Torrey Pines Elementary School

Posted: September 6, 2025

Fantastic, top notch school. I am an educator that has worked at 12-15 different schools and districts. From my background I can say TPES is one of the best schools in san diego and la jolla. Staff are well above average, as are the support staff, and after school care (character builders). Family engagement is huge, the TPES staff, teachers and TPES Foundation constantly are having fantastic events, meetings with parents, and ongoing communication.

On that note, the two negative reviews are from families that report highly inaccurate information. One family actively withdrew themselves from family engagement and then blames the school. Family engagement is so high, all you have to do is read your email for a plethra of options and great events and activities. Other review is defunct and political based, regarding covid pandemic and a principal long gone. Family was unhappy about school closures, something any school had no control over. Ignore those silly people and their reviews, there are always crazy folks mixed in with 99% of good people.

TPES is the best school

Posted: September 6, 2025

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Posted: August 11, 2025

This is an amazing school with dedicated, highly qualified teachers and a supportive, caring staff. Both of my daughters are thriving here, and the parent community is wonderful. I truly don’t understand the few negative reviews— our experience has been nothing but positive, and we’re so happy to be part of this school!

Posted: August 11, 2025

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Posted: March 13, 2024

Some great teachers.
Limited family engagement- seems to be preferential treatment among parents. There are great families and people there but the common theme seems to be families are not encouraged to build a sense of community.

Admin is awful. At first thought admin would be great but he dishonest and unkind to certain families/ staff. Admin gets upset easily and often forgets. The school has potential but that comes from the top.

Posted: March 13, 2024

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Posted: November 26, 2023

We moved to San Diego last year, our daughter started UTK and son went to grade 5...he improved a lot in writing and public speaking. All thanks to Mr.Devore, he is an amazing teacher...Thanks to Mr.Keiper and UTK...My kids love Torrey Pines.

Posted: November 26, 2023

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Posted: November 15, 2022

I see a lot of poor reviews, and don't understand? This is a wonderful school with engaging teachers and a great sense of community. My son started UTK this year and his class size is small - 2 teachers : 18 students. We are new to San Diego, and are so glad to be part of the TPES community - we have made many friends in such a short time. This great energy has gotten us involved in the school and volunteering. Principal Keiper is so great, he is very involved and so full of positive energy. My 4 1/2 year old loves going to school... and we are seeing a huge leap in his education as well. Previously he was in an expensive private Montessori preschool, but we are seeing so much more growth at TPES.

Posted: November 15, 2022

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Posted: June 16, 2022

The principal Ms. Nona Richard is devoid of the compassion, patience, and empathy necessary for the position of a leader of young students of varied abilities and needs.

Posted: June 16, 2022

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Posted: June 16, 2022

Posted: June 16, 2022

The school is great my older son who is in high school now had way better experience than my fourth grader. It all went down with this new principal, but with her departing now we are looking forward to a person that will heal this school back to the success it once was.
I hope with the additional funding from the foundation instead of extras, we will consider making the classrooms smaller than what they currently are and improve the quality of education for our little ones. Besides the fact that we donate we have not seen any of the promised extras my older son had in this school like violin, music lessons, PE, drama club etc.
I am giving it a 5 star because this was just few years back amazing school and after Nona’s departure I am confident it will get back there again. Ready for the new school year, new principal and increased quality of education!

Posted: June 16, 2022

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Posted: May 8, 2022

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Posted: May 8, 2022

Though this may have been a 5-star school in the past, I would like to give prospective parents a realistic insight into what current families have been dealing with in the post-COVID shutdown era. It feels like this school has lost any sort of solid foundation and is struggling to hold itself together on a daily basis. The COVID policies, for one, are inconsistent and a school nurse is only on-site one day per week. Despite having the policy to send children with symptoms home until they can be tested, there are constantly unmasked sick children in classes. Perhaps as a result, this school has higher COVID cases than other schools in the area. Instead of a PTA, there is a "foundation" that constantly raises money throughout the year for "extras", however, teachers who are hired for these extras often abruptly leave and the children receive minimal benefit from such short-term electives. The office staff is always flustered and overwhelmed, and office duties are mainly run by temporary staff and volunteers. This year, the school was told that they were receiving around 40 new students only days in advance. Teachers and staff were overwhelmed, and nothing was done to support them. I believe both new and current students were negatively impacted by chaotic classrooms caused by disorganization and the lack of support. The principal this year was lovely, but she recently announced she is leaving to explore other leadership opportunities (I don't blame her). This school has so much potential and is in a beautiful, peaceful neighborhood in La Jolla. The children and parents are great, and it is a fantastic community. I just hope the school can pull itself together to live up to its reputation once again.

Posted: May 6, 2022

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Posted: May 6, 2022

Real life experience is waaaaayyy worse than past reputation. The kids who go here are ok. It's the "teachers" who only care about themselves and don't care anything about the students.

Posted: July 19, 2018

Posted: July 19, 2018

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Posted: July 19, 2018

Posted: July 19, 2018

We have been at this school for 3 years now and are delighted. What a treat to have such a high performing public school so close to one of the country's top research universities. The parent community has strong ties to UCSD, which the TPES Foundation leverages effectively (look no further than our amazing Science Discovery Day). The teachers are beloved by the students; they care and are invested in student success. And the school does a wonderful job emphasizing a healthy, holistic educational experience -- not one solely obsessed with academic achievement, but one that also values character growth, kindness, values,... how to raise a kind and intellectually curious global citizen.

Posted: April 27, 2017

Although not as strong as maybe 10 years ago, Torrey Pines is still one of the best elementary schools in the district. Kids are all performing well beyond grade level with more than half being GATE identified. The teachers are caring and well-trained in dealing with classroom issues. The principal, although initially overwhelmed, is making strides in engaging with parents on issues. Due to parent donations to the school foundation, the kids are able to enjoy extra classes in music, science, PE, arts etc. Overall, no regrets in choosing this school and neighborhood for our family.

Posted: April 27, 2017

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Posted: April 16, 2017

Posted: April 16, 2017

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Posted: April 16, 2017

Wonderful new principal and teachers. High standards are above grade average compared to other schools. Principal Ott strives to include equity and inclusivity at the school and appreciation of diversity in the curriculum.

Posted: April 16, 2017

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Posted: April 16, 2017

Posted: February 7, 2017

Principal Sarah Ott is awful. Most of good teachers left school in last years since Jim Solo left. She could not care less. My kid had 3 teachers changed during the year, each time amazing us - how worse it could be. Situation with pickup/drop off is unsafe, cars are speeding around intersections - she could not care less, just waiting for disaster to happen.
Beware - this school started being short on local students recent years - because smart parents started pulling kids out to better schools around San Diego. They even opened school for choice student - unheard of when Jim Solo was principal.

Posted: February 7, 2017

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Posted: January 7, 2016

Sadly, this school has not been the same since principal Jim solo left and Sarah ott took over. She is not experienced, not engaging, and just has brought the level of greatness this school used to have down to null.

Posted: March 14, 2015

Excellent school with great teachers and students. Both of my kids love it. Great location too.

Posted: October 4, 2013

School performs because of the students (they take the tests reflected in the API), parent volunteers and their financial contributions to fill budget gaps along with the parent's high expectations who value education and insist their children are prepared for the future. 80% of the teachers are amazing and the other 20% are the typical losers that exist everywhere (thanks to the union). Hopefully the new Principal will impact these slackers who teach so they have summers off. They look/act like their jobs are a joke and harrass the kids daily due to their own personal misery. The new Principal is a long overdue, welcomed change. It's unlikely she'll tolerate the staus quo and will fix whatever messes the previous principal ignored or was afraid to address. Doubt she'll participate in the quid pro quo that's been so prevalent nor teach to the test for the coveted, competitive school ratings while pushing the kids beyond reason. Cookies, candy, no bathroom breaks, teacher stapling arm, belittling, fear, humiliation, homework due to time wasted during the day and deliberate indifference. Yep, it's all here and hopefully gone with the new Principal.........

Posted: May 15, 2013

Jim Solo the principal is amazing! Runs a tight ship but the kids are well prepared for middle school with the outstanding staff and teachers!

Posted: May 6, 2013

Its location is the best perhaps in whole California. Its name is great: Torrey Pines. The principal is great (Mr. Solo). Kids are great. Teachers are good. It is heterogeneous. It is the future of primary school in my opinion. I have 2 kids there and they are happy.

Posted: May 6, 2013

I am surprised to hear negative comments about the school and the principal. Mr. Solo is out every single morning greeting students by name, talking to parents, directing traffic, picking up items for the lost and found, etc. He is completely dedicated to the school and has high standards for his staff and students. The teachers are competent and compassionate. My son is thriving and is reading well ahead of other kids his age that attend other schools. The parents of the other students are involved and friendly. Each of them knows my child and we all sort of look after each other. It is a fantastic, positive atmosphere. I don't know of a school out there that is not focused on test scores... until we change this backward system, that is what it is going to be like. I feel really lucky to have my son here.