International School Of Monterey in Seaside

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	6/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth	5/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: January 29, 2026

ISM is such a great school and I have been bless to be part of it for the last 14 years. My two oldest have graduated from here and was definitely a smooth transition to high school. My youngest is still here and I know he will have the same experience. Staff are easy to talk to and are always welcoming. I only have good things to say about this school. Overall it's awesome.

Posted: January 11, 2026

The co-principals, Mrs. Allen and Mr. Mullen, are easy to talk to and always willing to schedule a meeting with parents. Parents can walk with their kids to class in the morning or drop them off from the car. The school and associated Parent Teacher Association (aka Community Connection) regularly host afterschool or weekend events such as: providing input into how the school operates, a student talent show, community color run, and around the world festival where families can share their culture. The vast majority of teachers and staff we've interacted with are friendly, energetic, and enthusiastic. Parent concerns are taken seriously and addressed. The school also starts teaching Spanish as a second language starting in kindergarten which is great! In addition to performing arts (aka theater/music) and visual arts, they have throughout the year a Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) which provides teachers, staff, and parents the opportunity to share their passion and knowledge in specific areas with students. ISM is a very inclusive community.

Posted: January 11, 2026

Posted: January 10, 2026

We have been with ISM since Kindergarten, and now we have an 8th grader. The transition to middle school was seamless because the environment remained stable and supportive. The principal, and vice principal have embraced the students with so much support and guidance. I truly feel like they are looking out for each of my childs best interest. Academically, the curriculum is challenging but balanced with strong social-emotional support. The kids have learned a second language since kindergarten, and have had art and music as well. Absolutely recommend to all my friends and family.

Posted: January 10, 2026

Posted: January 8, 2026

Mi experiencia como madre de familia de 2 niños ha sido increíble la escuela cuenta con maestros extraordinarios dedicados a la enseñanza, paciencia y dedicación. Su plan de estudio muy bien estructurado.la amabilidad del personal

Posted: January 8, 2026

Posted: June 4, 2025

This was our first year a part of ISM, we have a 2nd grader and a kinder. This has been a challenging year for them, as they transitioned school districts. Our children have had some trouble, which led us to seeking behavioral health specialist to meet with them. Throughout the process they school has been amazing alerting us when there were issues and meeting with us to discuss steps forward. I was very happy how the school worked with us to mimic the tools we were using at home in class so they received consistency. The events the schools hosts throughout the year are also exceptional way to meet the other parents and the teachers and it truly feels like a community as opposed to just a center for education. I feel very lucky our children were accepted here and that they will be able to remain at ISM through 8th grade.

Posted: June 4, 2025

Posted: May 14, 2025

Mi experiencia con la Escuela ha sido positiva. El aprendizaje y apoyo que ofrecen para los Estudiantes fomenta un impacto positivo en ellos. Se sienten bienvenidos y es una escuela multicultural. Me encanta. También las diferentes oportunidades que como padres Podemos participar e involucrarnos en la educación de NUESTROS estudiantes.

Posted: May 14, 2025

Posted: May 11, 2025

I am happy to have my students in the school. Mr. Mullen and Mrs. Allen are great leaders and are both very approachable. My child is happy and his teacher has really done wonders for his academic growth this school year.

Posted: May 11, 2025

Posted: March 4, 2025

I suggest saving your time and energy to look for a different school for your child to attend. I witnessed a lot of bullying at this school. Not a pleasant experience overall.

Posted: March 4, 2025

Posted: January 7, 2025

The International School of Monterey (ISM) community is quite welcoming and consistently engages with parents and students to foster a learning environment like no other. This school strongly focuses on education and parental involvement to ensure a safe, diverse, and multicultural environment. The teachers and staff are quite encouraging and supportive in every aspect of a new attendees social or mental needs. I highly recommend enrolling your young adult at this location, you will not regret it!

Posted: January 7, 2025

Posted: January 6, 2025

This school has been a staple in the Monterey Bay for several years. Most people think its a private school, but it isnt! It is a charter school, and they do hold an annual enrollment lottery. But its great because the student body is mostly representative of the community at large. They continue to listen to parent feedback, and while it isnt a perfect school, theyre doing everything they can to support the students as best they can. The teachers are generally communicative, they offer a great extracurricular program after school, and they have arts! My kiddo is learning Spanish in early grades in a structured environment. The school offers a good amount of support for students in terms of academics and social-emotional support. Im happy being a parent at this school.

Posted: January 6, 2025

My daughters began attending ISM this school yearone in kindergarten and the other in third gradeand we couldnt be happier with our choice. At home, we speak Spanish and Japanese, and its been incredible to see how quickly our kindergartener has picked up English, which speaks volumes about the exceptional work being done at the school. Both girls are genuinely excited to go to school every morning. They feel accepted and proud to be part of an environment that not only respects cultural and linguistic diversity but actively encourages and celebrates it. We feel at home.

As a new member of the community, Ive felt warmly welcomed by the staff and truly value the opportunities for parents to engage and take part in their childrens education. Without a doubt, we couldnt have chosen a better school for our family. ISM all the way!

Posted: January 6, 2025

This school thrives in families involvement and provides lots of volunteering opportunities for engagement. It feels like a community of dedicated parents and teachers running the school for the betterment of young children. There are areas still needing improvement infrastructure wise but the commitment is there and the school seems to be working on that direction.

Posted: December 17, 2024

The International School of Monterey (ISM) is a public charter school dedicated to cultivating conscientious, compassionate, and responsible global citizens. Heres an overview of ISMs strengths:

School Leadership:
ISM's leadership excels in integrating the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile attributes into school life. The administration is approachable and engages actively with parents and teachers to foster a collaborative educational environment.

Homework:
ISM employs a balanced approach to homework, emphasizing meaningful assignments that reinforce classroom learning without overwhelming students. The focus is on quality over quantity, ensuring homework reinforces classroom concepts.

Bullying Policies:
A robust anti-bullying policy is in place at ISM, prioritizing a safe, inclusive environment. The school has clear strategies to address and prevent bullying, ensuring every student's well-being.

Support for Learning Differences:
ISM is committed to supporting students with diverse learning needs, providing tailored support plans and resources. Teachers are trained to differentiate instruction and accommodate various learning styles.

Character Development:
Character development is central at ISM, integrating IB Learner Profile attributes like being open-minded and caring into the curriculum. Students are encouraged to develop strong ethical values and a sense of global responsibility.

Teacher Quality:
ISM's teachers are highly qualified and dedicated to student success. They employ innovative teaching methods and are committed to ongoing professional development, staying at the forefront of educational best practices.

Parent Involvement:
ISM encourages active parent involvement through regular communication, volunteering opportunities, and participation in school events. This partnership between parents and the school strengthens the educational experience.

Programs Offered:
ISM offers diverse programs with a strong emphasis on inquiry-based learning and student-centered projects. The curriculum is enriched with arts, Spanish, and extracurricular activities, providing a well-rounded education.

In summary, the International School of Monterey offers a nurturing and dynamic learning environment that fosters academic excellence, character development, and global citizenship. Parents seeking a school prioritizing holistic education and community involvement will find ISM an excellent choice.

Posted: June 19, 2022

At the time of this writing, the suspension rate for students with disabilities was 25% compared to the state average of 7%, which is the most important metric you should be worried about if you have, or are considering sending, a child to this school if they have any level of disability whatsoever. Students with disabilities at this school are five times more likely to be suspended, according to data in this review and I wholeheartedly believe it given what I've seen as a parent and what I have observed with other families over the years. Unfortunately the school, and perhaps most notably the outgoing director, created a culture that discriminates against students with disabilities. There has not been much support provided for teachers to better understand students with learning challenges, such as ADD, nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD), and high functioning autism and from what I've seen, these are the kids most vulnerable at ISM. I would not be surprised if nothing changes in this regard. It was once a great school but that was a long time ago. I am concerned about the integrity of ISM should this behavior lead to an indefensible lawsuit, for example. That's my gut feeling anyway, and if you are a teacher or administrator reading this, please dig deep, think about your policies and results, and truly work toward educating all students in a more equitable fashion. It is ironic that this school was started on the premise that it would create "understanding and respect for all" yet now receives a score of 4 out of 10 on equity.

Posted: August 14, 2019

They are changing their homework ways - but quite honestly homework does not reinforce the learning but is mostly busy work.

Posted: August 14, 2019

If you are lucky - you get a great teacher. too many teachers without CA credentials or emergency credentials. I think they have a hard time attracting quality instructors.

Posted: August 14, 2019

In words they do - they say the right things - but too many things are ignored. Focus on the wrong issues.

Posted: August 14, 2019

There are supports - and the problem is across MPUSD with high turnover.

Posted: August 14, 2019

I think ISM is over rated. The reputation is good - but the quality has fallen. MPUSD has less than quality schools so not really an option to move. The good thing is the school is small.

Posted: December 6, 2018

Excellent. Both of my children attended here and had great educations. They developed an absolute love for math because of the math teacher. One is now about to graduate as a Mechanical Engineer and the other is going into public health/medical field.

Posted: October 18, 2017

They don't have an actual special ed program or even an actual resource room. So the special ed kids are mostly directionless save for some very minor counseling. Most often they do things decent schools discourage properly, one poor kid steals people's food and eats out of the trash, and they have done very little to discourage it. Poor little guy...

Posted: October 18, 2017

I was bullied a lot there, and they gave laughably soft punishments and awful, sappy lectures. So I often resorted to fighting and I got in trouble.

Posted: October 18, 2017

In the lower grades this was true once. But slowly common core curriculum (or stuff like it) is leaking in
and ruining it. However, the middle school homework is hard and comes in abundance. Many say you need to study, but it's hard to study when you don't learn.

Posted: October 18, 2017

The lower grades, spanish, and about a tenth of upper grade classes have decent teachers. The vast majority of upper grade teachers are awful.

Posted: October 18, 2017

They don't do this, but they don't encourage the opposite either.

Posted: October 18, 2017

The school is very. uncoordinated, and changes it's opinions as often as someone changes socks.

Posted: October 18, 2017

The worst school I have ever attended. If I could turn back time, I would go to Colton or Los Arboles instead.

Posted: May 15, 2017

My experience at this school was meh

Posted: February 22, 2017

We came into the school mid year in Kindergarten. My daughter was warmly welcomed by administration, her teacher, and fellow students. The school really fosters a great learning environment. We are excited to be a part of this school!

Posted: August 19, 2015

Many parents are fooled by stupid things their kids say, this is a fantastic school don't be discouraged by ratings by angry parents...to angry parents your kids aren't going to be smart if they don't study. ISM isn't perfect but what school is. Most teachers are good at their job, especially in the lower grades. The staff works hard to make children learn but if they want to goof around there's only so much they can do. The recess staff makes sure the kids don't get hurt, to a fault maybe, sometimes too over protective. The homework lab is alright, but you aren't forced to do your homework, and most kids just goof around with their friends. The after school program isn't the best, they often yell at the kids but they aren't teachers their special day care workers, some are good at taking care of kids, but the ladies working at the after school care often are just on their phones. The school lunches are terrible, pack your own lunch and the IB program is a joke, and a cliche used way to often. But there are defietly more pros then cons, and one of the best school in the Monterey area

Posted: August 19, 2015

Posted: July 22, 2015

Teacher's don't listen to student conflict and when confronted by a parent seem to take it out on the student. Principal doesn't listen AT ALL. Kids behavior at the school is terrible. I think the lottery system is a joke. If you are a big donor your kid will get in and the staff will not discipline that child. They will get a way with misbehavior etc. Not fair to the children who want to learn. Teacher's talk down to the kids. They don't seem to be happy. Don't BE FOOLED.

Posted: July 22, 2015

I have had my kids at the school for about 6 years now. The teacher's come and go and many are very rude to the students. My kids have been talked down to year after year. I guess one could say this is how it will be in high school so get used to being treated badly. The report card system is terrible. What parent wants a 16 page report card?! No wonder the teachers are crabby. Oh well you can't get a way from this. You just have to encourage your kids yourself because the staff doesn't seem to care like they should. Hope this school year the teachers will try harder or at least "fake it" so the students and parents will be happier.

Posted: April 2, 2014

Yes, there is a lot of homework in the upper grades. My daughter is in the middle school, and it seems like there is always a project due, a paper due in language arts, a test to prepare for in Social Studies, a paper due in Spanish, a video due for something else. Every day something. But, in the end, I think the kids learn to balance homework with their other activities, and I think they are becoming prepared for high school. when I hear about kids in other MPUSD middle schools barely being asked to write papers, I'm grateful that they are getting that experience at ISM. I agree with the student below that the new grading system is baffling and somewhat annoying to read. Some teachers do not update it promptly, so there is not the quick feedback I'd like. but, I think that comes with grading a bunch of papers. if they just assigned simple mindless worksheets, than everything would be easy to grade and understand, and homework wouldn't take as long to do. But the kids would learn less. A good group of parents and a good vibe. I can see why many more families apply each year than there are available spots. There are NOT a lot of better schools out there in this area.

Posted: January 15, 2014

Why was my low rating deleted? Did the staff complain that they were being exposed as the horrible group of people they are? They lie through their teeth about everything. I noticed a ton of the bad reviews just disappeared so the rating shown is entirely false. This is a bad school. Staff pretends to care about children, but truth is they focus on themselves while the children suffer. They always ask for money, and rarely spend it on the kids, but sure treat themselves. Another post had pointed out that they asked parents to treat them to a staff appreciation event, and of course they had that review deleted truly tasteless.

Posted: January 11, 2014

The teachers and students at this school are caring, and friendly but, the homework loads are extreme. I have about 3 hours of homework a night. I don't do anything but homework anymore since the school became an IB school. The IB program implements a weird grading system that is difficult to understand and adjust to. Overall, there are many better schools out there.

Posted: December 26, 2013

This school is terrible and the teachers are uneducational and at recess or break the teachers or the person watching the kids doesnt pay attention and my son always gets hurt and all he does is text and talks and kids always get hurt. Homework lab is the worst and my son never gets his homework done and we pay alot just to have our kids getting yelled at and the after school teachers joke around with each other and dont pay attention

Posted: November 24, 2013

My son has attended ISM for four years, while it may not be a good fit for everyone; it has been a great fit for us. The international perspective that the children are challenged with is not found in public schools. What Public school do you know of that a child can Surf as part of the curriculum (6th grade) or contact the United Arab Emeritus regarding a desalination project (5th grade)? Family Share is what is requested, it is not required. But in my opinion how could you not contribute. This is not a school that you are forced to attend. I appreciate the International School of Monterey. It is helping my son love learning. You can t put a price on that

Posted: October 20, 2013

Had great hopes for this school but it was a HUGE disappointment academically. In four years, we had ONE pretty good teacher. Math and Spanish were a disaster. Parents very engaged but teachers are mostly below what you would find in a good regular public school. You are required to pay an annual 'gift' for their special programs and services but frankly they deliver less than a public school. Do your child a favor and don't buy the hype. An unhappy parent.

Posted: August 23, 2013

My daughter is a student at ISM and she and I could not be happier. We both love the friendly caring community of parents and staff at ISM. This is my daughter's second year at the school and the change I have seen in her is amazing. She now looks forward to school and comes home excited about what she has learned. She talks about what she has learned, how much she likes her teachers, and what they are going to do next as a class. She has made some really good friends at this school and the school did a great job making her feel accepted as a new kid last year. Having classes like Spanish and PE as well as an stimulating curriculum is such a luxury compared to other schools in the area. The school is a safe, caring, environment and we could not be happier.

Posted: August 22, 2013

My children attend the International School of Monterey and we love it. Mainly because of the ISM community of families and the great staff. It's a group of parents, kids and teachers that really care and have a multicultural approach to teaching and view of the world. Do I think its perfect - no, but it is the best thing that has happened to our children's education and the one thing as a parent that I feel confident we are doing right. It's a tough job to raise kids and make sure they are educated in a way that makes them prepared to be successful in this diverse world we live in. The International School of Monterey is well run and my boys are thrilled to go to school every morning. I am a very happy ISM parent.

Posted: August 22, 2013

A strong ethos of engagement on the part of the parents, a distinctly global worldview on the part of the teachers, and a warm, accepting culture among the students drew us to ISM nine years ago. Several administrators and many teachers later, we remain very happy with the school and feel honored to be part of the ISM community. Several stand-out teachers have deeply impacted our children--academically, socially, and, importantly, helping them become confident and caring critical thinkers, willing to share their opinions. Group projects, though sometimes a logistical nightmare for parents, have given my kids team work skills. The PE classes have given them confidence in their bodies. And classmates have become close friends. I can't rate ISM vis a vis other schools, but I can say that we remain happy and active ISM parents, happy to entrust our children each weekday to the teachers, administrators, and students.

Posted: August 22, 2013

Our kids are in their 3rd year at ISM as 4th and 2nd graders. We are grateful to have a school with a unique, whole-child, inquiry based curriculum and be a part of a warm and diverse community that is ISM. The high level of commitment on the part of the Teachers, Staff, and Parents makes ISM a great school for our kids to grow and learn in. I consider it to be academically rigorous but fulfilling at the same time. Students are challenged by an interdisciplinary curriculum that weaves content areas together and connects concepts (e.g., Spanish with Visual Arts and Math with Language Arts). We are thrilled to be a part of one of the best schools on the Monterey Peninsula!

Posted: August 6, 2013

This school may not be for everyone, but it s been perfect for our family. As a part of the ISM Community for the past 8 years, we ve never once regretted the decision to enroll in the lottery. My child has thrived in the inquiry-based academic environment and has been rewarded with teachers who are interesting, challenging, and supportive. Any issues we ve had were resolved with a mutually respectful dialogue. Teacher turnover can be disruptive, but the influx of new ideas and talent can have a very positive impact on student learning as well. The curriculum has changed, streamlined, and strengthened over recent years with the adoption of the IB profile. Being an active part of the Community makes a difference in the overall experience-- I make it my duty to get to know my child s teachers personally, offer resource and volunteer support (I work full time, but choose to volunteer, a lot), provide program feedback to administration when requested, and financially contribute to allow the continuation of special programs (arts, ). ISM has a wonderful core of parent-guardian volunteers that contribute an enormous amount of energy in support of the students, teachers, and school.

Posted: July 31, 2013

The campus is in great need of a facelift but aside from that it is a wonderful school with wonderful teachers and staff! We feel very lucky and proud to be a part of it!

Posted: June 8, 2013

After reading all these comments. ISM looks like okay school. I mean I go to ISM as well and I am in 6th grade but I am kind of scared of the teachers next year especially the l.a or s.s classes. This is an okay school so far but I am getting second thoughts. You.have to donate t Student

Posted: June 10, 2012

ISM may not be an academic powerhouse, but the flexible curriculum is a definite plus in these days of state-testing hysteria. The school sponsors many educational field trips and activities in the community, and these also are hugely beneficial to its student body. I also like the fact that the school is a K-8 and the students are required to wear uniforms. The one negative is the high rate of staff turnover. It's unfortunately true that many of the teachers only stay a year or two--either they are canned or choose to move on.

Posted: July 18, 2011

We moved here a few years ago because my husband got stationed in Monterey and we have two kids enrolled at the school. Considering the surrounding schools in the area, ISM is bar far one of the best. HOWEVER ..it seems that the quality of education has been diminishing over the years. The administrators are more concerned with parent happiness than quality education. This is probably because of the growing number of pushy parents we have at the school. The teachers come and go every year and don t be fooled .hardly ANY of them are international teachers. This year we are losing 1 kindergarten teacher, 2 second grade teachers, possibly a third grade teacher, 1 fourth grade teacher, 1 fifth grade teacher, and a Spanish teacher. This isn t including the large number of middle school teachers that left as well. I can t speak for the working environment the teachers have but it seems to me that happy teachers stick around. With ample amounts of teachers leaving every year, these kids strive for consistency.

Posted: July 14, 2011

This is a good school. Far better than other public schools in the area. It ranks on par with Carmel and Pacific Grove and in some aspects exceeds what even these top notch districts have to offer. It has recently suffered some turmoil at the top, but the school seems to have good leadership now. It is a good option, but being a public school it is not the same as other International Schools abroad. There are a few concerns though heading into 2011. Many teachers leave after only one or two years. The pay for teachers is lower than most options causing high turnover, this has especially hurt the Middle School. The school also seems to bite off more than it can chew sometimes. There are aspects of the curriculum that seem to be in place mainly to generate "good press." Parents should be ready to donate your time, effort and be asked for money on a regular basis as well!

Posted: June 6, 2011

I used to love this school. Now, I'm considering moving my child to another school. My child even wants to go someplace else, now. What is the big bummer, though, is that it's still one of the best in the area, so moving my child wouldn't necessarily be in their best interest. I'm crossing my fingers that next year is better. But, with a new principal, who knows? The last principal was great and I'm disappointed he's the one leaving. I do love most of the other parents and students, though! Great people all around me when I'm there volunteering. It's wonderful.

Posted: May 3, 2011

This school is awesome! This school is a school everybody is nice to each other!

Posted: March 10, 2011

Ism Is The Best I Mean The Best School I Ever Been To! Its my favorite school i every been to! Ism has really fun clases on Fridays that we get to pick what we want to do. That classes is called Sem we get to do really fun stuff. Sometimes if your lucky you get to go surfing for one of the Sems with our P.E teacher! Ism Is The Best! :)

Posted: January 6, 2011

Horrible teacher's aide, undependable staff, uncompassionate educational environment, school is physically falling apart, lack of ethics.

Posted: December 14, 2010

Wow, this is not a good school. You really have to read between the lines. Most of the bad things I know about the school I am unable to describe here and still be posted.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Seaside Highlands	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Seaside	CA	0.8 mi
2	Fitch Park at Ord Military Community	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Seaside	CA	1.8 mi
3	Monterey	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Monterey	CA	4.3 mi
4	Pebble Beach	Area of Town	Del Monte Forest	CA	6.9 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Seaside Highlands	Seaside	CA	1 mi
2	Monterey Bay	Monterey	CA	3.8 mi
3	Monterey	Monterey	CA	3.8 mi
4	Cannery Row	Monterey	CA	3.9 mi
5	Pacific Grove	Pacific Grove	CA	4.9 mi
6	17-Mile Drive	Pebble Beach	CA	6.2 mi
7	Carmel	Carmel-By-The-Sea	CA	6.6 mi

Base	Distance
Monterey Naval Postgraduate School	2.8 mi.
DLI - Presidio of Monterey	4 mi.

International School Of Monterey

Seaside, CA 93955-3914

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International School Of Monterey

Seaside, CA 93955-3914

School Ratings

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