FAQs

Kindergarten applications should be turned in by January prior to the fall semester your child will begin Kindergarten. All prospective students are invited to spend the morning in small groups in the kindergarten classroom during scheduled days throughout the month of December/January. During this time, they engage in age-appropriate activities that are designed to be both enjoyable and diagnostic, as each child is assessed for academic and social readiness and skill development (number, letter, sounds and shape recognition, visual/perceptual and fine motor skills, finding patterns, and critical thinking). A group of kindergarten students is invited to attend Diegueño after we have met and evaluated all prospective candidates. Generally, our kindergarten class for the upcoming year is formed by the end of the January visitation process.

Diegueño does not have a set cut-off birthdate for an entering kindergartener. Rather, we assess each individual in order to determine academic and social readiness and compatibility with the class group as a whole.

Diegueño students are characterized by their excitement for learning, their ability to be successful in an academically accelerated curriculum, their age-appropriate social and emotional maturity, and their character attributes, which include kindness and respect for their peers, teachers, and the school environment. As well, students and families who seek both rigorous academics and experience in the arts find the Diegueño experience deeply fulfilling.

All prospective students are asked to come for an evaluation visit in the class they are seeking to join. The purpose of the evaluation visit is to ascertain if the prospective student could perform successfully in our accelerated curriculum and to observe the child’s classroom and outdoor behavior and social interactions with the other students.

The class size at Diegueño averages 23 students with a 10:1 ratio of students to teachers. This ratio allows for a highly personalized educational experience and  provides sufficient social choices. Kindergarten students have two fully credential teachers and an assistant teacher for the entire day while all other grades have a team of two teachers for language arts and a different team of two teachers for mathematics. Our staff is departmentalized so that teachers specialize in the subject areas of their greatest expertise.

Diegueño Country School operates under the assumption that the family unit as a whole will be a positive, supportive force within the Diegueño community. We have a very active Parent Organization, and individual parents volunteer their time in many ways. They volunteer to help with many school-wide events such as Science/Geography Fairs, Roots and Shoots community service activities, performing arts programs, and seasonal celebrations.

At Diegueno, appropriate classroom decorum is easily maintained. Discipline is routinely handled in a one-on-one manner, and reward systems are often designed for individuals and/or for an entire class. Discipline at Diegueño is most often handled by a teacher through redirecting behavior and instructive guided discussion. Students may be asked to respond in writing about an incident, explaining their understanding of why their behavior was unacceptable and offering an apology when needed. The students understand that it is a privilege to attend Diegueño Country School and that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Teaching conflict resolution strategies is an integral part of the Diegueno curriculum.

Traditionally, the majority of our graduates remain in a private school when they go on to middle and high school. Most often, they will choose between Pacific Ridge School, Francis Parker School, The Bishop’s School, and La Jolla Country Day School. Our graduates have gained a reputation for having had a rigorous and well-rounded elementary school education, and they are routinely accepted by the school of their choice. Diegueno has sent highly successful students into these programs every year, and they go on to be accepted by highly acclaimed universities.

The tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $27,300 per student for all grade levels. Tuition may be paid monthly upon approval with a 1% per month finance charge. There is a $1,500 per year per student materials and supplies fee.

The students participate daily in a sports game period after lunch. All of the classes engage in a sport/playground game or activity that is supervised by the teachers. Diegueno does not participate in intramural sports at school, but a large number of students do participate in various sports leagues at the highest levels.

We offer an optional hot lunch program that is catered by Ki’s School Lunches. Ki's offers healthy organic and appealing lunch choices five days per week. More information about the program can be found by clicking Ki's School Lunches.

https://kis.naturallunches.com/