Prospective Parents

ATTENTION SAN DIEGO PARENTS: Do you have a child that will be entering kindergarten or transitional kindergarten (TK) in the coming years? Is Mandarin immersion right for your child? Do you want your children to have an exceptional experience in elementary school? Consider Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School!

This page offers many resources to answer your questions about our school. 

Take a Virtual Tour of our School!

Tour Barnard from the comfort of your own desk! Visit the Tour our School page on our web site to find videos of our classrooms, student ambassadors, and Barnard parents.

Fast Facts about Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School

  • Tuition-free enrollment. Barnard is a TK-5 public magnet school in the San Diego Unified School District, located in Pacific Beach. Interested families should apply in the fall via the District’s “Choice” program.
  • Multilingual academic excellence. 80% Mandarin immersion in kindergarten; 50% immersion in grades 1 – 5. Superior SBAC test results in English and Math.
  • Language and culture. Ancient Chinese arts, such as abacus, tai chi, calligraphy, music, and dance, are integrated throughout the curriculum.
  • Well-rounded programs. Before and after school childcare available*, in addition to a variety of enrichment programs.
  • Supportive community. Our PTA brings additional social, artistic, athletic, and academic opportunities to every student.

Take a Closer Look!

  • Meet our principal. We absolutely love our principal Barb Waller! Read her welcome letter today.

  • Meet our parents. We asked some Barnard parents at a recent coffee event why they chose our school for their kids and what they love about Barnard. Watch this video to find out what they had to say.

  • Visit some of our classrooms. Since we cannot invite you on campus to see our classrooms in person, let us bring our classrooms to you! Watch these videos for a glimpse of our wonderful teachers and their classrooms.

  • Meet our PTA.  Our PTA board is eager to support our teachers, students, and families in every way possible. Get in touch anytime if you have ideas, concerns, or just want to chat.

  • Take a tour.  Tours are generally offered in the fall prior to the Choice application deadlines. Contact the Barnard front office for more information: 858-800-5700.

How to Enroll

  • Choice into Barnard. To enroll your student at Barnard you must submit a Choice application to SDUSD in the fall before your student begins kindergarten or TK. Students in upper grades are also welcome to apply. This year’s Choice enrollment window ends on November 15, 2021.

  • Transfers. Students from outside the San Diego Unified School District may apply to transfer into our school mid-year. Contact our front office at 858-800-5700 for more information.

Helpful Web Sites 

Need more information? 

  • Contact the PTA board if you’d like more information. 

We hope to meet you soon!