The Children's School

I was very disappointed in our experience at the Children's School. The art and dance programs are excellent, some of the teachers are very committed and the school is lively, but there are significant problems. I found the school academically lacking with math and science taking a back seat to art and children who are in any way outside the average seem to be lacking in support. Discipline feels chaotic. I also found the parents association terrifyingly overbearing with constant demands for donations and fundraising. Families seem ostracized if their parents don't contribute enough. I rarely saw the headteacher. The fees and donations seem exorbitant to me. While I love the concept of the progressive school, the implementation seems too vague and too based around the arts - and there are much cheaper, high quality alternative options out there.
—Submitted by a parent

My two daughters are very different from each other, but each is thriving in this special place. TCS teachers are the best and brightest applying the cutting edge in educational approaches, rather than simply teaching to standardized tests. In the four years we've been at this school, we're always amazed by the students - they all seem more confident, tolerant, intellectually curious, and socially conscious than the typical kids at other schools. i don't think that's the result of self-selection. I think it's the result of the TCS environment and curriculum. And we can't imagine any other place for our kids during the crazy middle school years!
—Submitted by a parent

What sets TCS apart is it's approach to teaching. The school recognizes that a 21st century graduate will be entering a world that values a different set of skills than were emphasized during their parents school years. The teachers are excellent and are regularly introducing new teaching methods into the classroom to keep our kids challenged and engaged. Class sizes are small so students get lots of one-on-one attention. The curriculum is integrated so students might be learning geography through art or history during reading time. Each 6th grader gets their own laptop to use in class and for homework. My son has been at the school for over 6 years and has thrived in this close-knit school community.
—Submitted by a parent

My children are in their fourth year at TCS and the whole family loves it. We came for preschool and frankly did not intend to stay for the elementary program b/c of the cost but it's hard to leave a place where your children know everyone, skip into school and learning in exciting, interesting ways. Faculty and staff are top-notch and the parent atmosphere is collegial, warm and supportive. TCS s approach to learning differs from traditional schools by giving kids plenty of opportunities to dig into work through hands-on projects and experiments. My children love it. The recent test scores show it s a method that not only keeps kids from getting bored or burned out in school, it s incredibly academically successful, too.
—Submitted by a parent

Confident kids and Challenging Academics. From studying science to conversations about social justice, this school has it all. Their annual Great Artists is amazing.
—Submitted by a parent

We are a previous family at TCS. We thoroughly enjoyed the early years - pre-school through kindergarten. As we progressed, we found the main focus to be on fund-raising. There was a total lack of discipline in the classroom, the children were not being pushed or encouraged to push themselves. We finally removed our daughter when she expressed concern that she was behind in several subjects that would get her to the next stage. We tried several times to express our concerns with the teacher and administration but these issues were not resolved. We also tried to address the social atmosphere of the school and were just told that this how children learned to deal with problems. After discussing with parents at other children, we decided to pull her and the change has been extraordinary. She is now in a classroom where children are helped to work through their social conflicts!
—Submitted by a parent

Boy, our family loves The Children's School. Our two children graduated from here and have moved on to be highly successful, self-motivated and compassionate middle schoolers with a strong self image. They think critically, solve problems, and tend to question the status quo as they make decisions for themselves. Their education was well-rounded from the core academics to the extra curricular and specialty classes. And as parents, we found that everyone, from teachers to school leaders to other parents, was supportive and there for us. What more could anyone want in a school? And the faculty seem so happy with the school that not a single teacher left the school last year! The word is quickly getting around that The Children's School is the place to go for the best elementary education in San Diego. If you haven't checked it out yet, why not?
—Submitted by a parent

Our family has been at The Children's School for quite a few years now, and the atmosphere on campus has never been more exciting or energetic. The buzz around campus is extraordinary as everyone eagerly awaits the addition of a middle school in the next couple of years. Parents are excited, kids are excited, and teachers and staff are excited. What type of families should consider The Children's School? Families who value strong academics, a challenging curriculum, an unparalleled social curriculum, motivated and involved parents, and staff that go above and beyond to make sure every child learns. Our children love learning and we have no doubt that they will continue to be successful with the solid foundation they've acquired at The Children's School.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school! Our child is thriving and is academically way beyond his peers that attend the local public school. He is challenged and motivated to question and think critically about things. In addition, the specialty classes are phenomenal. His appreciation for art is amazing and when we visit museums together, he usually ends up teaching me something I didn't already know. We also love the summer camp program. Quite simply, it's the best one around.
—Submitted by a parent

As a second year family, I can say that we are happy to be at The Children's School and are looking forward to many more years here. As another parent mentioned, there are so many great programs going on at the school. The curriculum is hands-on, project-based and integrated across the disciplines. The teachers arrive at school at sun-up and often stay until sun-down preparing for their classes. As for extracurriculars, whereas many schools are slashing programs to save money, at The Children's School they keep adding programs to enhance the students' experiences! Where else will you find music, dance, art, PE, technology and Spanish as part of the weekly schedule? If you are looking for even more variety, they offer a plethora of afterschool enrichment classes such as chess, robotics, musical theater, fencing, etc. Not surprisingly, our children look forward to every day at The Children's School.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent academics. Superior social curriculum. Wonderful faculty and staff. Involved parent community. We were invited to The Children's School by another family that has their children at the school, and boy are we glad that they invited us. For our family, kids and grown-ups alike, being a part of this school has made learning fun all the way around. Our children love going to school and are extremely successful. They tested into our district's gifted and talented program, but there's no way we'd leave to go to public school. Why should we when they're receiving an education that exceeds what other area schools can offer?
—Submitted by a parent

Our child entered The Children's School in second grade performing at grade level but not really happy with school. Since entering TCS, we've seen a complete turn-around and we credit the professional, caring teachers and staff. We've seen our child blossom into an avid reader and learner who easily tackles problems with a can-do attitude. We've also seen him grow socially as he navigates the usual student dynamics that all children face. These social skills have even carried over to such activities as his play in the local soccer league! We are proud to be parents at The Children's School, and we encourage anyone looking for a new school to stop by and visit. There's nowhere else like it!
—Submitted by a parent

Some of the teachers there are excellent, though others are very, very green. The Great Artist program is wonderful. So is the Fall Festival. But you can enjoy these events without being a student there and you may be better off.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow! That pretty much sums up our five years at The Children's School. Our children are challenged every day by a faculty that is professional, well-educated and well-prepared, and just plain smart. The school actually cares about our kids! I have no doubt that it is because of this school that our kids love learning. In addition, the school offers extracurricular activities that no other school around can rival. In fact, the after school classes always have kids from other area schools who attend! Finally, parents are encouraged and expected to be involved in their children's education here. We're definitely not a 'hand-off-let's-see-what-happens' kind of family. We feel extremely fortunate to have found a place where we are welcomed by everyone, from faculty and administration to other families.
—Submitted by a parent

In our fourth year at The Children's School, I can only say that every year has gotten better for our child. The teachers are top-notch in their preparation for teaching and their passion. When our daughter needed additional academic support, the teachers formulated a plan for success. Two years later, our child is performing above grade level. As a parent, I realize that I, too, have a role to play in my child's education rather than leaving it all up to the school. The Children's School welcomes and values my involvement in my child's academic growth, which is not what we found in other public and independent schools. In addition, the extra-curricular classes are beyond compare and we often have difficulty deciding among them! This school is a great place for smart kids who need to be challenged and for families who want to be involved in their children's education.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended TCS for 3 years and has only had wonderful experiences. The hands-on and project based learning has helped my child blossom socially, emotionally and academically. The teachers are amazing and really care about their students. My child loves coming to school, feels safe and loves learning. TCS has a wonderful community of families that are genuine and down to earth and here because they're priority is the education and happiness of their children. The enrichment programs are phenomenal and there are always new and exciting classes for all ages. We are so excited that there will be a middle years program here and plan on having her stay at TCS until she completes 8th grade.
—Submitted by a parent

We love The Children's School! Our two children have been here for a couple of years now, and we could not be happier with the quality of education they are receiving. We visited many schools before choosing TCS, and we decided that the most important factors were the strong and challenging curriculum and future success of graduates at both public and independent middle schools. If you're looking for a school that stands above the others, then The Children's School is for you.
—Submitted by a parent

We have had a wonderful experience at TCS. Both our children have attended since preschool and they have had a great experience both socially and academically. My son loves math and has been challenged with an upper grade math class. Their exposure to the arts has also been something we have found wonderful and unique. The Great Artist Program has been a wonderful way for our children to study different artists, their lives and their culture. The Grande Finale is a school wide art exhibit. It's magical! TCS's social curriculum has been something we could not find in any other school-public or private. Our youngest son has become quite the communicator and mediator at home and at school! We especially love the small school setting. It is so great knowing most of the families that attend your school.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids left TCS totally unprepared for middle school. What's worse, my son had a learning disability that went undiagnosed the entire 5 years he was there! I am a believer in progressive education and sent my kids to TCS because I thought they did, too. But the truth is that they have no curriculum plan, no continuity from grade to grade and little ability to academically prepare children for the next step. The sad thing is, my wife and I didn't realize this until it was too late. We spent the next year shuttling from tutor to tutor, trying to help our kids play catch up. I can say that the kids were happpy there and had a lot of fun. I just wish they would have been better prepared for 'real' school.
—Submitted by a parent

We had such high hopes when we sent our kids to The Children's School. Unfortunately, we were sorely disappointed in just about every aspect. The administration spends more time back-stabbing and spinning their wheels than they do attending to their students and teachers. The teaching is generally unstructured. The quality of instruction is very uneven and discipline is almost non-existent. You'd think these people would get it together. When our kids went to their new school, they were at least a year behind. Thankfully, they are now caught up- no thanks to the Children's School.
—Submitted by a parent