Our children attended TCPS from 4th through 8th grade, and we highly recommend the school for its unwavering commitment to putting children first. We had not originally planned to send our children to private school, but the challenges of pandemic-era remote learning at our highly rated public school led us to explore smaller, independent-school alternatives. That experience showed us how important a relationship-based learning environment is for helping students feel engaged, challenged, and supported. We are grateful for the wonderful faculty and staff and the positive effect they have had not only on our children's love for learning but also their personal and social-emotional growth. From the outside, TCPS may not appear to be a top-rated school, but inside it is filled with warmth, kindness, respect, engaging learning experiences, and strong family involvement. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found TCPS. read more

I moved to San Diego from Los Angeles a couple of years ago and looking for a similar, small private school to enroll my 6th grade daughter in. After touring the school and speaking with several staff members, I was comfortable enrolling her and she just finished her 7th grade year. I am very happy with how this school takes pride in community, connection, and belonging. The teachers are very personable and take their time understanding my daughter's goals, strengths, and opportunities to grow. I recommend this school 100%! read more

When we first started looking at elementary schools, we were living in Hillcrest and zoned for Alice 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. read more

We began our 5th grade year last year at TCPS and it has been nothing short of amazing. Every child deserves a small, attentive, and warm school experience and TCPS is that place. Looking back, I wish we have joined sooner. We are lucky that we have this gem in our Clairemont neighborhood. read more

I am beyond angry with The Child's Primary. My child was repeatedly harassed by another donny Kim a teacher, 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. read more

My son just completed his kindergarten year at The Child's Primary School (TCPS), and we couldn't be happier with the experience. Before starting TCPS, he attended a wonderful Montessori school that emphasized learning in small, focused classes. As we searched for an elementary school, we wanted a place that would continue nurturing his development in these formative years--with small class sizes and a warm, engaging environment. TCPS was the perfect fit. His class had only 11 students, which meant he received plenty of personalized attention from a fantastic teacher. Every teacher and staff member we encountered was genuinely caring, supportive, and kind. The curriculum was strong, and under his teacher's guidance, my son grew tremendously both academically and socially during the year. Best of all, I've never seen a school where the students were so genuinely happy to go each day. TCPS regularly organizes ambitious and exciting events that involve the entire student body, faculty, and staff. Every child I saw there seemed to be having a great time, and the joy was truly infectious. Parents were also actively involved in the school, creating a sense of community that felt like an extended family. We are so glad we chose TCPS for our son, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any family considering it for their child. read more

My daughter just graduated 8th grade from TCPS. She started here in 6th grade, so she was here for the full middle school experience. This small but mighty school gave my daughter the tools and skills she needed to attend one of the top private high schools in SD county. I understand as a parent that choosing a middle school with small class sizes limits options for friends, but the advantages and opportunities far outweigh the size. My daughter was valued, seen and respected by staff. My daughter had limited interactions with young children before this school but during her time here they integrated activities with young children and my daughter learned she actually enjoys spending time with younger children and she's really good with them, something we would never had known prior to attending TCPS. The activities, projects and discussions are well thought out and interesting. There are lots of opportunities to integrate art in the classroom. I can't say enough wonderful things about this school, I'm so grateful my daughter spent her middle school years here. She is leaving more confident, using her voice more and her leadership skills have improved tremendously. The 3 years spent at this school have given her lifelong skills that will improve her life and those around her. Thank you TCPS for a wonderful 3 years. read more

There are no words to describe how much we LOVE TCPS!! When we first began searching for schools for our daughter, we weren't sure what we were looking for. TCPS answered all of our questions that we didn't even know we had. There is a warm and nurturing presence from the moment you step onto campus. My daughter is thriving and loves going to school. The social emotional support she has received is turning her into the kindest human with a thirst for learning. I just wish we could stay at TCPS through high school! read more

We moved our child from an area public school following 6th grade to The Child's Primary School for 7th grade, with 8th grade to follow. What a world of difference! I'm not sure where to begin, but suffice it to say that the public school operated more like a poor babysitting service with classes full of disruptions making it difficult for our kid to focus and learn. The move to TCPS has been fantastic. Our child is challenged to do their best by teachers who care, and who can dedicate time to them because class sizes are so small. For example, there are (I believe) only ten 7th graders in the entire school. Consequently, TCPS is a place where every student matters. Our child has made a good number of friends as well, and their attitude towards homework (of which there is plenty) has done a 180 degree turn from hating it to embracing it as something which helps them get ahead and learn more. The very nature of TCPS is that they seek to be understanding of each student and that's reflected from the top administrators to the teachers. We couldn't ask for a better group of people or better results. Also, while no private school is inexpensive, TCPS costs a fraction of some of the well-known private schools in San Diego like Francis Parker and La Jolla Country Day. So it's a great value in addition to being a great school. As 7th grade winds down, we're looking forward to our child's 8th grade year at TCPS! read more

We are so thankful we found The Child's Primary School and that it is so close to home in Clairemont. Our daughter started kindergarten there this year and it has been a wonderful experience. The staff are all so amazing, caring, excellent at what they do and adored by the kids. I'm amazed every day how excited our daughter is to go to school. The kindergarten curriculum is age appropriate, creative, fun and still challenging, with a big focus on reading, and helping students to learn to love reading and love learning overall, which I love. read more

We were so lucky to find TCPS after my son had a really difficult time at our local school, Holmes Elementary. He started there in Kindergarten, and while the school is highly rated, there were just so many problems in his classroom of ~30 students. After one month, the teacher had lost her voice from yelling so much to try and keep the kids in line, and my son began blaming himself for it even though he was well-behaved. There were multiple incidents with hitting, name calling, and acting out in the classroom. We decided to look for a different school mid-year, and stumbled across TCPS nearby. It is such a gem. The minute you walk-in, you can tell that it is such a tightknit community where everyone knows you and cares about you. Classes are very small (10-12 kids or under), there is a ton of flexibility to cater to different students' needs, and my son has excelled so rapidly in reading and math without any need for excessive worksheets or rote memorization. I remember on my first tour, I walked into a first grade classroom where all the kids were reading quietly in a comfortable place of their own choosing. It felt like an oasis of calm after the chaos of public school - a place where the teacher knew everyone deeply and all the kids could be themselves. What a gift to have such a place for our family!! read more

My kids get excited to go to school, run to see their friends and actively tell me something about their day when I pick them up. And what I like most about the school is the sense of partnership I have from the staff and teachers. They know my kids, talk with me about any concerns and share with me the delightful progress they've made. There's the feeling that we are working together to help develop the best students outcomes. read more

My two boys are on their 3rd year at TCPS. One is in 6th and one is in 8th. Now that we have been there 3 years I feel I can give you a more comprehensive review of the school. We moved from out of town and my kids had always gone to a small school and the smaller classroom sizes had really worked for them. I was excited to find the smaller class sizes in TCPS so we took a tour. When you first approach the school it doesn't compare to many of the fancy state of the art private schools throughout San Diego but don't let that discourage you. What you will find walking through the halls are colorful peices of artwork and creative displays brightening up the corridors between the happy kids walking past you. The energy is palpable in a good way. What I have found in these past few years is that the teachers and staff actually like eachother, have fun together and work as a team. They communicate very well to us parents and to the students. I have never sent out an email to where I didn't get a quick yet thoughtful response. If there is an issue, no matter how small, it is handled appropriatly and in a timely manner. I have no doubt that Donny Kim's (Head of School) leadership plays a big role in this. Besides being kind and funny, I truly beleive he makes decisions based on what is best for the students. In turn, the students respect and love him and so do us parents. You might see him in the yard playing wall ball with the students and breaking a sweat! I honestly can't think of a teacher or staff member that I don't love. From the front desk, to admissions, to accounting, to all the wonderful teachers; TCPS has a great thing going and we are grateful to be there. read more

Although we are still a fairly new TCPS family, I have so many wonderful things to say about The Child Primary School already. I was a bit nervous starting a new middle school on my behalf of my daughter but that nervousness went away as I started to experience TCPS. When the school talks about community, they really mean it. From the beginning, everyone has been so nice and welcoming and TCPS parents always say to me "You made a good decision. We have been happy here for x number of years." Some of them started since kindergarten, while others joined in 6th grade. It is also very evident that TCPS offers a quality education. Their teachers really care about their students, and they also teach in fun way. I will never forget when my daughter came home to tell me about a nice debate she had with her classmates on whether pineapple should be added to pizza. There is no right or wrong answer. It's a preference question but what I liked about the exercise was that no matter which side you were on, it was a creative way for my daughter to learn about forming her own opinion and her ability to back up her opinion. Socially, my daughter is thriving as well. She has become friends with many of her classmates but she also made friends with children from the other grades. It's a small school, so making friends in other grades is encouraged. Overall, although early, we have been very happy with TCPS. For this reason, I highly recommend TCPS to other families looking to join a wonderful community with a quality education. read more

They truely foster a lifelong love of learning. I have 4 kids, all with unique personalities, challenges and skills. My 2 children that are currently attending have been inspired to seek knowledge and grow as kind humans while at TCPS. The connections with teachers, project based learning DONE RIGHT, and encouragement to achieve their personal best is beyond any expectation I had. I can't put into words everything that TCPS has done for my children and our family in the short time they have been attending, life changing is an understatement. If you are even contemplating making a change, take a tour at TCPS. You will feel the love, inspiration, and fun as soon as you walk through a classroom! read more

This little school changed our lives. That might seem dramatic, but it is true. I am a public school advocate through and through, and I work in education. I had very mixed feelings about pursuing private education for my children, but after trying both public and charter schools, something had to change. Our hope was to get away from an environment where kids were constantly being screamed at, injuring each other, watching YouTube (with ads!?) to buy time during the day, being fed candy by teachers as bribes, and developing concerning coping behaviors in response to the stressful school environment. Suffice it to say, our expectations were, I think, fairly basic but apparently beyond what San Diego Unified could offer in our area. When we joined TCPS, it blew us away. This school does not meet expectations, they far exceed them and truly set a new bar. They don't just have reasonable behavioral expectations, they also provide consistency, modeling, and supportive framework to help children grow in their social emotional development. They don't just have reasonable homework practices, they will also make modifications to support different needs. They don't just present an age appropriate curriculum, the teachers actually TEACH during class - not by mindlessly handing kids tablets or worksheets, but by working individually with the students and helping them learn to work productively in groups. They use technology in a limited way (for young kids), and only in a way that supports their learning. The communication from the teachers and front desk staff has been phenomenal - they are quick to notify parents of any accident, sickness, or mishap, and they neither over- nor under-react to normal challenges of childhood (e.g., if your kid decides to test boundaries, you can be confident they will respond in an appropriate and helpful way, setting a clear boundary but not being needlessly punitive). The fact that this school is K-8 is so wonderful - not only because kids get to stay at this wonderful place for so long, but because the school mixes the ages for certain activities (e.g. Big Event week) in a way that brings out the best in all of them. The little ones look up to the older kids, and the older kids look out for and rise to the occasion of setting an example for the young ones. When you pick up your child at the end of the day, you can just feel the soul of the place - the playground is brimming with joyful shouts, little feet scrambling up and down the playground, explorers on "fairy hill", kids engrossed in ball games, and children laughing and running in playful exuberance. The faculty and staff are all outside warmly greeting the families, keeping a watchful eye on the kids, and connecting with parents on any goings-on or updates that need to be addressed. It is just such a caring and warm environment, we feel so lucky that our family landed here. This school is the real deal - they know what they're doing. Every faculty and staff member we have encountered here is just so good at what they do. I am so disheartened that I could not say the same about any of our previous schools, but I am endlessly grateful to have found TCPS, which truly nurtures both academic and social-emotional development. read more

Wonderful School and Community. My oldest will be heading into her third year of school here and she loves it. They both do, we have two little's attending and have had the best experience. We are looking forward to many more years. read more

We are very thankful to have found TCPS. All four of my children are attending the school now and are very happy. Each of my kids has outstanding teachers that show patience, kindness, and are pushing them to achieve. When touring the school you could see and feel how happy all of the students and teachers are. Now that my kids attend, all of them are excited to go to school each day. With four kids I have different personalities and levels of academic interest, I can say each child's needs are being meet, challenged, and supported. This is a great place! read more

My husband and I have been talking about the many gifts TCPS offers and beyond the small class academic support, another gift was that Jacob learned to connect and become friends with his classmates through supportive group/team projects in and out of the classroom. He has grown tremendously through his transitional 5th/6th grade years.... He's learned to work independently, take more responsibility for assignments, due dates and planning but even more importantly his confidence in and outside the classroom has growth exponentially. His interest to learn and grow as a life long learner has flourished. We feel so fortunate we found TCPS !! Seriously a jewel of a school and best thing we ever did when we were struggling to find a fit for Jacob. We never imagined the two years would put him on a path to develop as much as he has.  With all our gratitude to you and the staff at TCPS. read more

"Best First Day Ever!" is how my son described TCPS's welcome to him this Fall. He and his older brother love TCPS and the community of families there. The teachers make class lessons so creative and fun that our sons barely register that it's "work." The small class sizes ensure each student gets individualized attention and appreciation for their unique contributions. We love this school and enthusiastically recommend it!! read more

My son came to TCPS mid year, at the start of 2024. We had toured the school (and many many others) prior to kindergarten. We loved the school after our initial visit and it was our first choice academically. However, we opted for a school closer to our home to save time on traffic and minimize travel time for our younger daughter. However, midway through his second year we realized we needed to make a change. We were frustrated with the amount of tech used to teach, sugar used to pacify, and movies/shows used to engage/entertain the children. We were apprehensive about starting a new school midway through the year, but after multiple meetings with administrators and teachers we decided to make the move. My son has been so happy since. It truthfully wasn't even a transition for him- he just seamlessly joined the school. Teachers were so welcoming and we never got the sense that a midway move was an inconvenience. We have been so very happy with the engaging curriculum, attentive support staff, and dedicated teachers. We are looking forward to having both of our children attend in the fall. I can't recommend this school and parent community more! read more

TCPS is a school that truly embodies its mission of developing curious and creative students of character. As a former teacher at TCPS, I can speak to the mutual respect that faculty and families have with each other and the engaging curricula that encourages student's strengths and various learning styles. My daughter currently attends TCPS, and we can't imagine her anywhere else! She has developed a core group of friends, starting in Kindergarten, and loves all of the teachers. We know she is gaining knowledge, skills, and is part of a collective that values her for who she is. TCPS is an incredible learning space for children! read more

At this school I was accused of sexual assault. I was called into the principals office with the eight grade homeroom teacher and the principal and for what felt like hours the explained how I was touching others inappropriately and doing lewd acts in the school. At the time I was 14 years old and this has destroyed me mentally and socially. After leaving the office I was crying because everyone I thought of as a friend, people I can trust, people who are supposed to be nice just accused me of the most horrendous, disgusting acts imaginable. The night I got home after the day I begged my parents to let me stay home yet they forced me to go. That night was the closest I have gotten so far to self harm. I have had depression and anxiety because of this experience. I hope anyone planning to send their kids to this school know the toxic environment they are putting their children in. read more

I extensively researched many public and charter schools prior to my child entering kindergarten. We had to pull her out of the school we chose after 6 weeks. I was desperate to find a small school where she would feel comfortable and safe. A friend mentioned TCPS and I called and toured 2 days later. We've now been at TCPS for a little over 3 months and my child has done a complete 180. She no longer cries all day and night and is back to her happy cheerful self. She comes home daily excited about something else she learned or did. Admittedly we were desperate to find a small school and jumped right in, but as more time does by the more in love we are with TCPS. The curriculum is amazing, very well rounded and clearly well thought out and deliberate. Not only typical reading and math, but science, music, language, library and PE. It's all done in a fun and engaging way, as it should be in kindergarten. The staff has been amazing and very clearly care about their students. We enrolled out of desperation and now feel like we found a hidden gem. I feel like my child is getting a very well rounded education, including the arts and feels loved, safe and comfortable. read more

We initially heard of TCPS from two separate families who had multiple children attending. My husband and I toured mid year before the pandemic hit because we were curious to understand what the other parents were telling us. It sounded too good to be true. Once the pandemic hit, we immediate contacted TCPS to check on space for both of our girls (1st and 4th). We decided to continue the year at our current school so the girls started 2020 in 2nd and 5th at TCPS. In hindsight, we should have moved them sooner. Education during the pandemic was an awkward time for everyone but TCPS handled it with an extremely high level of professionalism that focuses on the kids education, well-being and socialization (as much as could be allowed during the time). Their teachers and staff worked many many hours overtime to keep the "new" routine as consistent as possible for the kids. The teachers and staff care about the students and their success. Our daughters have very different academic strengths. The teachers recognize this and work extra to provide additional learning material for every level of learning. They push our kids to help them find their strengths and potential. The classes are small so the grades work together which gives older kids the opportunity to be leaders and the younger kids to learn from their older peers. Another bonus is that we really appreciate the direct communication with the staff when needed. Our experience at TCPS has been remarkable. We have recruited multiple families to join....which says a lot when someone else's child's future depends on it. read more

My daughter is a middle school student at TCPS, and both she and I love the school. It is academically challenging, while providing all of the support and tools to allow students to excel. They really emphasize learning how to learn, study skills, and important social and academic foundations to enable upper school success. Each of the middle school teachers is absolutely committed to finding the right approach for each individual student; the small class sizes really enable the teachers to teach creatively and effectively. (There are 13 kids in my daughter's grade, and a maximum of 16 kids in any middle school grade at a time/12 kids max in lower school grades!) The middle school environment is supportive and collaborative. The administration and leadership of the school is extremely responsive, involved with each child, and always ready to support their individual learning and growing needs. I feel the entire staff genuinely cares about the "whole child" rather than just academic performance. The parent support at the school is great, involved, but without the pressure or drama of some schools-- they create ample opportunities for parents to volunteer or be involved, without piling on pressure or making us working parents feel inadequate when work needs prevent us from doing more. I truly don't have negative things to say about the school. If I have to offer something as a constructive criticism then I wish we had a sports teams or a band... however, with only 13 co-ed kids in our grade, it's pretty obvious we don't have enough kids to make a sports team or orchestra, so... my daughter does her sports and music outside of school. read more

We have four children, two of whom graduated from TCPS, two who are still there. This is not a fancy school but they get all the important things right. At the youngest level, students explore a rich curriculum but learn to read when they are ready. By middle school, the work is rigorous enough that kids can make an easy transition to the most challenging high schools in the area. There is ample outdoor playtime for all grades, PE every day for middle schoolers, and amazing teachers in every room. Our whole family feels great about TCPS. In every decision the school makes, the child is primary. The adults have integrity and communicate well with families. It's a wonderful place. San Diego is lucky to have a school like this. read more

Our daughter recently started at TCPS and it's certainly a great fit for our family. The staff is awesome! I mean everyone from admissions to the head to the teachers to the front desk. I love how it feels like a little community / family. The campus is quaint but big enough for everyone to spread out into their respective spaces. It's also right next to a park/playground which is nice if you're a few minutes early or if you need something to do right after school. The program at TCPS includes basic education and they also focus on social/emotional learning. In addition to the "regular" curriculum the kids have access to Spanish, coding (as early as Kinder), after-school programs etc. I can't wait to see how our child blossoms here! read more

This little school of ours stands as a bright and shiny beacon during these uncertain times. Under the guidance of TCPS faculty, our children continue to develop the strong critical thinking and social skills not only to survive but also to thrive in these challenging times. With each passing day, we see our children continue to grow as independent thinkers and global citizens. On the day schools around San Diego closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TCPS students including our own came home with school-issued chrome books, regular books, rulers and other materials - ready to continue learning. The following week, the teachers confidently and competently jumped into the new brave world of remote learning. Teachers adeptly and quickly set forth a daily schedule that not only promoted stability for the children but also was of great assistance and relief for those of us parents crushed with telework demands. At the direction of the head of school, staff members individually called us parents several times for wellness checks and to obtain feedback about the remote learning process. The teachers ensured our children remained involved and engaged. When children including our own needed additional assistance with learning, teachers had one-on-one sessions with them. The smaller class size also helped the children maintain their strong social bonds with their teachers and friends from different classes. In this time of turmoil, there is much to wonder and worry about what the future will bring. And yet, TCPS continues to show only empathy and compassion with our families. Thanks to TCPS, we remain optimistic about our children's future. read more

Our daughter is currently finishing up her 6th year at TCPS, and we still could not be happier with the school. She is continually challenged academically, and she is so happy socially! The small class sizes are so unique to this school and benefit the students in amazing ways! Teachers are able to help each student at their individual level and meet their needs. The staff is friendly, understanding, and passionate about what they do! Our daughter is starting 6th grade next year, and we feel so lucky to be keeping her at the The Child's Primary School for her middle school years. We know she will be challenged, yet feel safe and comfortable at the school, especially during a time in a child's life that comes with a lot of changes. read more

The Child's Primary School (TCPS) is a private school in San Diego. It has a very low child to faculty ratio and is results-driven. The staff is well-qualified, engaged and always open to feedback. The school a hidden gem, as it doesn't get as much mention as other private schools in San Diego. It has been a great school for us and would highly recommend it to any parent looking for a small, education-rich environment where their children can safely explore, learn, and grow. read more

We searched and searched for the perfect school, and we finally found it! I have two children enrolled currently. I love the small class sizes! My children are in 2nd & 4th grade, and in addition to their amazing classroom teachers, they have two math teachers, a music teacher, a Spanish teacher, a PE coach, and a science teacher that makes science so interesting and fun. They get to go to a great science lab! How many elementary students get to do that? As for the bad review, there is always going to be that one parent who isn't happy for some reason or another.Please DO talk to us parents! We'll tell you how much our kids love school, how nurturing the environment is, and what an amazing education our children are getting! TCPS is an amazing school. I'm very proud to be a part of it! read more

As an update, 2017 my daughter is graduating from the 8th grade next month. She has matured into an amazing young adult. She has had healthy academic competition with her classmates, and without our pushing she has continued to be engaged in the school. The small classes and helpful staff have provided the support for her to continue to make honor roll and love school. Our plan was for her to transition to public school for high school, but she pushed us to consider other options. She's gone from being a shy student to one who can advocate for herself. She's great at public speaking, debate, homework, etc. I am grateful for TCPS in helping us get to this point. In the end, it was hard for us not to continue to support her, so we relented to her request. She did well on the private school placement exams and she was accepted to the 3 private schools to which she applied. TCPS has been great. read more

As you can see she does not state anything about how the school is in horrible shape and that they all pocket the money and put nothing back in to the school. It's very clear from her response that my review is pretty much sums up the school to a tee and she has nothing to defend my claims with. read more

This small private school is truly a hidden gem. I have really good friends who have their kid at this school and I am always amazed at how much he ACTUALLY LOVES going to school. There are Saturdays and holiday breaks where he is genuinely sad that he doesn't have school. If that isn't a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is. When I talk to my friends' kid and ask him about school, he says that all of the kids, throughout all of the grades, know one another and get along and they get to work on "really fun projects". I've been really impressed with the interesting projects and assignments that I have seen from him that he brings home. There appears to be a lot of thought put into the work the kids are asked to do and it isn't just mindless busy work or worksheet packets. My friends talks about how much of a community feel the school has and how much of a luxury it is knowing that when they drop off their kid each day, they know that they will be safe, attended to, and will enjoy learning. read more

The decision to switch your child's school is never an easy one especially in the middle of a school year. We started at a darling play-based progressive school that had a wonderful toddler/parent program and then continued through preschool and pre-K. For kindergarten we enrolled in a local private traditional school which after 2 1/2 years proved to be the wrong approach and community for our family. Now at TCPS I'm just so thankful we have the perfect solution to restore my daughter's love for learning and natural curiosity. We saw an instant emotional and academic change in our daughter after her first day at TCPS but after 5 months at TCPS, I now know it is a perfect fit. All of the things that matter most are represented here. The priorities that we have observed are the small classes with individualized learning (8 children in our class), a warm inclusive atmosphere/culture that practices social emotional skills and the modeling of values, art incorporated into studies, collaboration across grades and parents that care not only about their own children but about the community and the greater good. Children are so excited to be there and very eager to learn and part of that is because they are allowed to make choices which instills autonomy and builds confidence. Teachers are smiling and patient because they are treated well and genuinely want to be there. They are positive reinforcers, uplifting and great at redirecting. Our home room teacher has reached out to me to customize my daughter's reading level as well as math level. With so few children in a class, teachers have the ability to fine tune/tweak lesson plans so as to challenge your child or sometimes to lessen pressure. I have been approached by 3 teachers that have told me what a joy my daughter is to have in class but I feel that is a direct result of having like-minded adult leaders and like-minded students under one roof. My daughter is learning and retaining information when before she would just say she hated school. I used to believe that old saying "you get what you give" but after being really involved in 3 schools, I have learned that is not the case everywhere. We must invest our time wisely with the right community. Finding it is a process. The song "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" was playing at school and my daughter said "I love this song, it is MY LIFE!!" We had never heard the song before and I'm not so sure her life is all that perfect but what I do know is I can finally rest knowing she is in her happy place and learning at the same time. read more

Choosing a school for your little one is a daunting task, especially when you have a child who is shy and tentative. We toured several public and charter school options, and didn't get a "good feeling" from any of them. We heard about TCPS through a friend whose child attends the school, and highly recommended we check it out. Let's just say that the tour immediately produced that "GOOD FEELING". Small sized classes of kids were enthusiastically engaged with their teachers, and each other. I didn't notice a single child staring off into space, quiet and reserved, not participating, or not being paid attention TO by the teacher. In the hallways, I saw middle schoolers saying hi to kindergarteners, whose faces lit up with excitement at being "friends" with a big kid (reinforcing that positive self esteem that's so important to young children!). And our conversation with the kindergarten teacher made it very obvious that she cared deeply for her students and their learning process and development. We applied for admission immediately. His kindergarten year could not have been more amazing. I watched him learn by doing, instead of just rote/memorizing/worksheets. I believe the future of education hinges on a much more project-based style of learning, incorporating STEAM along the way. And TCPS understands that, and does an incredible job of teaching core ideas through group project work. They learn by doing, together and one-on-one with their teachers. He got SO much individual attention from his teachers, that it was almost as if they were private tutors. He had a separate music teacher, PE teacher, and Spanish teacher. Every teacher and child in the school knows his name. He is friends with kids in every grade 1st through 8th, I didn't hear of a single incident of bullying. He felt safe at and excited to be at school every day. He was still a little shy at drop off, but I noticed that every day it got a little easier for him. The feedback and information we got from his teacher made me feel like we knew exactly what he was working on, what his current progress was, and what his goals were, as well as how he was doing in working towards reaching those goals. Not to mention what we could do to help and support him. That was last year. Now he's in 1st grade, and I already see the fruits of his first year at TCPS. He is reading on his own, and enjoying it! He has a designated science teacher now too, and LOVES doing experiments in their own science lab. His math skills are impressive, and I can see that he loves mathematical challenges. Every student at the school has a tablet for technology education, and they're learning coding! He has so many friends cross grades and is always saying hi to kids and teachers, and now HE is proud that he gets to befriend kindergarteners and be a good buddy to younger children. And the shift in his confidence is nothing short of amazing. No more shyness at drop off, or worry about talking to other kids or teachers, or being alone at school for the day. The trust and confidence that this school helped him build over the past year and a half is something I can never be grateful enough for. I attribute that entirely to TCPS' focus on community, which encourages everyone to work together, and their small class sizes, which allow the teachers to spend an incredible amount of time one-on-one with each student. I am so excited to see how much my son will continue to benefit from this atmosphere of positivity and community and STEAM/project learning in the upcoming years. We are so proud to be a part of this school and I cannot recommend it more enthusiastically. Truly. read more

You don't come across a school like TCPS too often! Our daughter is in 5th grade and couldn't be in a better environment, academically or socially. Due to the small class sizes, if a child either excels or struggles with a lesson, he or she can be challenged or helped. Also due to the small class sizes and innovative teaching methods, the teachers have time to teach in a variety of different ways. Bullying is nonexistent...TCPS is like a big family. Kindergarten - 8th grade. You will see graduates from TCPS flourishing at all the top ranked high schools in San Diego. Gem of a school! read more

Our daughter's pre-school teacher's son attended TCPS K-8. Her pre-school teacher was adamant about the risk of our daughter's creativity and intellect going "under-nurtured" in the public school system - that she would be bored and grow to dislike school very early on. TCPS has provided excellence in education, nurturing her creative resources through each teacher's individual interaction with each student (class sizes of no more than 14 students), without "common core". She is close to all her classmates (under 10 students in Kindergarten). She is learning "real-life" application of academic concepts - not memorizing, but leaning "how" to apply what she is learning. TCPS teachers make learning "fun" and rewarding in a loving, yet firm learning environment. Our daughter has been able to see the fruits of her efforts and actually understands how much she has grown personally and with confidence that comes from accountability and achieving goals! She looks forward to school every day with enthusiasm as she is very close to her classmates and also close to friends she has made in grades 1-8 through daily interaction and cross-grade mentoring programs. Fast forward today - 1st grade. To my daughter, school is fantastic because she has all her friends from last year and has made new friends. The school has only 95 students and cross-grade interaction is encouraged. She has PE, Spanish, chorus and art is incorporated and encouraged throughout her daily learning assignments. She is having even more fun this year and when I come to pick her up, she wants to stay and play with her friends. The class sizes are so small that we have also become close with not only the parents of her classmates, but also with many parents of children in other grades. This year they are also learning to code (program) a robotic mouse through a maze. It is high-level programming, but they are actually providing instruction sets to get the mice to a desired location on a board. They are learning "logic" and how to apply it - 1st grade. Wow! My daughter, my wife and I LOVE THIS SCHOOL! Words cannot describe how positively this school, the teachers and Sherry the founder have impacted our lives. We are so grateful! read more

My son and daughter, who have very different academic interests, found TCPS to be engaging, fun, enriching, and challenging. There has not been a single day they didn't want to go to school at TCPS. Not only have they acquired the academic skills for future academic success, but TCPS has helped them to think critically and creatively and also helped develop their social and emotional skills for a fulfilling, rewarding life. We are so thankful for TCPS and its intimate environment, and we believe in the school's mission! As an extra bonus, we discovered that the private SD high schools (Bishops, Francis Parker, Country Day) know about and highly regard students coming from TCPS. read more