Pacific Beach Elementary School

Excellent, fun, diverse school! My older daughter went to an upscale private school . . .Mistake. Her education would have been the same, had we kept her at PBE. My younger doughter attends school her now, and is very, very happy! Her teacher was dedicated, smart and required respect and disapline from all the students. The prinicipal also requires the same from the Teacher's! I beleive 51% (approx.,) of the kids speak spanish, and are bused into School! This create's a great 'real life' classroom learning settings! Love the school!
—Submitted by a parent

We LOVE PBE! I have a kindergartener and second grader. The Principal is outstanding, the teachers are dedicated and caring and the parents are committed and very involved. This is a family atmosphere. Very laid back and welcoming. Lots of extracurricular activities-Spanish, Math Club, Golf, etc.
—Submitted by a parent

PBE is an excellent school. My son went here two years ago (5th grade) and was in the seminar program which is outstanding. Now two years later my daughter started kindergarten and she really loved her teacher and the school. The principal, teachers, academics and everything else involved with the school is great. I feel the school is like one big family. Not to many schools are like that. PBE is highly recommended.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school. This is our first year at the school, and we love everything about it. It is an amazingly welcoming environment. The teachers are excellent, the parents are committed and the school is a good reflection of the generally welcoming and easy going PB environment. Academics are great, but without an overly competitive atmosphere. We love this school!
—Submitted by a parent

If you're looking for a great elementary school, this is it. The principal is outstanding, which filters down through the teachers and therefore, to the students. The school has a great vibe to it, the teachers are very dedicated, and there is a close 'family' atmosphere at the school. I'm extremely happy that my child attends this school!
—Submitted by a parent

I LOVE Pacific Beach Elementary! I went there, and now my two children are going there, my daughter had the same kindergarten teacher that I did! It is an outstanding school all around, the teachers are great, the parents are wonderful & very involved, they offer all kinds of enrichment activities, assemblies, music, art, plays and SO much more! My children (and I) love it!
—Submitted by a parent

After one month of my kids attending, I am very impressed with the quality of the academics, the parental involvement, and the 'vibe' at PBE. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a relaxed, creative, and diverse environment, that does not sacrifice academic excellence.
—Submitted by Jerry Sonnenberg, a parent

The teachers are great! My sons who are now 20 and 22 went to PBE and now my 7 year old goes here and they had the same teachers! The teachers stay a very long time here and are great at what they do. Love the 6 to 6 program and their staff---a lifesaver.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are great. A lot of volunteers and very busy activities for all students to join.
—Submitted by jeanine mehran, a parent

PBE is a really excellent school. My son went here for the 5th grade and loved it. His teacher really brought out the best in him. He learned a lot. PBE has a great seminar program as well. The playground is big and open for the kids to have room to run and play. I would send my other children here once they hit school age.
—Submitted by a parent

PBE has improved greatly over the past few years, even with its challenges (change of leadership, increase of economically disadvantaged, etc). Three components that help students achieve; teachers and staff, parents, and students. It is not just the components by themselves, it is the communication between the components that really make the difference. But it is not just test scores. The students at PBE are learning life long skills that may not necessarily be measured by the STAR test. And the FOPBE have done a great job keeping the parents involved with everything that is going on within the school. Thank goodness for the 6 to 6 program and the after school homework club! Congrats to all the parents, teachers, staff, and most importantly the students who worked hard to improve the test scores. Way to go and keep it up!
—Submitted by a parent

Pacific Beach Elementary is a wonderful school. There is a lot of outdoor space with playgrounds, game courts, and gardens that the kids work on with parent volunteers. The teachers are great, and the academics are well above average. My only point of concern is the lack structured intramural classes like art and gym. Most importantly, my kids love this school.
—Submitted by Heather Siladi, a parent

Excellent caring teachers who are responsive to individual students' needs. My children have received such a well-rounded education academically and socially. Can't say enough about the school.
—Submitted by a parent

From the moment I first toured the campus to 5 years later with all 3 of my children attending, Pacific Beach Elementary has been an academically challenging and culturally rich learning environment for my children. The Gate/Seminar program is very impressive. Children from La Jolla, Bay Park, Clairemont and other areas choice in, just to attend this advanced program. The music department is amazing with keyboard instruction beginning in 1st grade. A full time Orff trained music teacher provides vocal music, recorder and percussion instrument instruction to every grade level. PBE also has a band and string ensemble. The enrichment programs are too numerous to mention. Art, Science, Chess, Socratic Kids Club... this list goes on and on. Pacific Beach Elementary has tremendous parent envolvement and a wonderful teaching staff and the most supportive principal. It is a school I am proud and fortunate to have my children attend.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent, warm, invitung school! Friendly, quality staff. Tons of extra curricular activities. We absolutely loved this school!
—Submitted by a parent

I would rate the academic programs as a bit above average. I strongly believe that the school needs a better ELL program as about 1/3 of the students are primarily Spanish-speaking. The friends/parent group does a great job of supplementing so that students have arts-based experiences. There is a small, but very active parent group. They are very organized and committed, but it's really just a handful of parents that do all the work.
—Submitted by a parent

A lot of parental involvement. 55% hispanic kids that are bused in from down south. The other are local kids and parents are involved. Great teachers. Lack of funding but PBE creates fundraisers to get money.
—Submitted by a parent