Encinitas Country Day School

3616 Manchester Avenue

Encinitas, CA 92024

71 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 15, 2022

My son had a wonderful K year here. The small class size allows for truly personalized learning, as well as great social emotional development support. I appreciate that I know he is learning from 2 trained teachers as opposed to parent volunteers public schools often depend on to supplement the 1 classroom teachers. In addition to typical curriculum, the kids have daily specialists including art, music, Spanish, PE, library, gardening and drama. They have monthly field trips and a very active school community with tons of opportunities for parent/family involvement. And there is a big focus as well on social emotional learning. I have not seen any issues with bullying, problems with disruptions in the class, etc. Recently we ran into a few 4th graders that are the K's reading buddy class and the "big kids" were so sweet talking to and playing with my son and his friends. It really epitomizes what we have seen - it is just a great student body and small enough it really feels like a community. I have seen comments about the administration being bad but that hasn't been my experience. I have always gotten responses to any email or call and they do a good job communicating. And I love that the teachers make themselves available for parents to reach out directly. The principal even stands outside every morning greeting all the students by name!
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2022

Ineffectual leadership! No teacher accountability. Lessons in most middle school classes are remote memorization with limited learning.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2021

This school is AWFUL. Coming from an AMI Montessori school I was attracted to the 'Montessori-hybrid' learning as well as the large beautiful campus which offered plenty of outdoors. However, the school and teachers itself leave something to be desired. And this is NOT Montessori method at all (we previously came from an AMI school in Northern CA). My daughter (who is quite literally the happiest person I know) would come home crying every single day in my daughter's class, giving reports of the teacher including things like "crumpling up her work into a ball and throwing it into the trash, telling kids that could not speak, raising her voice and very strict harsh rules that she was scared to do something wrong - personality changed overnight. It was so bad that the parent's took two children out of the classroom because kids were so upset. The 'extra curricular' activities were disappointing as well. The music teacher often lectured and expected kids to act and 'perform' music in very specific ways and scolding them and 'throwing out of class' of they didn't comply (e.g. my first grade son was thrown out of class every day for 8 weeks for 'not paying attention and looking around') Needless to say, both kids "hate" music, even through we have a musical family (father was opera singer, etc) My son's first grade teacher definitely checked out mid-year and was not accommodating to my son's special needs. I also found there is a handful of parents who have been together from preschool and really have formed a click, which makes it hard for newcomers to be included and children left out of playdates, etc. Avoid this school at all costs - there are much better options in area.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2021

We love this school--our child missed two full years of school due to an illness and we attribute the care/individual attention this school was able to provide with bringing him up to grade level and just as importantly, helping him transition back to a school environment. Ms. Hayes (6th grade) and Ms. Deb (5th grade) are absolute gems and have both changed our children's lives for the better. Love this sweet school.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2020

I would say it's the best possible School you could send your child to in the area personally from what I have seen and my experience and watching my child go through the first three years of their school we are only homeschooling this year because of the coveted business but certainly plan on returning after everything is as close to normal as possible
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2020

Our child went EDC from 1st through 4th grade, it was an outstanding foundation for him. The teachers were all super caring and took the extra effort to make sure that our child got the attention he needed for his advanced abilities. The small class sizes and frequent communication with the teachers were amazing. We could not have higher praise for the school, the campus, and the staff. Sadly, we moved out of the area, otherwise, we would have never left.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2020

So far the experience has been outstanding. the small classes give students great personal attention and The teachers are outstanding. my daughter loves the school and is excited to go to school everyday, she comes home and says how much she likes the teachers and how kind everyone in her classes are. The campus is absolutely beautiful, and the level of education has exceeded my expectations.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2020

My daughter loves this school so much. She feels accepted, valued, and feels like she gets plenty of attention and personal assistance. She enjoys learning and looks forward to going to school every day!
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2019

This is our second year at ECDS. We have been happy with all aspects of the school thus far. I was so impressed last year with how well my daughter's teacher was able to tell me where my daughter was at academically and socially. Last year, at the parent teacher meeting her teacher discussed where she was at with learning her sounds(down to the specific letters) as well as what letters she was still working on with her writing. Her teacher in public school would not have been able to give me detailed information like that because they don't have the ability to spend that much time with each child. I am so grateful for the small class size and the ability of the teachers to give individualized attention when needed. When issues come up between children, they are addressed immediately, so bullying is virtually non-existent at the school. There is also an overall encouragement from the staff and teachers to support each child in their development. I see how this example of encouragement and support imbued by the teachers and staff flows down to the students and how they learn to support and encourage each other. The school could market itself better for larger enrollment, but for now if anything as a parent, I see that as a benefit. The school year includes art, music, drama, technology and Spanish as well as library time and PE, in addition to regular class learning time. I think ECDS does strive to give a child a well-rounded education while also teaching them life skills and helping them begin to blossom into confident young people. We look forward to seeing our daughter continue to learn and grow at this school.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2019

From around 2 years into our attendance at ECDS I noticed a steady decline in the school. My children attended this school from first grade through 6th. They are now in middle and high school. Since about 2014 we noticed enrollment on a steady decline and teacher talent decrease. Some teachers there are still great but there are several that should retire, however I don't think the school is able to effectively recruit new, quality teachers. The administration is abrasive, unethical and disturbingly inept. Enrollment numbers are so low in some classes that children have few social options and disruptive students are more amplified. Some parents bring their children hoping small classes will benefit a child with special needs but the teachers are not credentialed or trained for those students, leaving typical students to fend for themselves. Once you choose a school for whatever reason, as a parent you don't want to change and disrupt your kid's life. I suggest you not start at this school because I think there are better options.
Submitted by other on August 28, 2019

As a child, I attended this school for over 5 years and attribute much of my personal growth and learning to the time that I spent there. As a robotics engineering student at a top engineering university I got the chance to return to ECDS this past year while on vacation, and was both shocked and delighted by what I found. Many of the teachers and staff who had taught me some ten years prior were still teaching and maintaining the standard of excellence that I have come to associate with the Encinitas Country Day School. Even now, as I approach both graduate school and my future career, I can only recall happy memories and effective learning from my time spent at this excellent institution of learning and development.
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2019

My children have thrived at ECDS, both in academics and in their strong community. They have learned respect and compassion to teachers, students and families. They have an amazing vocabulary and are excelling in all areas due to their exceptional teachers and small class size. They have fun, they feel accepted. I don't know any other school where the families can actually walk their children into their classrooms each day, allowing for families to know each others, for kids to feel a loving community in this beautiful campus. I would recommend this school to my friends and family.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2019

ECDS has shown all the negatives to avoid in private education. Poor teachers, horrible administration and a beautiful campus. It’s a shame that this beautiful facility with great potential is being run by an unprofessional handful of teachers and a very incompetent head of school. We wanted to like it, we left. Best decision ever for our child.We work hard and make a priority to send our child to private school to excel academically and emotionally in a nurturing environment that leads to success. This school is not the place for it.It’s a waste of your money.
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2019

My experience was excellent and my children enjoyed the classrooms and teachers. I have a child in 5th grade who loves the school, her teacher and the safe family type atmosphere it provides.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2019

Shocked to find this website. I wish I had seen it before as I agree to most of the criticism posted here. Our son had the most absolute terrible experience at this school. He sat in time out facing a wall after taking in class, a punishment gang is dated and unacceptable. When I approached the teacher she said: if his desk is facing the wall he is most likely not to talk. He was removed to the corner of the classroom.My other son was in 5th grade and his teacher called the kids “ child” in a very rude tone and made reference to their future and lack of abilities to thrive in lige if they did not do well. Such as:“You are in a private school, if you waste your time here you will not amount to much, you will be a nobody” terrible remarks. We tried to converse with both teachers but we were received with a very rude attitude. No one should ever punish a child to face a wall and humiliate a child in classroom. In addition is horrible to make personal remarks to kids success in their adult life if they are struggling to learn. Real learning should be promoted through care, respect and kindness. We left mid year- thank God! Best decision ever!!
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2019

We wanted to like ECDS, it’s very convenient located between our home and ok our way to work. I am a professor at college therefore being in the education field lead me to pull my kids out. After seeing so many wrong things happening I had to make a change. The teachers, in particular 5th grade was rude and made several condescending reabria towards some children who had learning differences. My child does not have learning differences but she was shocked and sadden by hearing this. When we approached the head of School we were greeted with gossip where she talked about the other families and those kids to explain teacher behavior. Absolutely disgusting. Under no circumstances another family history should be discussed with another family. This school is not worth it’s money nor has good ethical values.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2019

Encinitas Country Day is located in a beautiful piece of land and has a very beautiful campus. That is where all the positives end. From a poor administration leadership and unprofessional conduct from the teachers we were shocked to see that a school like this is running. We left after two years, our daughter is thriving at another private school. Seeing now how a professional school operates is wonderful. Encinitas Country Day is not a good school. If you are looking for a private education research and you will find a better school. Seeing how many teachers are unhappy and frustrated at ECDS was an eye opening. We are glad we left.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2019

Wonderful teachers! I love this school! I highly recommend it to everyone!
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2018

Experience at the school has been average. Like all things, there are good and bad points. Overall, the education is good but there are challenges with the administration, split teachers in some classrooms, and an art curriculum that isn't as strong this year.
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2018

Absolutely phenomenal experience. We are grateful beyond words that our child can attend here. She is learning and growing and becoming an amazing kid and I know they have played a part in that.