Poinsettia Elementary School

Posted: March 27, 2026

You must be a rigid rule follower to succeed in this school. They don't understand kids who are gifted or mildly ADHD. Event Kindergarteners are held to high standards behavior-wise. It felt like a prison for my daughter so had to pull her out and put her in a charter school.

Posted: March 27, 2026

Posted: March 27, 2026

Posted: March 27, 2026

Posted: March 27, 2026

Posted: March 27, 2026

Posted: September 12, 2024

If your child is not compliant with every single rule, even in kindergarten when they're still learning, you will be singled out. School seriously lacks diversity as well.

Posted: September 12, 2024

Posted: September 12, 2024

Posted: September 12, 2024

Posted: September 12, 2024

Posted: September 12, 2024

Posted: September 12, 2024

Posted: November 15, 2023

Weird vibe from teachers, principal, and office workers at this school. Rude to parents and horrible at teaching. Seems like everyone is miserable on a daily basis. Always begging for donations, and never enough for them. Poor money management when they get donations.

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: November 15, 2023

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

Posted: June 13, 2022

My soon-to-be 5th grader has been at Poinsettia for 6 years (including TK). We've experienced dedicated teachers and committed students year after year! The average class size is about 25. We love it!

Posted: October 25, 2021

Amazing teachers at all grade levels. Both my kids went to school here and every teacher has been great! Very lucky to have had such academic teachers tor my children.

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: October 25, 2021

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

We've had 3 kids go through Poinsettia with 2 still there currently. Our youngest has needed extra help which the school has provided and really gone the extra mile. We've really appreciated the highly motivated teachers and support staff.

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: September 7, 2018

Posted: September 7, 2018

Posted: September 7, 2018

Posted: September 7, 2018

Posted: September 7, 2018

Posted: September 7, 2018

Posted: September 7, 2018

Poinsettia is a very academic school. It has smaller class sizes than other Carlsbad schools with an average of 24 kids per classroom. The teachers care about their students and challenge them. My kids love going to Poinsettia.

Posted: December 4, 2017

Posted: December 4, 2017

Posted: December 4, 2017

Posted: December 4, 2017

Posted: December 4, 2017

Posted: December 4, 2017

Posted: December 4, 2017

Amazing school! Teachers really care about their students and Poinsettia has a small school feel which makes all feel welcome. My kids love Poinsettia!

Posted: April 13, 2015

Excellent school with motivated staff and teachers. We've have a great experience so far with our 1st grader. The educational and social experience for him has been quite good. Our 2nd child will be starting transitional kinder in the fall, which we are now highly anticipating . Kudo's to Poinsettia.

Posted: October 25, 2014

We love Poinsettia!! All around great school!! My kids are being challenged by the staff and the students are great! They have made wonderful friends here!!

Posted: October 12, 2014

Our 2 kids recently joined Poinsettia. They were at a private school before, and so we were a little hesitant as to what we would get at poinsettia both in terms of academic as well as social environment. So far, we have been very impressed and happy with our decision. The teachers are great, the principal is responsive and engaged, and the PTA is very active, with lots of parents volunteering and fundraising. Our kids have met and made friends with several kids from the neighborhood, which helps to build a sense of community. A couple of areas where public schools in general don't compare well with private schools is in class sizes and differentiated learning. The class size has not been an issue as the teachers and volunteer parents do a great job of managing the classroom, plus with the reduced class sizes, our kids have 24-25 kids in their classes. The differentiated learning is a challenge, but the teacher has been very receptive to working with parents with advanced kids so that they are not bored in class. We are glad that we tried our neighborhood school before deciding against it, as the pros have definitely outweighed the cons thus far!

Posted: August 25, 2014

My child no longer attends Poinsettia Elementary - he's moved on to middle school. That said, I am giving a review as a parent who has experienced both the old and new principals. Things in the last two years have gotten MUCH better at Poinsettia since the new principal took over. From day one we had serious issues at Poinsettia Elementary (staff was unbelievably rude to parents, the teachers (not all) were very mean and/or sarcastic, and the principal was horrible with a capital 'H'. A very bad energy all around. The bullying at this school was a huge issue involving kids, some teachers, and believe it or not, some parents, as well. Not good. Enter the new principal. She is very dedicated to the children first and foremost - and in my opinion has changed the school for the better - even the teachers/staff members are a little kinder to the students/parents under her supervision, and while she has a ways to go (cleaning up a messy school can be hard work and take time), I've no doubt she will do just that. Parents remember to support your kids and your principal by teaching your children to be respectful of others and follow the rules. This is what makes a good, strong school.

Posted: July 22, 2014

Amazing elementary school. So blessed that my kids go here!!!! The teachers are nurturing and academic. The staff is welcoming and honest. We feel so lucky.

Posted: May 5, 2014

I transferred out of this district to a school with smaller class sizes right before they lowered the class sizes. Friends that stayed say it is still crowded PTA is screechy with a "we wish we were still in a sorority" vibe..teachers always complaining about class sizes -rightfully so

Posted: April 19, 2014

Poinsettia is making great strides! Art, Science, Music, reduced class sizes and more. It's amazing what a community can do when it bands together to work on a common goal ~ giving our students the best education possible.

Posted: April 7, 2014

Thrilled with the newly reduced class size (25:1 in my son's class). We are extremely happy with his teacher and my son loves his school. I've enjoyed getting involved too. We are lucky to be at a newer campus (6-7 years old?) with a smaller student body than surrounding public schools, which gives more of a community feel:)

Posted: April 4, 2014

I recently visited my grandson and his family in Carlsbad and accompanied himto the Poinsettia Elementary School one morning, where he is a first-grader. When we arrived that beautiful morning, my grandson joined his classmates for fun and games before the school day began. The joyful chatter from the playground was contagious! When the morning program started, all the kids lined up with their classes to listen to a positive message from the principal and to stand at attention, hands over hearts, facing our flag as they said our Pledge of Allegiance. The teachers were by all indications totally dedicated to the wellbeing of the kids. It was truly a heartening experience for me, and based on my observation and other information my grandson's parents have shared with me, I believe Poinsettia Elementary is a truly exceptional school. I am especially happy to see the kids are learning the meaning of our pledge to our flag and nation. I'm proud that my grandson is able to attend this fine school. Nick Ganaway

Posted: October 30, 2013

We came to Poinsettia Elementary from another country and it has been a fantastic experience so far. All the teachers and staff are helpful and have been really helping our grade 5 student adapt and fit in really quickly. The community / families of Poinsettia are wonderful and have made us really feel included. We are so happy to be at Poinsettia. It is great to find everything in one school great teachers, welcoming families, great kids........

Posted: October 23, 2013

We switched over from a charter school. Really scared because of some bad gossip in the community but have found out it is only a few people talking bad. Since switching, my kids have never been happier at a school. We have been impressed with the teachers, families, everything. Yes, has bigger class sizes but most public schools in Carlsbad do. For the person below that says to do private, please note that everyone is not financially secure as you must be. Private schools are very expensive & you live in a little bubble which is not real life.

Posted: September 28, 2013

This school is poised to do great things! Passionate parent involvement, rising test scores, talented teachers, and a dedicated principal.

Posted: September 13, 2013

Poinsettia Elementary has been amazing for my kids! The teachers are very challenging and we are loving all the family involvement in school events. The class sizes have not been an issue and we love how small, in population the campus is compared to other Carlsbad schools! We are so happy that we get to go to this great school.....Go Panthers!

Posted: September 11, 2013

Poinsettia is an elementary that has on going problems with large class size, low teacher student ratio, a portion of the school population that are "entitled" - and deplorably low test scores. Just look up how they rate compared to other elementary schools in Carlsbad. Then make a note to yourself that, in general California schools suck across the board. If you can beg,borrow or steal the money to put your child in a good private school - DO IT!

Posted: September 10, 2013

Leadership asked/told pta parents to write positive reviews on this site. This turned me off. The school is crowded. The teachers try their best, but, both kids and teachers are suffering with 35 kids per class. if you can afford private GO....

Posted: September 4, 2013

Great school! The overall parental involvement is very impressive. There are so many fun activities throughout the year to help support the school and to keep both the parents and students involved. It's great to see how supportive the staff is too. I really like the new principal.

Posted: September 3, 2013

Poinsettia Elementary has a great community feel. The principal and staff have succeeded in making my son feel comfortable at the school. My son is excited to have access to computers and enjoys the music program. Our 1st grade experience so far has been great- with an awesome 1st grade teacher!!

Posted: September 2, 2013

Great neighborhood school with involved parents and an active PTA. My son started here as a kindergartener last year and had a wonderful experience. I cannot speak highly enough of his teacher, Ms. Gilbert.

Posted: September 2, 2013

My children are not challenged. They are learning, ok, sure, but are they motivated? Nope. This school is just average. Nothing to write home about. Star testing scores are low compared to other Carlsbad schools. Sure we went up by 12 points, but we are still trailing others by a huge percentage points. Also, I am not crazy about the PTA and the administrative people. Front desk, please, you have one job! Greet the visitors with a happy face! The new principal is great, though. I can see that she is trying to improve the schools. I do feel for the teachers. Some of the teachers here are excellent, others, not so much. Maybe it's the same everywhere....

Posted: September 2, 2013

Poinsettia is a great school. The parent involvement and PTA are wonderful in providing funds and fun. I'm so happy my child has been at this school for 5 years. I admit that the first couple years were rocky due to the principal and since it is a newer school it took a while to get into the swing of things. But Poinsettia has blossomed into a great place to send your children. The surrounding neighborhoods are winners too!

Posted: August 31, 2013

Great community school. Disregard any reviews that were made before 2012. This school has gotten so much better with the new principle. She is great. All of my kids are excited to go to school everyday/happy when they come home and learning. Parent involvement at the school has also gotten a lot better.

Posted: August 31, 2013

We transferred to Poinsettia after an atrocious experience at a different highly regarded school in the district. We have no regrets. My daughter's Kindergarten teacher has been CUSD Teacher of the Year and was absolutely outstanding. Enrollment at the school is only about 500, compared to nearly 800 and 900 at nearby schools. The campus is new and beautiful. The PTA is working hard to bring additional funding to the school and keep valuable programs for our students.

Posted: August 31, 2013

The kind of neighborhood school every child deserves--has a tremendous community of committed parents working alongside great teachers and administrators. Love Poinsettia and feel so lucky to go here! Lots of thought has been put into the extracurriculars--this is a very well rounded environment in academics, athletics and the arts.

Posted: August 31, 2013

There are excellent teachers and some not so great ones. Principal could be more of a leader and not just an observer.

Posted: August 31, 2013

Our oldest started her 3rd year this year (K-2) and our youngest started Kindergarten. We have been very happy with the teachers and education so far at POI. The new Principal is a big improvement from the last and there is an obvious morale change as well as drastically increased test scores since she took over. I have witnessed her leadership in PTA meetings and like the changes I see. I'm happy to have my kids here and am excited about the positive direction the school is headed. They have the lowest enrollment in the district and as many have mentioned, a very diverse population. I agree with the observations about a correllation between these numbers and our scores. When factoring those students in, our numbers are quite good and best of all, they're improving. I like that my children attend a diverse school. Parent involvement is high, PTA helps a ton, and communication is very open and thorough.

Posted: August 31, 2013

We have been at Poinsettia for 4 years. Honestly, a few years ago, I would never give the school 5 stars. Mainly based on how horrible the principle at the time was. Last year, the school got a new principle. The changes and overall moral have changed for the better. This is definitely a school to watch and I see it only getting better!

Posted: August 29, 2013

As an educated parent, I spent time researching the local Carlsbad schools before moving into the neighborhood near Poinsettia. At first glance, the scores seem lower than other nearby schools and some of the reviews are atrocious. However, the school is the newest and there is more diversity which accounts for some scores. Many of the older reviews also reflect the negativity from the previous principal. I believe exposure to diversity is beneficial to our children and know there is more to a school than scores on standardized tests. My daughter completed Kindergarten last year and I have nothing but rave reviews about the school. Her teacher, Mrs. Loftis (and the other three K teachers) were wonderful. So far, in first grade this year, she loves going to school. There is a lot of PTA and parent involvement. For example, the school was having funding issues for the art program. Parents raised $7,800 over the summer to fund the program for our kids. The new principal, Ms. Giordani, has done an impeccable job. The school API scores have reflected significant improvement too. Another positive attribute of this school is a smaller student population and class size.

Posted: July 31, 2013

Two of my children attended Poinsettia for a couple of years. While one of them was lucky enough to have had 2 great teachers for his last 2 years, my younger son was less fortunate. His 1st grade year was a nightmare with a teacher, who had been moved down from a "higher" grade level. The principal at the time was horrible!! Arrogant, incompetent and painful to watch and listen during school assemblies, to say the least. The school is in the bottom ranking in terms of scores, and that is not because of the many wonderful, involved parents that live in the area. There is a gap in terms of socio-economic backgrounds with a good percentage of the school population, including many English learners, which unfortunately, has negatively affected the overall scores year after year. Needless to say, I moved my children to a higher ranking school within the district and am so happy I did. No regrets at all.

Posted: March 25, 2013

I am a parent of a first grader who also attended Kindergarten in this school. The teachers and the staff are very knowledgeable and their teaching methods are very effective.

Posted: October 27, 2012

We put our daughter in private school rather than have her attend a school that has overcrowded class rooms and low API scores. The API scores dropped even lower in 2012 after we made this decision - verifying for us that we made the right choice.

Posted: August 21, 2012

I agree with the last commenter regarding the previous principal and bullying. We have a new female pricipal and I'll be meeting with her tomorrow regarding my daughter not being placed in the same class as another girl that bullied her last year in KINDERGARTEN! Amazing. I'll post again if this new pricipal is receptive to protecting my daughter.

Posted: August 19, 2012

The prinicpal does nothing for kids that are getting bullied, harass. There is so suppose to be no tolerance for bullying. We went to him several times and phone him he does nothing but says my kid has to stand up for him self and tell him when the other child is harassing my child ( it was every single day and every single recess) He does nothing and doesn't want to be bothered. The office is very unfriendly. My child would cry everyday in the car after school because it was to much to handle everyday and became very depressed.

Posted: January 24, 2012

My kids have been in this school for 4 school years. We have had excellent teaching every year and for both kids. There have been times when my kid needed more services and I was very impressed with the help we were given. All of which was very effective. Overall, I am pleased with our experience with this school.

Posted: January 23, 2012

My son is in this school since Kinder. Now he is in 3rd grade. Wow if you think this school is bad you must be 1. Not helping with your kid's homework after school. 2. Expect the school to do everything for you. 3. You just don't realized that your kid is spoil. 4. Never happy with your life. 5. Can't stop complaining about everything. 6. Too demanding. Well 4 to 5 are pretty much sum it.

Posted: November 1, 2011

My daughter started kindergarten here this year and we have been quite impressed with the experience at Poinsettia so far. Her teacher is top notch - teacher of the year twice, and is amazing considering the increased class sizes. There is good parent participation and involvement for the most part. I have been quite surprised about the range of preparedness and am not sure how my daughter will be challenged individually but as long as we are in the public schools, I think Poinsettia is our best option.

Posted: May 26, 2011

We have 2 children at this school (3rd and KG), and we are extremely satisfied. The teachers are dedicated, knowledgeable, caring & consistently take learning to the next level. Poinsettia focuses on the "whole child," with as much emphasis on character-building, enriching field-trips, music, art, and physical activity as on traditional academics. The facility is current, clean, well-organized, and safe. The PTA is phenomenal and continues to take our school community to new heights. Keep up the good work.

Posted: May 22, 2011

The morale at Poinsettia is the worst I've ever seen --there definitely needs to be more smiling going on here, in the office and on campus. Middle and lower class students really take a back seat academically and socially to the wealthier kids from Bressi Ranch. There are some good teachers and the facility itself is nice (however,)the parking situation is horrendous), but this is definitely not a blue-ribbon school in my book.

Posted: May 11, 2011

I find the teachers at this school to be very caring and dedicated. The PTA is amazing. Parent involvement is high. I would definitely recommend this school! Don't believe all the negative press...it's just not accurate. If it happens to be their perception, then it was an isolated event. Enough said!

Posted: March 21, 2011

I would really like to have more communication with the principal and more follow-through.I would be nice to receive responses back from emails.

Posted: January 3, 2011

It seems that this school is very poorly run. The front office staff will give you a preview of their competence from day one - quite rude. Teachers use punishment on a daily basis with our kid, even if the teacher has to tweek the truth a bit to make the point with the principal. Watch your kids here!!!

Posted: December 15, 2010

The parents are a great support. However, they need improvment in teacher quality and leadership.