Encinitas Country Day School

We really like Encinitas Country Day. My 3^rd daughter has been there for a year and we have had a great experience. We have had 2 teachers– she moved up half way through the year at my request because she potty trained and her friends were moving up. Both teachers were just amazing– nurturing, positive and fun! We are involved in one extra activity but the class is always doing a fun project and learning how to socialize. My 3 year old is very interested in the alphabet, she pracitices writing her name and just loves art and school.
Our current teacher Miss Keara is hands down one of the best preschool teachers we have ever had (i have 2 older girls).
I would highly recommend this preschool!

I am sad to see my daughter leave this pre-​school. She has developed so much while attending. From the gymnastics class where she strengthened her balance skills to music class where she learned rhythm and could repeat beats, there is always something to look forward to. She LOVED going to class every day. I am not just impressed with what my daughter has learned during this time, but also the lessons she has taught me as a parent — including how to be supportive without pushing too hard and how capable she is at cleaning up after herself. I am thankful that my daughter had a place to go to where she felt loved, appreciated and needed while learning so much about the world around her. I was consistently impressed on days where I would drop in for an unannounced visit to see all the children enjoying themselves in an environment where they were comfortable and could be themselves. I was especially impressed with the Birthday celebration in one classroom where the student would walk ‘around’ the sun to show another year went by — ALL the children were involved and the Birthday child was especially excited. I’m sure I can expect the same experience at the elementary school as she enters Kindergarten, but it is hard to say goodbye to the preschool and the staff that has loved on my daughter for the last few years.

I wanted to make sure that my review is read. please think twice about sending your preschooler to this school. My husband and I saw things here that are quite frankly unethical for a school. If you do decide to try it. please, please drop in on our child every now and then. Especially try dropping in around recess time. You will be shocked at how outdoor time in handled. We actually had a specialist come in to try and show the teachers what needed to happen on a playground that large. The director and teachers were not willing to even look at the challenges. There is no facilitated play. All of the children are running around… sometimes running for their lives it seems. We were there… we would ask the smaller ones if they liked being chased and they were terrified but didn’t know where to go. We saw «kill the bad guy» games… we saw teachers see these games and do nothing about it. We saw kids hitting each other with tree branches. In the classroom we saw a teacher who disrespected children so often that I found it difficult NOT to say something. Please at least keep in mind that this school is NOT what it seems. The teachers and the director are looking at the money. They were unwilling to help our son. We had specialists come into the school and offer suggestions to improve facilitated play, to improve overall morale of the students and we were quietly asked to leave. This school will not nurture your child. They will be yelled at, embarrassed and ignored for most of the day. TRUST ME… I was there!

On the surface this school seems like the answer to every parents hopes and dreams. Music program, gym class, dance class, Montessori teaching.perfect. I can say without question that ENCINITAS COUNTRY DAY PRESCHOOL was our worst experience as parents to date. Not only did the teachers seem bitter and angry about their position, what the school promised was not there at all. We were asked to come in and help our son on the playground to do better socially. We were able to observe firsthand exactly what is going on at this school. Teachers ignoring students. Teachers sitting around eating at tables while smaller children were being chased by older children. Little to no facilitated play. These kids were left to their own devices on a playground the size of a football field. Children ages 3 to sometimes 6 were left alone. Some children sat alone every single day we were there. No help from teachers.lost. In the classroom we witnessed a teacher actually put her hand in a little boys face and told him to «be quiet». Kids were left to do the same work over and over with little supervision and no encouragement. Nap time was actually a fire hazard. There were cots stacked practically on top of each other. Some children in the class that truly needed special attention were left all day to sit and stare. I also witnessed the teacher accept a personal call on her cell phone in front of the children. The conversation was inappropriate for anyone to hear. Gym class consists on two very tired instructors and NO TEACHER SUPERVISION. The kids sit on dirty pieces of mat-​like material and then use rusty old bars for gymnastic type activities. This equipment looked like it was ready to fall apart at any moment. Music class which was supposed to be with instruments and held in another room never actually happened. A teacher would come in and sing songs. not what they advertised at all. No instruments, no separate, special classroom. I say all of this because we believed the video and the tour… we actually cried when we saw it. The director and the staff could not have been LESS accommodating to our needs. Our son needed extra help socially… they were unwilling to even try to help him. We saw children there who needed help. I am sure the parents think their children are fine. they are not fine. They sit there and stare into space. No once pays any attention. As long as ENCINITAS COUNTRY DAY PRESCHOOL is collecting the money, and your child isn’t rocking the boat. they stay. Please stop helping this school continue. Everyone seems miserable there. We sat there every day trying to help our son because no one else would. Go some where loving. Go somewhere where you actually get what you pay for.

Generally a very nice, caring, well run and well kept pre-​school. We absolutely love Ms. McCorristan as she is always calm, well prepared and listens to the children. Nice open campus with newly updated lawn area and space for the kids/​parents to grow fruit and vegetables. Would certainly recommend them to anyone.

My kids have been attending Encinitas Country Day School for 6 years now. We are just so thrilled to have an enriching, safe environment for our kids to go to everyday. The teachers and staff focus on helping each child learn at their own pace using a traditional Montessori approach to teaching. This means that the kids learn by experincing numbers and information rather than just copying and memorizing. I love that they offer a variety of cultural classes such as art, music, drama, spanish, PE, technology and Tae Kwon Do, focusing on the well-​rounded student.
This is not a snobby, «rich kids» school by any means. Most of the parents I know are very laid back and just happy to be able to send their kids to ECDS.

My niece attended ECDS for two years and, thanks to the fantastic teachers, she entered Kindergarten with ease and ended up being a grade or two ahead of her class in reading, writing and math. Today, my niece is eight and continues to thrive (at El Camino Creek) and my family and I all agree on one thing — ECDS more than prepared my niece for kindergarten.
Rock on Miss Tabatha and Miss Lisa — you’re the best.

Encinitas Country Day has been a blessing for my children. This is our 7^th year at the school and I can honestly say I have never been happier. Our Director and Principal care about every person at the school: teacher, parent and most importantly students. Yes, we are a Montessori school with a traditional overlay. Our teachers have passion and dedication for their students. Their character developement has been an amazing addition to the curriculum. We have kids here from San Diego to Oceanside. We have top notch teachers who love to be here. Come on by anytime and check it out for yourself!

Their new campus is beautiful and they base their teachings on Montessori, however there is something really unfriendly about Encinitas Country Day. It is slowly becoming an elite prep pre-​school and grade school. The children from first grade on up now wear uniforms. The clientele is primarily plucked from Rancho Santa Fe and the owner is very stuffy and will replace any part-​time kid with a full-​time one as money is a priority. I know some of the teachers here so I get the inside scoop. They are not a happy bunch and that in turn trickles down to the kids. My friend’s daughter went there and I used to pick her up so my opinion is personal.