116 Montecito Ave
Monterey, CA 93940

This has been a great school and a great experience for my son. Everyone here is welcoming, down to earth, hardworking, humble and have a great sense of community. Despite having a high ratio of ESL learners their test scores are are quite strong, which shows the effort that staff and teachers put into their students. My son has found the curriculum to be too easy and school a little boring. I also think kindergarteners shouldn't have so much homework but I guess they wouldn't have the high grades they do without it. Aside from these minor issues, it has been a good school overall.

This was our first full year at La Mesa, and overall, our experience has been mixed. The front office staff has not felt particularly welcoming, and we have noticed what appears to be bias from the principal. Communication with parents is limited, especially when issues arise, concerns often seem to be overlooked rather than addressed transparently, requiring families to put in extra effort to fully understand what’s going on. It often feels like families are kept in the dark unless they actively reach out about concerns.Additionally, this year, one of the teachers, whom I prefer not to name; was particularly difficult to work with. Communication was virtually nonexistent, and interactions often felt dismissive. While I understand that unexpected circumstances can arise isn personal life, this particular teacher was absent for a significant portion of the year. During the times she was actually present, our experience still reflected the same lack of communication and dismissive approach.

Monterey high has the best admin and counseling staff!