Balboa City School

We have two kids at this school, one started in 5th grade and is now a 9th grader while the other started in 4 th grade and is now a 6th grader. The class size is small so that kids get more individual attention. There is a good deal of flexibility to take the child's individual needs into account. Our sixth grader does well in math and was able to move up a grade in math. Our 9th grader is taking Japanese as a language. Our kids have done better at Balboa than they did in our school district Our older son brought home less homework his first couple of years at Balboa. I was a little concerned by the difference in the homework amount. In the public school he scored at the high end of students on the CA standards test. He took the Stanford achievement test at Balboa and scored similar. The biggest difference seems to be the public schools assign more homework, than Balboa needs to assign, to learn the same amount. There is great deal of diversity at the school also and the kids come from all around the county. Recently there have been more foreign students attending. The teachers are are caring and keep you posted as to how the kids are doing. A good school and staff.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a former student of Balboa City School, and It was a pretty experience. The staff did not let me take Biology and said it was "full", but it wasn't (only like 4 kids in that class) because they thought the teacher had little credentials. It was a waste of 2 months of time to catch up, and now i have to repeat several courses. The geometry class was a joke (so easy). The PE was really good. As I don't like this school that much, Its better than Winston School. I now go to CCA and am blossoming and challenged to my potential.

I have taught (substitute) all over San Diego and Riverside Counties. I have been to many public schools, charter schools and private schools, but the culture, student population, teaching approach and leadership at Balboa City School is unique and effective. The class sizes are small, giving the teachers a lot of time to learn about their students as individuals. The access to technology is top of the line. There is a sense of community that I have not seen at other schools, clearly the atmosphere is not lost on the students, because they are all highly motivated young adults. The diversity of the student population is interesting because it gives students from different types of backgrounds a chance to intermingle in an intimate setting without the judgement of peers that often comes with larger public schools. Overall, this is a great environment both academic and social.
—Submitted by a teacher

After trying two different private schools and touring many public & charter schools in our area we finally found the perfect fit. The small class size allows for individual attention. The director & teachers are creative, 'out of the box' thinkers - tapping into what makes a child 'tick' and getting the lesson through in an innovative way. This school is located right next to Balboa Park - they expose the children to this San Diego gem often. My daughter has already been to the symphony, museums, theater (twice) and the ballet all before January! I am very pleased with the school and would highly recommend it to others.
—Submitted by a parent

We searched and searched for the perfect school, and we finally found it! I have one child enrolled currently. I love the small class sizes! My child is in 5thth grade, and in addition to their amazing classroom teachers they have robotics class, a rocketry club, a PE coach, and a science class that makes science so interesting. They get to go to Mad Science too! How many elementary students get to do that?
—Submitted by a parent

I made the mistake of sending my child to Balboa City School. Had I known what type of kids they cater to I would never have put my child there!!!!! My daughter did not receive any of the services promised to her. Once enrolled I was told she would only get the promised services if I paid hundreds of dollars per week on top of the regular tuition.
—Submitted by a parent

Great place to send students with violent tendencies, behavior problems, and emotional disorders. The the teachers do their best to control the students but they are overwhelmed. Focus is on behavior and not on academics.
—Submitted by a parent

Balboa City School is the epitome of excellence in education. My educational background is vast; i am still amazed at this outstanding school. The environment here is positive and nurturing. The principal, Administrative Director, faculty and staff work together to create this atmosphere/learning situation conducive to the highest level of academic achievement. Their commitment to the students is com -mendable. Each student receives special attention in class as well as the opportunity to receive help on a one-to-one basis. If all schools were based on the model of Balboa City School, education in our country would improve exponentially. l
—Submitted by a teacher

Balboa City School recently sent me an email. The math teacher gave me detailed information about how my child was doing in summer school. And then also invited me to attend live theatre as part of the summer school English program. I never had to even ask for a "progress" report. And I spoke with two other parents who have their children in the school during the school year. They said this was pretty routine for the school. I really like this communication and that I am welcome at the school. And I like the interesting curriculum. My child has never worked harder! I will probably switch to this school in the Fall.
—Submitted by a parent

There are some very specific things I like about this school. First, my son used to dread going to school because for some reason, even though he is a perfectly nice child, he was targeted by a group of boys and was bullied and harassed. In Balboa City School there is no teasing or bullying. My son has always love learning and now he looks forward to seeing his friends every day. Second, the school tries to make education relevant to the students. They are teaching programming, rocketry, SAT preparation, and even robotics. And all the usuall classes too. Third, they always have time to talk to me. They welcome me in the class! The teachers are always open and friendly. Fourth, we love the smaller classes. I love the structure within which students and can be creative. And the location is fabulous. I wish we had found the Balboa City School earlier. Also, the tuition is affordable.
—Submitted by a parent

Balboa City School is a wonderful college preparatory school. My daughter is learning in all her classes and despite what her previous teachers said (they were good teachers) she is now truly engaged in her academics and getting ready for college. She has been studying everything from a foreign language (mandarin!) to robotics and advance English and writing. I like that they are so close to Balboa Park that they can attend theatre and go to the museums on a regular basis. What a I like most are the students and the teachers. The students are nice to each other and there are not any cliques. And the teachers are highly motivated and always respond to my emails (except one who is not so consistent). This year they started a kindergarten. I wish we had started our child there a few years ago.
—Submitted by a parent

I enjoy the diversity of this school. It is located next to Balboa Park and the students go to art exhibits, live theatre, and even the science museums. The children are from all over, but one thing they have in common is that they are very polite. They are also quite respectful of their teachers. The only thing I think is not good is that the school does not have uniforms. I was looking for a challenging school that was modern, that gave student access to more interesting and challenging classes, like more serious writing, mathematics and even "electives" such as programming. I found all this and more in Balboa City School. It is great to see such devoted staff. Emails are always responded to. I do not like that a real person does not always answer the phone. But all in all this is the best school we have experienced in the twenty years we have had our children going to private school. (This is our youngest.) I love the way they motivate the students and the highly positive atmosphere.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter really loves this school. She was tested as gifted four years ago. For the first time in her life she is challenged by the curriculum and am very happy with the small seminar style classes. A really great program. Thank you Balboa City School.
—Submitted by a parent

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.