2023 Best Schools in Solana Beach

• La Jolla, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  158 reviews

Parent: Finishing up our first year at LJCDS and we love it! Our child (2nd grade) has quickly made new friends and we have met an incredible group of parents, faculty and staff. The strength of this school is how well it builds a sense of community through its character-building curriculum, events and good communication - which makes it a wonderful learning environment. Our child loves going to school! Students at LJCDS are given a robust well-rounded education that supports their curious minds and helps them learn how to be great students and citizens. At school, our child is surrounded by a wonderful diverse group of bright kids, many speak 2 or more languages and are talented in academics, sports and the arts. The campus has a real buzz of hope and joy, and I highly encourage folks to visit and see for themselves. If you are searching for an academically challenging school, with a fantastic arts program, and warm, welcoming, grounded parent community, I absolutely recommend LJCDS!... Read 158 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,147

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  625 reviews

Parent: CCA is big, with 600+ graduating class, so do not expect the individual attention bestowed to every student as you would expect from a private school with 100+ graduating class. CCA is exceptionally strong at STEM. CCA students routinely garner national awards in the STEM fields. Athletics is also excellent given that this is an academics-oriented school (tennis comes to mind but no football, which may be a good thing). Envision Conservatory is a unique program giving an outlet to students who prefer to pursue arts and humanities rather than sports during after school time. Just like anywhere else, students developing extraordinary talent in a specific field need to work outside (often independently) of the school-sponsored activities. Counseling can be challenging, so making a good connection with the counselor(s) early is key. Overall, CCA is the flagship public high school in the county of San Diego.... Read 625 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,503

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  481 reviews

Freshman: Most teachers are really kind and supportive but some are very unprofessional and talk bad about other school programs and teachers.... Read 481 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,547

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• 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

• 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 4.22 out of 5  270 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 270 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,640

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  497 reviews

Senior: This is such a great High School! It doesn't fit into the traditional mold of a High School, so if you're artsy, or creative, or not into sports, this is a terrific option. Great academics, terrific vibe, solid sports for those who want it, and a great social scene. I can't imagine having gone anywhere else for my high school education, and this school has helped me pursue my true passions!... Read 497 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,059

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Public School•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: This is an amazing school both of my children have flourished here...it’s one of the best schools in San Diego.... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 366

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• 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

• Solana Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  87 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 87 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,019

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Great school - EXCEPT - if your child gets Schaller as a science teacher, expect that they will learn nothing. This teacher should retire or not be working with children. Absolutely awful teacher. The one thing my child is learning from him is the fact that there are indeed horrible teachers out there working and administrators cannot do anything in regards to switching your kid to a teacher where you kid will actually learn the subject at hand.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 551

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  496 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 496 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,834

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Solana Beach Elementary School District, CA•

• K-3

• grade A

• Students 276

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Rancho Santa Fe, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.93 out of 5  15 reviews

Parent: HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Hand-picked teachers who LOVE to teach and care about their students. They create a warm and excepting environment to learn at the students own pace, but challenging them along the way with a vigorous HS curriculum. Classes are engaging and small class size allows for lots of individual attention. Teachers are organized, prepared, (whether in person or online) provide lots of feedback to parents with students progress, and are flexible to offer needed accommodations. Teachers go by first name, a feeling of “family” but run class with structure and clear communications about assignments, and high student expectations. High Bluff transitioned to all online within days of the pandemic lock down. They have now implemented Microsoft Teams for a integrated and rich online learning environment or choose in class in person instead. Workload is very relevant & reasonable, no homework on vacations or late nights during the week. My son loves school and his teachers!... Read 15 reviews

• grade A

• Students 100

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Dieguito Union High School District, CA•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 3.36 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: This school helps kids online and still has the same help they would have online or in person. I’m so grateful for oak crest and there support for my child and others, so thank you teachers and staff and a big thank you to Katie Friedrichs for making this school a memory to remember for a life time thank you one again :)... Read 11 reviews

• grade A

• Students 817

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Futures Academy (formerly Halstrom) has been terrific for our son. He finished 8th grade there and has started ninth grade. The one-on-one teaching is a great model and he learns well in that environment. He rarely comes home with homework, and is actually happy to go to school. The school transitioned extremely well to online learning after the pandemic. The beautiful thing about Futures is we actually stopped worrying about school or his homework. My wife and I highly recommend Futures.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 28

• Student-teacher ratio 1:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: Pacific Academy Encinitas is a great place for students to receive individualized instruction in a small class room setting. The smaller sizes mean students get instant access to teachers and one on one coaching if they need it. Middle and high school students are allowed flexibility in learning styles, and allowed to mature and be responsible for their own success. The school day is a little longer which means less homework overall because students are given time to get it done in class with fewer disruptions. The school ensures students are happy and ready to learn - pancake breakfasts, flexible & unique PE program, whole school enrichment days, and the ability to adjust a child's class based on their academic level, not age-grade level. There is no bullying and there are no behavior problems to deal with. Kids can concentrate on learning and being themselves which has made PAE a great fit for our family. Students do need to have their own activities and sports outside of school.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 116

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Solana Beach Elementary School District, CA•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: My son got into Global Ed through lottery and I have to say that the program is just terrific in every sense. The teacher is excellent and the teaching is in small groups (wth tons of patent volunteering). The learning through perspectives and presentations has been the way to go. And they accommodate every kid well through individualized curriculum. Can’t say enough good things about the program.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 462

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  23 reviews

Parent: a notable school for pursuing art by creating connections worldwide between students and significant artists. This school not only allows the students to freely demonstrate their artistic talents but also emphasizes the importance of balancing education with the arts. The diversity of SDSCPA embraces students' differences with an open environment for all. This school has much diversity and opportunities for the arts, however the resources for students to reach counselors can be improved; counselors can not be found in their office during suitable times for students which isn't essential for the students. Furthermore, the balance between education and the arts is shown to be important yet, the balance between the two is not always shown. Many students have to choose which their attention should focus on which to consequences. To conclude, the School of Creative and Performing Arts is recommended for future artists to pursue their dreams.... Read 23 reviews

• grade A

• Students 241

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• grade A

• Students 281

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Cardiff Elementary School District, CA•

• K-2

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: My daughter has attending Kindergarten and 1st grade so far, the teachers have been phenomenal. They are very supportive and continue to impress me with how much time and attention they spend with their students. Overall, I am very happy and my daughter really enjoys going to school, in fact, it’s sometimes difficult to get her to go home :)... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 257

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Cardiff Elementary School District, CA•

• 3-6

• grade A

• Students 375

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Rancho Santa Fe, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  9 reviews

Alum: I was a student at Horizon Prep from preschool through high school. I cannot speak more highly of how Horizon Prep prepared me for success in college and beyond. I not only grew academically, but I also grew in character, relationship building and most importantly spiritually because of Horizon Prep. The teachers are the most wonderful part of HP. They care deeply, teach from a Christian worldview and small class sizes allow for ample help in understanding concepts. One thing I am very grateful for is the high school program preparing me to think for myself and the development of my Christian worldview. Because of HP, I was well equipped to be a strong Christian in a large secular college environment. Horizon Prep is such a blessing and I am so thankful for everything I learned during my time as a student there!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 318

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  13 reviews

Alum: High Tech High Mesa was an incredible project based learned high school. We immersed ourselves on very hands on project throughout all four years, while developing extremely important relationships. This high school prepares you for college experiences and throughout the application process as well.... Read 13 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 318

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1