153 Palm Ave
Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Excellent school! Small, yet diverse, with an academically rigorous program and teachers who really care about the students and their success. I would highly recommend this school to anyone new to the area.

Teachers are passionate and really care about the kids. The activities on campus during school and after school in its FREE after-school program are enriching and help with learning.

So, I originally moved to mar vista because I recently moved here to IB from a different city. My parents last minute moved me here. And as the first week of school went, I already hated it. I'm a girl, so whenever I go to the bathroom it is filled with smoke from girls vaping and smoking. I can almost never go to the bathroom in between classes or during lunch because there are a bunch of girls just crowded in the bathroom 'hanging out" and smoking in the stalls. Also, there is absolutely no dress code here, boys come with their pants sagging and girls come with inappropriate clothing. I've gotten my water bottle stolen, charger stolen, headphones, and a few other items from my backpack that had gone missing. In general, the students here don't care, I am currently failing 5 of my 6 classes because the teachers pile up too much work on us and there is no true motivation to do any work. The students here don't respect the teachers, much less respect any of the substitutes and new teachers. I have been here at this school for almost 4 months and had not found a single decent friend because of how toxic and rude the students are. Sometimes I'm sitting just minding my own business then immature boys start throwing paper and food at me for no reason and it's really hurtful and annoying that I can't enjoy myself not even when I'm alone. It really is emotionally damaging plus adding the extra classwork and homework really distorts my mental health and also with problems at home. it really affects me as a person who once came from a school with all A's and B's then I come here with all F's and D's. I can't wait to move out of this toxic environment which has really affected me as a person. I personally do not feel safe here because it is really emotionally and mentally draining, and you have to always stay alert in case a rude student is pushing, or someone is calling you racial/sexual slang. Being a young woman here has made me very uncomfortable and just hasn't been healthy for me at all and has not benefitted me in any way. This is a warning to any students or parents planning to start going to mar vista. Just don't it's a waste of your life speaking in truth. :)

My review is for the IB Charter West Pre-K location that is thru the VIP Village program (they are associated with a few other off site locations) my 4yr old son loves attending this school, he looks forward to going to school to learn and get play time with friends, he is learning and developing on a positive aspect in various ways to prepare for kindergarten and elementary school. I’m so grateful for this program as I could not afford to pay for a preK program myself and I understand the benefits for child development. Thank you VIP Village and IB Charter - West