Gillispie School

Posted: October 31, 2019

Terrible, the teacher was unprofessional, it's YMCA camp next year.

Posted: October 31, 2019

Posted: October 31, 2019

My child was at Gillepsie for Summer camp; the coach was late most mornings and on his phone most of the time. Waste of time and money.

Posted: October 31, 2019

Posted: October 31, 2019

Posted: October 31, 2019

Posted: October 31, 2019

Posted: March 4, 2018

Gillispie has a well balanced approach to homework. Students are well prepared for the next level without feeling overwhelmed or stressed.

Posted: March 4, 2018

The teachers at Gillispie are Amazing, They are dedicated, caring, responsive, experienced, and always put the children's needs first. I truly feel that my children are in the best care possible while in their hands. They really get to know all the kids by names regardless of whether or not they are in their class and go above and beyond to work together with parents to create the best possible environment for each child.

Posted: March 4, 2018

Posted: March 4, 2018

We are very lucky to have a highly qualified and experienced leader, who truly cares about education and the well-being of our children. Alison Fleming is a true gem for The Gillispie community and a great role model for our kids. She is continually striving to do whatever it takes to make changes where needed without letting go of Gillispie's core values.

Posted: March 4, 2018

Posted: March 4, 2018

Posted: March 4, 2018

We have been parents at Gillispie for over 12 years. All three of my kids have truly LOVED their school. They love going to school and always have a smile when I pick them up. Their Early Childhood Program is truly amazing. Kids are encouraged to try it all, learning through play, and allowing them to explore freely while guiding them gently, and leading by example. Gillispie is a true leader in Early childhood education. We feel Very fortunate to have found such a holistic, healthy, and nurturing environment for our children to grow and build strong foundations for their future academic experiences. My Gillispie graduate, who is now in middle school has wonderful memories, and is truly thriving in 8th grade both academically and as an adolescent. He was very well prepared for middle school and has continuously excelled and challenged himself academically. As a parent of both young children and an adolescent I truly value the learning environment at Gillispie and the Well-balanced approach to education. In our society we are witnessing a significant rise in mental health problems in kids and teens. We know that our children are happy, and not under pressure and stress to perform like "mini adults", They are living their childhood as they should, and for that we are grateful to this school.

Posted: March 2, 2018

Homework starts in 1st grade at 10 mins/night, increasing by 10 minutes at each additional grade level.

Posted: March 2, 2018

Posted: March 2, 2018

Posted: March 2, 2018

Posted: March 2, 2018

Posted: March 2, 2018

I'm so happy that we decided to send our daughter to Gillispie. It is a joyous, nurturing community that we believe will prepare her well for what lies ahead. We want her to be kind, empathetic, and to feel like she can collaborate with others to really make an impact on the world. We also love that Gillispie differentiates the learning for the children, so she's never left behind, or left feeling bored. She's getting the challenge that she needs. I think the small class sizes really help with that. I highly recommend Gillispie School!

Posted: May 9, 2016

The teachers are one of the best things about this school. You can tell they really care about your student and they care about getting to your family. We have been so blessed by her teacher this year, and are confident that next year her teacher will be just as wonderful.

Posted: May 9, 2016

My student has about 20-30 minutes of homework a night, and unless she's working on a special project. I feel this is appropriate for her grade level, and she has often come home with it finished having worked on it during aftercare.

Posted: May 9, 2016

We love the school's Gillispie values. We love the way students reference the values during conflict resolution and are truly expected to live by them.

Posted: May 9, 2016

This was our first year at The Gillispie School and I can say that it will be our first of many. We are so happy with our decision to send our daughter to Gillispie. We love that the school mixes traditional curriculum benchmarks with project-based learning. We feel our daughter is hitting all the milestones while having a well-rounded, hands-on experience. So far the specialities have been great. We would like to see more Spanish or at least have what is going on in Spanish communicated to parents better. The values system is wonderful and we are impressed by the school's warmth and community feel. We couldn't be happier.

Posted: March 31, 2016

I just got off the phone with my daughter, who is well into her first job as a psychiatric counselor in a big city. I want to offer thanks to all the schools she attended on her path to this success, starting with The Gillispie School in La Jolla, Ca, which taught her the habits of academic rigor and compassionate that are so important in what she is doing now. Good habits in learning and citizenship have to be taught early; Gillispie did that for my daughter and for so many other children of families I know.

Posted: March 23, 2016

Posted: March 23, 2016

Posted: March 23, 2016

The director of the school does not present with honesty or integrity, so how does the school as a whole represent this virtue.

Posted: February 26, 2016

At Gillispie you will find a nurturing academic environment that emphasizes personal accountability and respect for others. I am continuously impressed by the passion of both the teachers and administration. Most importantly, my child is happy at Gillispie.

Posted: February 4, 2016

A word of caution. Do not trust all the glowing reviews on this site. Reading the snarky responses to all the negative reviews makes me wonder if the school's marketing person is actively monitoring this site and posting fake reviews here. Anyway, you should know that the head of school hand-picks certain parents to be on a "marketing committee" and asks those parents to review the school. Obviously, on the hook, those parents are going to leave good reviews. I know because I was one of those parents. Tellingly, three of the six or so parents who were on the committee last year have already left the school for other private schools in the area. I knew quite a few disgruntled parents, but they felt that they could not speak up because they were worried that their child would suffer as a result. One of the comments even referred to a negative reviewer as a "rabble rouser." Why shouldn't parents speak up when a school falls short? Isn't this the point of this site? But Gillispie is that kind of place -- where you are faulted for even speaking up.

Posted: January 25, 2016

Posted: January 25, 2016

Posted: January 25, 2016

Posted: January 25, 2016

This school is a beautiful place for children. Having just helped out for their open house, I feel more strongly than ever that this is a community of dedicated parents, teachers, staff, and students who love Gillispie and believe in what the school is doing. It's a shame that the disgruntled rabble-rouser is the type of person who spends time going onto these sites to submit reviews, because if all of the community members who have had positive experiences shared them on here, the increase in 5 star reviews would be exponential. Have a visit to the school and see for yourself what it's like :)

Posted: January 12, 2016

Posted: January 12, 2016

I love Gillispie. My 2nd grader comes home everyday with a smile and hops out of the car every morning ready for the day.

Posted: January 12, 2016

Posted: January 12, 2016

Posted: January 11, 2016

One day last year, I picked up my son by pulling into the school's driveway on Fay Avenue. While I was waiting in the car with my daughter, I suddenly noticed my five-year old standing outside. He was standing in the middle of the driveway, between two rows of cars, not on the curb side. There was no teacher with him, and no one tapped my car to let me know he was there. I jumped out and asked him who brought him to the car, and he named the head of school. I asked him if she walked him to the car, and he said no, she just pointed him to the car from the gate. She was nowhere in sight.

I was very upset. During pick up time, cars are constantly moving. The school doesn't even let you leave your car because they want you to leave as soon as your kid arrives. Accordingly, most parents don't even turn off their ignition and start driving as soon as they can. And because kids aren't brought in the order cars are parked, cars often try to squeeze by between the two rows of cars to exit the one-way driveway, exactly where my child was left standing.

Shortly after, I emailed the head of school and told her that she compromised my child's safety by leaving him there. Instead of apologizing, she responded: "to suggest that I or the School would ever compromise...any child's safety is uncalled for." She also claimed that it was within school "procedure" to leave him where he was because he was within "sight" of the guy whose job is to radio in the kid's names as cars arrive. He was standing about 20 feet away behind another row of cars (and incidentally did nothing to alert me that my son was waiting to get into my car).

I was so upset by her response that I vented on Facebook. Then, the chair of the school's Board had the gall to tell me to remove my Facebook post. He emailed: "what you put in your post is false and disparaging of the School. I ask you to remove this inaccurate post from Facebook immediately and to refrain from making or publishing any similar assertions in the future."

Wow. Just wow. This is the kind of school you're dealing with.

Posted: December 29, 2015

I think there is a sense of entitlement among parents that send their children to private schools, that because they pay for their child's education and because they donate to their child's school, they should receive special treatment. I think that is certainly a contributing factor to the negative reviews that I have read about Gillispie and I could not disagree with them more. We love Gillispie! Any good private school has a marketing team and active parents, that is not a dirty little secret. You love your school, you have good things to say about it. In choosing any school you should consider it's philosophy and whether or not it alines with yours. We chose Gillispie for our child because we wanted a child who was able to be a child in preschool, play and learn through play. We wanted a child who was excited to learn, explore and respect and problem solve with their peers. We are certainly getting just that and it is exciting! Go on a tour at Gillispie, you're going to get the head of the school. It says a lot about a school that the director is willing to take time out of their day to show you around. The parental community at Gillispie runs the gamete in diversity as well as it's students. In a area of the country that many describe as lacking diversity, it's nice to see so many ethnicities and backgrounds with in my child's classroom. I've rambled but if you're looking for a school in the San Diego community that will provide your child with a inner motivation to learn, to ask 'why?' rather then memorize the facts and a respect and love for their peers, you've got to check out Gillispie

Posted: December 29, 2015

Posted: December 29, 2015

Posted: December 29, 2015

Posted: December 16, 2015

I feel that education is a critical part of life. I wanted a school that created an environment in which my children would love school and value their education. Gillispie is that school. There is not a single day that my children come home without a smile on their faces.

Posted: December 16, 2015

Posted: December 7, 2015

Very experienced, and constantly learning new techniques, evaluating performance (self evaluation and peer evaluation). The school has a fund for excellence in teaching that the teachers can use to go to conferences and seminars.

Posted: December 7, 2015

my 1st grader has about 30-60 minutes per week (plus spelling review); my 3rd grader has between 60-120 minutes per week.

Posted: December 7, 2015

This is the primary focus of the school. The 'Gillispe Values' are prominently displayed, and students are encouraged to promote those values.

Posted: December 7, 2015

We have been at this school for seven years, and we couldn’t be more pleased. The individualized attention that each student receives is amazing. First, the class sizes are small, and the primary teachers all seem to have tremendous experience – it seems like they all have been teaching for years. Second, there are numerous ‘specialty’ teachers to further individualize the educational program. The first grade has its own math teacher and science teacher. There is a reading specialist who meets one-on-one with the students, challenging those who are reading above level and helping those who are behind. The school also has an art teacher, music teacher, librarian, a second science teacher (for students beyond the first grade), technology teacher, a Spanish teacher, and PE teachers. All of the teachers are wonderful, and always available. It is true that the tuition is not inexpensive, but that is the price you pay to get such small class sizes and individual attention. At the local public school the first grade has 28 students with one teacher. Gillispie has 15 students our section of the first grade, with the primary teacher plus the science teacher plus the math teacher. Such great teaching justifies the cost of tuition.
I realize that this post differs remarkably from the previous post, and it is difficult to tell who to believe. It’s true that you shouldn’t trust my glowing review about how great the school is, nor should you trust any negative reviews on this or any site. If you are considering Gillispie, visit the campus and judge for yourself. Ask questions about the curriculum and class placement, meet the teachers and the head of the school, and observe the students and teachers interacting. You won’t be disappointed.

Posted: December 6, 2015

We all live incredibly busy lives, but every so often, I have such an incredible experience that I have to take the time to share my thoughts with others. The Gillispie School has provided our family with this type of experience. Meeting the diverse needs of children and families has to be one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and yet, Alison Fleming and her team of teachers and staff do this flawlessly and with passion and commitment each and every day. Whether it is Ms. Long and Mr. Inigo guiding the children through experiential learning as they sit shoulder to shoulder on the Mayflower (their desks) with all of their possessions on their laps, committed to being more successful than the pilgrims, or Ms. Adams, working one on one with my son to provide him with more challenging math problems to keep his passion and enthusiasm for math high, the teachers use their creativity and enthusiasm to engage, challenge and bring out the best in our children. My kids have attended The Gillispie School since they were aged 2 and 3. Once we experienced the school, its curriculum and community, we never wanted to leave. We have stayed through 6th grade and never looked back. Our family has built a strong community of friends, and due to the incredibly low attrition rate, our children have had these special friends for nearly all of their lives. Our older son has successfully transitioned to The Bishop's School where he is excelling and our other child remains at Gillispie, excited about the challenges and adventures the next day will bring her. Education is a partnership between the school and families. Throughout the years, we have entrusted Alison and her team to place our children in the right classrooms for them, because, as we know, our kids are often times different at school than at home. The placement has always been spot on, and our kids have had the type of experience where they can't wait to get to school and always ask us to pick them up late so they can play with their friends on the new field or engage with their teachers. If you are looking for a community of life long learners, a place where teachers and the administration work hard to provide "just right" learning for your child and they truly partner with you for your child's long term emotional and academic success, I encourage you to look at The Gillispie School.

Posted: December 1, 2015

Do not send your child here unless your child is mediocre, and if you already do, do not donate money in any substantial amount.

We were at the school for three years. Our son excelled. Instead of providing individualized attention, as we believed a small private school should, they moved him up with the older kids. He was fine with older children academically, but socially, he suffered. At age 5, a one year age gap makes a big difference.

When our daughter was in preschool, the school changed its strategy to attract more pre-K level children in order to pad its kindergarten classes. (A lot of children attend Gillispie for preschool years, but defect to public schools once they reach kindergarten. The school has an obvious financial interest in retaining children in K and up since the school suffers attrition as the kids move up.) In order to make more room for pre-K children, the school merged some of the preschool classes, and tried to move my daughter into a class with younger children. For $15K a year, we felt that was a disservice to our daughter.

When we complained, the head of school told us that she could not create the appearance of accommodating our request since we had donated so generously. Of course, the point was lost that we were asking for fair -- not special -- treatment. The chair of the board of directors chastised us for even vocalizing our concerns. "No one had ever complained before." Imagine that.

To add insult to injury, the school told us about our daughter's class placement after the deadline to pay the next year's deposit had already passed. We had already paid the next year's tuition, believing that the school would place our daughter according to the plan it had in place the prior two years. Even though the school instituted the change belatedly, the school refused to refund our deposit and felt it appropriate to withhold $3K as a windfall.

If you wish to entrust your children to an institution that can teach your children to think critically, work well with others, and resolve problems creatively, that is certainly not what we saw from those leading this institution.

Posted: July 28, 2015

The teachers are supportive and talented. Its a very warm and inviting community. I only have wonderful things to say about Gillispie.

Posted: July 27, 2015

Our family has had a wonderful experience at The Gillispie School and we feel so grateful to have been part of this community. Our children have been in the early childhood program and in the elementary school for the past three years and have thrived. Educators and administrators are caring, responsive and bring out the best in their students. It is a unique independent preschool and elementary environment that doesn't exist anywhere else in the area and enables kids to be kids in a tremendously enriched and safe campus which features dedicated science, art and music areas as well as a beautiful new sports field. Academics are excellent, and their focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) encourages curiosity, creativity and critical skills for the future. My children love going to school at Gillispie and feel confident and happy there each day, as a parent I couldn't ask for anything more!

Posted: July 26, 2015

My child is getting a top-notch education at Gillispie, made all the more special by the creative, warm and welcoming environment of the school. In looking at other area schools, private and public, we felt that the environment is what pushes Gillispie to the top. My husband and I have easily been able to meet and get to know all the people who work at the school - everyone, from teachers to administrators, is involved in creating the unique Gillispie atmosphere. Another huge bonus for us was being able to get to know the other parents at the school through a number of events they hold throughout the year. We are new to town and this enabled us to get quickly acclimated, which helped our child settle in as well. If you are looking for a truly special place where your whole family will be welcomed, where your child will get individualized attention from top-notch teachers, look no further than Gillispie. We are just delighted! The only thing I would push for the school is to work on being a bit more high-tech in its integration with the parents - it would be nice to do more things online (see grades, signing up for enrichments, etc). Overall, we are over the moon to be in the Gillispie family!

Posted: July 26, 2015

Posted: July 26, 2015

Posted: July 26, 2015

Posted: July 18, 2015

The school is a haven for those who feel supeior to others in our society. The real problem does not lie with the teachers...it lies with he people who run the school and feel they are supeior to anyone and everyone. We would hope that parents would be mindful of their opinions in front of their children when it regards others social stature or means. This not considered with a select few in this school. It is one thing to raise funds for the goodness of helping teachers and kids but to use it as a way to harass the parents and make people feel shameful because maybe they cannot give a certain amount expected is unclassy and undignified. The community of La Jolla has many wonderful people and families...it only takes a few to ruin that repuation.

Posted: July 15, 2015

All kids struggle with this issue and are going to make mistakes and bad choices sometimes. Gillispie recognizes this and tries to turn those instances into learning opportunities. I appreciate that about this school because the expectations are high, but realistic. They have conversations with the kids about how to make good decisions and how to build community through shared values.

Posted: July 15, 2015

My child entered this school last year as a new student. Within days, he was comfortable and happy in his new school. The teachers, administrators, and other children were so welcoming and warm to him that it took him no time at all to feel right at home. He loves going to school every day and has had tons of opportunities in and out of classrooms in a wide range of activities. Gillispie strikes the right balance between challenging academics and a nurturing environment for an elementary school. Very glad we made this choice.

Posted: July 15, 2015

The teachers at this school are extremely warm and caring. They work hard to create an environment that makes children happy and safe. I know my child learns best when he is happy and safe.

Posted: June 28, 2015

This school has a strong social curriculum in place. However, the teachers and administrator do not demonstrate a true place of fairness, cultural diversity and discriminate against families who are not big donors. The fundraising at this school remains their biggest priority. They continue to work hard to expand. The evidence being their constant desire to buy the properties adjacent to the school. They own apartment buildings and manage them near the school. They have a full time fundraising person who is constantly carousing the campus and seen lunching with parents. There is a full time business manager who is new and quickly developing a poor reputation as "fair". Yet, there is no curriculum director in place or person you can speak to regarding the constant and growing concern of the rather deflated curriculum that is not up to par with LJ Country Day or Parker. This school needs to take the time to develop and re-evaluate its priorities. They are no where near capacity in terms of student body and they ask parents to actively try to persuade their friends to attend open houses and write reviews online. Strange, strange culture. Be careful. It is not what it seems. Positive note - school has a huge budget, they work hard it appears to develop their teachers but with such weak direction and administration, no extra education will help until the deep issues are resolved.

Posted: June 28, 2015

Leaving Gillispie is a hard decision for our family. The reason we have chose to leave Gillispie is the culture of their fundraising practices. We are uncomfortable with the tactics used to collect money over the course of the school year. Example - they have an annual giving fund. I understand many private schools do this same campaign. During this campaign where Gillispie strives to get 100% participation (even from their teachers and support staff) they encourage other Gillispie parents to hound you by email, phone calls and face to face encounters. They are relentless. They claim their tuition is not enough to cover the cost to educate your child. Then I recommend they raise their tuition so that this gorilla marketing style can be put to rest. The issue is the conflict of teaching your social curriculum while pushing a big fundraising agenda. If you are encouraging parents through your school marketing to attend events, get drunk, act belligerent and then loosen their pockets to give more money - this school has mastered this style. This year they added a wine drinking event to their repertoire ON CAMPUS. Another conflict for our family was the lack of presence or oversight on their fairly stagnant curriculum BUT the over abundant presence of their fundraising person. The fundraising person can be seen carousing with moms at lunch, interacting with our children - is she a credentialed teacher? Doubtfully so. My last point is the "Disneyland Factor". Gillispie is a lovely school, full of Art, lots of speakers from the outside and that is all very special. However, to my family, we value hard work, we value resilience, we value not always getting the easy A. Gillispie is Disneyland for kids. Is that real world experience? At the end of the day, I can say, I felt my child was safe at Gillispie, I felt his teachers cared, I felt there were opportunities for learning (not excellent ones) but they did exist. But, these two issues, the strange fundraising and drinking culture combined with the Disneyland Factor has led us back to public school. We might miss the Disneyland factor at times but our child will discover the real world.

Posted: June 28, 2015

Posted: June 28, 2015

Posted: June 6, 2015

My child has been at this school since he was 2 years old, and is now in the upper elementary school. The question of academic rigor is interesting, as I think there will always be families who want more. We have been completely satisfied with what the school has to offer, and can only see the results in what our child has learned in comparison to other schools from his ERB results. He has scored very well, which assures us he is definitely receiving the instruction he needs. We have never had to seek, or wanted to seek any outside help or additional instruction. For us it is about more than just academics, it is the music, PE, art, science, Spanish, and more, and the way the school encourages children to ask questions and become independent thinkers. We love what this school has to offer and can only highly recommend Gillispie.

Posted: April 21, 2015

Our daughter attended Gillispie School and absolutely bloomed academically, emotionally, and socially after being lost in the crowd at two other local elementary schools. She had no trouble gaining admission to The Bishop's School, attended college on an academic scholarship and today has her MBA. She still talks about how Gillispie gave her the confidence to pursue her passions and to love learning.

Posted: April 20, 2015

I have been in the education field for 30 years. I have taught in four states and each grade level from K to 12. I have a Bachelors, Masters and Specialist degree from three different Universities. I also served as Principal and Assistant Principal for 15 years. I now teach at the college level and interact with over twenty schools within the area. I do understand the educational process and the global view by which a strong curriculum may be developed. At the Gillispie School I have observed Administrators, Teachers and Staff interact with the students on the campus. Each student is called by name, each treated with Respect and Dignity, each taken seriously. Parents have a "Voice" and are listened to sincerely by the teachers and administrators. If you are a parent who would like your child to attend an independent school with smaller class sizes, a concentration on safety and a strong academic curriculum, you will be well served to consider this quaint setting. Gillispie School is a fine Independant school which nurtures family interaction. Of course volunteering and/or fundraising are availabe to those who would like to participate. " Kids are Happy at Gillispie"

Posted: April 19, 2015

The Gillispie School is a wonderful place for preschool and elementary school students, and we have found it to be the perfect fit for our family. We love the reggio-inspired curriculum in the early childhood program, and how the transition from this style of learning builds confident, curious, and able students ready to enter the kindergarten-grade 6 program. As current elementary parents, we have been most recently impressed with the integration of Singapore Math into the curriculum, and the school's expansion of the science and sustainability program through their new science building and garden. We have found Gillispie to be as academically rigorous as it is warm and nurturing, and are happy with our choice.

Posted: April 10, 2015

I think I can speak for several parents whose children are about to leave Gillispie this year as 5th and 6th graders. So, many wonderful things about Gillispie. Sweet school with a fantastic art program. The problem is and has been for many years the poor curriculum. It is hard to understand why a school of this prestige struggles to prepare its students for the schools that await them. But, it does struggle. The Gillispie kids as a whole are not prepared and they are not all getting into the secondary schools families desire. Seems like Gillispie cares more about raising money and focusing on their social scene than it does preparing the students for the real world. If I had known what I know now I would not have chosen Gillispie for my child. We are gravely disappointed with the academics. Look around before making this decision. It is a very expensive mistake.

Posted: March 31, 2015

Gillispie is a very warm school with a great community of parents. The school is very well run, organized and efficient. The issue for our family began when we started to consider other schools this year and found our children were behind academically in comparison to the local public and private schools we visited. There are always rumblings of unsatisfied parents with the schools academic vigor but I wasn't sure if it was true or not. I like this school a lot but I am disappointed in this recent development for our family. We have spent a lot of money trusting we were paying for the best. Now I am not so sure.

Posted: June 27, 2014

Although there are many strengths to the school community the academics are largely disappointing. Our daughter attended for two years and learned less than she would have gained in our local public school. During the summer between 1st and 2nd grade I ended up teaching her reading skills that should have been taught the previous year but were largely missed.

Posted: November 10, 2013

It's more than another school; it's an environment, culture and extended family we feel blessed to be part of. Gillispie completely squashed my preconceived notions of private/independent schools.

Posted: October 29, 2013

This school is excellent. My son attended here many years ago and is now in High School. Although I feel there is a little bit less focus on academic curriculum than other schools, they absolutely encourage the kids to do great things and get them interested in technology from a young age. There's a great culture of independence and independent learning at this school. All the teachers and faculty are excellent, and many have been there for over 15 years. They've just added a new sports field as well for additional exercise. A few tips: If you want your kids to excel in a particular sport, get them involved early-on after school. The PE program provides decent exercise, but kids may be unprepared for Middle School PE or High School level Sports. Also, buy your kid a Mac very early. The culture is very Apple-centered and your child will be incredible with technology if they are able to self-develop their skills. After attending Gillispie through 5th grade, most kids move on to Bishops with all their friends. Although you can send them somewhere else, I suggest you send them there if you can afford it. Fitting in at a public school for can be difficult.

Posted: January 29, 2013

Both of my children go to Gillispie, and I can attest that it is a truly vibrant and dynamic place to learn. Our boys are thriving. The teachers are top notch and are willing to go the distance to ensure that each child reaches his/her potential. The head of school is outstanding, and her door is always open. The BEST news regarding The Gillispie School, is that it is expanding its campus! In just a couple of short months, there will be a new grass field for the kids to play on. The major expansion is going to be amazing!

Posted: January 9, 2012

My child has been a student at Gillispie for three years. She is reading, writing, singing, dancing, socializing and loving it all - everything that we had hoped for. We love the play based learning - as it has created a fun way to learn new things. The Art is fabulous. Most of all, she is one happy little kid and she loves school. She is currently in Kindergarden, and will likely stay at Gillispie for the first grade as well. The school really is too small, first graders competing for play space with 6th grade kids. Thus, the four Stars. The kids have to play on the walk way - so as a Parent at Pick Up time, you're likely to be tripped or hit with a ball, and the kids don't seem to "care"... and there's really no other place to play. that's my one complaint.

Posted: November 7, 2011

The Gillispie School is a welcoming,kind, and gentle school. I have one child that graduated from the 6th grade after attending the school for 10 years, and another child still attending the school. Our Gillispie graduate is currently thriving in middle school, and entered extremely well prepared by her teachers at Gillispie. The school does a wonderful job instlling compassion and understanding of others, and the older kids are great in their interactions with the preschoolers. We love Gillispie.

Posted: October 26, 2011

We have been at the school for six years and what is most amazing about the school is the partnership between the parents and the teachers in educating our children. The teachers are never too busy to respond immediately to an e-mail, take a phone call or meet in person. They are dedicated to making our children's educational experience the best it can be while at the same time helping them to grown socially and emotionally and become good citizens and good community members. It is truly the ideal elementary school experience.

Posted: September 18, 2011

My daughter has just begun her 10th year at The Gillispie School. She started out a few days a week in the preschool program and is now in 5th grade. She is receiving an excellent, well rounded education. The school offers a top notch technology, art, music and science program. A few years ago the school received an amazing $4.5 million gift to establish The Gillispie Endowment for Excellence in Teaching. This endowment is used to recruit, retain and further educate the teaching staff. The teachers have had the opportunity to attend a variety of top education conferences throughout the world and pass that knowledge onto the students. Thanks to the endowment and strong administrative leadership Gillispie has a excellent, motivated and appreciated teaching staff.

Posted: September 16, 2011

This school is really something special. We are now beginning our 6th year at the school, with both my children beginning in the preschool program. The sense of community between teachers, children and parents is truly amazing. The way the older children recognize and greet younger children and help them along the way, instills such a sense of confidence in the child from the beginning of their school years. The academics are impressive, and the specialty teachers and small group work available to the kids provides us with a really unique environment. We love it!

Posted: July 31, 2011

Our family felt welcome from the first day we arrived at Gillispie. Within days, it seemed that all the teachers and staff at the school knew their names. This makes the kids feel special and they have thrived as a result of being in such a nuturing environment. Gillispie does a great job of academically challenging the kids, but not in ways that undermines their joy of learning or frustrates them. I'm so glad that we found this school!

Posted: July 19, 2011

Our two kids have gone here since preschool, when they were both 2 years old. We are now on our 7th year. It's the perfect education for our kids--bullet proof academics, mixed with PE and other athletic games/challenges, all forms or art (music, traditional drawing/painting, sculpture, theatre), public speaking in class from the time they can talk, technology--there is nothing missing! Each early class has two full time credentialed teachers, and then about 5-6 specialty teachers rotate in each week for hard core science, reading support, PE, art, music, etc...About 7-8 teachers impact our kids each week, and it's not just a "generalist" trying to be master at everything. There is also strong cultural diversity of the kids and families, which we like. The families are friendly and grounded, and there is a true "Gillispie Community" that isn't just some sales job.

Posted: June 27, 2011

The Gillisipie School nurtures young people who love learning. The teachers are supportive and kind. They develop academic and citizenship skills. The head of school has an open door policy. And the families are a community. The small class size and excellent teachers enable students to be individuals; and known for who they are as individuals. I am confident each of my three children will grow into the best each can be at this school.

Posted: April 4, 2011

Gillispie is a great school for PS - 6th grade! They have an Early Childhood area for kids in PS-PK and an upper campus for the elementary school (K-6). In both, there is a very low student to teacher ratio that allows the teachers to really focus on making learning fun. As a result, the kids are excited to go school and are passionate about learning. Gillispie has a large endowment dedicated to excellence in teaching. This means they have the money to ensure that their teachers are at the top of their game (which, if you know anything about education, the #1 correlation to your kids getting a good education is the effectiveness of their teacher). That said, it's the academic excellence that attracts you, but it's the warm, loving, nuturing community that keeps you there - for students and parents alike. The older kids work with (and look out for) the younger ones doing things like "book buddy" programs. There is a lot of opportunity for parent involvement that creates a very cohesive parent community. There are a lot of good schools in La Jolla, but Gillispie is amazing!

Posted: April 4, 2011

Great school! The teachers are great, the class size is small and the kids learn to be true "out of the box" thinkers.

Posted: December 10, 2010

As an alumna, I cannot remember too many fond memories that Gillispie fostered. Many of the teachers, while outwardly caring towards parents, were controlling to students, especially in the upper grades. The lack of space only exacerbated the problem, for there were 6th graders competing for space with toddlers. While I attended, Gillispie still hadn't made its transformation into the 'new Gillispie', complete with a mascot and fundraising 24/7. Now, they have asked me for money every year after my graduation, even in 7th grade. I was very disappointed to go to Gillispie; the money was not worth the sub-par education and upbringing I received there. I only was able to excel academically due to attending a Montessori school before, and to get ahead.