An independent, private school in San Diego for grades 7-12.
Pacific Ridge School is known for its mission, which includes a focus on academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement.
Academic programs at the school are delivered in seminar-style classrooms, in which 15 students and a teacher sit together around an oval table, known as a “Harkness table” to engage with course material by sharing ideas and hearing the perspectives of others. The school offers a wide range of arts, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) and elective classes in addition to honors and AP courses.
In a year-long service learning program, students develop service projects and assist in the community. Over 40 service groups address needs as diverse as ocean pollution, quality of life among the elderly and education for girls in India. All students in grades 7-10 participate in service learning and over 85% of juniors and seniors continue until they graduate.
Global issues are woven into the curriculum and the last two weeks of the school year are reserved for global trips. Over 95% of students participate in the global travel program, which sends 7th graders to Big Bear, CA, 8th graders to Washington, D.C., 9th graders to urban and rural China, and 10th graders to the Northern Sierra Mountains.
Eleventh and twelfth graders choose from numerous school-designed trips or develop one of their own. Recent trips include studying social justice in Cambodia, food insecurity in Nicaragua, and Wilderness First Responder training in New Mexico. Since the school’s founding, students have traveled to 38 countries on six continents.
On January 7th, Pacific Ridge School welcomes the community to an Open House from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Families can learn about the independent school’s programs, meet faculty and talk to current families.
