Pacific Academy

Pacific Academy Encinitas has been a great fit for our 7th-grade daughter. She feels valued, safe and cared for at school. The staff is loving, encouraging and accommodating. The small class sizes lead to individualization and great support from teachers. In addition to academic support, PAE encourages participation in school sports & activities, even without prior experience. These opportunities have helped our daughter to develop self-confidence and allowed her to create friendships with students across grade levels. We are so grateful for PAE & the culture of learning they have created.

My daughter has been at PAE since 8th grade (she's going into Senior year 2025/2026 school year) and this school has been amazing for her. She's dyslexic and had struggled in public school with teachers that didn't have the bandwidth to work with her and help her learn. That caused severe social anxiety that made it harder for her to focus... it was a negative spiral. The teachers at Pacific Academy really took the time to get to know her and appreciate everything that she does well while pushing her to be her very best even in areas like math that are harder for her. She now has a 3.8 GPA, is taking AP classes and applying to out of state 4 year colleges with B.S. programs in zoology. She loves to read, leads a D&D group, plays tennis, is on the student council (ASB). This is a kid who struggled to read at all in the 2nd grade. The school is really small. Sometimes I worry that it's too small. But it's a big wide world out there and she does theatre with a different group and volunteers at a rescue and has friends from her co-op charter school (that closed and also didn't have a high school). In the end, the kids at the school are kind, most of them are a little quirky too and above all there is a strong culture of acceptance.If your child is a little different, artsy, smart but not thriving in a public school, socially anxious, or driven to succeed and not being challenged, you should totally check out Pacific Academy. They take a 1:1 interest in each student' success, they are flexible and yet they hold their students to high standards. It's small but mighty. We love it.

My son absolutely loves this school! He needed a smaller classroom size, with a loving environment. This school feels like a family. The principal is so approachable, and always validates your wants and concerns. We are so happy here, and hope to continue our education through the 12th grade!

We have only been at PAE for a year but having three kids across kindergarten, 4th and 7th grade, we've seen a huge amount of the effort and expertise that the principal and faculty put into the school. The class sizes are small and they work to the student's level, which is perfect for us as our kids have strengths in different areas. The campus is small and always clean and tidy, and every morning we are greeted by friendly staff who all seem to genuinely like the kids. The academic program is varied and rigorous but is also tailored to their skill level without putting too much pressure on the student. We have had such a positive experience and for the first time ever, my kids actually enjoy their day at school. We're looking forward to seeing our kids progress through elementary and into high school.

I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Pacific Academy Encinitas. This small private school has truly been a gem for our family. With its incredibly low teacher-to-student ratio, each child receives the personalized attention they deserve. The teachers here are dedicated and attentive, tailoring their teaching methods to meet each child's unique learning needs.The school community vibe is warm and welcoming, making it feel like an extended family. It's clear that the staff genuinely care about the students' well-being and academic growth. Our children have thrived in this nurturing environment, and we couldn't be happier with the individual attention and support they receive daily.If you're looking for a school where your child will be seen, heard, and taught to their level, PAE is a fantastic choice. Highly recommend!

We took our son out of public school in fourth grade and sent him to Pacific Academy mid-year. I felt that the IEP program was hurting his confidence, that it wasn't effective, and they were having him do work that was totally uninteresting well below grade level. The class size was way too large for any type of personalized help and I had no idea what they did each day. He was falling behind a full year or more and our son seemed to lack motivation and/or interest. In public school, with a class size of 35, I had only one 10 minute meeting with the teacher to review my son's progress in a five-month period. The entire meeting was taken by a scripted overview that my son read. It was useless. I only found out by mail that he had fallen behind over a year. Contrast that to sometimes weekly calls, texts and e-mails from his teacher and an open line of communication to talk to the Principal anytime I want. Our son also tells me what he is doing now with excitement. In starting at Pacific Academy, I was astonished how quickly (the first week) he immediately had a different attitude about learning, school, and his confidence soared. It was like he was a different kid. He now believes he is intelligent, he is interested in learning and has confidence. My son's teacher at Pacific Academy is outstanding- gifted I would say. The class size is only six kids so she is able to take him where he is now, and help improve that to the next level. He comes bouncing home every day telling me what he learned, what his goals are and how much he is improving. He is learning material that is far more advanced than anything he was doing in public and quite stimulating. He wants to read at night and has started to do writing at camp on his own. I about fell over when I learned that. For PE they go to fencing, boxing, yoga etc at real gyms,....he loves all of that too. They have field trips that are included as part of the tuition. He he looks forward to and fun activities like Pancake morning today.A Spanish immersion program is also part of the day. My son is teaching me Spanish words, where before he had no interest. I have found that the kids in the class are so kind and welcoming; all harbored by the fantastic leadership of the school. It isn't a "religious school," but they enforce being kind, thoughtful and good to everyone. I HIGHLY recommend Pacific Academy for parents who are looking for a small class size, and an attentive, personalized program. It is an incredible program. I will forever be grateful to the school as they are quickly helping our son fall in love with learning, have confidence in himself, and excel to his full potential. What more could a parent ask for from a private school.

My son Danny never loved to go to school since he was young. But Pacific Academy's principal and teachers have discovered his music talent and inspired him. Dany has become more confident, motivated, and love school. I didn't expect Danny could go to college. Thanks to Pacific Academy that Danny got into UC Davis.

We recently moved our son over to Pacific Academy after spending 4 years at another very small private school in San Diego. It was a HUGE decision for us but we couldn't be happier. Our son is thriving, happy, and making friends. No drama from the school or the admin. Thrilled!

I'm so happy with Pacific Academy my grandson loves going to school .. The teacher are amazing and very aware if each students needs and they nurture there strength as well as areas they need help .. It's the best ., I highly recommend it .

Pacific Academy is an outstanding school that caters to each students individual talents. The small class size combined with excellent teachers has enabled my son to excel in high school. The focus on both academics and extra-curricular activities has focused my sons abilities and prepared him for college. I highly recommend Pacific Academy to anyone searching for a great school with small class sizes.

We are so grateful to have found Pacific Academy. Our son receives such personal attention from teachers and administrators, the teachers are great and even the students like them! Our son is getting an excellent education, it's a creative environment AND he is being supported and encouraged by the staff. I highly recommend this school!