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Welcome to the Cardiff School District

• Established in 1913, we are a small school experience by the sea. Our district consists of two award-winning schools; Cardiff School serves students in grades K-2 and Ada Harris School serves students in grades 3-6.  Cardiff Schools provide a great education in a high-performance district. We are proud to be part of a community with high expectations for education and achievement. Our schools provide a positive foundation for a lifetime of learning and friendships. At Cardiff Schools, students discover, find their passion, and develop a love of learning. The pride of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea community, our district is a place where students, staff, families and community partners collaborate and feel valued. We are grateful for the support of our stakeholders, and we are extremely proud of our community of learners.

• About Our District

  • The Cardiff School District consists of two award-winning schools: Cardiff School and Ada Harris. We score amongst the top schools and districts in California each year. However, the most impressive aspect of the Cardiff School District is the people! Our parents are dedicated and support our teachers in every way. Our staff is skilled and cares deeply about meeting the needs of each child. And our children are kind, hardworking and have endless potential!

  • Superintendent’s Welcome

    • Thank you for visiting our website to learn about the Cardiff School District! Our outstanding District is located in the lovely coastal community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, thirty-four miles north of the city of San Diego. We are a District of two beautiful school campuses, Cardiff Elementary and Ada Harris Elementary. Cardiff Elementary serves students in grades K-2 and Ada Harris Elementary serves students in grades 3-6. Together our two CA Distinguished Schools proudly educate approximately 650 students.

      The Cardiff Schools vision is Educational Excellence | Lifelong Learners | Contributing Citizens. We are about excellence in student learning, an engaged learning environment, active parent and community engagement, and efficient and effective resource management. With an emphasis on growth mindset, staff and students are focused on honing essential 21st century skills through the Four “C’ s (Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving) in order to prepare our students to be successful in an ever-changing future. All Cardiff Schools classrooms reflect a blended learning environment in which 1:1 iPad, open-source, digital and district adopted curriculum, inquiry-based projects, and an emphasis on developing higher order thinking skills support an age-appropriate, balanced, and personalized educational program. We are committed to providing all students with an innovative, high-quality education in a safe and caring environment. We are a community of learners, and our staff members engage in regular professional development activities and collaboration to support our district goals. Our teachers, administrators and classified staff work together to engage students in meaningful standards-based lessons, projects and activities that support our educational goals and help all students fully realize their potential.

      Cardiff School District staff, governing board, parents and community members work together to make our schools an outstanding environment for children to learn. The Cardiff Schools Education Association (Cardiff SEA) is our parent-staff organization that works tirelessly to provide financial and volunteer support to our schools and programs. The Cardiff SEA organization works in partnership with the school district to support small class sizes, technology, and specialty programs such as our STEAM labs, music, physical education, gardening, art, and more. Our three largest fundraisers include a Halloween event, a parents-only night out fundraising event, and our annual Ice Cream Social. These events provide not only our largest source of fundraising, but also serve to shape and reinforce the wonderful sense of family and community involvement that defines Cardiff-by-the-Sea.

      We are extremely proud of our community and our great schools. Please visit the Cardiff Elementary and Ada Harris Elementary home pages for more detailed information.

      Sincerely,

      Jill Vinson

      Superintendent