We came to this school for one year during Covid, and are still there! Our experience has been incredible. The class sizes are small, the teachers are completely invested in the children, and we wholeheartedly believe in the staff and all teachers. TCS is a Reggio Emilia school, that breeds a deep community of connectedness within the parent group, as well as student to teacher group. Our kids are absolutely thriving and their creativity is soaring! We couldn't be happier with the child-centered, hands-on project based and environmental curriculum. This educational experience is second to none! read more

The Children's School - Child at the Childrens school in La Jolla with hands painted - Elementary Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

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From the moment we stepped through the front gate, The Children's School felt like a warm embrace. The staff greeted us with such genuine warmth, making us feel instantly at home. The most impressive part is that was three years ago, and each day since has been equally as wonderful. As a mother of a Kindergartener, I value the consistent positive energy of the staff, and their prioritization of social and emotional well being, specifically during these very impressionable early childhood years. There is a strong connection between staff and students, as well as staff and parents. There is a strong connection amongst the community as well, fostered by the rare privilege of an open campus environment for parents. Drop off and pickup feel like a family gathering through and through. We as parents also learn from the very experienced teachers as well, via our children. The teachers model strong communication skills and encourge friends to "send messages," to one another during challenging as well as happy times. They teach "whole body listening," where friends are encouraged to engage their minds, ears as well as their hearts. Collaborative problem-solving builds resilience and community from a very young age, and differences are celebrated in this inclusive environment. The culture embodies kindness and mindfulness, and there is no better fit for our family. read more

Absolutely not. Charges between $11,000-$30,000 per student. Tried to take advantage of small business owners to "donate their time and services." read more

This is the worst private school in all of La Jolla. I would recommend public school or Gillispie or La Jolla Country Day or any other school other than this one. Save your money. First off the admissions people are not friendly so from day one, you do not feel welcomed. Second off, they only accept a certain type of child. If your child is not a "quintessential La Jolla child" you won't get in here. This is not a school you go to if you want to see diversity. They do not make accommodations for any one. Is not equipped for and Will not accept any special needs. read more

This our daughter's second year at The Children's School, and we love it!! Our daughter spent her first year in the preschool, which is often aptly described as magical. Denise, Shelly, Valerie and Itzel create an environment filled with wonder, warmth, kindness and almost unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. I'm absolutely baffled by some of the reviews here that suggest otherwise. I'm also one of the most particular people I know, especially as it relates to my child. I toured almost every private school in San Diego, and spoke to countless parents before making the decision to come to TCS. I can say with confidence that it's been the right choice for us. My daughter is now in Pre-K this year and she continues to thrive. The school teaches a thoughtful and robust social emotional curriculum that produces confident, but not arrogant, children who know their own worth. That alone is a reason to send your child to TCS, but additionally, children are challenged academically, and in ways that makes learning a passion. Certainly no school is perfect, and TCS has its own opportunities to grow, just like any other school. These challenges are far from insurmountable. So with that in mind, the decision comes down to the perfect fit for your child, and what you value in a curriculum and school environment. It's a joy for your child to want to run into school each morning, and who doesn't want to leave in the afternoon. It's wonderful to see 8th graders confidently speaking at our weekly community meeting with the poise of many adults. And it's exciting to see the leaps and bounds our daughter progresses academically each week. read more

Looking for summer camps that are fun, engaging, well-planned, and child-centered? The TCS Summer Program (Summer Smarts) is hands-down the best we've experienced. This was our second year at Summer Smarts and we had the opportunity to compare it to another camp that we used this summer [that shall go unnamed]. Here are the differences: time is taken to get to know each individual child, kids are accountable for their actions, the language used is child-centered, the staff are well-trained and understand child development, the activities are incredibly well-thought-out, there is AMPLE supervision, and the groups are smaller. These things all lead to the most important thing for me: childhood is preserved. Our daughter begged us every day to not send her back to the unnamed camp. And every day she was thrilled to go to TCS Summer Smarts. read more

Love, love the summer program! Everyone is so accommodating, friendly and sincere. My son attends several camps each year, and this is hands down his favorite. We will be back! read more

This is our first year at the preschool with Denise Shelley and Valerie and we are so happy. Our daughter is nurtured and loved, and they are very accepting. I understand how some parents on here are worried about supervision because at times the class seems chaotic but that is just the play based style. Maybe they would prefer a more rigid structure. The teachers are usually pretty on top of issues if they see it happening. There are play issues in any preschool so the difference is the style and TCS has a very warm loving approach. Once a boy hit my daughter and a teacher made sure the boy apologized and asked if she needed anything. Then she helped my daughter craft a message to the boy. That issue hasn't happened since but if it does I am confident they know how to handle it. So far, great experience. I know my daughter has fun and gets enough outdoor time. read more

We attended the toddler program and it is our first and will be our last year. The leadership, organization, education and communication is very lacking in this school. The toddler program needs a lot of work for the price $6K tuition. I had very high hopes. The campus is beautiful and I'm sure many of the teachers are great. read more

Where to start! Our son is in the toddler program, which started a few months ago. We researched many schools before TCS. We were looking for something special, and we found everything we wanted and didnt even think to want here! We were looking for a play based program, however so many programs had that and did not feel right. When we visited TCS, right away we knew what the others were missing and that this would be our son's home away from home. I felt so relieved after touring the school knowing such a place existed. The social and emotional program is so very unique to anything we had seen, and was the driving force to start here. We continue to be more and more grateful for this as time passes. The entire school is like 1 family unit, from the toddlers to the 8th grade students to all the teachers, staff and the families. Sarah and Samantha, the toddler teachers are more amazing than we could ever have hoped for. The patience, dedication and complete care they show the kids surprises me constantly. I have never seen them break their smile or their consistency in helping raise kind, empathetic children who are able to identify and express their emotions. The small teacher to child ratio allows them to help the children navigate every single social situation, and they do it with so much ease. Starting this program has been so valuable to us as parents. We attended the first 6 weeks and had education that is invaluable on every important topic you can think of and continue to have education through out the year. We use what we learn daily in our homes. I have never heard of a school that provides this kind of education to the parents. I am grateful I can call the teachers or Denise,the early education leader, on any challenges we face or questions we have. The whole school even treats the parents with so much care :) our son is learning to send messages when he is excited, frustrated, disappointed, and so many more emotions. I love that all his emotions and feelings are safe and understood here. The school is such a community that even the older grade teachers know our son and talk to him. The amount of family activities is wonderful in that they truly try to make the school an extension of home. The classrooms are all so homey, and well thought out. They feel like magical spaces. I love that all the staff see anything that the children are going through as their responsiblity as well, never in a bossy way, and always in a caring and helpful way. I've seen schools where teachers say that's a home issue and I could never imagine hearing that at TCS. They constantly welcome our questions and challenges and take a personal role in them. The teachers even visited our homes before school started to get to know us. Every day there are so many new activities that foster learning in every dimension. They take such special interest in what each kid enjoys. The teachers even collect special rocks for our son on their off time , and constantly plan activities around what the kids are loving. Every morning the teachers are mentioning what they noticed one kid or another enjoyed and how they incorporated again and again in a new exciting way. I love that the curriculum is centered around the kids, to genuinely teach kids to love learning. Its obvious this is carried from the toddler program to 8th grade. At TCS, I constantly hear from the parents that we wish we attended a school like this or even knew a place like this is existed. Most educational programs lack any type of emotional or social curriculum, teaching kids to memorize facts to pass tests, and here at TCS the social and emotional curriculum is the core to everything that is done. I am so impressed when I see the older kids and the way they speak to adults as peers, with confidence and respect. My main goal for our son is that he become someone who knows who he is, what he loves, and to be a kind and empathetic human being, all of which are the focus here. It is obvious that every staff member here is special and is attracted to TCS in the same way the parents and kids are, it is truly a special place! read more

My two children have both been at the Children's School since early childhood and are now in 4th and 7th grade. TCS is a magical place where my kids have discovered the love of learning. Every step of the way my kids have felt nurtured, challenged, engaged and have truly been taught to embrace the learning process. It is a unique place where their voices are heard and because of that they have become intelligent, confident and focused individuals. The social curriculum is top notch. My kids love to go to school at TCS because they know they are a valued member of the community. I could not imagine any teachers better than the ones at TCS. Not only are my kids getting the best possible education, but the teachers teach my children how to learn, to be good friends, good people, and good citizens of the world. The NMY middle school program is especially impressive. The classes are taught like college seminar classes where open discussion is encouraged. They learn to work in groups and individually and how to present their ideas and speak confidently in front of their peers and adults. The curriculum is very rigorous, but at the same time it is not a competitive atmosphere. They do both short term and year long projects. The kids are challenged by their teachers, but very well supported at the same time. They learn to become independent learners and thinkers. I know my daughters will be well prepared for any high school. read more

You certainly DON'T get what you pay for at The Children's School!! I have serious issues with the lack of supervision and the children's behavior in the preschool program! The playground area is large yet every time I am there, all the teachers are standing in the shade near the classroom talking among themselves while the children run ramped. They have no idea what is going on! I've witnessed one little girl running over another girl with the scooters (NO helmets), sand being thrown at each other, shoving on the play set, ripping toys out of hands and knocking kids down (You knw the normal stuff) Yet no one says a thing! This behavior is allowed. Anytime I questioned what had happened to my child (bruises, scrapes) I always received the response that no one saw anything or as Itzel says "boys will be boys". Why..because they are busy chatting from a far while the children are playing. God forbid someone gets seriously injured one day! My impression is the teachers are burnt out and could care less. Not a good feeling when you leave your young child in their care. On several occasions during pick up, I've even witnessed children outside with NO supervision at all! Teachers inside the classroom, children outside by themselves with the gate wide open! (I can provide pictures) Where is the supervision??? The gates are always left open by parents/nannies. I am perplexed as to why Rachel even schedules the "assessment process". Was that not intended to weed out the children with behavioral issues?!? What is really being assessed here, financials? She also lead me to believe that the classes are small with 10-12 children. Reality is there are TWO separate classrooms. Room one is smaller with less children. Room two is larger and a mob scene! ALL 40+ kids play outside at the same time. Constant sickness with that number of children in a small area. I should have been wary when signing that insane iron clad "contract" for preschool and paying for mandatory insurance. Lesson learned at my child's expense. When they find out in January that you aren't going to send your child there next year, they care even less!! Basically we paid $15k for fancy art projects. Certainly not for a piece of mind that my child is SAFE or learns anything except bad behaviors from other children read more

I wish there were more than 5 stars to give. Our children (3) have been at TCS since their toddler program, oldest is in middle school now NMY. We have been at TCS for 10 yrs in total. Yes, lots of changes at the head, but what doesn't change is the wonderful way the staff mentors our children, even though they all have their own unique way of dealing with things, the messages are consistent. Teaching and office staff are always willing to listen to any concerns that arise and find a better solution. We had to unexpectedly pull some of our kids out for 1 year and saw effects of attending a school with no social emotional curriculum, drowning in the overflow of huge student to teacher ratio. Our kids LOVE school! They can't wait to go and are mad if I pick them up on time!! Their eyes sparkle with joy. They know that they are not a # in line in the class, and that their teachers actually know them and care and respect them. I can't say enough about the integrated social emotional curriculum and academics. The kids are having so much fun learning and exploring and being respected as a human that they think they didn't learn anything. BRILLIANT, magical. You will feel it the minute you walk into the gate. Parent community is a dream. Every one is welcomed, loved and respected. TCS is the best Village to help me raise my children. read more

My three children are students at The Children's School. My oldest, now in second grade, is in her 5th year at TCS. I cannot say enough good things about the school. The teachers care about each individual child and students develop close bonds with their teachers and peers. Class sizes are small. As a parent, relationships are easy to build with teachers, administration, and the other families so the school really feels like an extension of our family. Truly, it has been our home away from home. The project-based, emergent curriculum provides a beautiful blend of standards-based academic instruction and enrichment. Children are encouraged to take risks utilizing creativity and innovation. Students learn how to collaborate, problem solve, resolve conflicts, and self-advocate. The classrooms are lively yet peaceful, have natural lighting, and wooden materials. Schedule a tour! You cannot help but feel the joy on campus. You will see children engaged and actively taking part in their learning. TCS is a magical place. read more

Very laid-back approach, so no pressure or demands on the kids, which is great. Teachers do try hard, so lots of credit there, too. Leadership communication, support and consensus-building are absent. That makes this our final year. Sorry to go. read more

The Children's School has a beautiful campus, nestled at the foot of green, rolling hills. It is a bit of a microclimate which provides plenty of open space, native flowers, and plants. The teachers in the elementary school are lovely, open-minded, and very welcoming. Most of the teachers in the middle school hold the same positive attributes; however, a few of those teachers come across as arrogant and speak to adults and children disrespectfully. In addition, many at the TCS community hold an almost cult-like, 'group think' mentality about the superiority of this institution (e.g., We Grow Great Kids; we are the ONLY progressive school in San Diego; that is so TCS). This adage is partially true; TCS does have some exceptional children, and it is a unique place to have one's children attend. Sadly, the school is not as progressive as it claims to be. The backward hierarchical structure is as follows: (1) parents & admin. (except elementary administration) (2) Students (3) Staff and faculty. The parents and administration (MS principal and HOS) hold an unhealthy amount of power, putting students in the middle and teachers at the receiving end of complaints, bullying and the need to conform to the wants/requests of the students and parents (yes, students). As one can imagine, this puts teachers on edge and breaks down trust in the process. When trust is broken, it is impossible to create educational partnerships that can grow and flourish. At TCS, the squeaky students and parents get the grease and an unhealthy amount of power. One negative consequence of this is that students feel emboldened to threaten teachers, call the shots, and have an unhealthy sense of entitlement and privilege. If you are searching for a healthy, progressive school that values transparent communication, move along in your search for schools. Make sure that the institution matches your family's hopes and wishes for an educational experience and meets everyone's needs. read more

I'm a former student from TCS. Although my experiences aren't as recent as some other people's here, I will tell you that this is a pretty unique place. Many of the same people who were my teachers 10+ years ago are still there and I'm sure still do an amazing job. Now that I am older, I realize that the school is expensive, but if you can afford it, it's a pretty unique opportunity. You only get to be that young and carefree once in your life and I would say that time in my life was pretty darn good. Great memories. read more

My children have attended TCS since they were both 2 years old. We have been at the school 5 years now and I cannot say enough good things about it! Our children absolutely love to go to school and they love learning. I have been so impressed with every teacher we have had - they are warm and nurturing and understand each of the children in their class. They also challenge them academically and socially. I have seen so much intellectual and emotional growth in both of our kids and I owe it to TCS. The preschool years are play-based, but every item in the classroom and every thing each teacher does is preparing these young students for intellectual rigor as they go through the TCS program. The students in my daughter's class that are entering second grade this fall are incredibly bright, curious and many are well ahead of their grade level. Because the class sizes are small, the teachers are able to individualize the curriculum to challenge each student. We also love the new Head of School - he knows every student by name and greets them all at the gate each morning. He is strengthening the communication and the curriculum at the school and is poised to take the school to new heights. We love TCS and we are so glad it goes through 8th grade! read more

I'm also perplexed by the negative reviews, they are certainly an exception to anything we've seen or experienced at The Children's School. The staff and teachers are incredibly invested in the school's philosophy and approach. They are warm, caring, attentive, and inspiring. The children treat each other with a great respect, guided and encouraged with intention in each classroom. Walking on the campus, you see children who are happy, who feel nurtured and respected, and who are inspired to learn, explore, and create. We find The Children's School to be very special and are thankful for it everyday. read more

This is the best school available for young kids. TCS has created the most wonderful environment for my 3 children. They have grown in to happy healthy kids that are excited to learn and go to school every day. They have learned confidence and how to be kind to others. I can't thank this school enough for the service they have provided for my family...I highly recommend this school to all. read more

In a world with increasing reliance on regurgitating the "right answer", The Children's School teaches children how to think, not what to think. At TCS, both my children have learned how to form, defend, and, most importantly, change an opinion. Very few schools emphasize the process of thinking. TCS is an exception and I am grateful that my son is learning deliberate and disciplined questioning of assumptions - both his own and those around him. read more

Great summer camp! Every two weeks they offer different themes! Love the options to pick and choose from every other week, allowing us to take vacations, etc. The camp director, Christy, is fantastic and the staff are wonderful! Christy went way beyond my expectations. She knew every child and parent by name and made an effort to touch base with everyone every day. She has a wonderful talent for bonding with the little ones! His camp teacher and camp counselor were also fantastic and were a comfort to him when he missed mom! I was very scared and reluctant to let my 5 year old attend the half-day camp, especially since he has never been to a camp away from his school. However, he had a wonderful time! He made friends with a few of the other boys there. We will definitely be back next summer! read more

Thinking about TCS get the facts: There has been significant change in leadership and staff which reflects the significance of the issues this school has been facing. There is no clear direction and no consistancy across the classrooms, no teacher accountability. Some teachers there are really great and if you are lucky to get them you may be happy the get them. Social curriculum is not consistent throughout all grades so some teachers do a wonderful job while others fail miserably. We were very supportive of this philosophy and had thought we found the perfect school for our family and were very disappointed in the reality. Recommend you do your homework before investing in this program. read more

TCS is truly a magical place...the community, staff and administration are amazing and seriously the best. We have been with the children's school for the past 11 years and its been the best years of our lives. Our boys are so happy and honored to be part of the TCS family. We love it!!! read more

This school is unbelievable! Our son just started his first year in the 7th grade and we could not be happier!! The teachers are amazing and truly care about the students and their progress. Our son loves the group of students in his class. He loves going to school and feels invested in his education. As a former elementary school teacher, I can tell you that this school has a balanced and well rounded approach to education! The students are confident, kind, and respectful. Definitely take the time to visit the school. read more

I literally investigated 9 schools in the area. This school was hands down the best! My daughter is thriving and runs into school each day, eager and excited to learn. I wish they went through high school. We never want to leave. read more

BEST SCHOOL EVER! The staff here teaches you/ your child the way you/your child wants to be taught, they accept people's differences. My child is in the NMY program and LOVES this school and is sad when the weekends come and she can't go to school. It's amazing the changes I have seen in my child, who was a shy and withdrawn girl before, she is now outgoing and way more positive, all thanks to TCS! read more

The leadership has changed so much in the past few years that there is no consistency. Each teacher has different ways of teaching the "social curriculum" that the school is known for and the school policies change year to year - my kids are smart enough to realize this inconsistency and are affected by it. I had high hopes for this school, but have been disappointed over and over again. There are a lot of differing reviews on here - my suggestion would be to look at other schools, however, if you are still interested in this School go and ask questions. Print these reviews out and see how they respond. Everything looks okay from the outside, but once you sign your contract there is no backing out. Also, be prepared for another change soon, the current leader has made it clear to everyone that she will only stay through the 2013-14 school year. read more

Change is hard. TCS has had three inexperienced, short-term heads of school in a row and we are not impressed with the newest one. After one year, incredible teachers and staff people left because of cuts to their hours and paychecks with added work or disagreements with him (two terrific people left mid-year). The new head is unapproachable and rigid, we have a rude and unhelpful business office, a communications manager who can never get us publicity even though we have great stuff going on at school (we just found out she was promoted to development director even though she has no experience), an admissions director who can't fill all the open spots of our declining enrollment, and a middle school director who is a tech guy. This school would be so awesome if we could just get the right head. Our kids love their teachers and coming to school, but it gets harder each year to justify $20,000 per kid when we are dealing with such an inexperienced administration and frustrated teachers. We will be moving our kids next year if things don't get better. read more