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.

When we first started looking at elementary schools, we were living in Hillcrest and zoned for…read moreAlice Birney, a very good public school. We spent a lot of time at libraries and often picked up family magazines. At one point, we attended Clairemont Family Day, where TCPS had a booth. I spoke with Mrs. Szalay, then the kindergarten teacher (now assistant), and soon after we toured the school and attended its big annual event. That project, created by all grades around a theme, showed us how special the school was. What stood out most was the small size, the attention children receive, and the focus on social-emotional growth, which mattered most to us. From the beginning, TCPS felt like an extension of our home. The values we taught our children were reinforced at school, so we never worried about having to "unteach" conflicting lessons. Now, with a sixth grader, fifth grader, third grader, and kindergartner, we've seen our kids blossom. They're challenged, guided, and cared for. They've benefited from mentoring with older students, from learning public speaking starting in kindergarten, and from being truly heard while also nudged to grow. A major strength of TCPS is communication. Parents can connect with teachers daily at drop-off, pick-up, or by email. Teachers are responsive and proactive, even asking for updates if a child's morning isn't going well so they can be prepared. In addition, we have scheduled conferences before school starts, mid-year, and year-end. These conversations allow teachers to understand each child's personality, strengths, and goals. That personal approach is possible because of the small classes and school size. Our children love being at TCPS. They love learning and growing, and the school has not only nurtured that but also challenged them to reach their potential. In middle school, the transition to multiple teachers and heavier workloads has been significant, but our son isn't left to struggle--he's guided step by step and supported just as we would support him at home. TCPS truly feels like family. Parents are encouraged to be active participants--as room parents, on committees, at events, chaperoning field trips, or volunteering in class. I see this as a blessing, and I'm glad to contribute. In fact, TCPS has meant so much to us that we relocated to the Clairemont area just to be closer to the school. Every teacher also brings their own personality and passions into the classroom, making learning fun and engaging through unique projects. We honestly don't know where we'd be without TCPS. For us, it has been more than a school--it has been an extension of our family.

I am beyond angry with The Child's Primary. My child was repeatedly harassed by another donny Kim a…read moreteacher, and the school failed to properly protect them or take strong action. No parent should have to worry about their child's safety at school, yet that is exactly what happened. The lack of supervision, accountability, and urgency in handling such serious misconduct is unacceptable. I expected safety and responsibility -- instead, we were met with inaction and disappointment.

They get a 1 star for the way they handle bullies. A year later and bad behavior still continues…read moreand has started to affect more and more students the longer the bully continues their bad behavior.

It takes a lot for me to write a school review because I'm a teacher and I have extremely high…read moreeducational standards. Kavod has given us a whole lot of amazing learning experiences but I can sum it up by saying that they have cared for my children with respect, consideration and an openness to learning. Both of my children with IEPS have required specialized services and very specific supports. I found the teachers and staff members to be caring, smart, fun and excited about creating a community of respectful and inquisitive learners. No child was ignored, every child was met where they were enthusiastically and the staff worked extremely hard to address needs while simultaneously building on strengths. My kids have both done very well there and the emphasis on languages and culture has been a ton of fun. Projects were meaningful and I appreciated the organized communication and leadership from administration. I would have never imagined my children speaking all these languages so quickly but they have learned because Kavod makes it possible with their organized programming and the support of all team members. As a part of the parent community, I felt welcomed and cared for there as well. In a time where there is so much division, it's a beautiful gift when we can gather, respect one another and learn from one another culturally. Kavod is a gem and I know that their best is yet to come. Don't think, just enroll. Toda Raba, Kavod!

I cannot thank all teachers, PTA and staff members enough for their enthusiasm for supporting the…read morekids here! They are warm and treat us like a family literally. Love their VAPA program and tons of activities and performance opportunities. Recommended.

My daughter's education here was fine. My daughter dealt with bullies since arrived in 2nd grade…read more She used to be the smiling kid all the time but this school changed her. She was always blamed by all for it. Like when kids found out she was gay. She was told to keep to herself. She never felt like she could be herself here. Even last school therapist thought she had too much computer time. I am a good parent and know I have a highly intelligent kid.

"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.

I worked at this school as a PrimeTime staff and I gotta say that this is a good school. They have…read moregood teachers and good faculty. I really enjoyed working with the kids after school during PrimeTime. The kids are wonderful!

Wish I would of seen some of these bad reviews before sending my kid here. She got into the gate…read moreseminar program and hawthorne was the only available school for it in our area. Needless to say the principal said they don't allow bullying but she is a bully herself always yelling at my kid even when me and my wife are present. The principal doesn't have any children of her own but acts like she knows everything about disciplining kids, i'm sorry but yelling at kids with autism doesn't accomplish anything. The new teacher they have running the seminar program doesn't know how to teach these kids or handle them, she is always taking personal days and having substitutes and she cancelled all the future field trips for the rest of the year because she said the kids are out of control. We brought up to the teacher that she has trouble learning math, and they didn't help her. I've also noticed a change in my kids study habits she used to read 2 grades above and do good in math. Now she reads average and is failing math. She also picked up bad habits from her classmates she never used to fight or argue with us but now its everyday. I will be making a complaint with the superintendent about the school and the principal it is not a safe place for neurodivergent kids they should move the seminar program to a school that actually cares about these kids and wants them to learn. They also make you pay money out of pocket for the seminar program since the state doesn't cover it anymore. The principal also shamed our daughter when my wife was carrying her backpack. There was also a incident when a kid brought a gun to school and the principal was yelling saying i'm so mad your kids i could kill them. The tone of voice an approach when talking with the kids is very agressive... our new school the principal and teacher are the exact opposite and our child is thriving again. we figured out over summer when we got a tutor what the math issues was. She is back to having good study habits and isn't yelling all the time

I've had 3 boys at Field, all with very different needs and interests. I couldn't be happier or…read moremore appreciative of the support and partnership we've found at Field. Not only do they have a fantastic academic curriculum, but caring teachers and staff, great communication, a phenomenal Principal (Principal York) to lead the way, and a very active parent PTA and family involvement. The school has great extra curriculars (both in school and after), like art, dance, chess club, science club, reading club, leadership, girls/boys circles, cooking club, Jr. health ambassadors, crossing guards and more. What drew me to the school was initially the amazing dual-immersion program, but what's kept us there is the enrichment and the community. All of this AND my kids are becoming fluent Spanish Speakers! Highly recommend.

We have been a part of the Field community for 5 years, and I can say with confidence that it is an…read moreincredible community. Across the board, the teachers and staff are compassionate and engaging, and I've watched my 2 children excel in Spanish and English learning year over year. Principal York is outstanding, relatable, and organized - if you take a tour of the school and you get a chance to meet her, you'll immediately see why the school adores her! When you walk in the front office, you will be greeted by a helpful, informative team, who will get to know each student by name. We also have the most involved and caring school nurse who treats each child as her own and can easily heal an ailment in one moment and then pop over and serve as the DJ of a school function in the next! Nurse dela Paz has also been instrumental in securing Field as one of America's Healthiest Schools and infuses wellness programs into student, staff, and family events. The PTA is incredibly involved and supports extracurricular cooking, gardening, and art classes for the kids, along with unique school-wide assemblies and funding for field trips. The best part is your child will graduate from the dual immersion program in 5th grade speaking, writing, and socializing in two languages, which is incredible for early childhood development.

I LOVE this school. My kiddo has been attending since Kinder and has flourished here. The…read moreTeachers are great and the PTA involvement is great which supports many programs offered including PE, Music, & Art. The Principal is great to work with - I'm so thankful this is our neighborhood school.

Our teacher is great. But the parking is horrible. You can't park anywhere close to the rear gate…read more It says it's for bus parking but I never see buses??? And the women who guard the gate are extremely rude. You have to park on the other streets and risk your kids getting hit. They say you get a ticket. I say children's safety should come first!!! Buses are done at 845am. Let us park in front so our kids don't get run over.

Both my children have attended this school one still is the teachers are amazing . It's a smaller…read moreschool and so friendly

I love that the school is more of a family. I love that our kids have an open line of communication…read morewith their teacher and the staff. We've been at Empower for the past 4 years and our kids come from an English speaking household. They can translate conversations and books to Spanish or English. I love that they picked up a second language and will be learning a third next year! The CrossFit program is amazing and I love that the kids learn healthy eating habits with their coach. They garden, learn about a new vegetable of the month, and get rewarded for trying the new vegetable. I truly believe the school has empowered our kids with confidence and the drive to be leaders.

Empower Charter School is AMAZING!! Where else can you find a Crossfit kids program combined with…read moreinquiry based learning AND has a bilingual Spanish-English program! Research continues to show the benefits of being bilingual which is exactly what Empower incorporates into its curriculum.The school has a passionate director who goes above and beyond to make the school one of the best places to learn. Definitely worth considering for your young scholar.