[carli]

There are several misconceptions here –

1) Torrey Pines HS is THE default high school for Carmel Valley so your kids WILL be able to attend TPHS if you live in Carmel Valley, in any part of Carmel Valley serviced by the Del Mar Union School District (the elementary school district). You can easily verify this information and the district map on the school website, http://www.sduhsd.net. Maybe you’re defining Carmel Valley differently than I am. There are neighborhoods farther east that some people still consider Carmel Valley close to Santaluz that are actually in the Poway school district (obviously, also an excellent district).

2) Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) is not at all a less desirable choice for residents of the district. To the contrary, many people prefer to have their kids attend CCA for a variety of reasons, never fearing that the academics are inferior. The CCA API scores are at the same level as TPHS (I think the API total is literally within one point), and the advantage to many kids is that CCA is a smaller school. There is a great focus on arts and sciences, with an arts conservatory program. There is no football team, which can be a plus if your kid is not an uber-athlete/jock type or a yay-rah cheerleader type. Still, their athletic teams are topnotch. It’s also on the 4×4 class schedule, allowing kids to concentrate more on certain subjects and/or take a variety of electives. This can be very intense, but many kids love it. Just depends on what’s best for your kids. Either school is great and CCA has just been open for 5 years (hence, they have amazing new facilities) and so their reputation is not yet as wide-reaching as TPHS.

[carli]

We live in Del Mar, which is in the same high school district as Carmel Valley, and we have a daughter who’s a freshman in high school so we just went through the high school drill.

In this area, there is a choice of district high schools – Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) or Torrey Pines (TPHS). Residents of the district can either enter the lottery for CCA (which has nothing to do with academic ability of students, but is solely based on space available, but over 90% are typically admitted) or a student can enroll directly at TPHS where there is no lottery system.

So, TPHS is the automatic default high school and is a sure thing as far as high school enrollment goes if someone lives in the Carmel Valley area; the only school that is not a sure thing is CCA, but again, with over 90% getting in through the lottery, chances are good that CV residents will have their choice of either high school.

[carli]

We live in Del Mar, which is in the same high school district as Carmel Valley, and we have a daughter who’s a freshman in high school so we just went through the high school drill.

In this area, there is a choice of district high schools – Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) or Torrey Pines (TPHS). Residents of the district can either enter the lottery for CCA (which has nothing to do with academic ability of students, but is solely based on space available, but over 90% are typically admitted) or a student can enroll directly at TPHS where there is no lottery system.

So, TPHS is the automatic default high school and is a sure thing as far as high school enrollment goes if someone lives in the Carmel Valley area; the only school that is not a sure thing is CCA, but again, with over 90% getting in through the lottery, chances are good that CV residents will have their choice of either high school.

[carli]

We live in Del Mar, which is in the same high school district as Carmel Valley, and we have a daughter who’s a freshman in high school so we just went through the high school drill.

In this area, there is a choice of district high schools – Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) or Torrey Pines (TPHS). Residents of the district can either enter the lottery for CCA (which has nothing to do with academic ability of students, but is solely based on space available, but over 90% are typically admitted) or a student can enroll directly at TPHS where there is no lottery system.

So, TPHS is the automatic default high school and is a sure thing as far as high school enrollment goes if someone lives in the Carmel Valley area; the only school that is not a sure thing is CCA, but again, with over 90% getting in through the lottery, chances are good that CV residents will have their choice of either high school.

[carli]

We live in Del Mar, which is in the same high school district as Carmel Valley, and we have a daughter who’s a freshman in high school so we just went through the high school drill.

In this area, there is a choice of district high schools – Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) or Torrey Pines (TPHS). Residents of the district can either enter the lottery for CCA (which has nothing to do with academic ability of students, but is solely based on space available, but over 90% are typically admitted) or a student can enroll directly at TPHS where there is no lottery system.

So, TPHS is the automatic default high school and is a sure thing as far as high school enrollment goes if someone lives in the Carmel Valley area; the only school that is not a sure thing is CCA, but again, with over 90% getting in through the lottery, chances are good that CV residents will have their choice of either high school.

[carli]

We live in Del Mar, which is in the same high school district as Carmel Valley, and we have a daughter who’s a freshman in high school so we just went through the high school drill.

In this area, there is a choice of district high schools – Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) or Torrey Pines (TPHS). Residents of the district can either enter the lottery for CCA (which has nothing to do with academic ability of students, but is solely based on space available, but over 90% are typically admitted) or a student can enroll directly at TPHS where there is no lottery system.

So, TPHS is the automatic default high school and is a sure thing as far as high school enrollment goes if someone lives in the Carmel Valley area; the only school that is not a sure thing is CCA, but again, with over 90% getting in through the lottery, chances are good that CV residents will have their choice of either high school.

[carli]

There’s a teaching supplies store called Critical Thinkers in Solana Beach in the Lomas Santa Fe shopping plaza just east of 5 off Lomas Santa Fe. The official address is 973A Lomas Santa Fe Dr.

It’s a great teaching supply store, and they have a lot of Spanish language items. You can also check them out online at http://www.criticalthinkersonline.net.

[carli]

There’s a teaching supplies store called Critical Thinkers in Solana Beach in the Lomas Santa Fe shopping plaza just east of 5 off Lomas Santa Fe. The official address is 973A Lomas Santa Fe Dr.

It’s a great teaching supply store, and they have a lot of Spanish language items. You can also check them out online at http://www.criticalthinkersonline.net.

[carli]

There’s a teaching supplies store called Critical Thinkers in Solana Beach in the Lomas Santa Fe shopping plaza just east of 5 off Lomas Santa Fe. The official address is 973A Lomas Santa Fe Dr.

It’s a great teaching supply store, and they have a lot of Spanish language items. You can also check them out online at http://www.criticalthinkersonline.net.

[carli]

There’s a teaching supplies store called Critical Thinkers in Solana Beach in the Lomas Santa Fe shopping plaza just east of 5 off Lomas Santa Fe. The official address is 973A Lomas Santa Fe Dr.

It’s a great teaching supply store, and they have a lot of Spanish language items. You can also check them out online at http://www.criticalthinkersonline.net.

[carli]

There’s a teaching supplies store called Critical Thinkers in Solana Beach in the Lomas Santa Fe shopping plaza just east of 5 off Lomas Santa Fe. The official address is 973A Lomas Santa Fe Dr.

It’s a great teaching supply store, and they have a lot of Spanish language items. You can also check them out online at http://www.criticalthinkersonline.net.

[carli]

OX,

After I read my response, I realized how strongly I felt about helping to save you from the building process because, unfortunately, the deck is SO stacked against you from the start. I figured you might write off my response as someone who’s been burned too many times, but I’m glad you got it. I wish I could encourage you to go for it instead of warning you about all the risks. I think you’ll be happier finding other creative outlets…again, maybe finding a minor “fixer upper” would be just as fulfilling and less stressful.

UCGal,

My heart goes out to you with the whole court process…during a home that we built back east in the 80’s (during a different economic downturn), we had a contractor use our payments for other purposes, and all of a sudden, we had liens put against the house by the plumber, electrician, tile guy and others. We were dragged into court by these subs and had to prove to a judge that the money we paid to the general contractor was supposed to be earmarked for the subs who had placed liens against us. It was a huge, expensive nightmare and not only were we pissed off at the contractor, but we had tremendous guilt about how he had screwed his subs on our job, and we ended up trying to split the difference with them, basically double-paying for those trades just to keep food on their tables. In the end, we were out by almost $50,000 and it hurt, especially because we were younger then and had way less in the bank. You know what they say about what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…? Fortunately, our relationship survived, although I do admit that there was some finger pointing, blame and all-around bad feeelings in the air for quite awhile.

That was our first major lesson learned (and part of the reason for our cynical attitude). It’s crazy that somehow, through various circumstances/moves, we undertook the building process several more times, but after that first time, we’ve been extremely careful about getting lien releases from all subs and making sure that the work is done to high standards before paying anyone. Still, as you’ve found, you can never be 100% immune to anyone dragging you into court and having to defend yourself (especially in these desperate economic times). Unfortunately, many times the homeowner, and also sometimes honest contractors/subs, get stuck.

Best of luck to you. Thanks for the good advice about striking the arbitration clause out of the contract…we did not do that in this last building project, but we’ll note that for the future (ooops, I forgot – note to self that there will be NO more building projects in our future). We’re done! Seriously, thanks for all your wise tips and all the best to you.

Carli

[carli]

OX,

After I read my response, I realized how strongly I felt about helping to save you from the building process because, unfortunately, the deck is SO stacked against you from the start. I figured you might write off my response as someone who’s been burned too many times, but I’m glad you got it. I wish I could encourage you to go for it instead of warning you about all the risks. I think you’ll be happier finding other creative outlets…again, maybe finding a minor “fixer upper” would be just as fulfilling and less stressful.

UCGal,

My heart goes out to you with the whole court process…during a home that we built back east in the 80’s (during a different economic downturn), we had a contractor use our payments for other purposes, and all of a sudden, we had liens put against the house by the plumber, electrician, tile guy and others. We were dragged into court by these subs and had to prove to a judge that the money we paid to the general contractor was supposed to be earmarked for the subs who had placed liens against us. It was a huge, expensive nightmare and not only were we pissed off at the contractor, but we had tremendous guilt about how he had screwed his subs on our job, and we ended up trying to split the difference with them, basically double-paying for those trades just to keep food on their tables. In the end, we were out by almost $50,000 and it hurt, especially because we were younger then and had way less in the bank. You know what they say about what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…? Fortunately, our relationship survived, although I do admit that there was some finger pointing, blame and all-around bad feeelings in the air for quite awhile.

That was our first major lesson learned (and part of the reason for our cynical attitude). It’s crazy that somehow, through various circumstances/moves, we undertook the building process several more times, but after that first time, we’ve been extremely careful about getting lien releases from all subs and making sure that the work is done to high standards before paying anyone. Still, as you’ve found, you can never be 100% immune to anyone dragging you into court and having to defend yourself (especially in these desperate economic times). Unfortunately, many times the homeowner, and also sometimes honest contractors/subs, get stuck.

Best of luck to you. Thanks for the good advice about striking the arbitration clause out of the contract…we did not do that in this last building project, but we’ll note that for the future (ooops, I forgot – note to self that there will be NO more building projects in our future). We’re done! Seriously, thanks for all your wise tips and all the best to you.

Carli

[carli]

OX,

After I read my response, I realized how strongly I felt about helping to save you from the building process because, unfortunately, the deck is SO stacked against you from the start. I figured you might write off my response as someone who’s been burned too many times, but I’m glad you got it. I wish I could encourage you to go for it instead of warning you about all the risks. I think you’ll be happier finding other creative outlets…again, maybe finding a minor “fixer upper” would be just as fulfilling and less stressful.

UCGal,

My heart goes out to you with the whole court process…during a home that we built back east in the 80’s (during a different economic downturn), we had a contractor use our payments for other purposes, and all of a sudden, we had liens put against the house by the plumber, electrician, tile guy and others. We were dragged into court by these subs and had to prove to a judge that the money we paid to the general contractor was supposed to be earmarked for the subs who had placed liens against us. It was a huge, expensive nightmare and not only were we pissed off at the contractor, but we had tremendous guilt about how he had screwed his subs on our job, and we ended up trying to split the difference with them, basically double-paying for those trades just to keep food on their tables. In the end, we were out by almost $50,000 and it hurt, especially because we were younger then and had way less in the bank. You know what they say about what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…? Fortunately, our relationship survived, although I do admit that there was some finger pointing, blame and all-around bad feeelings in the air for quite awhile.

That was our first major lesson learned (and part of the reason for our cynical attitude). It’s crazy that somehow, through various circumstances/moves, we undertook the building process several more times, but after that first time, we’ve been extremely careful about getting lien releases from all subs and making sure that the work is done to high standards before paying anyone. Still, as you’ve found, you can never be 100% immune to anyone dragging you into court and having to defend yourself (especially in these desperate economic times). Unfortunately, many times the homeowner, and also sometimes honest contractors/subs, get stuck.

Best of luck to you. Thanks for the good advice about striking the arbitration clause out of the contract…we did not do that in this last building project, but we’ll note that for the future (ooops, I forgot – note to self that there will be NO more building projects in our future). We’re done! Seriously, thanks for all your wise tips and all the best to you.

Carli

[carli]

OX,

After I read my response, I realized how strongly I felt about helping to save you from the building process because, unfortunately, the deck is SO stacked against you from the start. I figured you might write off my response as someone who’s been burned too many times, but I’m glad you got it. I wish I could encourage you to go for it instead of warning you about all the risks. I think you’ll be happier finding other creative outlets…again, maybe finding a minor “fixer upper” would be just as fulfilling and less stressful.

UCGal,

My heart goes out to you with the whole court process…during a home that we built back east in the 80’s (during a different economic downturn), we had a contractor use our payments for other purposes, and all of a sudden, we had liens put against the house by the plumber, electrician, tile guy and others. We were dragged into court by these subs and had to prove to a judge that the money we paid to the general contractor was supposed to be earmarked for the subs who had placed liens against us. It was a huge, expensive nightmare and not only were we pissed off at the contractor, but we had tremendous guilt about how he had screwed his subs on our job, and we ended up trying to split the difference with them, basically double-paying for those trades just to keep food on their tables. In the end, we were out by almost $50,000 and it hurt, especially because we were younger then and had way less in the bank. You know what they say about what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…? Fortunately, our relationship survived, although I do admit that there was some finger pointing, blame and all-around bad feeelings in the air for quite awhile.

That was our first major lesson learned (and part of the reason for our cynical attitude). It’s crazy that somehow, through various circumstances/moves, we undertook the building process several more times, but after that first time, we’ve been extremely careful about getting lien releases from all subs and making sure that the work is done to high standards before paying anyone. Still, as you’ve found, you can never be 100% immune to anyone dragging you into court and having to defend yourself (especially in these desperate economic times). Unfortunately, many times the homeowner, and also sometimes honest contractors/subs, get stuck.

Best of luck to you. Thanks for the good advice about striking the arbitration clause out of the contract…we did not do that in this last building project, but we’ll note that for the future (ooops, I forgot – note to self that there will be NO more building projects in our future). We’re done! Seriously, thanks for all your wise tips and all the best to you.

Carli

[Author]

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