Schools

Monterey County has 24 school districts and 134 schools registered with the Monterey County Office of Education https://www.montereycoe.org/

Schooling depends on where students live. Families living in military housing (La Mesa Village and the Ord Military Community) are zoned for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) https://www.mpusd.net/

MPUSD Registration forms and information

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN ELIGIBILITY

When a child turns age 5 by September 1, he/she qualifies for MPUSD's full-day kindergarten program. If a child turns age five between September 2 through March 1, he/she qualifies for MPUSD's free, full-day transitional kindergarten (TK).  

Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten registration follows the same process as above. This web page provides additional information on TK and Kindergarten registration.

Private Schools in and around the Monterey Peninsula

Charter Schools in and around the Monterey Peninsula

Schools Serving the Military Housing Areas on the Monterey Peninsula

Preschools in and around the Monterey Peninsula

The January 2019 issue of Monterey Bay Parent Magazine contains a Monterey County Preschool Guide.   Please see https://www.montereybayparent.com/directories/monterey/#page=1

For more information on local public, private or homeschool, please contact your School Liaison at (831)656-1008 or nsamslo@nps.edu

HOMESCHOOLING IN MONTEREY

California does not observe a statute at this time that deals specifically and exclusively with private home education or schooling at home. However, there are four legal options for homeschooling:

1. Home educators may establish a private school, based in their home, but must file a private school affidavit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California.

2. Homeschooling parents may enroll their children in a private school PSP (private school satellite program) that has filed a private school affidavit with the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California.

3. A child being taught by a home-schooling parent, who has valid California teacher’s credential.

4. The home-schooled student may enroll in a public school independent study program.

For more information visit California Department of Education Schooling at Home or Home Schooling Legal Defense Association (www.hslda.org) 

PACIFIC GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Pacific Grove Unified School District www.pgusd.org serves K-12 students in five schools: Forest Grove Elementary https://forestgrove.pgusd.org/ and Robert Down Elementary https://robertdown.pgusd.org/ (K-5),   Pacific Grove Middle School https://pgmiddle.pgusd.org/ (6-8); Pacific Grove High https://pghigh.pgusd.org/ (9-12); and Pacific Grove Community High, a continuation school https://pgchs.pgusd.org/ (9-12). To attend the PGUSD schools, a student must live within the district boundary- which generally means within Pacific Grove city limits, or in Pebble Beach between Pacific Grove and the Bird Rock area. Proof of residence must be brought to the school/district office for verification. If you have any questions about residency or where your current or future address lies relative to the boundary, please call the Business Office at 831-646-6517.

CARMEL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Carmel Unified School District (CUSD) www.carmelunified.org spans Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur. CUSD has three elementary schools (Carmel River in Carmel,  Tularcitos in Carmel Valley, and Captain Cooper in Big Sur), one middle school (Carmel Middle), and one high school (Carmel High). Additionally, CUSD has a continuation high school (Carmel Valley High), adult programs (Carmel Adult School), preschool and before/after school programs (Carmel Child Development Center).

To enroll your TK-12th grade child in any CUSD school you must meet the criteria for residency. After residency is established you may begin the registration process.