Pacific Ridge School

Pacific Ridge School (referred to as Pacific Ridge, PRS or sometimes Pac Ridge) is an independent co-educational University preparatory school for day students in grades 7–12. The school is located in the exclusive Bressi Ranch community of Carlsbad, a coastal resort town located in North San Diego County. The school opened in September 2007 with 108 students, 63 seventh graders, and 45 ninth graders as its founding classes of 2011 and 2013.^[1] Pacific Ridge School was built on approximately 7.3 acres (30,000 m²) of land that it acquired from the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. ^[2] The school philosophy specializes and emphasizes that students put ethics into practice, locally and globally in the 21st century, through an experiential program of service learning.

The educational philosophy of Pacific Ridge School is distinguished by its emphasis on academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement. ^[3] Integrating content and these values across educational disciplines and throughout the school’s program is central to the mission of the school.^[4]

Nearby private, college preparatory schools of similar caliber include La Jolla Country Day School, The Bishops School, and Francis Parker School.

About the School

• Type of School: Private coeducational college preparatory day school
• Founded: 2007
• Facilities: 12.5-acre (51,000 m²) campus with academic buildings, library, lacrosse/soccer field, and outdoor basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts
• Grades: 7-12
• Total enrollment: 510 (projected by 2010)
• Tuition: $21,400 for the 2009-10 academic school year.
• Percentage of class receiving financial aid: N/A
• Faculty: 24 full time
• Faculty Degrees: 100% Bachelors, 95% Masters, J.D. or Ph.D.
• Average Class Size: Around 15 with 20 being maximum

Institution

Academics

Pacific Ridge is known for its academic rigor. The school mandates that its student body completes both a Service Learning Project and an Experiential Learning Project upon graduation.

A special feature of the founding years is that the Pacific Ridge community of students and adults will learn Mandarin Chinese together. In small and large groups, one to two hours per week, students learn sounds and characters, practice calligraphy, and experience the joys and camaraderie of learning a non-Western language. The course is ungraded, and prepares both students and faculty alike in the trip to China at the end of the ninth grade year.

Integrated Curriculum

Each year at PRS is designated a program of study in one of the many disciplines -- in history and science, or in science and literature, or language and art -- aligns, intersects, and crosses over in a well-designed curriculum throughout each trimester. For Instance:

• Grade 7 Curriculum: "The Local Citizen"
• Grade 9 Curriculum: "World Traveler"

Admissions

Pacific Ridge is interested in students for whom the school's mission of academic excellence, global engagement, and ethical responsibility will be a good fit. Students should be able to achieve in a college preparatory academic environment and contribute to the school's artistic, athletic, leadership, and service-oriented activities. The school strives to attain racial, economic, and cultural diversity.

Requirements for admission include a completed application, interviews for both parents and students, Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) test results, transcript and recommendations from the prospect's principal and Math and English teachers.

Head of School

Dr. Eileen Mullady holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in French from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Columbia University. Dr. Mullady has served as:

• Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Columbia University
• Associate Dean of Faculty at Princeton University
• Dean of Faculty at The Lawrenceville School (Princeton, New Jersey)
• Head of School at Horace Mann School (Riverdale, New York)

She has been a Fulbright teacher in France, headed the accreditation team for Robert College in Istanbul, and been a trustee of the French-American School of New York. ^[5]

Mission

In a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement, Pacific Ridge School prepares students for college and a purposeful life.

Academic Excellence

• Students will deepen understanding of important questions and concepts through critical thinking and creative reasoning. We will foster an understanding of multiple perspectives, effective communication and the application of knowledge. Pacific Ridge School will prepare students to succeed at the most selective universities and colleges, as well as in their eventual occupations and life-long service.

Global Engagement

• Students will explore beliefs and opinions from new perspectives, becoming aware of their role as members of a global community. Students will develop a global perspective and be prepared to live in a society that is increasingly complex and interconnected. By offering an integrated curriculum we will graduate students who are culturally, politically, and socially aware. These students will be resilient and competent to engage the world around them.

Ethical Responsibility

• Students will develop the ability to discern right from wrong as a matter of conscience, and to develop the courage to act on their moral beliefs. Through a curriculum and culture deeply and distinctively committed to an ethic of personal responsibility as a way of life, students will learn the value of living with integrity, as they and their teachers seek to learn what is fair, caring and right.

Athletics

Middle School student athletes compete against teams from the San Diego County, including The Bishop's School, Francis Parker School, Horizon Prep Christian, La Jolla Country Day School, Rancho Santa Fe School, San Diego Jewish Academy, and Santa Fe Christian.

Upper School student athletes compete as a member of the California Interscholastic Federation, San Diego Section. The Pacific Ridge School competes with teams from the Frontier League.

Pacific Ridge Athletic Offerings

Winter Athletic Offerings

• Soccer
• Basketball
• Table Hockey

Spring Athletic Offerings

• Tennis
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Golf

Footnotes