| Date | Who | Comments |
| 8/22/2012 | parent | We just started our second year at Ocean Knoll (our son is in first grade) and we are extremely happy! Great teachers, Great hands on principal and great school programs. |
| 8/14/2012 | parent | We love Ocean Knoll. My Son just finished Kinder and is going into 1st grade. We came from La Costa Heights which has a horrible principal there and does not look out for the best interest of the children. Very differnent at Ocean Knoll, the Principal is great. She cares so much about each childs education. The Teachers have been great too. My son had more indivdualized teaching at OK and he excelled. I too was hesitant about OK, but I happy to say I was proven wrong. |
| 5/22/2012 | parent | Ocean Knoll (OK) is in the process of becoming an IB (International Baccalaureate) World School. In the past two years of preparing for this accreditation, there's been an incredible improvement in enrichment programs at the school including Spanish, science labs, a thriving garden program and nutrition lab, and increased music and dance. California schools are contending with enormous budget cuts but OK's principal has shown incredible leadership and innovative thinking to provide for all kids at their individual levels. With great parent involvement, OK is thriving. |
| 1/24/2012 | parent | Our kids are new at Ocean Knoll this year, and we are totally impressed. They have a terrific system for tailoring reading and math instruction for each child's level, to help struggling students accelerate and high achieving students continue to make progress. Family involvement is high and it is a friendly community. It's an excellent school. |
| 8/16/2011 | parent | My daughter just graduated from Ocean Knoll. She attended there starting in Kindergarten. She loved the school and all the teachers and so did I. She excelled in all areas and is going into all advanced classes in middle school. The education she received at Ocean Knoll was outstanding. I almost didn't send her to Ocean Knoll due to the API and CST scores. They were very misleading and I'm so glad I went on the Kindergarten tour. It completely changed my mind about the school. We will really miss Ocean Knoll. |
| 6/30/2011 | parent | I have two children at Ocean Knoll and an confident they are receiving an excellent and well-rounded education. My older daughter attended a private school for many years and I can confidently say that the teachers at Ocean Knoll are the highest quality have seen and truly care about each child. They know each child's strengths and areas that need extra attention. The principal at the school is amazing. She knows every child by name and takes time to review every child's report card. While I want to rave about the school to everyone, I also want to keep it the secret gem of a school in Encinitas. |
| 5/13/2011 | parent | BEST PRINCIPAL IN THE DISTRICT, amazing teachers, awesome parents. Love our 2 kids being there at Ocean Knoll! We've been there over 4 yrs and just love it. We have neighbors who have moved out of the Ocean Knoll boundary but still continue to drive their kids in! |
| 5/8/2011 | parent | The reviews on this site are obviously written by one or two people. If you really want to know how the parents feel at this school just stand out front after the bell rings. It certainly does not sound like the reviews posted on this site. |
| 3/14/2011 | parent | Ocean Knoll is a class act. I am thrilled at how happy my 2 kids are here and so glad we chose this school for them. The community here is wonderful. I am continually impressed - 5 stars! |
| 3/6/2011 | parent | Ocean Knoll honors individuality and creativity. Our principal is amazing- and well-loved and respected by children, parents and her staff. A wonderful school, highly motivated teachers bringing out the best academically in each and every child. Offering great morning wellness classes daily, with yoga, running & karate to choose from. There is something for everyone, and such an amazing group of parents heading & supporting the PTA. GREAT SCHOOL...this is it! |
| 3/6/2011 | parent | Our child is in kindergarten at Ocean Knoll. We have been very impressed with his teacher and the curriculum--which all the kindergarten teachers develop. In addition, you will find a very involved, welcoming, friendly group of parents. Ocean Knoll puts a strong emphasis on developing the whole child and challenging EACH child individually. There are grade level objectives and then there is customization to challenge and nurture curiosity. |
| 2/20/2011 | parent | I expected more from this school. The school needs some updating on the physical premises. My daughter is constantly sick while school is in session. The classrooms are dirty and dingy. It's an embarrassment. Encinitas Union School District should be ashamed of itself for letting this school get this way. |
| 2/3/2011 | parent | We feel very fortunate to attend Ocean Knoll. What an amazing school. I was very involved with my childrens education through homeschooling, and had high expectations. I have not been disappointed. The principal, teachers, parent volunteers & PTA involvement are outstanding. Everyone supports each other, everything you could wish for in a very unpretentious environment...welcome to the hidden gem in Encinitas. |
| 11/15/2010 | parent | This is an incredibly SAFE school with a nurturing staff that caters to all students; irrespective of their socioeconomic status or academic level. Amazing young people, parents, and programs, make this a great place for any child. We are so excited for all of the children at the school and the future of our diverse community. |
| 9/19/2010 | parent | As a gate student, our son thrives in this environment. We could not be happier with the education he is receiving. Students are placed in small groups so that they can achieve their goals and get appropriate attention. With such a warm supportive community of talented teachers, students, a dedicated principle and parent population, we could not ask for more. He is learning the beauty of tolerance, broad-mindedness, patience, understanding, and general care for the global world that he will be graduating into. Global thinking- cooperation and tolerance, I could not ask for a more forward thinking education for him. |
| 9/18/2010 | parent | Encinitas on a whole has a student population of 15% Hispanics and this school is almost 56%. This is why you see so many posts about its diversity . When my child was a student here, it was clear that some of the majority needed extra assistance with language skills (as they should) and in turn, that took away from my childs education. We ended up transferring to another school in the area and are very happy with his progress. |
| 9/16/2010 | parent | My daughter is high performing and always challenged with GATE curriculum and projects developing her leadership in academics as well as her personal, social development. I couldn't want for more. For the past 2 years, Ocean Knoll's "White" population has had the highest API score in the district because of the personal attention each child receives. We have a fantastic program here called TLP where teachers are given time every week to brainstorm collectively and plan personal goals for each child. EVERY child is a priority at Ocean Knoll and "Hispanophobia" does not live here. We are a true blended community and proud of it. |
| 8/28/2010 | parent | We transferred our daughter to another school in Encinitas after talking to a teacher at the middle school. He told us that the students from Ocean Knoll consistently are the lowest performing in his English classes. Our daughter is not a struggling student and is not learning English so she is not considered a priority at this school. |
| 4/25/2010 | parent | Exceptional staff with lots of experience as well as new creativity. I have found a lot of support for my childs learning here... |
| 4/22/2010 | parent | because it is a safe and friendly place for a child to get the most of education and because all the staff is very dedicated to help children in every aspect of learning. |
| 4/21/2010 | other | It is a beautiful school with great teachers and students. |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | My favorite elementary school is Ocean Knoll. I have 2 daughters that go there. Both are doing amazing in math and reading. I grew up here and seen a lot of changes, but the school has stayed very stong and that's why we'd never leave...giving our kids the best opportunities. |
| 4/19/2010 | other | I love love it's diversity and the ability to meet the needs of all the students and parents! |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | The children learn first hand. See it feel it hear it, learn it! The principal makes it happen, and the teachers seem very happy to teach be there. |
| 4/19/2010 | other | They do an amazing job of engaging students, parents and teachers as a team! |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | Darling school. Extremely caring and competent staff- including office personnel, playground supervisors and grounds maintenance keeper/s, as well as phenomenal teachers. Ocean Knoll honors individuality and creativity. The campus is safe and secure. Our principal is amazing- and well-loved and respected by children, parents and her staff. Our third child is graduating from Ocean Knoll this year. We are grateful for the fond memories and great education Ocean Knoll has given to each of them. |
| 4/19/2010 | parent | I have had the pleasure of sending two of my children to Ocean Knoll and both have had engaging instruction by caring teachers that address their individual needs. They take a committed approach to teaching the children including team teaching, one-on-one instruction and active communication with parents. The school has close-knit and involved parents that reach out throughout the school. I truly look forward to enrolling my youngest child this fall. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Ocean Knoll has a great community, diversity, progressive teachers and challenging learning experiences. I'm glad our kids have the chance to go to such a great school in their own neighborhood. |
| 4/18/2010 | parent | Innovative ideas, wonderful community support, great leadership, caring and dedicated teachers. |
| 4/16/2010 | parent | I love Ocean Knoll. My oldest child, my daughter has Down Syndome and the school has accepted her completely. She is not only included but treated as a super star. Everyone treats her with respect and total inclusion. My younger son is in second grade and is being challenged with the accelerated programs. The principal, teachers, and staff are amazing. I feel so lucky to have the best school to send my kids to. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Ocean Knoll has been a great experience for the past 3 years. The community has open arms which aids in the healthy, happy atmosphere an elementary school should have. The teachers and staff are above amazing and make Ocean Knoll an incredible place to learn and grow. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | I absolutely love Ocean Knoll Elementary School for several reasons. My daughter is enthusiastic about learning and has excelled in many areas, emotionally, scholastically, socially this year. Her teachers and the staff are wonderful. Ocean Knoll receives my highest recommendation! |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | We have a great principal that cares about each and every child. We have wonderful teachers that spend so much of their own time and money to help the children. Each child gets individualized attention. We are a very close knit school where everyone knows each other and works together to make the school great. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Our children all went to Ocean Knoll, and so have our grandchildren. It is a feature of our local community, and encourages the participation of parents, grandparents and other adults in the lives, education and rounding of the students. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | The teachers are phenomenal. They give personal attention to each child and even accomodate behavioral issues to make the learning environment successful for every child. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | The diversity of the student body and faculty make this school great! Not to mention the tireless dedication of the teachers and the individual attention given to all the students |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Ocean Knoll is a small tight knit community of devoted educators and families who are constantly striving to better the school and what it offers the students. Our principle is a tireless advocate who is open to any ideas that better our school. Our garden is a fantastic addition to our opportunities for education in, nutrition, science, composting, and all around gardening.We are so lucky to have all of this as well as a wellness program and new music program in the works. Such a great school! |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | So lucky to have a school and staff feel that parents are integral to their child's learning and who encourage parent and family involvement on a daily basis. The sense of community is wonderful. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Ocean Knoll, has some great teachers,and a fantastic garden |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | The communication and small community care my daughter receives. Ske knows the Maintenance Man, school nurse and most all of the teachers. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Fantastic teachers k thru 6th and what an amazing principal she is extremely innovative and we are very lucky to have her!!! |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Great group and individual teaching. Love the daily reminder of individual responsibility. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Love the principal...love our teacher...love that they cater to each child's individual needs and taylor the curriculum to that child by constant assessments and care. We love the community that attends Ocean Knoll too. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Great learning environment! Staff/Parents/Students work as a team towards the same goal: the best for our kids. We have the best School Garden around, and the kids love spending time in it. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Great teachers and staff! Parents are involved and down to earth. No pretense here! All students are broken out according to ability. You won't get that at private or charter school! |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Ocean Knoll Elementary has the BEST staff! Parents are very involved, so there is alot of cooperation between families and the school. All 3 of my kids have had a great experience at this school. Every morning they are happy to go to school and every day after school they tell me they had a great day. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | The small community feel with a big heart. Not too mention I love the teachers and staff. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | Our principal has really developed an outstanding program and the teachers are amazing. |
| 4/15/2010 | parent | I toured as many schools as I could before enrolling my child at Ocean Knoll. I was very impressed with the program and the teachers at OKE and now that my child has been there 8 months, I know that I made the right decision. He is challenged and never bored, provided with ample opportunities to express himself and the teachers are outstanding. I am so pleased with the program at OKE. As much as I'd like to keep this little gem to myself, I am also proud to tell everyone what a great school this is. |
| 4/13/2010 | parent | I love this school. It is progressive, diverse, and the faculty is well-educated and accessible |
| 1/20/2010 | parent | Our kids continue to have an awesome experience at Ocean Knoll. There is real world goodness here--excellent parent support, great after-school activities, and teachers who really LOVE kids and create an individualized curriculum plan to challenge each student at their level. At no other school have I heard of this kind of focused commitment. Our principal is unbelievably responsive and caring to the needs of each parent and student! Try it--you'll like it! |
| 9/10/2009 | parent | I am new to the Ocean Knoll School Community this year. I had my reservations at first coming from an upbringing of private schools, but was so overwhelmingly surprised at the 'feel' of the school and staff. I was made to feel welcome and comfortable from the minute I walked in the front office, to the 1st grade teacher, the principal and even the custodian takes the time to talk to you and your children! Everyone knows each other by name. My daughter is thriving, I can't say enough about Ocean Knoll. |
| 8/18/2009 | parent | I have three children who have graduated from Ocean Knoll and one who is a current student. My children have all thrived at the school. Their test scores have always been in the proficient or advanced levels. Communication between teachers, the principal and parents is fabulous. There is always an open door if I have a question or concern. |
| 3/23/2009 | parent | From the minute you walk into the front office and are greeted by the office staff, you are put at ease. I am a new parent, that made the best decision in sending my children to Ocean Knoll the teachers, the staff, the garden, the support at Ocean Knoll is superior. We love Ocean Knoll. |
| 2/23/2009 | parent | Ocean Knoll is one of the smallest schools in the Encinitas district. It has excellent teachers and staff who are devoted to doing the best for their students and making families feel welcome. Ocean Knoll's garden, created and maintained by parents, teachers, current students and graduates, is just one example of the community spirit of this wonderful school. |
| 10/2/2008 | parent | As a new parent at OK (my son is in kindergarten), I worried that my son wouldn't be academically challenged, but I was wrong. His teachers seem over qualified, incredibly patient and able to set high standards for all. I was thrilled that the API scores for 07-08 increased by 72 points. I highly praised Mrs. Lopez and her staff via email. I know scores aren't everything, but you have to be very talented and hardworking to increase your scores that much. No one in the district comes close to that, much less SD county. Besides that, the staff and the teachers seem very sweet. I am really happy with OK and know that the key to continued success is parent volunteers. That is the only thing (and demos) that differentiate OK from the other schools in the district. |
| 6/17/2008 | parent | My son has been at Ocean Knoll for four years (k-3). The staff is dedicated and always puts kids first! This is a wonderful, neighborhood school and we wouldn't go anywhere else. |
| 4/22/2008 | parent | I am a 4th year parent at Ocean Knoll and have had nothing but positive experiences year after year. The teachers are amazing, talented, committed. I feel that my kids are getting a top notch education is a 'real world' atmosphere. |
| 4/11/2008 | parent | Many parents look for their kids to be academically engaged, socially accepted, individually challenged, and socially/emotionally safe. Ocean Knoll perfectly offers all of these things with pride. For the last nine years we have had our kids there, 3 advanced learners/one Special Ed, now as a high school 2 subject honor student. We have seen careful addition of more and more outstanding teachers. Little room for improving this area, this is a phenomenal, motivated staff. Our diversity is relative to where we live and who comes to our school. Neighbors and friends, we are making a great school of it everyday. Sadly gone over the years are a scattered few families with individual issues. Trying alternative schools in hope of improving their own frustrations. Some will come back, and we welcome them. Ocean Knoll is real life, not a product of an overgrown beachtown-mecca. Come see us, you'll love it. |
| 4/11/2008 | parent | Ocean Knoll is a fantastic small public school. For a community who has ballooned into a big overpriced town, O.K. defines in many ways, old Encinitas. Small town social style and simplicity. I have three Ocean Knoll kids that are all advanced learners. Our principal is warm, tirelessly there for us, & easy to approach. The teachers are all AMAZING. We have lots of great parents doing super efforts. You can join this a or stay on the edge of it. Please acknowledge & respect the big numbers of happy families who's kids are thriving. A child's education is no place for ugly rival reviews and ulterior motives. We glow with goodness, no drama, no claws. You will not be disappointed in Ocean Knoll it is the best kept little secret in Encinitas. |
| 3/26/2008 | parent | I have three children currently attending OK (1st, 5th, 6th grades) and a son who attended OK and is now in 8th grade. I have had a wonderful experience at OK. My 5th and 6th graders are both GATE. My 1st grader is reading at a 2nd grade level and working ahead in math. OK has fabulous, experienced, and hardworking teachers. Grade level teachers work together to make sure each child is getting either the acceleration or the enrichment that they need to be successful. I can't say enough about how much I love our principal! She has been at the school for about 2 years and has been a huge assett to the school community (and this truly is a community school!). She is very accessable and her door is always openI have five more years at OK and look forward to every one of them. |
| 3/19/2008 | parent | I have two children, one in Jr. High, and one at Ocean knoll. My son in Jr. High attended Ocean Knoll K-6. He is now in two Honors classes. My other son is in 5th grade. He is also an advancing learner, and is headed down the Honors path as well. We are so pleased with every teacher they have had. Ocean Knoll is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful school. The teachers all love to teach and are very kind and nuturing. I am so thankful for the education they received (and continue to receive) here. |
| 1/16/2008 | parent | Ocean Knoll is the best kept secret in the district! I was a bit concerned that my GATE daughter would not be sufficiently challenged, but she has been even more challenged and engaged in her learning than at her previous school. Also, the test scores concerned me at first, but when I compared the scores of native English speakers to others in the district I found that Ocean Knoll's scores were actually higher than her last school! Her teachers have been sharp, accessible and responsive to her needs and she loves going to school. Ocean Knoll is a true community that we feel fortunate to be a part of. |
| 10/30/2007 | parent | Talk about the hardest working group of teachers and support staff! I have been at 3 other schools in the district. Ocean Knoll is by far, the 'most real' and the one my children have excelled at the most! |
| 10/11/2007 | parent | We are thrilled that we put our kindergartener here. I was worried because I thought the ratings were not very good until I researched to find out that when looked at by grade, the older the children get, the higher the school rating. What that translates to me, is the incredible quality of the teachers and the children's drive to learn. Ocean Knoll is blessed with wonderful diversity and with that a greater acceptance of everyone. When I was looking at schools, everyone I asked said 'we are the happy school...'. We are thrilled to be a part of such a great enviroment. |
