Another option could be Miramar Ranch Elementary in Scripps Ranch which has an excellent Seminar program. The Seminar teachers at MRE are amazing and really challenge the kids.

Hi,

Our home is assigned to EB Scripps in SR, but we have heard that Dingeman is better in terms of STEM/GATE/seminar etc.

Is that true, does it make enough of a difference to move our house to get Dingeman?

Also, how would Dingeman elementary compare to elementary schools in 4s (stone ranch/monterey ridge) vs carmel valley elementary schools?

We were thinking of elementary in Dingeman (we like SR location/proximity to a lot of things we are close to) and then middle and high school in carmel valley.

Thanks!!

It’s hard for me to compare because my kids never went to schools in 4S ranch, however they went to Torrey Pines Elementary and they like Torrey Pines more. My older daughter is in Seminar and younger one has not taken the test yet. In terms of selling your house for the purpose of switching to an elementary school down the street I personally don’t think it’s worth it. Dingeman does get quite a bit of kids choiced in from the EBS school but I have also heard that EBS is a newer and better school. Either way, I think the difference is negligible, and schools are really a personal thing and should be beyond test scores. In addition, if your child does get into Seminar then you will have the choice to move to a different school district that provides Seminar programs.

To be quite honest, although the Seminar program has some good aspects I think the difference in curriculum and added value is very insignificant when compared to the other classrooms. Kids in the class are smart but almost every classroom at Dingeman is full of smart and above average kids evidenced by the school’s standardized test scores. In addition, the Seminar program is not funded or funded very little so most of the stem instruction comes from parent volunteers.

After middle school we are seriously thinking of removing my daughter from Seminar like many other parents do. I have heard that college admissions do not recognize the program and the increased difficulty of the curriculum can result in lower grades which negatively impacts college admissions. It’s a long way ahead but something also to think about in a few year.

I’ll let you know next year

My oldest boy went to MBMA through 1st grade, the 2nd one went there through Kindergarten. My youngest is at MBMA now in the K-side. My oldest is now in 4th grade at Jonas Salk Elementary now. He always tested several grade above while at MBMA, but when he went to public, he’s essentially grade level, at least that was what his grades came out to be. For his 3rd grade State standardized test, he got 100% on both Math and English. So, I felt like both of my boys are exceling just fine at public school compare to MBMA. I do love how MBMA set a pretty strong fundamental for them and got them to love learning. So, I have no problem w/ MBMA, which is while my daughter is going there now. But, I’m also happy with their public school as well. So my daughter will be going to public school for 1st grade as well.

I do love the ability to walk them to school and save thousands of $ every year, which pays for their many extra curricular activities. The lack of commute also allow them to do more activities as well. Just something you might want to consider.