. Parents are encouraged to rely on direct messages from the school and verified police channels for accurate, up-to-date information.
