Dr. Rosary Nepi was assigned principal in September 1972.  The San Diego Unified School District's Schools Names Committee invited students and CAC (Community Advisory Committee) involvement in the selection of a permanent name.  Four names, along with biographies, were given to each class and a survey was conducted at each school.  The children from North Mira Mesa Annex chose the name Carl Sandburg School and CAC members unanimously agreed to support their choice.

On November 21, 1972, the Board of Education unanimously approved the name of Carl Sandburg.  A School Naming Ceremony was held in February 1973 in front of the garages.  In November 1973 the students moved from the houses into the temporary district facilities.  Mr. Edward Roff was assigned as principal in February 1973, Mrs. Kathy Kolk was the first president.  The Sandburg CAC was established on September 27, 1973 and Mr. J. T. Matthews was the first chairperson.

The passage of Proposition XX in November 1974 made possible the construction of the permanent site that was dedicated on May 20, 1976.  Robert Platt and Associates were appointed as architects.  On December 3, 1974, a School Advisory Planning Committee, consisting of community members, teachers and the school principal was formed.  This committee met with the architects and district officials on nineteen different occasions, providing some community input into the design of the new structure.

The school features four flexible classroom buildings, each area designed to house about 180 students and six teachers.  This flexible physical arrangement provides for varying combinations of teaching stations.  A large multi-purpose building serves the total school as a cafeteria, auditorium and instructional media center.  Students from every classroom have an opportunity for supervised work and study in this media center. A modern Educational Service Unit provides all administrative support services for the school.