College Preparatory School in San Diego North County, CA

Pacific Ridge School, Carlsbad:
Pacific Ridge School is an independent middle and high school for grades 7 -12 in Carlsbad in San Diego County, CA. Pacific Ridge School is fulfilling the need in Coastal North County for excellence in independent, college-preparatory and secondary education. Firmly rooted in academic excellence, Pacific Ridge School inspires and equips students to be lifelong learners who act with compassion and integrity. With Pacific Ridge School’s opening in the fall of 2007, its founders intended to enrich the educational opportunities in San Diego’s North County, offering the community an educational mission that focuses on mind and heart, that combines academic excellence with ethics and links civic responsibility to global awareness.

Middle School Program:
The Middle School curriculum develops real-life skills in leadership, public speaking, writing, and building human relationships, as students pursue the following courses of study: Social and Community Studies, American Studies, Life Science, Conceptual Physics, Mathematics, English, French or Spanish, Art Wheel, Introduction to Chinese, and a year-long elective for returning eighth graders.

In conjunction with the Middle School Service Learning Program, the entire integrated program transforms Middle School students into active local citizens. The academic program is integrated in two ways: it allows students to address across disciplines the over-arching ethical questions that animate it, and it is united by intentional thematic touchpoints of integration, or what we call The Big Ideas.

Upper School Program:
The Upper School curriculum continues to develop real-life skills in leadership, public speaking, writing, and building human relationships. The college preparatory 9th and 10th grade program builds toward an 11th and 12th grade program that will incorporate a wider range of classes, including more honors classes and Advanced Placement courses. Currently, 9th and 10th graders pursue the following courses of study: Ancient World History, Modern World History, English, Biology/Chemistry I & II, Mathematics, French, Spanish, or Mandarin, Upper School Service Learning, Art Wheel or a year-long course in the Arts.

The Upper School curriculum transforms students into active global citizens as they broaden their studies both inside and outside the classroom to include the world beyond our country's borders. As with the Middle School curriculum, the academic program is integrated in two ways: it allows students to address across disciplines the over-arching ethical questions that animate it, and it is united by intentional thematic touchpoints of integration, or what we call The Big Ideas.

Personal Development Programs:
At Pacific Ridge School, the focus is on the whole student. In addition to providing a strong academic foundation in preparation for college work, we help students develop a number of other critical qualities – among them, integrity, dignity, self-respect and respect for others – both inside the classroom and out. Through programs such as Service Learning, Community Life, Clubs, Student Government, Athletics, and Arts, Pacific Ridge students strengthen their ethical convictions, creativity, physical skills, global awareness, and maturity. With their breadth and depth, our programs encourage students to experience opportunities in the Pacific Ridge community, the greater San Diego community, and the world community.

Athlethics:
Athletic participation is a vital part of education at Pacific Ridge School. With students engaged on the fields and courts, as in the classroom, Pacific Ridge School promotes the pursuit of excellence and the rewards of ethical behavior.

As founding school students, Pacific Ridge School athletes are part of the exciting process of building the school's athletic program from the ground up. They set the benchmarks and establish traditions that will last for years.