Diegueno Middle School in Encinitas | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	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	7/10	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: May 28, 2026

The teachers are good. The counselors are terrible. They made me feel like I was always the bad guy in the only situation of peer drama I had. The counselors seem friendly, but they really pick sides. The day I write this review is the second to last day of my 8th grade, also the day the truth came out and I wish to tell the counselors how they should've listened to me because I was right all along. Forever I'll feel this school owes me an apology for the deep depression it left me with..

Posted: February 4, 2025

My son is an 8th grader at Diegueno. I've been really happy with the school. I think it has provided him with a challenging curriculum, an opportunity to learn in a supportive environment, and the teachers are fantastic. It's a happy, welcoming place.

Posted: February 4, 2025

Posted: March 12, 2024

This school is Not a safe environment for students.

Posted: March 12, 2024

Posted: March 6, 2024

San Dieguito School District is an excellent district. My children have been supported by their teachers and the school environment. My children are motivated by their teachers and they have found a kind, intellectual, and worldly friend group. The teachers have celebrated my children in their hobbies. I have one child who requires additional academic support via an IEP. The IEP team is knowledgeable, caring, and receptive.

Posted: March 6, 2024

Posted: February 27, 2024

I have had 3 kids attend Diegueno middle school for the last 6 years and my experience has been wonderful! The school gives extra effort to make the incoming seventh graders, feel right at home. There are variety of afterschool activities, all for kids, parents, and families! I would highly recommend this middle school for any potential students.

Posted: February 27, 2024

Posted: February 24, 2024

Excellent middle school with caring admin. Principal Barnette is extremelly invested in the well being and education of all students (eg, attends school basketball games, post frequently on FB/ Instagram for parents), weekly newsletters etc. Ms. Coulter in the math dept is hands-down the best math instructor one could hope for. Active PTSA including parent events and connections. In an area where many can choose private school, there's no reason to- this public school has everything a student needs to be successful.

Posted: February 24, 2024

Posted: February 20, 2024

Great school! Both of my sons have gone to or are going to Diegueno. They create a safe, fun, and student centered learning environment. From support staff, to teachers, to administration they are all focused on not only providing a top notch education but to create good people who know how to be kind, respectful and responsible.

Posted: February 20, 2024

Posted: February 19, 2024

My child is about to graduate from DMS and has had a great experience. He describes it as being a safe campus where his concerns about academics or social issues were addressed promptly by caring teachers and admin and friendly campus supervisors. My son has thrived academically, with DNO fostering a real sense of independence. He enjoys learning and building his knowledge from text books and discussions, but also finds an incredible amount of joy in the hands-on project-based learning opportunities.
As a mom, I feel DNO has an excellent PTSA with a strong partnership with admin & staff. I love all the veteran teaching staff with almost no teacher turnover. I've seen many examples of the teachers going outside of their comfort zones and teaching topics around social justice and/or bringing in outside groups/guest speakers to address such topics. The 6 week human growth and development lessons in 7th grade were excellent, addressing topics related to gender fluidity and expression. THANK YOU FOR THIS!
I am grateful for the many things at DNO that contribute to a positive school culture.

Posted: February 19, 2024

Posted: February 17, 2024

Diegueno is an excellent middle school environment with a focus on learning, safety and kindness. Students are happy and teachers and staff are very engaged.

Posted: February 17, 2024

Our daughter is an 8th grader at Diegueno and has had a great academic and social experience at Diegueno. Her teachers are engaging and dedicated and she has made a good group of friends. Dr. Barnette is supportive and inclusive and goes out of her way to know all the students. My daughter feels prepared to take on high school next year!

Posted: February 17, 2024

Posted: February 16, 2024

We are so thankful to have this school in our neighborhood. Great students, families, teachers and staff!

Posted: February 16, 2024

We have had a great experience at Diegueno. The principal is engaged and really cares and that is reflected in the rest of the staff as well.

Posted: February 16, 2024

Posted: February 15, 2024

Strong, welcoming principal and really good teachers. Making facility upgrades that are helpful.

Posted: February 15, 2024

My son and daughter have attended this school. While middle school can be a difficult time, my son had an excellent experience at Diegueno including feeling inspired in his classwork and finding a club that led to friendship and engagement in an activity. For my daughter, things have been a bit more challenging, especially on the social front. The school has an excellent counseling staff and administration who have worked hard to support her through her more difficult middle school journey. From the start of the day to the end, it seems as if the leadership team of this school is working hard to help kids feel connected and to promote a friendlier culture.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Overall, the teachers in this school are really great and some are the best I've known. I felt my child was being left behind in grade school, simply because she didn't need attention. Testing into advanced math and English in Middle School, she appeared to be very average and standard classes were recommended. I thought otherwise and got her into the advanced classes. It was tough going at first because she needed catching up but her teachers were really supportive and encouraging. Now, half way through the school year, she is one of the top students. She just needed good teachers and she got them at Diegueno Middle School. She is also in the Band Program there and I couldn't rate it higher. The teacher is spectacular and all the kids know it. They love her and they all try their hardest to excel.

Posted: February 15, 2024

My daughter is in 7th grade now and Ive been very happy with her experience of the school as a whole and the teachers and administration seem great.

Posted: February 15, 2024

This is our first year at Diegueno and it has been great. I appreciate the communication from the principal which comes in different forms.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Great experience for my daughter. She entered 7th grade this year and has been doing amazing. Huge Kudos to Dr. Barnett , staff and the new PTA team. Lots of changes to the campus to enrich the student experience for the long haul. Also, positive inclusive student activities all the time!

Posted: February 15, 2024

We have always had such a positive experience here. The teachers are welcoming, inclusive and the kids have a lot of respect for them.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Strong academics. Great adminstration. Dr Barnett is a wonderful principal.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Ive had only very positive experiences as a parent whose child attends this school.

Posted: February 15, 2024

My daughter attends Diegueño Middle School and is thriving. Some of the higher classes, like advanced math are challenging and she complains, but in general, she is having a great experience there. It's enough that my next three children will be attending DÑO as well when they progress out of Grade School locally.

I read some of the other reviews and they are shocking and I don't want to discredit their concerns, but we have not experienced the same experiences. What I have experienced from a few other parents who complain, are they they not active in the school activities, fund raising, student betterment, etc. yet can be critical of the school. The environment is only as good as what you put into it, and if you put nothing into it, why should it give back more? This is a public school, not private.

The other thing that I have been impressed with is the principal. She is literally at every event... I'm not sure how she does it. She is full of energy and spunk and you see her out there every day at pick up or drop off. She is not hiding behind a desk which is what I have experienced at other schools.

The education my child is getting and the degree of prep for high school is definitely top notched.

Posted: February 15, 2024

I like Diegueno. I was super scared before I went here because of all the drugs and bullying stories. After almost one year here, it is not really the case. The new principal and assistant principal are very nice and they are trying very hard to address the issues and turn things around. They put diversity and inclusiveness as high priority. I feel safe here. Diegueno is a good school.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Ive had two children go through diegueno and both have thrived there. They are very different kids and I was worried about the typical middle school things. The principal is great - she clearly has passion for what she does and cares about the kids. The administration is communicative and I receive responses quickly. There are tons of activities during school to ensure inclusivity. There are ample resources for additionally help for students if needed. We are fortunate to have this school in our district.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Middle School is a crazy transition- there are several elementary schools coming together at Diegueño for the first time. I have found the administration and counsellors extremely supportive and open to making changes to help students make the shift. I would suggest getting to know the teachers and admin and getting involved!

Posted: February 15, 2024

We were so worried about middle school as this is our first child and all you hear are the negative things. But our experience with Diegueno has been nothing short of incredible! The principal is beyond amazing, the PTA and staff are all just fabulous. After back to school night my husband and I said we wished we could attend! All the teachers, while tough and expect full effort, truly care about these kids and their success. And the principal, PTA and staff truly want to make school fun with lunchtime activities, school challenges, dances, etc. I cannot say enough great things!

Posted: February 15, 2024

My son is enjoying his first year at Diegueno. Like most parents, I was concerned about the transition from elementary to a larger middle school. My son feels safe and comfortable at school. The teachers are engaging and passionate about their subjects, offering additional help after school and communicating well with parents. The workload has been more substantial than in 6th grade, particularly in the honors classes. It took a little time for my son to adjust to that and get into a routine with his homework. Teachers and staff do a great job of setting boundaries for the kids and teaching personal responsibility.

I appreciate how active our school's PTSA and ASB are in making both parents and kids feel welcome and included. This is a big transition for the parents as well as the kids, so I enjoy getting to know the other parents through the many volunteer opportunities and social activities for families and parents.

Posted: February 15, 2024

I have been really happy with my son's experience at Diegueno. The teachers and staff are very attentive. They seem to really care about the students and create a fun environment for them.

Posted: February 15, 2024

I have been most impresssed with the amount of free academic assistance that is offerd to the students. There is after school help offered almost every day and in addition, we have experienced that teachers are more than willing to meet with students before school, after school and during lunch for extra assistance. There is no shortage of support.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Both of my kids went here. Teachers are amazing and have been teaching middle school for ages. They are very experienced and yet not burnt out. Administration, counselors, school staff all excellent. Highly recommend.

Posted: February 15, 2024

While I am aware that every school has a bullying issue to some degree, Diegueno is out of control with bullying. As someone who previously went here, I can tell you that the bullying issue is so serious, not taken seriously by administration, and there is a lack of support for students who are getting bullied. Administrators do NOTHING about this issue, even when bullying situations get reported. The teachers at this school are great for the most part.

Posted: February 15, 2024

Posted: May 25, 2023

Safety is a huge issue. Threats almost every single day. As a current student about the graduate, I hated this school. If you are not white, or rich, people just don´t really care about you. I had about one good teacher in my entire time here. Needs more funding, lots of drugs, and so so much bullying. PLEASE look at other schools, this school is just not good.

Posted: May 25, 2023

Posted: May 19, 2023

Don't go here you will suffer endlessly. There are literally so many Ebike kids who have hit me on my way back. They also have a large drug and vape problem. Some People harass other kids in some classes, and the teachers aren't even aware. The amount of wannabe gangsters and skater kids that vape is literally uncountable. Some teachers are ok, but a lot are very terrible and assign way too much work, almost ignoring the fact that we have other classes or activities outside of school. One of the largest problems we have now is kids cutting other kids' brake wires and slashing their tires on the bike racks. The school campus is messy but they do a good job of cleaning things up. in terms of privacy, the school has no respect on the student's behalf. I I I am not exaggerating when I say this, they monitor everything done on campus, on our Chromebooks, and they even track our social media. Terrible school, 1/5.

Posted: May 19, 2023

Posted: December 14, 2018

Diegueno's teachers and staff go out of their way to make students feel welcomed and accepted. The academic rigor is appropriate and prepares students for high school and beyond.

Posted: December 14, 2018

Contrary to what the reviewer posted on June 25, 2018, there is a banner that says it is a Bully-Free Zone as soon as you walk in. There are other posters throughout the campus that say the same thing. Diegueno has also been recognized and designated by the ADL as a No Place for Hate school for the past two years.

Posted: June 25, 2018

Never saw any posters, signs, or anything that suggested help on bullying.

Posted: June 25, 2018

Ive had some great teachers here. Especially in the English and Science department for two years. However, as mentioned below by others, the math department needs a wake up call. You cannot expect students to succeed when you throw staplers at the window when you get a question wrong. Absurd.

Posted: June 25, 2018

Ive had some great teachers here. Ones who cared and loved their jobs. This was the total opposite in the math department. No one should dread going to school because their teachers are demeaning, verbally abusive, and rude.

Posted: June 25, 2018

6 different classes with each about 2-3 hours worth of homework. Talk about stress and anxiety.

Posted: April 24, 2018

I have the highest praise for Ms. Gold, the band director! She is amazing and has a true gift for teaching students! I stopped by the classroom yesterday and watched her lead the kids in a new music piece. They were all smiles and motivated by the positive way she interacts and corrects them! She has a great ear to hear what is off and needs a little tweaking. She is super star! We are soooo lucky to have her!

Posted: April 24, 2018

We've had a positive experience at Diegueno. Teachers care about the students and work hard to make it a safe environment. Ms. Coy, the librarian, is fantastic!

Posted: October 27, 2012

Very pleased with the school. The staff is very welcoming. Excellent communication between parents & staff. As far as academics it's too early to say, we just moved to the district.

Posted: June 13, 2012

As a former student i imidiatly realized This school failed and continues to fail at understanding the meaning of education. Many of the teachers are incoherant and have no common sense. The math departement sets the students up to fail. I strongly recomend choosin a different school.

Posted: November 3, 2010

I'm a sophomore in high school now, and looking back at my time at this school, I have to say it was mediocre. I already wrote a few paragraphs on how much I hated it, then realized it didn't really deserve it. The school is average, with definite social cliques, less-than-average teachers, and just seems to be a regular school. If you want a good education for your child, look elsewhere; preferably a private school if you have the finances available to do so.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	La Costa	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	3.3 mi
2	Rancho Carrillo	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	4.3 mi
3	Windsor at Aviara	Apartment Complex	Carlsbad	CA	4.3 mi
4	Torrey Highlands	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	7.8 mi
5	Shadowridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Vista	CA	8 mi
6	Palisades Pointe	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Carlsbad	CA	8.1 mi
7	Mira Costa Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Oceanside	CA	10.2 mi
8	St. Cloud	Condominium/Townhouse	Oceanside	CA	11.6 mi
9	Montecito village apartments	Apartment Complex	Oceanside	CA	11.8 mi
10	Spectrum Center Blvd, Kearny Mesa	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	17.1 mi
11	Canyon View	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	18.6 mi
12	Riverfront Condominium Rentals	Apartment Complex	San Diego	CA	20.6 mi
13	Santee Villas	Apartment Complex	Santee	CA	21.1 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Encinitas	Encinitas	CA	3.2 mi
2	Torrey Highlands	San Diego	CA	7.8 mi
3	Carlsbad	Carlsbad	CA	9.3 mi
4	Mira Mesa	San Diego	CA	11.4 mi
5	Downtown Oceanside	Oceanside	CA	12.4 mi
6	Wine Country area of Scripps Ranch	San Diego	CA	13.8 mi
7	University City	San Diego	CA	13.9 mi
8	La Jolla	La Jolla	CA	14.6 mi
9	Serra Mesa	San Diego	CA	18.8 mi
10	Lake Rancho Viejo	Fallbrook	CA	19.4 mi
11	Old Town	San Diego	CA	21 mi
12	Santee Trolley Square	Santee	CA	21.2 mi

Base	Distance
Miramar MCAS	14.2 mi.
MCRD San Diego	22.1 mi.
Camp Pendleton	22.5 mi.
San Diego Naval Medical Center	23.4 mi.
North Island NAS	24.9 mi.
Naval Base Point Loma	25.7 mi.
San Diego Naval Base	26.8 mi.
Coronado Naval Amphibious Base	26.8 mi.

Diegueno Middle School

Encinitas, CA 92024

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Diegueno Middle School

Encinitas, CA 92024

School Ratings

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