Lower School

The Lower School classrooms, Early Childhood Center (K) through fifth grade, are bright, airy, spacious, and full of color and student work.

Each classroom has two entrances, one of which opens to a back patio, a garden, and outdoor tables, and the other, which opens to the Lower School lawn, playground, field areas, and views of Carmel Bay and Point Lobos. The Early Childhood students have their own playground on which to play during morning and lunch recesses, and after-school activities. Students, in grades one through five, play on the Lower and Middle School playground, outdoor basketball courts and field area during their recesses and after-school activities. Throughout the day, all students are very well supervised in their daily activities; our students’ safety and security are a top priority.

The Lower School teachers hold teaching credentials, and most have graduate degrees. There are five instructional assistants who work in each of the Lower School classes. The teacher to student ratio is 1:11. In grades K-3, on average, the class size is 20; and in grades 4 and 5, the average class size is 25. Students in the Lower School receive instruction in art, music, dance, physical education, Spanish.

The academic day, for ECC through fifth grade students, begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. and follows a daily schedule. Our After-School Program, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. provides a wide choice of educational, creative, and athletic activities. Our flexible day allows parents to bring their children to school as early as 7:30 a.m. and pick them up as late as 5:30 p.m.