Balboa City School

My daughter and I love Balboa City School. She started attending in 8th grade. Immediately she felt welcomed and made friends. The staff and teachers are caring and create an atmosphere of respect, which has allowed my daughter to feel comfortable and be able to focus on school work. The teachers give attention to the progress of the individual students. When my daughter has missed school, her teachers immediately work with her in class to get her caught up. This has been so helpful in preventing her from becoming overwhelmed. I am so grateful that my daughter is able to attend BCS. It has completely turned her life around. School is no longer a daily struggle. She now enjoys going to school. By making school a positive experience, BCS has truly improved the quality of my daughter's life.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended Balboa City School in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11. I think the most positive thing was my teachers. I could ask questions and really learn in the classroom. The teachers were very respectful. If I struggled they did not push me or make me feel uncomfortable, they did not make me feel bad. Instead they explained concepts and gave good examples. When I learned those then they pushed me on to the next task. If it was not for this school I would not have been accepted to a good state college.

I have been a teacher for 12 years and can attest to the quality education provided by the staff at BCS. With individualized instruction in classrooms with an average 8-1 student-to-teacher ratio, teachers are able to become familiar with each student's strengths and weaknesses. Students feel like part of a community where they can be successful.

Balboa City School is a caring environment where students are treated as individuals and praised for their unique strengths. Over the past decade, I have personally seen how this program has benefitted students who would never have had a chance in the public school system. Students who graduate from this program regularly return to thank teachers and staff for their positive influence on their lives and to share their successes. Many of the core staff members have been teaching at Balboa for over 10 years, which speaks to the positive work environment and rewarding experience of teaching there.

Balboa City School, made positive changes in my child. I said upon begin there and now, I should have moved here earlier; instead I hope that he would have been "accomodated" in the public schools. I hoped, and I hoped... Having, both ADD and an LD my son has taken a ful load and has greater self esteem and confidence. He know nows success and hold his head high. The Director, himself suffers from ADD, he is accomplished and has and does recognize students for their strenghts and talents are always encouraged. The focus on problem-solving and critical thinking, not memorization is HERE and this is of great important for all children, but even more for the students that attends this school. I raise my hat and say job well done!!
--Submitted by a parent

At first I thought this was a terrible school. Mostly because I was not used to such direct communication from the administration. When my son was first starting at Balboa City School he would still lie to me and say he had no homework and the school always called. At first I believed my son. That led to some friction with the school. But we had some meetings and got everything straightened out. What I was so impressed by was how the counselor did not yell or even punish my son even when though my son was trying to make him and the teachers look bad. But pretty quickly, probably within ten days my son started to do well and I continued to get notes home saying how well he was doing! Never before did a school or a teacher take such an interest in my child's education. The result is phenomenal. All his standardized test scores have gone up by a great deal. The school is very very organized and structured and the really helps the students know what they should be doing. Another thing I like is that they do not give three or four hours of homework a night.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a former student of this school, and since I have ADHD and didn't really succeed in other schools I seemed like a fit for the school. I was wrong. The classes ran at snail's pace, so that a half a semester's work was stretched throughout the entire school year. The teachers were either exceptional or awful. I commend the wonderful writing and poetry program at the school; the teacher was wonderful. The wonderful feel of going to school in the city and being able to walk to Balboa Park for PE, and everything good about this school is overshadowed by the mainly awful instruction and hostile environment caused by the students and the administration. I understand how this school can be a fit for some, but for me and many others, it is not.

Balboa City School have wonderful teachers who are dedicated to helping students realize their potential within a small classroom setting. They are very open to working with both student and parent which is rarely seen today.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a private educational therapist. I appreciate the approach on meeting individual needs through the comprehensive program at Balboa City School. With OT on site, dedicated counselors and teachers, and small class sizes, the students truly receive the support they need to realize their potential.
--Submitted by a parent

this school has been soo good for my son!They have counselors on campus at all times, if the kids have problems they are there to help in a moments notices. Good Teachers and one on one education.
--Submitted by a parent