save yo kids, there's other high schools out there....there are some REALLY awesome schools that…read morethey can go to, some of the teachers are high-key mean. my teacher got mad at me for breathing and made me move to a different desk.

Bathroom smells like cotton candy everyday and it makes me feel funny when i smell it idk what it…read moreis but it smells good

Go Wildcats! It's EC time! It's EC time! What! What!…read more(somewhere Tony A. is laughing because I got school pride!) My high school experience was pretty complete I would say: I was a member of the Associated Student Body (ASB...otherwise known as the Student Council). I was Senior Class President. I was Cross Country Captain. I was a 4 year Varsity Cross Country and 3 year Track Athlete. I was an Honors Student that graduated at the top of my class. I took Advanced Placement classes and got straight As. I handled my language requirement by sophomore year (it pays to migrate from peru to southern california when it comes to that). I went to all the dances, football games, basketball games, theater performances and music recitals! I was a part of a club called the Black Hat Society where we ate lunch, hung out with our favorite cool teacher, and discussed politics, culture and satanism. I went to parties and got drunk (but not ever before my junior year). I dated boys steadily through high school (one looser 1st semester freshman year, a great guy that now RIP second half of freshman year through junior year, and rob e. senior year). I built a float for homecoming my senior year.. and performed on it as well! (I was catwoman from batman and robyn for our superhero theme). I got to ditch class all the time because I was in ASB. I organized, mc'd and participated in pep rally's. I went on fieldtrips to major theme parks, including disneyland for grad night. I organized my prom... and my date was the prom king! http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=j46QH7rV60lZ9sGLusS3Uw&select=IeRR79asTYOzeupIPAUrPA&start=20 I enjoyed my english courses as well as social science courses, specially history and political science and the teachers who taught them! EL Camino has a huge campus... 3 different levels from all the way down at the track, to the gym and parking and theater, to the top cafeteria and classes. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/6t6_3CctJGYdrkzVttuVjQ?select=GaeBevEgNS-BdjaooUaPHA EC offered opportunities for those who wanted to take them. It was a diverse campus with many African American, Filipino, Samoan, Latino, White, etc... students. That meant, sometimes there was racial tension. Also, there was some gang violence considering its location and its size. There were many electives, clubs, and sports to be a member of, as well as after school activities. Also, plenty of honors and advanced placement classes. And... its a california distinguished school! But, like plenty of schools in california, it could have been better! Could have had newer and cleaner facilities (although they have since opened a spanking new science and math building... which looks exactly the same as our rival's: Oceanside High School). Also- some of the administration sucked. And the lunch food could have been healthier! ---------------- Alma Mater We pledge our hearts to brown and gold, the color of the hills and sun. As people we are many, but as Wildcats we are one. Our pride for you is deep within, our spirit strong and high. We'll hail to you dear alma mater, as the years go by. Our team will fight with honor, and strive for victory. El Camino Wildcats, forever we shall be.

Security staff are rude and angry. This is the second time I've had someone be condescending or…read moreshouting when I politely and calmly pick up my kid from school. My daughter has crutches and I parked my car by the front office curb to help her. A lady in a hat came over and told me I can't park there, despite there being a row of cars parked right behind me. She said "you can't block the ramp" to which I replied what ramp? There was none, just the same curb everyone was parked at. She told me just move, and pointed to parking spaces on the opposite side of the parking lot. I explained I'm helping my daughter who's injured and will just take a couple minutes. She said park over there and move when she's out. Another security person said "oh yeah, she's like that" when I mentioned the encounter. The other employee was a man who yelled at me when trying to leave the large south parking lot. I merely followed the people in front of me and he started yelling at me "what the hell are you doing!!?" I asked him what's wrong, I'm just following the flow of traffic, sorry I'm just picking up my kid. He apologized, seeming to realize he overreacted. Apparently they want you to circle all the way around the entire parking lot even if no other cars are there. I understand, at least this time he explained it was just an unusual policy, not my fault. Can't wait for my daughter to graduate, I went to Carlsbad high school and this place sounds like a nightmare in comparison. The math teacher and others are troubled individuals with egos and power trips, untouchable due to tenure, what I hear from other parent and students. Only people who were polite were the front office staff, they had better social skills. Hopefully someone speaks to the parking staff.

The school is very good and secure, but it follows a modified 4x4 block schedule that divides the…read moreschool year into 2 semesters. Students take 4 courses during the first semester, and the other four during the second semester. It sounds better than it works. If your child is planning on taking AP classes, he/she may get AP classes in fall and forget the material by the time she has to take AP tests in spring. This sheduling also means less time spent on each subject comparing to the schools with a regular schedule. Students are rushed to get all material covered. If you missed a day or two, it's very difficult to catch up. In regular schools, students take six, seven, or eight periods a day throughout the entire school year, and take their AP tests in spring.

This is a great school! We love the 4x4 schedule and our daughter is doing amazing there. There are…read moremany paths to choose from and fun electives like their Steel Pan program. The curriculum sets the pace for college bound kids but it can be intense and not for every student.

Such a wonderful school from at least 1938 (for what I saw at a plate in the main courtyard). I…read morewent there this week for an interpreting job and spent a great time walking around the facilities that remind me of the Spanish revival style. I was able to imagine the various generations of Vista kids attending this pristine white (even if with some maintenance needed) school. I loved so many details, from the 1930s water fountains to the skates 'parking lot'. They have a memorial fragrant rose garden and the trees are just gorgeous. So much greenery and open spaces. I like the architecture of this school a lot and the memories the past I imagine were made here. Another cute touch are the tiles also Spanish style.

An incredible staff, especially in maths and sciences. The school is aging, but I'd rather that use…read morefunds in the classroom than on the facade. Also, very nice that I never have to look for parking.

I read the information on the Stepping Stones website, and it looks incredibly encouraging! I'm…read morehoping by the time my youngest son is ready to exit 8th grade, his current Charter School will have a high school option, but if not, it is great to know places like this exist in the local community. They also collaborate with a large number of nationally accredited charter schools across the state. The varied options I mentioned earlier include homeschooling, independent study, and blended learning opportunities - I am so happy to see schools joining this model of education...it's really proving to be the best way to educate children for successful futures instead of churning them out like a grim scene from The Wall... In their own words: "Our focus is personalized education for each student. The best way to change tomorrow is to invest in our children today... One Step at a Time." Yes. More of this, please!!! One thing that particularly stands out is that they are community-centered learning institutions. This has a twofold effect - they promote success in academics by nurturing a connection with the community (usually through volunteerism or other efforts), and they also partner their students with successful to make sure they achieve the steps necessary to succeed from the time they start Kindergarten until the time they choose a career. That's smart educating! Through their network of partner schools, they can tailor a student's education to help keep them engaged, participating, and give them the tools they're going to need for future success in college, university, or trade/vocational school programs (again, education works different for everyone, and it looks like these people understand that!!!) Their website uses the word "investment" regarding their students, and I can't day how much I love that...I wish more schools treated education like an investment in our children and the future of not only the individual, but the community and society as a whole. They teach children to be self-paced and directed; and also foster a sense of independent thinking and those who can not only use critical thinking to solve problems, but also communicate in whichever way is best suited to their own personality and style. Since I know many people who communicate through electronic devices, I like to hear the emphasis placed on communication and not "speaking." There is a big difference. These folks seem like they "get it!" Their main goal appears to be simple: to help students of all ages and stages to "learn how to learn." I love that phrase! They know that many students don't have a place in our rather drab and outdated school model, with endless tests and redundant, utterly uninteresting and non-dynamic curriculum. In addition to general school/high school academics, these students also apparently get to discover their own potential career path; and this could include technical courses, visual/performing arts, apprenticeships (similar programs currently exist in some European countries) and service learning projects - I've done Service Learning Projects in my own college; and they're enhancements to the curriculum you're already learning, it's really great foundation building work! This was one of the things that stuck out at me while I was reading about their program... apparently, Stepping Stones also offers two years of college at no cost for those who qualify. This could just be help filing out the FASFA FOR Federal Student Aid (which not everyone will qualify for, depending on how much their parents make), but could potentially also include help finding grants, scholarships, and alternative ways to fund tertiary education beyond high school. :) My son's current charter school has been a godsend, but now that we've been able to dodge the proverbial "bullet" that was a nightmarish middle school experience (it only lasted a month, thankfully!), and he's now fully included in his school. There are no segregated classes for special education, but he receives as much support as he needs (including a dedicated aide that the school hand picked for him and hired after he enrolled), so I cannot sing the praises of charter schools enough. His behavior is better, self-confidence has skyrocketed, and he is now taking initiative to work both on classwork and chores at home! But he's in 6th Grade now, and the school he's at currently only goes to 8th. I'm hoping they'll add an option for high school in the next few years, but if not...I am very pleased to know there are alternatives that match our current setup available within close proximity. I have friends that need this type of opportunity for their own children, so I'm passing this on to them too. If only I'd known what was out there when my 21 year old was being pushed through the school system..."No Child Left Behind" just means they're going to end up with many adults that are left without...because they never caught up...

My daughter just graduated from Classical Academy High School after 10 wonderful years with both…read moreCoastal Academy and Classical Academy. I truly cannot say enough positive things about this school. Throughout most of her middle and high school years, my daughter participated in the online program so she could pursue her surfing dreams. Her high school teacher, Deanna Benattia, was an incredible teacher during the last 4 years. She is kind, helpful, caring, patient, and goes above and beyond for my daughter. Thank you, Classical Academy.

Worst school ever. My daughter was in independent study for 2 years. Her teacher Deanna Bennatia,…read morewho was too busy to engage with my daughter. She didn't follow the CDE requirements for IS at all and used her husband's position as assistant principal to protect her position. Instead of guidance we got weekly emails about her weekends with her kids and the weather! What a joke! What does that have to do with my child's education. Furthermore the interactive learning was far from interactive or synchronous! Instead my child watched boring videos from out of state teachers with no way to connect with anyone! I don't know about the other teachers just this teacher and I can't believe she gets paid to waste my child's time with a joke of an education. We tried to switch teachers but that didn't happen so we switched schools! I only wish we switched sooner!

Stay far away from this school!!! I received appalling, disrespectful treatment from the moment I…read moreenrolled my son. Everyone from the receptionist Mrs. Magaña to the principal Mrs. Taitano acts like they're above you and won't give you -- a paying customer -- the time of day. The receptionist was bilingual and since I also was fluent in Spanish, I chose to speak to her in Spanish. She promptly race-shamed me to insist I only speak in English. I'm an American citizen and I didn't appreciate the rude and racist treatment. However, I tolerated the treatment for the sake of my son. Next, my son missed a few assignments and I hired a tutor to help him get caught up. I asked the teacher, Linda Hayek, for his missed assignments via email and she never responded to me. We later asked again for the assignments, involving the principal and she nastily retorted that I was "making up stories" and that I had not asked for the assignments and not received them. I have an electronic paper trail to prove I did ask the teacher for them. My husband was upset at how they were treating me so he responded to the principal in an assertive but respectful tone and we received the most unprofessional reply from the principal. Rather than supporting our son and helping us create a plan to help him succeed, they kicked him out of the school. At some point during this exchange, they said we could leave and receive a full refund, but after they kicked us out they only refunded us our security deposit and said they would give us the rest "later" (yeah, right...). I insisted they keep their word which was also expressed in written form. These people do not care about children's education. They only care about money and a hypocritical form of piety that was absolutely disgraceful. I am a catholic, but I am ashamed to have served at, donated to, and enrolled my son in a school with such ungodly leadership. This was not a one off case either. My friends enrolled her kids here and also received the same rude stuck up attitudes and lack of support. Stay FAR AWAY!

I enrolled my son in the Preschool class half days, a few days a week, to test the waters. My son…read moreloved it so much he was asking to go to school ALL the time so I changed his enrollment to all five days since he was enjoying it so much. My family and I are so pleased at his development and his love and affection for his classmates, teachers and staff. Everyone at the school is so inviting and takes an honest, pure interest in each child and family. We have felt welcomed since the day we took an initial tour to now several months later. We have enjoyed the school and church activities immensely. We hope to be able to keep him enrolled as long as possible. I highly recommend St. Peter's The Apostle Catholic School.

Multiple safety, environmental, and ethical concerns at this school. The building is old and…read morethere is has been a significant RAT infestation for years! This is a health concern, the teachers and all the staff knows it. Rats carry diseases. Multiple bathroom stalls not open due to inoperability, definitely NOT enough for all the students. The principal and vice principal refuse to address these issues. Children SMOKING WEED in the bathroom stalls. There has been issues of SA with multiple MINORS and a substitute TEACHER!!! https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/vista-unified-substitute-teacher-and-coach-accused-of-sexual-offenses-with-13-year-old/3362089/ Substitute teachers are utilized for majority of these classes! Profound RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, Principal and Vice Principal sweep under their rug. Lawsuit waiting to happen!!!! Upper management of the VUSD need to conduct a thorough investigation as to why these matters are going unaddressed! We elect these officials and entrust that the teachers, principals, and vice principals will do their job accordingly! Choose a better school!

THIS SCHOOLS AM-PM PROGRAM HAS DOWNGRADED. My kid has been going to am-pm (formally known as Ases)…read moreand she was always happy when she came home and would tell me about what she was doing at ases. She would run around with her friends and play on campus. Now, ever since Am-Pm has been put in place, she complains about the staff being rude and not having as much fun and as many opportunities as they did last year. They can't even listen to music anymore? It's just insane.

There is a limit to the amount of student that attend Guajome park. So that means less students in…read morea class room, approx. 19 or less. In a public school your looking at 40 or more in a class room. To me this says that my child is going to be in a better learning environment a quieter one. More one on one with the teacher. Less disruptive students. This makes my child more accountable for his actions and his learning!

This school allows students to bully. There is no accountability. Principal would not return my…read morecall when my child was harassed by other students.

I'm so happy with Empresa the staff and teachers are so helpful and kind. Love that they have music…read moreand art. I have a first grader and a 5 grader both love this school. Thank you Empresa for all you do. EMPRESA ROCKS!!

We love Empresa elementary. Great system, music program, and amazing g teachers. My son is…read morefinishing TK this year and we couldn't ask for a better teacher than his teacher. We love their sports, painting, AP/PM program and teachers. We also hear a lot of amazing stories from other parents. We only hope Empresa can get its Chess Club back soon. Thank you all for the amazing job you do with all the children!