Innovations Academy

10380 Spring Canyon Road

School District

San Diego Unified
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

charter

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 February 03, 2025

My child hated the teachers and they were mean and unfair to him
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2024

Our family has been at IA since 2019, when my oldest child started as a 3rd grader. He’s now in 8th grade! We started at our highly regarded neighborhood school, but were finding it wasn’t a great fit for him. After seeing what the school had to offer, our second child moved over the following year. Then came our youngest, who started in kindergarten and experienced the magic of a much more child centered kindergarten year than our other’s had received. The teachers at IA have a lot more freedom to be creative, and they have so much more prep time and support staff than traditional schools. We have amazing exploratory teachers (performing arts, nature studies, Spanish, Art, etc) and so many experiences you couldn’t get without paying for private school. The frequent field trips are awesome–just this month my youngest goes to learn about the San Diego River, study water samples, etc, my middle is doing an Survive the Wild program in Julian, and my oldest is doing a two-night camping trip in the desert where they have an astronomer meeting them! The middle school has been redesigned this year and has a lot of improvements. Due to the small size of the school the classes feel like families. In my experience, even though my kids may not be close friends with everyone, they do respect other kids, recognize and appreciate their differences and learn to work with everyone. In the past the biggest challenge at the school has been the teacher turnover, and I’m really hoping that with the middle school redesign we have more stability in that regard. My kids all have fantastic teachers and love going to school.
Submitted by teacher on September 29, 2024

As a teacher at Innovations Academy, I can confidently say that this school is an amazing place for both students and staff. The project-based learning approach allows students to explore their creativity and grow academically in an engaging, hands-on environment. The school implements Positive Discipline and Responsive Classroom techniques, which foster a respectful, caring community and help build strong relationships.The campus is beautiful, open, and dog-friendly—creating a welcoming, nurturing atmosphere for everyone. The staff here is truly exceptional, genuinely caring for and nurturing each student, helping them thrive not only academically but also socially and emotionally. I feel proud to be part of such a supportive, forward-thinking school.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2024

Great place! Would recommend to friends and family.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2024

Innovations Academy could potentially be a great school, but the current director is a significant issue. Unfortunately, her behavior is toxic and abusive. She physically restrained my special needs child, holding him down so tightly that he struggled to breathe. When I confronted her, she yelled at me and insisted that this school wasn't the right place for him. From the start, her presentation gave me an unsettling feeling—she came across as odd and overly controlling—but I never imagined how bad it would be. The high turnover rate among teachers is likely due to her erratic and harsh management style. I deeply regret not trusting my instincts before enrolling my children here. If you're considering this school, I strongly urge you to look elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2024

Have a child that has been at IA for 6 years. She absolutely loves it and gets so much support. It's a wonderful community with a family feel and she is thriving socially, emotionally and academically. Highly recommend.
Submitted by other on July 25, 2024

As a former community member, I am very apprehensive to post this review or any identifying information for fear of retaliation from administration. I've worked in schools for my entire career, and I can say with confidence that this is not a place I would ever send my child for a multitude of reasons. Whether you are a parent or a prospective staff member reading this, I would encourage you to be critical of the incredibly high staff turnover year over year along with the lack of real curriculum or pedagogy for students.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2023

My kids started at IA and all was well, I was a working parent and didn't get very involved with the teachers in the classroom except for chaperoning a field trip here or there. The first year my kids were there none of their teachers returned. This happened the second year as well, in 2022 and it started concerning me. I'd started a new role and had more time during the day so I started volunteering more and attending the board meetings. What I learned about what is happening behind the scenes at the school is appalling. The teachers flat out do not have the support they need, and are openly gaslit and berated when criticisms are discussed. I did some digging and learned that parents of children with documented disabilities were being treated as they weren't valued in the school - sending children to the office for minor classroom disruptions and telling them they need to "be positive or be silent" is not cohesive with any tenet of positive discipline. I witnessed and personally experienced discrimination as well. I was told on the second week of school if my five year old with diagnosed adhd continued to be disruptive during circle time, he would be sent to the office or I could come pick him up. The school was aware of the meetings I'd set up to get the ball rolling on an IEP and had his records from the SSI meetings I'd had at his previous school when he was in pre-k. This rhetoric was told to me and other parents my older children were in classes with as well. My breaking point was when I happened to stop into an open house event and heard the director speak of transgender children so flippantly about their identities. The school definitely has a problem and it starts at the top. Also, the communication with the parents that comes from the director are often long winded, condescending and recently have become much more politically biased. Until an outside agency comes in and helps the school and director make sweeping changes, I cannot recommend anyone send their child here.
Submitted by other on October 14, 2023

I am writing this review in hopes of warning prospective teachers and parents about the toxic environment at Innovations Academy. I have been a parent there for 8 years and I taught for 6 weeks. I had known about the high teacher turnover and heard from past teachers about their heartbreaking experiences, but decided I wanted to see for myself. Unfortunately, the small amount of time I spent there, I was able to experience first hand what all the previous teachers and parents had been describing. I attempted to talk kindly and positively with the administration and was met with shame and denial.I have expressed all of my concerns to administration and board of directors to no avail. I am very sad to have had to give up my classroom and my community of parents. I hope and pray that there will be changes, but please, if you are thinking of working there, or sending your kids, I URGE you to investigate. Don't take my word, find out for yourself. There are TOO MANY stories from teachers and parents, about unprofessional and inappropriate ways of treating children, parents and faculty members. There is no respect or value given to teachers. This results in a hostile environment where positive discipline is not practiced and a healthy community is not nourished. Without discipline very little learning occurs. If you decide you want to see for yourself, reach out to the existing community and ask questions.
Submitted by other on June 12, 2023

Several years ago I sent my child here for middle school years. At the time I was so happy with our choice. Thankfully my student had a good teacher and things went well for us then. Four years later I was told there was a teacher shortage due to the pandemic. So I worked at the school to help- blinded by my child’s experience. After a week on the job I was absolutely horrified once I saw the inner workings and the director’s true personality. In the past few years 60% of teachers have walked off the job mid year or not returned for a second year. When I first heard this it was all blamed on the teachers “not being able to handle the IA way”. When asked what the “IA way” was, no one was able to answer. I began to observe Christine (the director) verbally abuse staff - later I was included as well. There was no targeted bullying of others, it happened to everyone and as a result teachers were continually on edge. Understandably, many could not handle to abuse and had to leave mid year (or return for a second year) for mental health reasons. These were likely very dedicated, loving and motivated professionals that were later blamed for “abandoning” students. I now know the heartbreak and anguish their decision to do so must have been. Only to be gaslighted at the end - true abuse.Even though offered, there was never any true support or guidance provided. There is no true curriculum to follow- but this reasoning is said to be based on allowing freedom of choice to create engaging learning experiences for their class. Which is irresponsible and impossible if one is under the stress that they were.I’m now regretful that I not only sent my own child there, I also recommend the school to many others over the years. Unless there is new leadership and restructuring- this is not the place to send your student! I am so sad to say this- but it is true.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2023

My son has been at this school since they opened up at the location on Ruffin Rd. It's been a crazy ride with Teachers leaving and being dismissed mid -year. He's had 3 new teacher's this year alone. The current one is a TA assistant to the prior teacher that was let go for falling in class a week prior before being walked out and not allowed to even talk or say goodbye to the kids in her class. I also don't believe the current teacher has her credentials to even be a teacher. My sons also endured major harassment from the director Christine. She's called him multiple volatile names on the phone during parent student conversation. It's so shocking an adult in control of a school can act and conduct the way she has. I'm extremely worried about my son's education going forward. We plan on getting tutors for next year to catch him up so he can be somewhat ready for high school. I highly discouraged any parent letting your child to attend this school. Christine seems to think she needs spies to watch what all kids are doing on social media and will discipline and have them followed around school and punished. Beware... It's extremely troubling what power she has and how she uses it. I honestly can't believe nothing has been done about her.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2022

I went on a tour of the school and while asking questions, I became concerned about the lack of a solid curriculum. I also asked Chistine how the PE teachers would handle a child who might request to take a rest break during extreme physical activity (the child has a documented heart condition) and her answer was quite alarming. It led me to believe that a child would not be taken seriously or listened to if there was any type of issue or problem. Children need to be protected and safe at school. The school itself is very beautiful and the assistant who showed us around was very nice. Too bad the person running the school is less than stellar.
Submitted by other on June 25, 2022

I went here awhile ago around when I was in elementary. I did not have a good experience at this school, got bullied badly and the owner of the school was always picking sides I once got in trouble for a kid hitting me. She marked it as my fault with anything I did, it wasn’t just the first time that happened. The bullying is very bad for at least. I remember the owner using “therapy” on me due to that. She told me how I would technically be in “jail when I was older” because of my “actions” which was clearly false. I remember my parents got on the phone with the owner, she was basically saying how everything I got bullied for was “my doings” she blamed on me. Every time time I got punched, harassed, bullied it was all on me which was unfortunate and I left the school due to that. And with the teaching, moving to my new school after going to innovations academy I was completely lost in what to do, the learning wasn’t the best I felt I didn’t get fully what I needed to learn going there they could of done better on that. I don’t really like what the school stands for either it doesn't help you for future “if you fail that’s alright” behavior type, your basically telling students that it’s alright to “fail” and that doesn’t set you up for anything they could of used different wordings instead of telling students that failure is alright.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2022

This review is painful to write because my child has made wonderful friends and the teachers have been exceptional. The handling of COVId has been atrocious at this school and the director Christine Klugen has made it clear she believes in immunity over vaccines. My child has only a few years left otherwise I’d pull him out. If I were you I’d check out Hi-Tech if you’re looking for a charter school that makes health decisions based on actual, and not, pseudo science.
Submitted by student on October 14, 2021

I just joined IA this year for 7th grade. I’ve made lots of friends and there nice but there are different boys that bully me about what I wear, how I’m doing something but there literally doing the exact same thing for example I was wearing a crop top yesterday because IA doesn’t have a dress and he said in Spanish I hate girls that wear those shirts and I was RIGHT next to him after that I was just joking around and I guess he got offended or something because he said at least I don’t have a crusty bellybutton and he like was trying to make an impression of my outfit. But there are nice people just know there aren’t just one there are multiple. They also curse a lot even my teacher does!! The hole school makes your mama jokes and it’s really offensive but I know they do that in middle school just I want to let you know if you have a kid in elementary school. They also have to math class in 7th grade one is advanced and one isn’t I’m not in the advanced but the beginner is so easy we do 5-6th grade math what I’m trying to say is that the other teacher should teach math and my teacher should teach writing and reading. I’m thinking of switching schools
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2020

So far our experience has been remarkable. We came from another brilliant school and were concerned our kids would struggle. What we have found is an environment that is more diverse than expected, teachers sho go above and beyond every single day, kids that are happy and challenged, and a whole community that believes that school can and should be an amazing experience for each kid.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2020

Amazing! So excited to find a school that parallels my philosophy of raising kids. Innovations is what educational success looks like!!
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2019

We love IA!!!! My kids are actually happy!!! Great friends, great parents, great teachers. We did PUSD first and ya our kids were smart but yikes they were miserable!!! Focus at IA is on emotional intelligence so kids are incredible!!! BUT the problem is that academically it is allllll teacher dependent. As a parent you really need to pay attention and make sure your child isn’t behind. We do workbooks after school so I can make sure my children are keeping up. We’ve been here 4 years. Two of those academically were disappointing (but those teachers are gone now- maybe they got too many complaints). Keely (3rd grade) is the BEST teacher ever emotionally and academically for the kids. She is a true gift.
Submitted by parent on July 25, 2018

9/10: My son has been at IA since Kindergarten and is about to enter the 5th grade. Not all years were great, but he has matured a lot and has excelled at academics. We loved his teacher in 4th grade and look forward to a great upcoming year.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2018

For my family this is a 10/10 school with 10/10 staff and a great student community. This may not be for everyone, especially those who adhere to the traditional classroom model and think homework volume is a measure of educational efficacy. Tiger Mom's, Innovations is not for you. The antiquated meat grinder that is traditional 'high performing schools' is churning out the next generation of Tyler Durdens. Kids have the rest of their lives to learn about the zero sum game. At Innovations they learn about collaboration, constructive conflict resolution, community, kindness, world culture and learning by experience. It is also a place these kids are eager to attend, not, to quote the Simpsons, 'kid prison'.