Del Mar Pines School

Del Mar Pines has been the best experience for my two children. My first daughter was attending another private school in Encinitas that was poorly run. She applied and started mid-year and the director, Mrs. McCord, was so compassionate and welcoming about our situation. The transition was amazing. The attention to detail is what is special about Del Mar Pines. The teachers are very articulate about each child's needs and learning levels. With the amazing teacher-student ratio, every student gets the attention they deserve to excel in each subject. It is a very well-rounded school. There are advanced subgroups in math and English. The performing arts are very strong here with fun classroom plays and also a year-end whole school musical production. Best elementary school in San Diego.

There are a lot of new teachers in this school with little teaching experience! I loved the idea that the students are supposedly broken down into groups based on their reading/math level. However, if your child needs any additional help at all, DMP wants you to pay their teacher to tutor them! Even when they are in the advanced group! We were told the groups are fluid but apparently they are not. Based on the principles emails, they have complete disregard for the students health and parents who aren't able to get vaccinated yet because the "majority of the staff is fully vaccinated". My child's class went on a field trip which is completely unnecessary.

We write this review for DMP to say a profound thank you to Marci, her faculty and staff for the tremendous and positive impact they made on our children from kindergarten through third grade. In fact, while we recently moved out of state, the hardest part about leaving San Diego was taking our kids out of DMP and into an unknown new school setting. While a little small for some, the DMP community, education, and overall program was exceptional in the development of our children, both academically, and personally. They loved their teachers and excellent special instructors, and felt completely safe, as we did, in the DMP environment. We could not more highly recommend a school than we would DMP; we absolutely miss our friends at DMP!

When it comes to developing the principles and framework needed to prosper, Del Mar Pines is second to none. Their first class faculty, curriculum, and campus truly create an environment that allows students to reach their full potential. In turn, Del Mar Pines has provided the very foundational principles I used to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and to serve as an Officer in the United States Army.

Everything about the school is great. Our daughter looks forward to going and has a great attitude about school because of DMP. They focus on getting the kids to take responsibility for their own learning, which is fantastic.

My daughter transitioned from a local public school to a private school because I wanted a learning environment with more personal attention and individual guidance. To start all the director, teachers and staff at this school are super friendly and supportive. We had several meetings with teachers to discuss which areas we felt were important for my daughter. Her teachers (especially the 5th grade teachers) helped develop learning strategies and periodically gave me updates on her progress. I would definitely recommend this school if you want a small, supportive, and empowering elementary school.

I have two children at DMP, one started in Kindergarten and the other in 3rd grade. We have had nothing but great experiences with the school and the entire staff. I have seen a great growth in my children both academically and emotionally. This is truly a school where they believe in teaching and nurturing your children as a whole person. I was particularly impressed with how the school converted to online learning within 3 days of the lockdown so the children were able to resume their class work seamlessly. All the teachers and Mrs. McCord (principal) truly cares about the children and have always taken every opportunity to get to know them on a personal level. We appreciate all the hard work the teachers have put in during this tough time under quarantine. If you are looking for a great school that will keep your children engaged and a place where they will grow not just academically but also emotionally, you will not find a better place than Del Mar Pines!

We researched so many schools and after a very exhaustive search we chose DMP. We definitely made the right decision. My son's teachers are so attentive and nurturing. The school is safe, small and intimate and very supportive. We love the staff and we feel like we joined a family. Students are engaged and taught in a fun, instructive way. My son loves his new school and asked if he could go to school on the weekends too!!!

Our son just started kindergarten in DMP this summer. The transition from preschool to kindergarten has been extremely smooth thanks to the loving and fun environment created by DMP teachers and staff. I am trying to learn more about my son's daily school experience by asking him for 2 happiest things and 1 not-so-happy thing every day. He said: 'why only 2 happy things? I have more than 5.' :) And so far he has't been able to mention even 1 not-so-happy thing. He enjoys after-school care and enrichment classes very much too.

Great school! I can't imagine a better fit for my family.

This is a wonderful school. The small size enables the children to develop in ways a larger school would not. The academics are rigorous, yet the staff maintains a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Small class size and small instructional groups enable teachers to really address each child's needs and help them reach their full potential.

I have a 4th and 2nd grader at Del Mar Pines and I highly recommend this school. My children started in Kindergarten and have flourished in this amazing environment where learning is fun and the exploration of knowledge is a priority. My kids LOVE going to school every day and are thriving because of the very individualized attention they get from their exceptional teachers and the robust curriculum. They are challenged to reach their academic potential but never stressed or put under unnecessary pressured to achieve academic success. Del Mar Pines is a very special place for children and their families.

Teaching kindergarten at Del Mar Pines is my passion and a joy every day! Our teaching staff is committed to creating a nurturing environment, to encouraging creativity, to instilling responsibility and to fostering life-long learning. The kindergarten class is a place where each child is celebrated for their unique qualities, and guided with patience and enthusiasm. Our small-group reading and math instruction allows each child to be challenged and to work at the highest potential. Every day is fun, whether we are discovering a stick bug with the video projector and looking up its characteristics on Wikipedia, or recording our voices on the iPad and exporting pictures about Martin Luther King Jr. The most rewarding experience is watching the children grow from kindergarten to sixth grade. It is a totally caring and supportive community involving the students, teachers, staff and parents. I have been teaching for over 30 years, and can t imagine teaching anywhere other than at Del Mar Pines School.