Integral Elementary School

My son is in kindergarten at IES this year and we are so grateful to have found this amazing school! Every time I read a research article about education today (and I read a lot), I see that IES is right in line with best practices.They teach the children all the standards they need to know but they also make learning fun and meaningful. This is not a place where they are sitting and doing worksheets all day! They are taught how to think for themselves, question what they see, and problem solve. They also work on inter-personal issues and think about what kind of person they want to become. This is not just touchy-feely stuff. I believe the focus on growing the whole child is critical to early development. It is not just the cognitive but also the social and emotional intelligences that will the foundation of our kids' professional and personal success in the future. I was concerned when I first heard of the school that in order to get this level of self-awareness training we would have to sacrifice a top-notch 'world awareness' education. Not so! Integral has extraordinary teachers who go above and beyond to stretch each of the children to reach their potential. I hear so many neighbors and friends bemoaning how education is 'these days' thinking they have no choice. We drive over 30 minutes every day to go to IES and we wouldn't have our son anywhere else. Thank you, IES!
--Submitted by a parent

What a wonderful feeling it is to truly love your job. I have been so inspired by the entire faculty, felt so much love from students and parents, and I have a deep sense of accomplishment and growth as a teacher. Integral Elementary is a wonderful school and I feel blessed to be a part of the family.
--Submitted by a teacher

What a refreshingly innovative new school here in San Diego! Low student/teacher ratios, with the focus on true learning, vs. test scores! My daughter goes here and we are both thrilled with it. The teachers are fantastic and really care; the staff is visionary and truly want to create something different in education for the children of today! I highly recommend it.
--Submitted by a parent

We sent our son here because we felt a 'gut instinct' that it was the right place for him. Highlights have included the Key Math program (individualized, self-paced), the small class ration (there are 8 students in his classroom), staff (Ms. Wendy and Ms. Shelley are very special teachers) and the holistic approach (everything from diet to philosophy.) My son truly adores his teacher. He has built a landfill, used compasses to search the grounds for clues, written poetry, acted on stage in front of an audience of over 100, learned to play Orff instruments, learned to meditate and excelled in yoga. His growth this past year has been amazing, and he has conquered fears of school he had coming in. His teacher, Ms Shelley, is the most dedicated, creative and enthusiastic teacher I have ever met, and she has been a big part of our IES experience.
--Submitted by a parent

Our child has been thriving for almost 4 years at this school. The teachers are very dedicated, loving and involved. The curriculum is rich with academics, art, science, music, yoga and drama. There is a strong sense of community, which we feel is very important. We want our child to be part of an education that extents beyond the school curriculum, and guides him into becoming a happy, fulfilled, contributing citizen of a new, peaceful world. To make that happen a school has to offer much more than just a school centered education. We feel that this school provides all that and much more!
--Submitted by a parent

This school does NOT walk its talk. The children are not immersed in a respective environment nor are they properly supervised outside of the classrooms. The teaching leaves much to be desired. We could not get out of this school fast enough. Very upsetting to have to put our child through the upset of changing schools & friends. Do not believe that this school operates out of its purported philosophy...nothing could be further from the truth.
--Submitted by a parent

When our child attended IES, we found the teachers very likable, approachable & dedicated. The setting is beautiful. There were indeed issues regarding student discipline as well as walking the talk of the school's vision as it lacked focus. The sense of school community, family support, & morale was very good at the beginning of the year was slowly degrading because of these. By the end of the year, a significant number of families did not re-enroll. It's recommended that if you're interested in this school, don't hesitate to ask a lot of questions about the curriculum, the approaches & see if it is truly a good fit for your child. It's not for everyone as we have found out they can be more destructive than constructive for the child. Also, inquire about the short-term and long-term future plans for the school as well as for an annual report.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is doing great at this school. She is shy, and is slowly learning that this is a wonderful and great place to be herself. I appreciate the program's focus on literacy. The principal is extremely well-schooled in the latest research on education, and he uses the research to design the curriculum approach - my scientific mind loves this approach. The teachers are what make the school so special - my daughter loves each of them, and vice versa. There is a strong sense of community here, and the parents are all motivated and involved. Our family loves this school. I encourage any interested parent to just go meet the teachers - I cannot imagine not loving the school after doing so.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is thriving at IES. We are very impressed with the continued and individualized focus of the program. Every teacher seems intimately familiar with his progress in yoga, math, language and social skills. The school's emphasis on loving kindness is evident in everything they do - there is never any yelling or criticizing of these kids, and it shows in their confidence and the sense of community they feel. The school tolerates no bullying and is totally focused on positive reinforcement, something we saw lacking at the school my son attended for first grade. He is now reading at an advanced level, and enjoying schoolwork, which his teacher turns into fun. This is a holistic school centered around principles I want my son to benefit from and emulate. I am grateful to the staff, and look forward to my son's continued success at IES.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family has benefited immensely from finding Integral. I wanted a place for my child to go to feel loved - then I knew he would learn, because he'd feel safe enough to relax and have fun. His teacher is so creative - tomorrow is a pajama party the class earned by being respectful - each act of respect earned a 'jewel', and when the jewel jar was filled, the class voted on a party theme. One example of how this unique school rewards respect, love and tolerance. Oh yes, and my son is excelling academically, just like I thought he would.
--Submitted by a parent