2023 Best Schools for STEM in the San Diego Area

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  86 reviews

Parent: Our son started at Bishop's this year and has a wonderful experience. The teachers and administration care deeply about the whole student. I hear my son use growth set language that I know he is learning at school. The celebrate success and failures. We are looking forward to continued academic and personal growth for our son!... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 800

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  618 reviews

Senior: My experience at CCA has helped me grow as a student and find interests in areas I never thought I’d be a part of. The teachers at this school have been amazing, supportive, and thoughtful of the stress that we students had to go through. It truly has been a phenomenal experience to learn with such brilliant students and to be taught by such committed teachers. Homework: This school has an effective approach to homework. Teachers acknowledge that students have a lot on their plates and try to limit their stress levels. Teachers: Teachers have students actively engaged in discussions, love to see students make mistakes in order to improve, and work diligently with students to make sure they understand the material. Bullying: Teachers and staff takes bullying seriously and appropriate measures will be taken if bullying happens. The student body and PALs are also involved in various campaigns to stop bullying and promote a positive learning environment.... Read 618 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,503

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• La Jolla, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  154 reviews

Parent: LJCDS is an amazing school! I highly recommend it for any families who are looking for a wonderful community, nurturing environment for your child, and top notch faculty and staff. My daughter loves her days at school thanks to her caring teachers providing stimulating and creative lessons to help her grow. During COVID, LJCDS handled the pandemic with such care- leading with science- and doing the best they could to provide safe in person learning for all students. I feel grateful to have found a school community rooted in building life long friendships and connections; not only for my children, but also for our whole family.... Read 154 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,147

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  91 reviews

Works Here: I have never worked in a place that so clearly lives its mission. Francis Parker School invests in students at every level, from the amazing faculty who challenge students in the classroom, to the support staff who come alongside students as they grow and develop as people, to the dining staff who makes the unbelievable lunches each day - Parker really does care for the whole student. And as staff, we feel it too. This is a great place to work, and a great place to send your student!... Read 91 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,320

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  146 reviews

Parent: This is my 8th year as a PRS parent and we have been very happy. The teachers are strong, available to help outside of class, and many have advanced degrees. I said to my child the other day "I think you hit the lottery with your teachers. They all seem great". The response was "I know! I've been lucky every year!". Pacific Ridge looks to continuously improve. If they are not getting the results they expect, they change the curriculum right away. The "Harkness" seminar-style learning teaches both public speaking AND listening. And every class uses Harkness, not just English or History. The other thing I love about PRS is kids can be who they are. No one cares if you use the same lunchbox you've had since 4th grade or what you are wearing. Both of my children have found "their people" and made strong and lasting friendships. The tuition can require sacrifice, but I have no regrets.... Read 146 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 685

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  478 reviews

Senior: Torrey Pine High School is all about participating in school spirit! Everyone gathers together at all of the games and fills the chaos section with so much energy. It is a very sports-minded school, but luckily they do offer many clubs to those who aren't sporty. The teachers are all amazing and want the best for each of their students. The campus is beautiful! Almost everyone there is college driven, and will only encourage others to want the best future for themselves.... Read 478 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,547

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Poway Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  425 reviews

Senior: Really great school overall! Only negative thing about it is the academic pressure. We have a ton of great programs that allow you to study what you're interested in, but there's some stigma around AP courses and it's easy to feel left out or not smart enough if you're not taking a ton of APs. Academics are rigorous and fast-paced, but it makes it super easy to get all of the required graduation credits and have time for fun electives as well.... Read 425 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,481

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Poway Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  694 reviews

Senior: Westview High School is a great school! The faculty and staff are all very dedicated and caring, and they go above and beyond to support their students. The academic programs are top-notch, and there are a wide variety of extracurricular activities to get involved in. The campus is clean, and there are plenty of resources available for students to succeed. One of the things I appreciated most about Westview was the strong sense of community. There was a real feeling of belonging and support among the student body, and I made some great friendships during my time there. The school also has a diverse student population, which added to the richness of the experience. One area where Westview could improve is in terms of facilities. While the classrooms and labs are well-equipped, some of the athletic facilities are outdated and in need of renovation. However, this is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. Overall, Westview is an excellent school to learn and grow!... Read 694 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,395

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  268 reviews

Parent: This is one of those amazing Catholic schools that stands out far above the rest. The community is incredibly supportive, faith-filled, welcoming and comfortable for all. Catholic/Christian values are not compromised and are consistently weaved in among all that happens through out the day. The administration successfully handles all the challenges facing our teenagers today. The faculty is full of alumni, parents of alumni, and teachers who are vested in the success and happiness of their students. The academics are rigorous but there are a variety of paths to choose from. The sports programs are excellent but you don't have to play a sport here to feel a part of the enormous school spirit. Students and faculty are proud and thankful to be at Cathedral. This school is an uplifting place for your kids to be each day. My daughters are thriving here; socially and academically and athletically. We couldn't be happier about where they are spending the majority of their time each day.... Read 268 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,640

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Carlsbad Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  80 reviews

Alum: I loved Sage creek! This school is great for many things and the first and most profound to me was the family of inclusivity and family. The admin on compute weren’t just there to watch and teach us, they genuinely wanted to know the students and be there for them when needed. You could reach out to your teachers if you were struggling or overwhelmed and they would help get you back on track which is very important for high school students. Sage creek was also great with their class sizes since it was a small school of only a maximum of 1500. We had one on one interaction with our teachers and plenty of time to ask questions. We also had all of the equipment or supplies we needed in order to get a full education.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,379

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• San Diego Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  634 reviews

Alum: Scripps Ranch High School was a very wonderful experience that had plenty of facets to that I could apply myself. The academics section was fulfilled by the supportive environment of staff and educators who offered plenty of opportunities for educational growth and support for academic achievement. There was a wide variety of programs that I could join, through varieties of sports, clubs, and resources. Overall I felt safe, invited, supported, and engaged in the school community. Furthermore, the administration was very helpful and involved in our college readiness, as they spent time going over helpful steps for preparedness for college and guiding us in academic paths that were conducive to success. The only things that I can think of that need improvement is the students' attitude toward school culture as there was sometimes a disconnect. Second, the food was not bad. Regardless of this, my experience at this school is invaluable and I would not trade it for any other experience.... Read 634 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,050

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Coronado Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  257 reviews

Senior: I love this place! However, there are for sure things that could be improved. It definitely lacks diversity in terms of student body makeup as well as a white-washed, Euro-centric curriculum that could definitely be updated. Very involved parents and community, but it can definitely get a bit overwhelming and suffocating in terms of letting the school district and board members do their jobs. Coronado is a really special environment, and I've met lifelong friends in my classmates and special mentors in my teachers. The staff is amazing, and for the most part every teacher I've had in the last 3 years has been an incredible role model to me and somebody I can trust.... Read 257 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,075

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• San Diego Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  311 reviews

Senior: I love my school! What I love most about it, is the teachers. They are very caring and make sure you will do good in their class. If you ask for help, you will definitely receive it. I would recommend the Biomedical program if you would like to go into or are interested in that field.... Read 311 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,320

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Poway Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  571 reviews

Senior: Rancho Bernardo High School boasts a friendly community and extremely helpful staff/teacher ensemble. The campus was newly renovated, making the environment more welcoming and inviting for the students. Our sports, music/arts programs are fairly commendable and high in rank; as for core classes, the coursework is rigorous and effective. While the state of our school's safety is improving with more security, Rancho Bernardo's safety is relative to that of the district's in general. Parent input has great weight in changing school policy. Lastly, many resources are available at school and online for college readiness and further help for students; likewise, many services are available: therapy, support groups, clubs, etc. are some of the many forms of help.... Read 571 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,408

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.9 out of 5  41 reviews

Junior: The Cambridge School is a great school. There are not many kids, which leads to deep relationships between teachers and students. All of the teachers are amazing and extremely knowledgeable in their respective fields. They want you to do well in their subjects, and are constantly available at lunch and after school, but whats better is they truly care about the type of people their students are becoming, which leads to an incredible community and culture. The school is looking to purchase another property, which is good because as it grows, space for classrooms becomes smaller and smaller.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 386

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  29 reviews

Parent: We moved here from New York about 4 years ago. My children started in the preschool of SDJA and have been there ever since! Currently, our children are in the lower school and are excelling in all areas. For example, my son and daughter are reading above grade level. The small class sizes and constant attention they receive keeps them engaged and on task. The teachers are constantly creating special experiences for the students, and therefore the lessons never get old. For example, with all the rain that San Diego received my daughter’s teacher created a multi-sensory lesson. The students were asked to create small sailboats from materials found in the classroom. The boats were then tested on the makeshift pond that was formed on the playground from all the rain. The students made predictions and took notice on what worked best and what needed to be changed for future sails!... Read 29 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 494

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Poway Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  393 reviews

Alum: Loved attending Mt. Carmel High School! The school has a great emphasis on school spirit. Very well rounded school that offers sport, music, and a wide variety of electives and our band is rated #1 in California. Being involved in music and/or sports makes a huge difference in our high school experience and I had great memories because of my involvement.... Read 393 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,888

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Diego Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  507 reviews

Alum: Overall UCHS TEACHERS taught me a lot and i would always thank them for all the hard work and dedication they give to us the students. I also liked that I could trust my teachers and with almost anything. It felt good to study in an environment like that! I would like to change the way staff works and how sometimes they treat people. And also give those disadvantage kids more opportunities to play sports. And push kids to do them more often so that they follow a path that’s good for them!... Read 507 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,742

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• La Jolla, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  302 reviews

Senior: My experience here at Preuss has been fantastic. The school provides opportunities for students to participate in many activities after school too and prepare them for university! I also feel like this is a safe space for me and ask teachers for help; teachers here at Preuss really want students to succeed. As a first-gen student, Preuss has done their best to guide me for what to do when applying for universities as a senior and makes sure that all students are on track! Through it's rigorous curriculum, all of these are established this way to make it easier for students by their senior year without having to worry much if they're meeting all the requisites when applying to universities. Student's can view that handwork is paying off in the end.... Read 302 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 848

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.81 out of 5  54 reviews

Parent: My daughter graduated from The Grauer School and my son is currently a senior. This school has been amazing, and I feel so fortunate that both have been able to attend. The small class sizes help shy children feel more comfortable participating and they allow the inquisitive child to ask questions and explore creativity and out of the box thinking. The relationships students have with their teachers is unlike anything I've ever seen. Students feel valued and appreciated, yet they are also held to a high standard. Students feel they have a voice in their education and can participate in any sport or activity. Although there is a cost to attend, the school is willing to work with families and provide financial aid, when needed. I couldn't have asked for a better middle school and high school experience for my kids. They have grown into kind, confident, capable, and intellectually curious young adults. This is the BEST school!... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 160

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Alum: Small class size and dedicated caring teachers lead to indicate attention for every student. Excellent academics and college prep, with multiple ap courses in every subject. Students are very friendly and connected to each other.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 32

• Student-teacher ratio 2:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  41 reviews

Parent: Fantastic learning environment for boys! Our son has gained amazing confidence and his academics have improved exponentially. Class size this past year for him ranged from 4-11 students, allowing for personal mentorship from each of his amazing teachers. We moved to Carlsbad to be close to him while he attends school here and we are actively involved with volunteering. Lots of opportunities to play sports he wouldn’t have otherwise had in public school and cool clubs to join. Aviation classes are a huge added bonus. As a military family, we love the structure of Army & Navy Academy, the patriotism and the leadership training in JROTC. The campus is a little older and in need of some upgrades, but it’s charming and the location is beautiful. The boys complain that the food isn’t fantastic, but appreciate the efforts to continually improve. I believe the staff deeply cares about each boy.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 240

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Solana Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  86 reviews

Senior: Had a wonderful time here. Teachers were excellent, I could only have passed my classes with them, but they were also incredibly friendly and I truly built incredible connections with them. Staff here are all fantastic, absolutely no complaints there. Sometimes kids are rowdy, or mean, or whatever adjective preppy private school kids could have. But I really believe the staff did the best they could in keeping things orderly and controlling those kids while never overstepping or making students feel ruled. Sports are incredible, school spirit is incredible, extracurricular leaders are very dedicated to working around students and encouraging them, you will never have to choose one or the other. Every extracurricular is fantastic here I felt, and I experienced almost all of them. Truly have no complaints. Amazing school. Would highly recommend.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,019

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Poway Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  541 reviews

Alum: Poway High School is where I first experienced genuine connection and care from teachers and faculty. I loved my four years and the many opportunities in academics, clubs, and extra curriculars where I could expand my interests and knowledge. Poway High is a 10/10, and anyone desiring an excellent education would be blessed to attend! Special programs include: Titan Ambassadors Peer Counseling Many AP Classes Many Student run clubs Truly a happy place!... Read 541 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,251

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  495 reviews

Senior: La Costa Canyon High school is an amazing school overall! The school spirit is great, very pretty and safe campus, super fun football games, theater department does an amazing job with their performances, I've had good experiences with teachers, and it is a wonderful community overall. Despite distance learning being a hardship to staff, teachers, and students, I believe LCC has done a great job with online classes and keeping students learning in the safety of their own homes. On the downside, there isn't a ton of diversity and the food is not the best. Other than that it is an amazing school and I really enjoyed my high school experience there!... Read 495 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,834

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1