Torrey Pines Elementary School

8350 Cliffridge Ave.

La Jolla, CA 92037

School District

San Diego Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for San Diego Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 13, 2024

Some great teachers. Limited family engagement- seems to be preferential treatment among parents. There are great families and people there but the common theme seems to be families are not encouraged to build a sense of community. Admin is awful. At first thought admin would be great but he dishonest and unkind to certain families/ staff. Admin gets upset easily and often forgets. The school has potential but that comes from the top.
Submitted by parent on November 26, 2023

We moved to San Diego last year, our daughter started UTK and son went to grade 5...he improved a lot in writing and public speaking. All thanks to Mr.Devore, he is an amazing teacher...Thanks to Mr.Keiper and UTK...My kids love Torrey Pines.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2022

I see a lot of poor reviews, and don't understand? This is a wonderful school with engaging teachers and a great sense of community. My son started UTK this year and his class size is small - 2 teachers : 18 students. We are new to San Diego, and are so glad to be part of the TPES community - we have made many friends in such a short time. This great energy has gotten us involved in the school and volunteering. Principal Keiper is so great, he is very involved and so full of positive energy. My 4 1/2 year old loves going to school... and we are seeing a huge leap in his education as well. Previously he was in an expensive private Montessori preschool, but we are seeing so much more growth at TPES.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2022

The principal Ms. Nona Richard is devoid of the compassion, patience, and empathy necessary for the position of a leader of young students of varied abilities and needs.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2022

The school is great my older son who is in high school now had way better experience than my fourth grader. It all went down with this new principal, but with her departing now we are looking forward to a person that will heal this school back to the success it once was. I hope with the additional funding from the foundation instead of extras, we will consider making the classrooms smaller than what they currently are and improve the quality of education for our little ones. Besides the fact that we donate we have not seen any of the promised extras my older son had in this school like violin, music lessons, PE, drama club etc.I am giving it a 5 star because this was just few years back amazing school and after Nona’s departure I am confident it will get back there again. Ready for the new school year, new principal and increased quality of education!
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2022

Though this may have been a 5-star school in the past, I would like to give prospective parents a realistic insight into what current families have been dealing with in the post-COVID shutdown era. It feels like this school has lost any sort of solid foundation and is struggling to hold itself together on a daily basis. The COVID policies, for one, are inconsistent and a school nurse is only on-site one day per week. Despite having the policy to send children with symptoms home until they can be tested, there are constantly unmasked sick children in classes. Perhaps as a result, this school has higher COVID cases than other schools in the area. Instead of a PTA, there is a "foundation" that constantly raises money throughout the year for "extras", however, teachers who are hired for these extras often abruptly leave and the children receive minimal benefit from such short-term electives. The office staff is always flustered and overwhelmed, and office duties are mainly run by temporary staff and volunteers. This year, the school was told that they were receiving around 40 new students only days in advance. Teachers and staff were overwhelmed, and nothing was done to support them. I believe both new and current students were negatively impacted by chaotic classrooms caused by disorganization and the lack of support. The principal this year was lovely, but she recently announced she is leaving to explore other leadership opportunities (I don't blame her). This school has so much potential and is in a beautiful, peaceful neighborhood in La Jolla. The children and parents are great, and it is a fantastic community. I just hope the school can pull itself together to live up to its reputation once again.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022

Real life experience is waaaaayyy worse than past reputation. The kids who go here are ok. It's the "teachers" who only care about themselves and don't care anything about the students.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2018

We have been at this school for 3 years now and are delighted. What a treat to have such a high performing public school so close to one of the country's top research universities. The parent community has strong ties to UCSD, which the TPES Foundation leverages effectively (look no further than our amazing Science Discovery Day). The teachers are beloved by the students; they care and are invested in student success. And the school does a wonderful job emphasizing a healthy, holistic educational experience -- not one solely obsessed with academic achievement, but one that also values character growth, kindness, values,... how to raise a kind and intellectually curious global citizen.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2017

Although not as strong as maybe 10 years ago, Torrey Pines is still one of the best elementary schools in the district. Kids are all performing well beyond grade level with more than half being GATE identified. The teachers are caring and well-trained in dealing with classroom issues. The principal, although initially overwhelmed, is making strides in engaging with parents on issues. Due to parent donations to the school foundation, the kids are able to enjoy extra classes in music, science, PE, arts etc. Overall, no regrets in choosing this school and neighborhood for our family.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2017

Wonderful new principal and teachers. High standards are above grade average compared to other schools. Principal Ott strives to include equity and inclusivity at the school and appreciation of diversity in the curriculum.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2017

Principal Sarah Ott is awful. Most of good teachers left school in last years since Jim Solo left. She could not care less. My kid had 3 teachers changed during the year, each time amazing us - how worse it could be. Situation with pickup/drop off is unsafe, cars are speeding around intersections - she could not care less, just waiting for disaster to happen.Beware - this school started being short on local students recent years - because smart parents started pulling kids out to better schools around San Diego. They even opened school for choice student - unheard of when Jim Solo was principal.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2016

Sadly, this school has not been the same since principal Jim solo left and Sarah ott took over. She is not experienced, not engaging, and just has brought the level of greatness this school used to have down to null.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2015

Excellent school with great teachers and students. Both of my kids love it. Great location too.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2013

School performs because of the students (they take the tests reflected in the API), parent volunteers and their financial contributions to fill budget gaps along with the parent's high expectations who value education and insist their children are prepared for the future. 80% of the teachers are amazing and the other 20% are the typical losers that exist everywhere (thanks to the union). Hopefully the new Principal will impact these slackers who teach so they have summers off. They look/act like their jobs are a joke and harrass the kids daily due to their own personal misery. The new Principal is a long overdue, welcomed change. It's unlikely she'll tolerate the staus quo and will fix whatever messes the previous principal ignored or was afraid to address. Doubt she'll participate in the quid pro quo that's been so prevalent nor teach to the test for the coveted, competitive school ratings while pushing the kids beyond reason. Cookies, candy, no bathroom breaks, teacher stapling arm, belittling, fear, humiliation, homework due to time wasted during the day and deliberate indifference. Yep, it's all here and hopefully gone with the new Principal.........
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2013

Jim Solo the principal is amazing! Runs a tight ship but the kids are well prepared for middle school with the outstanding staff and teachers!
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2013

Its location is the best perhaps in whole California. Its name is great: Torrey Pines. The principal is great (Mr. Solo). Kids are great. Teachers are good. It is heterogeneous. It is the future of primary school in my opinion. I have 2 kids there and they are happy.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2013

I am surprised to hear negative comments about the school and the principal. Mr. Solo is out every single morning greeting students by name, talking to parents, directing traffic, picking up items for the lost and found, etc. He is completely dedicated to the school and has high standards for his staff and students. The teachers are competent and compassionate. My son is thriving and is reading well ahead of other kids his age that attend other schools. The parents of the other students are involved and friendly. Each of them knows my child and we all sort of look after each other. It is a fantastic, positive atmosphere. I don't know of a school out there that is not focused on test scores... until we change this backward system, that is what it is going to be like. I feel really lucky to have my son here.