Big Sur Charter School

304 Foam Street

School District

Big Sur Unified
Grade

K-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

charter

School Map for Big Sur 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 09, 2023

This school is absolutely amazing! All the teachers, the school director, and the assistant director are all so wonderful to work with. I have had my daughter here since kindergarten and we haven't had any issues. She loves the Coastal Stewardship class that lets her learn about our environment and how to treat it but also allows her to explore new places! She has made lifelong friends here as well. I love that I get to be hands-on with her learning but that she also gets to attend a class where she can learn from others! This is the best charter school in Monterey County, in my opinion, having researched the majority of charter schools out here.I highly recommend you enroll your child(ren) if you want to be more involved in their learning but also want them to be able to learn in a classroom setting!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2022

Bullying was so bad we had to leave school because the administration doesnt care they just wanted the money from the student, also suuuper libreral
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2019

BSCS is the perfect home for our children. As a parent, do you: (1) Want to be engaged with the school and know what your child is learning? (2) Want your science class to be outside, IN science (in and around Monterey Bay)? (3) Have the opportunity to spend more time with your child and contribute to the richness of their experiences and learning? (4) Want a school calendar that can support family trips and learning vacations? (5) Want your child's time at school to be proportional to what they learn, leaving time for additional sports or interests? We want all of that, and find it at BSCS.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2019

Five out of five stars for sure. Our experience over the last 4 years has been outstanding and we wish they had a high school!
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2019

We love this school! It's the perfect fit for our family.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2019

Best school environment my son has ever experienced. Outdoor classroom time and exercise facilitated and a wonderful teaching staff. Art classes were superior to what is offered elsewhere, great classroom spaces and a planet-conscious curriculum.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2018

I would rate this school a strong 7. The PE sounds great, but some of the vendors who they use could be better. The music is very fun based and not stress based, so your child will be exposed, but not as good as the Waldorf program or lessons you get on your own- despite it being a small class size. The nature program (coastal) is wonderful. The teachers I very much like for my child and my child likes them also. As a family that has moved often, I would not say this is the best of the best, but it definitely could be there easily, in the future, as families donate more and the funds are used for more variety in enrichment programs. They also need to hold students behavior accountable to make the programs that they do offer enjoyable to all the students, and so that they retain the excellent families.
Submitted by parent on July 01, 2018

We really enjoy this school, overall. It is a good fit for our family, and 99% of the other students and families are wonderful. We would have loved to do more personalized learning, but understand the constraints under which the teachers operate.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2018

I can't thank the faculty at BSCS enough. The curriculum is interesting, and my student loves going to school. The faculty and students have a much closer connection than a large classroom setting. I feel its much better for many reasons. One reason is the students build stronger, more accountable relationships with each other, and their Instructors. The faculty genuinely cares about each student, and they help each child succeed. My student has learning challenges, and the staff at BSCS have gone out of their way, above and beyond to help my student. They have built a personalized plan, and a formula that helped my son be successful in school. It is also great to see my son motivated to learn and excited to go to school. I never thought that would happen. :)
Submitted by other on November 19, 2015

Our family has a long history in Monterey Bay and our daughter is the sixth generation from our area. We are very grateful to BSCS and are thrilled with the Monterey campus. The school is well run, safe and balances a stellar academic curriculum with important programs such as art and music. We are very happy with the staff and teachers. From the school Director, to the teachers and secretary all are professional, kind and focused on children. Students are held accountable for leaning with monthly parent teacher conferences. The school has an AMAZING coastal stewardship program. So much to offer, including tennis lessons and music. I feel that the parents and staff are all focused on giving the best education possible to each and every child. Ms. Aimee the fourth/fifth grade teacher and school resource teacher is a gifted educator.As a public charter school it is tuition free and offers what only the very best private schools could only dream of offering. A true gem of a school on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula. Over time, I believe this school will have a very long waiting list as their philosophy and structure is based on the core principles that parents want for their child's education. Thank you BSCS for offering a strong and balanced program in such a safe and nurturing atmosphere.
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2015

I always liked the idea of homeschooling, but since my daughter is an ESL student, I thought it isn’t an option for us. When I heard about BSCS I decided to give it a try. So far I am happy with my decision.BSCS gives my daughter an opportunity to socialize and learn English in a very warm and supportive environment. We both enjoy weekly music lessons (parents and siblings are welcome to join in) and nature walks with Coastal Stewardship. BSCS provides curriculum and materials and are ready to answer any questions we might have.Some people complain about organization. Yes, there was a little chaos in the beginning of the academic year, but I think it was due to the fact that the school is small and has a small staff. But because of its small size, it also feels like home here. There are only 13 kids in my daughter's class (she is in Kindergarten). Another thing I like is that with BSCS i am able to easily combine common core curriculum with the curriculum used in my home country. My daughter gets to learn them both and we still have time left for fun and extracurriculars. I recommend BSCS to families looking for an alternative to full-time homeschooling.
Submitted by student on October 29, 2015

We have been here for two years , it fits all of our needs. It feels like family and you really can't find this kind of parent teacher combination anywhere else. I was in the education field for over 20 years , so I hand picked it. It met our expectations and beyond. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2015

Finding the right educational experience for your child can really be a challenge. This is my child's second year at Big Sur Charter School, Monterey campus. I am grateful to have found a program that meets my family's needs. While my daughter is attending classes at Big Sur, I am confident that her teacher is looking out for her, and her peer's, academic and emotional well being. I am grateful for the monthly one-on-one meetings with my daughter's classroom educator. It is a time to review my daughter's academic progress, to strategize for her success and delight in her achievements. I have found that the school encourages parent involvement and welcomes parent's input. Numerous monthly meetings are aimed at creating open communication among the parent community and with school administration. I find it reassuring that the school board, teachers and administration reevaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum and the community partners, making adjustments as necessary to better meet the needs of the student body and the goals of the school.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2015

This school is wonderful! My child loves going to school and really loves coastal stewardship and music! We are so happy we found this school!
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2015

This is our second year and we love it! This school is a family commitment and there were several families last year that did not realize the amount of parent involvement (your primarily homeschool while your child does classes a couple of days a week). This year the vibe of the school is a lot happier and the kids always seem happy!
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2015

Big Sur Charter School has been a godsend for my family. My daughter is in her second year there and we are so pleased and excited to see her progressing so well. Small class sizes, dedicated and passionate teachers, and a personalized curriculum are what distinguish our school from others. The administration is there to support and help with all aspects of your child's education. Parent involvement is welcomed and your voice is heard. The community is our teacher and nature our classroom is a lovely mantra. Thank you Shawna, Amy, Rosanna, Christen, and everyone else that makes Big Sur Charter School, the best educational center in Monterey County. Jim Butler, father of a third grader.
Submitted by other on October 15, 2015

What I love about BSCS is the balance of home school and in-class work. The teachers really work with and support the home school teacher so that our daughter grows and learns at her pace, keeping learning engaging and fun. Also, BSCS offers amazing programs that take learning outside of the traditional classroom. Real hands on learning stuff. The stuff most kids day dream about while sitting in a classroom with 30 other students competing for the teachers attention. Believe me, I was that kid. Like anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. BSCS is set up for the parents, the students, the teachers and the community to come together and create an amazing platform for educational and community growth.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2015

Big Sur Charter School is a safe place with small class sizes. The children can avoid some of the chaos at the local public schools and focus on their work load. My kids focus more on education with much less participation in crowd control. The small classes creates a much friendlier environment.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2015

My previous review was deleted. I suspect the truth hurts. This used to be a good school. This school currently is failing students and their families alike. There is no community, parents have poor curriculum choices, and the principal is all talk and little action. I highly recommend anyone interested in this school to speak with parents, both current and former. Your eyes will be opened.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2015

They have replaced the expertly taught enrichment courses with online math and language arts. They are off track from their mission statement.