Amazing summer camp programs! Amazing staff. Highly suggest. Great variety of classes (art/science/coding/chess/reading were our favs)

My family has been at Del Mar Pines for 8 years now. The small environment not only gives the children a very small student to teacher ratio (especially for reading and math) but it also allows the school to pivot and adjust to any obstacle. DMP was the first school to go online during the pandemic and is very good at listening to the parents' voices. Given the chance, I would choose the school over and over again. read more

Both our kids have attended Del Mar Pines School since kindergarten and now our oldest is entering 6th grade. Like many families in Carmel Valley, we have had the benefit of being able to choose either a top public school or DMP, and we return year after year. On the surface, it may seem that private schools do not necessarily guarantee an amazing educational experience, but in times of crisis or challenges, that is where a school like DMP stands above the rest. The teachers, the staff and director genuinely care about the kids - their health, emotional wellbeing and academic acumen. The DMP community is warm and nurturing and we cannot say enough about the environment and dedication this school has for our kids. From the diverse curriculum to the excellence in teaching, the value of the experience is priceless. Our kids are not just learning, they are thriving - as students and as global citizens. We hope you will consider DMP for your children, it is quite a special place that words cannot begin to convey. read more

Del Mar Pines has Covid FATIGUE!! We receive an email from the principal that reads: "Because the majority of our TEACHERS will be either fully vaccinated or close to it" school will be open right after spring break instead of doing a week of remote like public schools. Thank god the "majority" TEACHERS are partially vaccinated, FORGET US PARENTS and the students who aren't able to be vaccinated! Such consideration! Next thing it will be that teachers won't have to wear masks because they are vaccinated. The students USED to have to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer every time they left and re-entered the classroom. This is NO longer the case. Nor is any sort of social distancing. See for yourself on all the pictures posted to social media accounts like Instagram/Facebook where students and staff are on top of each other in classrooms. Parents are no longer notified when there are Covid positive students in other classes at DMP. Instead, we notice a whole class is absent for weeks. McCord comes across as arrogant, she always know best about Covid or anything else pertaining to your child. Just like she assumed Covid wouldn't come to DMP. Newsflash, It did right at the beginning of the school year. Not surprising as parents and teachers continue life as usual go on vacation, have sleepovers, play dates, etc. McCords email come across as pushy and barely provided any time to register students. Her email pointed out that if you don't put down the deposit right away, you will lose your spot to the "50 people on the waitlist!" No loyalty and tuition increase due to demand. Which brings me to the DMP Foundation. Basically EVERYTHING upgraded at the school has been paid for by the PARENTS, not the school! Nothing has come out of their pocket. The foundation money is raised from all of the parents that are asked to donate at the beginning and end of the year. The more money you donate, the more your voice will be heard. read more

I have never written a yelp review before, but I feel compelled to do so because I feel so strongly about the excellent education that Del Mar Pines (DMP) provides. When looking for a school for our son (now a kindergartener), we wanted to find a place that would provide a loving and nurturing environment, a place that would not only challenge him academically, but also provide him with unique learning experiences in which he would grow on a personal level, and DMP has done just that. While I didn't fully realize it when we enrolled, the small school environment at DMP allows for such a wonderful community feeling. I was surprised to see the sweet interaction between my kindergartener and some sixth grade boys at a school outing within the first month of school. The sixth graders were so kind when interacting with him. I later learned that it is common for kids in different grade levels to know each other and comfortably interact with one another. The buddy program, which exists between the sixth graders and the kindergarteners, fosters this type of warm relationship. In addition to the kids developing close relationships with one another, it is comforting knowing that the staff and faculty members know each and every student on the DMP campus. If you were to walk onto campus on a typical day, you would see Marci McCord (Director) and Ray Fausel (Director of Teaching and Learning) out on the playground interacting with the students. With all of the important initiatives and programs that the administrators are working on, they still find the time on a daily basis to be present and involved in the true life of the school. Impressive! I also want to mention the incredible and rich learning opportunities that DMP provides the students. From Science Discovery Day to Fine Arts Day, to the holiday feast shared at Thanksgiving, to the field trips and engaging daily lessons in the classrooms, the DMP students get a wealth of wonderful hands-on learning experiences. When my son comes home from school, I am always surprised to hear about the many things he has learned. He is routinely excited to share a tidbit from his day. He may, for example, recite a poem by a famous author, sing a cute song, or explain what he learned about patriotic symbols or holidays around the world. In addition, DMP also provides students with opportunities to be kids and just have fun! The movie night at the beginning of the year, the Halloween festival, and crazy hair day are just a few examples of this. Last but certainly not least, the DMP teachers are second to none. They are exceptional teachers who are experienced, knowledgeable, professional, and kind. They take the time to get to know each student extremely well, understand each student on a personal level, and appreciate each student's gifts. Should a concern arise, they are more than willing to answer questions and do so in a very compassionate way. Our family could not be happier with the DMP experience. DMP is a warm and loving community that provides a wonderful place for students to learn and grow into knowledgeable, thoughtful, kind, and well-rounded individuals. We are grateful to be a part of this incredible community. read more

My daughter was more than prepared for middle school coming from Del Mar Pines. She graduated this year and was so sad to leave this small school community. My son also loves this school and will do anything for the awesome teachers who love and support him everyday. read more

Everything about the school is great. Our daughter looks forward to going and has a great attitude about school because of DMP. They focus on getting the kids to take responsibility for their own learning which is fantastic. read more

My Daughter is in DMP and she really enjoys the school everyday. We researched many schools and we are happy with our choice. DMP is a small size school and we feel it's like a big family. My daughter was a shy girl and she got a lot of improvement by interacting with the teachers and her sweet sixth grade buddy. DMP creates a loving and nurturing environment for my kid. The Staff is incredible and very supportive. They paid attention to what we talked about our kid and always gave prompt and useful suggestions. During the Covid-19 lockdown period the staff still worked very hard to provide high quality online education. Highly recommend for such a nice and neat school! read more

We researched so many schools and after a very exhaustive search we chose DMP. We definitely made the right decision. My son's teachers are so attentive and nurturing. The school is safe, small and intimate and very supportive. We love the staff and we feel like we joined a family. Students are engaged and taught in a fun instructive way. My son loves his new school and asked if he could go to school on the weekends too!!! read more

Our daughter recently completed the 6th Grade at Del Mar Pines. She transferred from another school and started in the 3rd Grade. I only wish we had known of this school earlier as we would have had her attend from kindergarten. She loved (loves) this school. As soon as she began in 3rd grade, we noticed that everything started improving - math, spelling, reading, writing, etc. The school has exceptional academics in a very warm and caring environment. It is a real community. My daughter always felt cared for and protected. She learned core values of friendship, respect, good character, moral integrity. In addition, the art and music curriculum is first class. The teachers are all outstanding and very involved with their students. We found the communication very open - if we had any questions or concerns, the teachers and administrators were always available. She was so sad to leave but we know she is very well prepared for the challenges that lay ahead in middle school. We will never forget our time at Del Mar Pines. I think she made many lifelong friends. I do recommend this school to everyone. If you get the chance, send your children there. You will not be disappointed. read more

My daughter transitioned from a local public school to a private school because I wanted a learning environment with more personal attention and individual guidance. To start all the director, teachers and staff at this school are super friendly and supportive. We had several meetings with teachers to discuss which areas we felt were important for my daughter. Her teachers (especially the 5th grade teachers) helped develop learning strategies and periodically gave me updates on her progress. I would definitely recommend this school if you want a small, supportive, and empowering elementary school. read more

I picked Del Mar Pines for my son in Kindergarten, and he is now getting ready to start 4th grade. I couldn't be happier with his experience! Del Mar Pines has individualized his instruction from day 1, allowing him to have a richer elementary experience than he would have had in public school. The staff is exceptional and very in touch with my child's needs, but what really is surprising is that the kids are universally so very conscientious and nice. Having the kids move up together as a class has enabled them to form deep bonds, and they are all like brothers and sisters. Enrolling our son at Del Mar Pines is the best decision that we could have made for our child's educational success! read more

We have been so impressed with everything about this wonderful school. Del Mar Pines seems to strike the all important balance between warmth and strong academics. Our daughter has blossomed and we attribute that to the low teacher/student ratio, the warm, caring atmosphere, and the philosophy of teaching to each student. The staff truly care about each student and their families and we have been welcomed with open arms into the parent community. Earlier in the year there was a student talent show in which any student was welcome to participate. There were some very talented kids and some not as talented kids- however, the student audience never acted like they were bored or unimpressed. In fact, when a preformer was getting nervous or scared, the kids would start clapping to the music or waving their arms in time with the beat in order to encourage and support the child performing. As a parent, it was amazing to watch, particularly because the encouragement was strictly student led. Our daughter came home lit up because a lot of "older kids" came up to her afterwards and told her what a wonderful job she had done. These kids are being taught a sense of community that you just can't get anywhere. The 6th grade/kindergarten and 5th grade/1st grade buddy program seems to integrate the school as a whole, so the upper grade students know and care about the little ones. We have been very impressed with the children we have met who have come through this school which says something about both the school, and the families it attracts. It really seems as though the school brings out the best in each student. My husband and I would recommend this school without hesitation and we look forward to our younger children starting here. read more

Our child just finished Kindergarden at Del Mar Pines (DMP). This school is everything a parent could wish for and more. We started the school year at a Blue Ribbon public school with very high test scores and great reviews. We were so unhappy with what we saw at the public school that we switched mid Fall to DMP. Marci McCord, the Director, is honest, caring and really has the best interest of the school and its students at heart. From the moment we toured the school, we immediately saw the difference and knew this was the place for our child. First, our child was not going to be part of the "masses". There are only 150 students K-6. There is no way your child will fall through the cracks. The school itself is small, clean and has a warm and loving environment. The Kindergarden teachers are superb. Exactly what you would expect. They are loving, warm, open to parental questions. Class size is small. Two teachers per 20 students. Technology is a huge part of the school. In Kinder, each of the students has their own iPad to be used during technology time. The curriculum is above average and challenging. There is plenty of individualized instruction. Our child transitioned very well and flourished. Art, Spanish and PE are part of the normal curriculum. The after-school care is wonderful. Our child begs to go and spend time there. There is a wide variety of enrichment programs available. Mandarin, Chess, Mad Science, Lego Building, Cheer etc. The older kids are so polished and polite. Many of the graduates go on to top tier schools such as Pacific Ridge, Francis Parker and Bishops. Each Kindergardener and 1st grade student have 6th and 5th grade "buddies". The bond that is formed with their Buddy is amazing to watch. The children look up to the Buddies and the Buddies look out for them. This program teaches the invaluable lesson of friendships and responsibility. Finally, the parental community is fantastic. You really get to know the other families well and the sense of community is such a positive. Since our child stared mid-year, we were a little apprehensive. The entire DMP community welcomed us with open arms. I highly recommend DMP to any parent searching for a school. We count our blessings daily that we found this school. read more

We have be associated with Del Mar Pines School since 1994 when my oldest daughter started Kindergarden. Currently, my youngest son is a 4th grader and then and now there has always been a consistancy in the quality of education and the sense of community within the students, parents and staff. Having a child that has already graduated from Del Mar Pines School I have been able to see how her educational foundation, fostered creativity and the encouragement of moral from her 7 years at the school helped her not only during her entire academic experience but also now in her professional career. I highly recommend this school is you are looking for a nuturing enviroment that encourges confidence, creativity and academic excellence for your child. read more

We have two boys at Del Mar Pines and LOVE the school. There are so many wonderful things about the school and I want to highlight a few things for this review: (1) The school is small with 154 children and one class per grade. Class sizes are between 20-22 kids per class. Each class has 2 teachers. Because the school is small, there is a real sense of family on campus. School staff greet each kid by his/her name and you really get a sense that they know, understand and really appreciate your child. The kids know this and are so comfortable and confident at school. (2) At the start of every school year, kids are evaluated and then placed in groups based on their ability. Each group consists of between 4-6 kids and groups get individualized instruction in both language arts and math. Groups are fluid and kids can move up and down groups from year to year. This ensures that every kid in class is challenged to do their very best. So you have instances kids are being instructed on and are working 1-2 grades ahead in math and thriving. This ability grouping is something that Del Mar Pines has been doing for a long time and that is only now gaining favor in some classrooms (see http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/10/education/grouping-students-by-ability-regains-favor-with-educators.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0) (3) You cannot get a better introduction to the school than Kindergarten and you cannot ask for better Kindergarten teachers than Sandy Connolly and Laura Murphy. They bring a unique combination of energy, excitement and love to the Kindergarten classroom. The kids explore all kinds of topics that interest them from whales, praying mantises and Morse Code to name a few. iPads and computers are integrated into almost everything kids do in the classroom. The kids are sponges in this class, soaking things up. The kids make a smooth transition to 1st Grade and Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Poyhonen do a fantastic job getting them ready for the academic and social rigors of the higher elementary years. (4) We love the fact that our 5th Grader is part of Student Leadership. Student Leaders (all 4th-6th Graders) meetup before school every other week. They set goals for themselves and also collaboratively figure out ways in which they can help the school and also help the larger community around them. Student Leadership is headed by a couple of very dynamic teachers in the school - Ms. Myers and Ms. Manthe. (5) School leadership and administration have an open door policy when it comes to communicating with parents. Marci McCord is very accessible to parents and you know that she will listen to you. We love the fact that she is completely open, honest and very pragmatic in the running of the school. Our family loves Del Mar Pines and I am so very thankful to the leadership and staff for nurturing our two boys. I would encourage parents to come and visit the school and check out for themselves all the wonderful things the school has to offer. read more