Our family has been at Jefferson for three years, and we've had a wonderful experience. Our kids…read moreare genuinely excited about what they're learning and come home talking about projects, books, art, dance, and garden time. The teachers are warm, respectful, and motivating. They care about students as whole people and do a great job supporting both academic growth and social-emotional development. The campus feels safe, inclusive, and well-run. We've also felt truly welcomed as a family. Communication is strong, and there are lots of ways to be involved. Jefferson has a real sense of community, and we feel lucky to be part of it.

If you are looking for a school that offers support and cares about your kids needs this is not the…read moreschool for you. They have made my kindergarteners school year there extremely hard. The front desk person Blanca Loya is very unprofessional and extremely rude. As a parent pleading for support and getting passive aggressiveness in return in front of my son is just unacceptable. I am not the only person that has experienced such insensitivity from her. I blurred out some context to protect the other parent's privacy.

We attended Raquel Borras' Red Carpet Premiere for her documentary "I Hear You, Gen Z!" on Thursday…read moreevening. What a beautiful high school campus. An intimate reception was held upstairs on the outdoor patio. Plenty of seating and the layout was very welcoming. The film screening was shown in the theatre. There was a short walk between the two spaces. The grounds were well maintained and the restrooms were close proximity to the theatre. I'll be sure to check out future events at this venue.

The facility is beautiful. Most of the teachers are really good. The administration does not care…read moreabout you. Sometimes they respond to emails and sometimes they don't. The head of the administration is a political figure. If you're Jewish, the school does not care about you. They don't care whether you stay or you go. They don't care about anti-Semitic incidents on campus. Anti-Israel is not anti-Jewish for them. You will just yell into the void when bad things happen. There is zero accountability. I'm feeling very poorly about a school I was very excited to have my child join. If you're left leaning and hate Jews, this is the right place for you.

The challenges and experiences our child enjoys are experiences that bond friends for life and…read morebuild positive outlook that helps the children to excel to their highest as well as learn German! He has a high regard for his classmates, teachers, & SAY instructors. His vocabulary has grown exponentially since starting as well as as his physical development has been on track! All this culminates to his ability to have self control for longer stretches. The classmates he has are all supportively each other. The jobs the teachers give the children help each focus or stay engaged in each's particular way. Let's just say We are Ecstatic for our son to be at AEA!

We moved here recently and we ultimately decided this would be the best place for my TKer and 5th…read moregrader. My TKer within the first 2 weeks, got bit so hard by a classmate on the face that it left a mark for 7 days. All because he was cleaning up like he was told to do and the other kid didn't like my TKer touching a toy that he previously played with? I thought you know give them the benefit of the doubt, although I feel as if both backs shouldn't have been turned during this interaction and less than 20 kids in this class with 2 teachers someone should have gotten between the child trying to attack mine. Well, fast forward 2 weeks and now my child is sobbing about how much he doesn't want to go to school because nobody will play with him. I talk to the co teacher in the morning about this and her reasoning is to blame my child because he doesn't know personal space...he's 4...there was no empathy there was only blaming. As for my 5th grader, her teacher was a NIGHTMARE this was the most miserable human I've ever seen in my life. We were told on the first day of school that her teacher would meet us in the morning to introduce herself and meet my child. So we're waiting for the teacher to show up in the morning and when she finally does she walks right past us, glances at us, and then ignores us. So I walk up and introduce my child and myself since she obviously wasn't going to. She says hi and that's about it. No enthusiasm, no warm welcome, just an utter miserable human of a teacher. Within a week of my child being in her class she's already messaged me twice about my child's not being at grade level in math. Obviously this is a big change for my child, my 5th grader just moved and is nervous. I tell her my child was close to end of year grade level for math the year prior, and that we were doing a lot at home to support her. I'm then asked if she has a 504 or IEP because she truly thought my child knew nothing! Like what a terrible assumption to make of someone after a week? I tell her no and that my child is being actively helped at home as well and to just give her time to adjust. Anyways, for the remainder of the time we're there any questions I have about my child's learning anything at all about homework, she doesn't respond to me or my child's father. They kept sending emails about how my 5th graders class needed a room parent and after a few weeks of nobody signing up I figure I can volunteer my time, I'm a very involved parent and it will help me get integrated in the school community. I'm told as room parent to reach out to my child's teacher and just let them know I'll be room parent and ask if they need help with anything and if she could send me a list or link of the things she likes/wants for classroom gifts like for her birthday and Christmas and whatnot. I didn't receive a reply it's more radio silence. She instead contacts PTA and gives her list to them. Ok odd...what weird childish behavior. My 5th grader is now coming home in tears. Telling me her teachers yell a lot and like they're not guiding her, but getting mad that she doesn't know their process (it's her first year here!) Then she tells me her teacher enters her room most mornings not addressing the class, but on her phone and doesn't acknowledge them. Wow no cellphone or smart watch policy for children but teachers get to just sit on their phone all day, great! They have different teachers for math. So of course I reach out to the math teacher letting them know my child keeps forgetting her math homework at school and if they could please ensure she has all the work she missed the past few days so we can complete and return to school. Luckily, he responds and ensures me he can do that. My child comes home and has one paper she already did... I ask her where her homework is and she said that's all that was given. At this point I'm frustrated, I've done everything on my end to ensure my child is bringing home her homework but I can only do so much. I let it go and say ok if that's all they give you idk I've spoken to the teacher at this point, to my child, reminding her to bring it home every morning at drop off. I have done everything on my end. Then 2 weeks later I get a message from math teacher! Guess what about? Yep, my child is missing homework (no duh) and that I the parent need to ensure she's doing it at home and bringing it back and really "hound" her. Did our conversation two week prior not compute? Does anybody at this school comprehend what communication actually is???? Obviously not. The cherry on top? I'm contacted by other room parents that the school cut funding for 5th grade field trips and somehow we need to try to raise 15k so the kids don't miss out. What a joke! Curious as to why this was the part they felt they needed to cut in funding, looks like someone needs a pay cut! This has by far been the worst school my children have ever attended and I'm so happy I pulled them out!

Silver Gate Elementary is a wonderful school! It is inconspicuously placed in the middle of a…read moreresidential area right between Ocean Beach and Point Loma. At one time when my son was younger, it was a science magnet school but I don't think it is anymore. My brothers and I are all alumni of Silver Gate so of course, there will be a soft spot in my heart for this school. I haven't been to Silver Gate in a while but I dropped my neighbor's daughter off there for school not too long ago. The campus is still the same. The big auditorium next to the cafeteria; the large play field sandwiched right in the middle of the school. The Kindergarten located right above it all and the very convenient drive-thru alley that goes right down the side of the school. That alley is perfectly adapted for parents to just cruise down and drop their kids off at the end. No hassles with traffic or crosswalks or school cops! Simple and clean. As for the academics of Silver Gate, I think the school is just a few points behind nearby Sunset View Elementary School when it comes to test scores. I read that it is among the few public elementary schools in California to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10. I also know there is a lot of community spirit around the school. The parents are very supportive and turn out in large numbers for school events.Silver Gate Elementary School hosted a inaugural Holiday Tree Sale on Dec. 4 of last year to raise money for the Silver Gate Foundation. The Silver Gate website is full of notices for jog-a-thons, bake sales, restaurant fund-raisers, and silent auctions-all to raise money and benefit the school. With the School Choices program that San Diego Unified allows parents to take part in, there is absolutely no reason that any parent should shy away from placing their children in the best possible educational environment. Even if you are not as prosperous economically as some of the fine folks whose kids go to Silver Gate, it is not a snobby school by any means of the imagination. 5 YELP STARS (and not just cuz I went there!)

It's universally felt by students, parents, and staff, "School is Great at Silver Gate." If you…read morelive in Point Loma, do your best to choice into this wonderful school. You and your kids will feel an immediate sense of community and school pride. The education is way better than I expected from the public school system. The parental fundraising provides an enhanced computer, science, PE program, plus a brand new sports field. The after-school activities are varied (Spanish, sports, STEM, etc). There is also after-school "Character Builders" program hosted by YMCA until 6pm. My one and only complaint is that the 7:40am is too early of a start for my family-this originally had me more interested in Sunset View for the 9am start time, but now that we feel the love of Silver Gate, we would never switch schools.

I do NOT like this school. I went here a couple of years ago and let me start off with talking…read moreabout the primetime staff. The old supervisor sucked balls and was a very sh1tty person she would always yell at kids and not care about them. The supervisor would always make up lies about children and even talk sh1t about them when all of them left which is why I had to drop out because of how careless they were to kids. Let me also talk about the music teacher she was racist,disrespectful and judged kids about how they would play with certain instruments that she provided us the p.e teacher is also a very careless person and I don't not like her at all she was very very bratty and had a bad attitude towards kids?

I've had 2 children attend McKinley Elementary School. One just graduated from there and one is…read moreentering 3rd grade. This school has been phenomenal and has gone above and beyond. We have experienced different teachers year, and each one has been more than exceptional. They have been absolutely lovely, caring, thoughtful, smart, and have the best interest of our kids, their classmates, and even their community in mind. They have been taught not only the basic academics, but also how to be a good human in this crazy world, and how to lean on community and their peers to grow and become educated. I have felt like the teachers have always kept the individual student in mind, and advocated it on their behalf for all of their needs. The school, the teachers, the staff, down to the janitors....Absolutely lovely. The community that is involved at Mckinley Elementry school is the absolute best. There is a constant fundraising happening by the parents and community to support Mckinley's vast programs. The jog-a-thon, Sono Fest, the Gala, etc. Programs like music, theater dance for, art, and Spanish, our kids have been getting a very well rounded experiences in elementary school.

Wonderful school! The best elementary school, in my opinion, that you can find in CA…read more The staff is very nice, good learning enviroment.

Some of the teachers at this school aren't the greatest. They are understaffed during recess and I…read morewitness many kids running at high speeds on the concrete without anyone stepping in. I witness one kid running at full speed and tackling another girl that was running before him at full speed also. Than after that I witness another kid running so fast he fell. He than got up and did the same thing over again. Classes are also packed here compared to other schools, so although its a known as a great school, when classes are packed with children, there's not much individual time for every student.

Not only does my child love his school but so do I. High Tech Explorer's mission is to develop…read morecritical thinkers who are caring, confident and lifelong learners in a diverse community that is sensitive to the needs of each child. And I have no doubt that they stand by their motto. Class sizes are small as is the student population as a whole. They support my sons learning who has an IEP. They also provide social and emotional support which includes tools and language from Social Thinking and The Zone regulations. His school follows a model of inclusion, which research shows has significant benefits for children with disabilities. The staff and school is amazing.

Great alternative to traditional public & private education!read more

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.

Our first school!A very good school!The best team!With a big heart, the director loves the children…read moreas his own)We love this school very much and thank you all.

Yay FREE 2-hour parking for Little Italy market shoppers. You get a ticket when you drive in, your…read moretime circled to the nearest 1/4 hour. And if you linger around, just $2/hour thereafter. Super convenient and an easy stroll 2 blocks to the market. If I'm ever around on Saturdays, I will definitely stop by for the weekly farmers market.

My children have been attending here since gradeschool up to highschool. They have truly thrived at…read morethis school. The environment is supportive, and the staff genuinely care about each student's well-being and growth. Over time, I've seen my kids develop not only academically but also in their individual talents and skills. The school offers a well-rounded experience that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and confidence. We are very grateful to be part of this community.

Distinct and creative perspectives of artistic expression all the students have contributed greatly…read moretowards this project. Bravo teachers!!!