Pacific Ridge School

I couldn't disagree more with the last two reviews. PRS is a warm, inviting and incredible community filled with students of all different abilities. Their mission is to foster global engagement, academic excellence and ethical responsibility and I can attest that it certain fulfills its mission tenfold! The teachers are incredibly committed and personally invested in each student. The curriculum and the Harkness teaching approach keep my super bright child totally engaged in a way no other school has ever come close. Dinner conversations with our teen are remarkable to say the least! The depth of what our child is learning is amazing! Added off-site service learning adds a dimension to the school that is also impossible to find anywhere else. PRS is like having an East Coast boarding school right here in our own back yard. Kudos, Kudos, Kudos to the faculty and everyone involved in the special gem of a school. No school in San Diego comes even remotely close.
--Submitted by a parent

I couldn't agree more than with the previous review. If you feel your student is full of themselves, and competition is priority, then they should fit right in. The teachers have not demonstrated the extra time and attention to communicate with us as parents. Even though our student is intelligent and a very good student, there were a few challenges. Communication about these challenges or student performance was disappointing; we often found out well after the fact - when it was too late to be proactive. We've witnessed awards given for so-called 'Ethical Responsibility' to students who weren't always deserving of these achievements, shall we say, honestly. I agree with the previous post regarding hypocrisy. Our students have come home to report many times that students were often promised things and then renegged by headmaster, administrators and educators alike. Sports was a huge disappointment. One of our students was told by an ex-employee that not only were the students who were chosen to play key positions chosen because of their parents' financial contributions but that they were treated was based on this as well.
--Submitted by a parent

Pacific Ridge fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility, and global engagement according to its mission. However, from my experience at Pacific Ridge, I can tell you that almost none of these aspects of the mission are fulfilled. One would expect a student body filled with bright, culturally and globally aware, and moral students. This is simply not true. When analyzing a random group of students, chances are that they don't have a clue about what is going on around the world, and they play games on their computers during service learning instead of actually helping their local and global communities. Furthermore, despite all of Pacific Ridge's efforts to be environmentally friendly, almost all of the students do not take advantage of Pacific Ridge's compost system. All of these contradictions... What do they tell you about the school itself, and how it is influencing its (rich) students? There are some students who I find hard to believe made it into this school, and yes, I agree that Pacific Ridge is certainly elitist, and that the tuition is overpriced. If you want a school full of hypocrisy, then this is the school for you.

This school is the greatest I have yet been to. I've moved a lot and gone to many different schools, but none off them hold a candle to this one. All the teachers have bachelors degrees, and most have doctorates, and they have great personalities.The students don't have to be geniuses to get in the school, but in every case I've seen, the students feel that they've grown exponentially since attending here. The school is only just starting, so nothing is really concrete yet. The foundations and traditions of this school are only just being laid down, and if the student body wants something to change, we can do it relatively easily. I probably can't fit all the great things I have to say into here, so I'll just end with saying that my one and only complaint, is the workload.

Our son has been at PRS since the beginning in the founding 7th grade class. Not only has he grown, but the school has grown as well. The new high school building is spectacular and worthy of a school of this caliber!
--Submitted by a parent

Impressive school. Our 9th grade son has gone to PRS for 2 years and we have an incoming 7th grader. Financially, it's a stretch, but we believe it is worth it. The way our son has grown academically is remarkable. It can be hard to "shine" at a school where there are so many brilliant kids, but they will be challenged. This is one school where it is "hip to be square." It is not right for everyone, but if you want a smaller environment where your child can be challenged and where the teachers (mostly) really do care and know each and every child, this is your school. Sports are growing but not the emphasis. Travel experiences are incredible. There are plenty of wealthy families; but plenty of "average" families too. Headmaster is outstanding. I suspect most of the negative comments come from outsiders. Would prefer it be less liberal.
--Submitted by a parent

Deceptive and overrated. I've tried to post three other reviews and somehow they disappear. If you don't have something good to say about this school, the staff and the founding parents will make sure no one hears the negative remakrs. The school is insular and caters to very wealthy kids. There are middleclass students but the plums go to the rich kids, who get the leads in the musicals, star in the sports teams, and many get good grades for little more than being good public speakers which the school values highly.
--Submitted by a parent

I cannot believe that some of the other reviews that I just read on this site are about the same school that I attend! In all my experience at this school I have never once witnessed or even heard about an instance of discrimination, from students, administrators, teachers, or parents, based on social class or income. I have never been asked by a single person at this school what my income was, whether I received financial aid (yes), or whether my family donated to the fundraising campaigns (no). The relatively small size enables me to know not only the name of every other student at the school, but important and interesting things about them as well. The many activities and trips we share really bond us all into a very tight, inclusive Pacific Ridge family.
--Submitted by a student

Pacific Ridge is everything that I could have hoped it would be, and more. My son entered in 9th grade and was immediately accepted into the community. Now, only two-thirds of a year later, he is a leader and has many friends who share the same interests. The sports program is increasing exponentially - next year there will be 50 different teams! The extracurricular activities and student government are also wonderful, and there are all sorts of resources available to both. The school emphasized having an alternative approach to learning (including lots of service) but in reality, I find that it really excels in academics - without compromising the service. The teachers are incredible - they give countless hours of their own time to help students and run events, are always available to talk to about anything, and are some of the most motivated and inspirational people I have ever met.
--Submitted by a parent

Does not compare to the other independent schools in San Diego. When considering cost, this has far less to offer. Limited extracurricular, very limited sports. It needs a few years to grow into a top quality school.
--Submitted by a parent