Prospective Barnard Families
New Tour Dates Now Available! The 2026-2027 Choice Application Deadlines are Forthcoming
Do you have a child who will be entering Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) or Kindergarten in the Fall 2026? Are you interested in your child learning Mandarin Chinese in addition to California Common Core education? Do you want your children to learn about the Chinese culture in a diverse student community? Consider Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School!
This page offers many resources to answer your questions about our school.
Take a Virtual Tour!
Tour Barnard from the comfort of your own desk! Visit the Tour Our School page on our website to find videos of our classrooms, student ambassadors, and Barnard parents.
Come Tour Our School!
Contact the office at (858) 800-5700 to reserve your spot for an in-person school tour and meet our Principal and some of our students! Walk-ins will not be permitted due to size restrictions. School tours are available on the following dates:
2025/2026 Tour Dates
September 9, 16, 23, 30, 2025
October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025
January 20, 27, 2026
February 24, 2026
March 3, 10, 2026
April 14, 21, 2026
2025-2026 Barnard School Tours Flyer
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. California Standard Common Core English and Math instruction.
- 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 care is 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!
- Take a tour. Weekly tours for prospective Choice applicants are offered in the fall before the Choice application deadline. Additional tours are scheduled from January through April. Contact the Barnard front office for more information and reserve your spot: 858-800-5700.
- Meet our students. Meet Barnard’s student ambassadors!
- 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. See our classrooms! 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.
How to Enroll
Choice into Barnard. To enroll your student at Barnard, you must submit a Choice Application to the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). The Priority Choice Application Window for the 2026-2027 school year will open up in Fall 2025. The Choice Application is not on a first-come, first-served basis. A lottery will be conducted in January 2026, with email notifications soon after.
If you wish to speak with a parent of an existing student(s), please contact the PTA Board here.
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 Websites
- Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School
- San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- SDUSD Multilingual Education Department
Need more information?
- Contact the PTA board if you’d like more information.
We hope to meet you soon!
