I am so so SO incredibly happy that we chose Barnard for my two girls, currently in 1st grade and…read moreTK. I had always hoped we could bring mandarin regularly into our lives and this is working well for us. Not only is my oldest comprehending chinese and learning to read and write (half of the day is in chinese!) but she actually enjoys learning it. We have had amazing teachers and the PTA is incredibly involved and supportive. This is a solid school for parental involvement. Partly because all the families choose to be there with intention (it's a magnet school). I really appreciate the diversity of the student population, makes us feel at home as an ethnically mixed family.

I spent nine years as a parent at Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School (2013-2022). My son and…read moredaughter both completed the K-5 Mandarin immersion program and now are in high school and middle school respectively. My kids loved the school, its teachers, and the three different principals that were present during their years there. My kids have an incredible knowledge of the Mandarin language and of Asian culture. We have visited China three times. Interacting with locals has been a positive and joyous experience. We plan to continue with the Mandarin immersion program through high school. But there is so much more to Barnard than just Mandarin. The school offers an excellent, well-rounded ELA, math, and science curriculum. Their extra language skills only enhanced their engagement and absorption of other topics. The PTA offers a ton of wonderful extracurricular activities. My kids learned so much, made great friends with diverse families from throughout San Diego county, and collected terrific childhood memories of the many great times at Barnard. Highly recommended!

Our kids have now been attending CPJMA for the past 5 years. We love that it is a smaller school…read moreand have made a number of lifelong friends with other CPJMA families. We have been so happy with all of our boys' teachers. Ms Mai, Ms Macker, Ms Tessaro- Love, Ms Sor and now Ms Guffy and Ms Sottile. They truly are top notch and care so much for the kids. We love the emphasis on music - the school offers an amazing Suzuki violin program which kids can start in Kindergarten. If kids start in Kinder or 1st grade, parents have to also take lessons to be able to help their kids practice, however, the violin program is not mandatory. CPJMA also offers a number of after school options including Spanish, music club, Lego building and cooking classes. Since my husband and I work full time we signed our kids up for "Connect the World". Our kids are now learning about other cultures around the world. It's a great program. Our new principal Ms Sakeenah Smith is also fantastic and is a great addition to the school. Although no school is perfect, we think CPJMA is a great option and feel fortunate it's our local School.

We have been at CPJMA for 2 years now and absolutely LOVE it! The teachers are all so fabulous and…read morethey are so happy EVERYDAY (a sign of a good culture). The principal is so involved and cares so much about these students, I feel so safe leaving my kids with them. The music program (both music and violin) provides an enriched learning experience and has also helped build confidence in our daughter. She is thriving in reading, writing, and math, in just kindergarten. We are so grateful for this amazing school!

We really liked this school, the polite staff, but especially this wonderful garden which is…read morelocated on the school grounds.

I went there for 4 years of elementary school. If you're wondering if you should send your kid here…read morethe short answer is maybe. If your kid/s works better in a bigger environment then it's ok. If your kid works better in a smaller environment then you may want to pick another school. When they added a new spanish teacher though, I felt I didn't learn spanish as well. It's more just the culture. Which is fine but they said we'd be learning more spanish. The rest of academics is great and they will give you a tutor if you need. They also have great counselors, the one I know the most is Ms. Kate the military counselor. They really do help although you can't tell them if you don't like your teacher because they tell. The social life their interesting. There is much drama and kids wearing full on eyeliner. If you don't want your kid struggling to make friends/keep friends or complain about the drama in their 5th grade life then maybe don't send them here. One more thing, the kids are over educated in subjects other then school. I learned about *it* at a very young age due to those friends. Overall, ok for a public school but could use some improvement.

Pacific Beach Middle School is the perfect fit for my family. This year was my oldest daughter's…read morefirst year of middle school. She came from Crown Point Junior Music Academy and had a great teacher, Ms. Bower, that challenged my daughter and opened her mind even more than when she started there two years prior. Pacific Beach picked up where elementary school left off. This school is a well-oiled machine but at the same time a very personal experience filled with educators that are dedicated to our children. My daughter constantly tells me about her day at school because she experiences something good each day. Her teachers invest in her and the other students by sharing their own challenges that relate to current challenges a student may be facing with the curriculum. Positive human relationships form in the classroom and throughout the school. The best way to sum up PB Middle is to say that it is a positive community where each person plays an important role. Children feel safe and nurtured. Most importantly, they are being well prepared for their academic futures. I have no doubt that my daughter will thrive in high school and college because the IB curriculum is setting the course for her success. Well done! Katina Evans, J.D.

Okay, as a student here, It's an okay school. The people here are NOT Internationally…read moreBaccalaureate, some teachers may target random students, they may be racist as well. But, it's not terrible, just really bad.

As an educator and public school administrator, I have high expectations for what meaningful,…read morehigh-quality learning should look like and I am truly impressed by what I see in the Preschool classes at St. Paul's Lutheran. Even at just three years old, my child is being exposed to a level of intentional instruction and thoughtful rigor that is exceptional. Having daily insight into TK through eighth-grade public school classrooms, I can confidently say that the program at St. Paul's stands out for its depth, purpose, and impact. What makes St. Paul's especially remarkable is its ability to balance strong academics with rich, play-based learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and independence. Just as importantly, the faith-based foundation woven throughout the day is something truly special. My child is not only growing academically, but also developing character, compassion, and a sense of belonging. The combination of these elements creates an environment that is truly second to none.

My husband and I are in the military and enrolled our three daughters in Saint Paul's Lutheran…read moreschool after attending the local public school. We desired a small focused experience with dedicated teachers and faith base curriculum. What we got far exceeded our expectations, the teachers are so caring, creative, and focused on our child's individual needs. Each of my daughters is thriving in her class and is known by all teachers and staff. The academics are rigorous, but the teachers presented them in a way that keeps the kids engaged. They come home knowing far more than I would have ever hoped for, both in traditional academics and in faith curriculum. The school is not afraid of new technology and leverages AI and group learning approaches that would not be possible in a larger school. My children have been benefited greatly from this approach. One of the most important aspects for me is that the school does not tolerate isolating or bullying behavior. My fourth grader was distracted in her public school experience by 'mean girls' but at St Paul's, she is friends with each girl in her class and has often commented on how grateful she is to have no cliques or strife. This is so rare and is a testament to the hard work of the teachers and staff. Being members of the St. Paul's school community has increased my husband's and my faith as well. On a hard days, the staff has taken time to walk with us or pray. On great days they celebrate with us. We feel like we belong here as well, not just our children. Highly recommended on every front.

We are very happy with the experience we've had during our daughter Elena's first year at the…read moreschool. Her growth has been remarkable in every way -- academically, emotionally, and socially. From the very beginning, we felt welcomed and part of a true community, which made all the difference for us as a family. Principal Dena Stoneman is always attentive, approachable, and thoughtful in every detail. Secretary Sara Sinclair is a kind and loving person, always willing to help with warmth and efficiency. We are also deeply grateful to Elena's teachers -- Ms. Chu, Ms. Delgado, and Ms. Andy -- for the care, dedication, and love they've shown throughout her learning journey this year. We fully trust the school and are excited to continue this journey with you all in the upcoming school year!

It has taken me months of reflection to write this review because our experience with MMS was…read moredeeply confusing and upsetting. Our 3-year-old daughter started at MMS in January 2024. We really loved her primary teachers, and initially, she seemed to be doing well. There were a few incidents of misbehavior (hitting, biting, not listening--maybe three times?) but overall, it was a positive experience. She made friends, spoke happily about school and her teachers, and seemed engaged. From the beginning, I found Dena to be condescending and sanctimonious, but I tried to overlook it. After summer camp, she returned to the same class with many of the same students. But from the start of the new school year, we began receiving frequent calls and incident reports about her behavior--hitting, biting, disrupting nap time, etc. Over the next few months, things unraveled. Our daughter no longer wanted to go to school. She became hysterical every morning at drop-off. We received daily incident reports and multiple phone calls from the school. At home and in other settings, playdates, gymnastics, family events, her behavior was very different. She wasn't perfect, but she was typical for a 3-4-year-old. It began to feel like the school had completely lost control of the situation. She was regularly sent to the office for "breaks" or timeouts, but she would just sit and color, so it didn't feel like a consequence to her. The school called us to pick her up early several times, saying they couldn't manage her and that she was essentially a danger to others. She also began saying things like "I'm bad" and "I'm mean," which was a major red flag. We took her to the pediatrician, an occupational therapist, and had her evaluated for ADHD and other potential concerns. Everything came back within the range of typical development. We had multiple meetings with the school. Dena assured us they were trying everything, but their actions didn't reflect that. Eventually, they asked if we could switch her to half days. Although it was a major challenge for our full-time working household, we agreed, hoping it would help. It didn't. The daily calls continued, and we were still asked to pick her up early. They assigned an aide to shadow her, but the behavior didn't improve. Our daughter started coming home saying no one wanted to play with her, that she had no friends, and that she was bad. Our OT was confused--if she had a one-on-one aide, how was she still getting into so many incidents? We tried sticker charts, calming strategies, every tool recommended by professionals. And yes, our daughter is emotional and sometimes struggles to keep her hands to herself, but again, not in a way that felt outside the norm for her age. We received two to three detailed incident reports each day. It often seemed like the school was spending more energy documenting her behavior than actually helping her. Over time, it became clear we weren't welcome. Dena and some of the teachers began giving us cold looks. Dena even told us that other parents didn't want their kids playing with ours. The whole environment felt hostile and out of control. After another unproductive meeting with Dena, we were told our options were to find a new school or pay for a full-time aide, on top of tuition. We enrolled her in a new school the following week, and the difference has been incredible. One of the strangest parts came when we decided to withdraw our daughter. Dena asked if we would bring her by for "closure." I declined, as I didn't feel that would be appropriate. I went to pick up her belongings, and while the students and teachers had made her a goodbye card, which seemed sweet at first, the messages inside were deeply unsettling. Things like "We know there's good in you" made it sound like she was evil or broken. Again, she was THREE. And she really is a sweet, loving kid (who gives the best hugs). At her new school, she has many friends, and in 7 months, she's had one behavioral incident. We still recognize that she is an emotional and spirited child, but she is thriving in a supportive environment. I only wish we had made the switch sooner. Looking back, it's shocking to realize that for the entire second half of the school year at MMS, we didn't hear a single positive thing about our daughter. I feel heartbroken thinking about the constant negative feedback loop she was caught in. no wonder she thought she was "bad." I'm not saying MMS is a terrible school for everyone. Clearly, some families have had positive experiences. But it seems that if your child doesn't fit a certain mold, they are unwilling or unequipped to support them. I still struggle to understand how things got so bad, especially considering the immediate change we saw when we moved her. Even at home, she was noticeably happier. she now runs into school every morning and i have so much peace of mind.

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it's…read moreability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing it is stupid." --Albert Einstein Enrolling my child in the Early Start Infant and Toddler Program at Alcott was the best decision I made in my life. I get all teary-eyed when I think of what they did for my child who had developmental delays. THE STAFF IS THE BEST! I owe everything to them. Having gone to several specialists (PT, OT, Speech, etc.), the staff really knows their stuff. They are so open and understanding. They are willing to teach parents how to help their child progress. And everyday, no matter what, they greeted my child with lots of hugs and love. This is just one gem of a school in the San Diego Unified School District. Don't believe what people say about SDUSD! They do have quality schools! This one proves it.

It's hard to find resources to get the temperature of a school. When we started at Alcott a few…read moreyears ago we were new to the neighborhood and I was trying to find someone who had children at the school. Because this area is right next to UC, many neighborhood families choice out. So here is my take on Yelp in case you are looking for input. We have been very happy at Alcott. The staff is welcoming and lovely. The principal is extremely dedicated. It is very small which gives it a family feel. Both of my children have had a great experience here. They are loved and educated.