Six Great Locations. One Great Family.

Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders!

Don't Let Your Child Fall Through the Cracks.

JCS CEDAR COVE

1221 Encinitas Blvd

Encinitas, CA 92024

Serving TK-12 students in Encinitas, Coastal San Diego and Orange County

JCS LIVE

Virtual School

A completely online setting

Serving TK-12 students in San Diego, Imperial, Orange, and Riverside Counties

JCS MANZANITA

5300 Jackson Dr. La Mesa, TK–5

7200 Parkway Drive, La Mesa, 6-8

Serving TK-12 students in La Mesa

and East San Diego County

JCS MOUNTAIN OAKS

539 Encinitas Blvd

Encinitas, CA 92024

Serving TK-8 students in Encinitas, Coastal San Diego, and Orange County

JCS PINE HILLS

TK-6 27235 Madison Ave Temecula

7-12 29141 Vallejo Ave, Temecula

Serving TK-12 students in

Temecula and Riverside County

JCS PINE VALLEY

28876 Old Hwy 80

Pine Valley, CA 91962

Serving TK-12 students in Pine Valley

and the San Diego back country

The JCS Mission

Julian Charter School (JCS) serves a diverse student body with a unified mission: "Empowering learners with educational choice in a supportive, resource‑rich environment." The school emphasizes excellence and is committed to cultivating lifelong, passionate learners.

🔑 Key Elements of JCS's Mission & Identity

  • Educational Choice & Personalization: Offers flexible learning paths, Academies, Home Study, and INSITE, allowing families to tailor education to their child's needs and goals.

  • Supportive & Resource-Rich Environment: Offers credentialed teachers, enrichment programs, Learning Centers, and community engagement to support the whole child.

  • Core Values: Creativity, integrity, commitment, choice, and excellence guide all stakeholders, students, educators, and families in nurturing independent, compassionate learners.

Before and After School Programs

Julian Charter School offers flexible before and after school support, tailored to each academy's structure and individual student needs. While JCS does not operate traditional extended-day programs across all campuses, many sites provide enrichment opportunities, learning labs, or academic support during non-core hours, especially for younger students in TK–8.

Three Exceptional Education Options

The Academy Program

Julian Charter School offers flexible, tuition-free TK–12 Academy programs that blend the best of classroom learning and at-home education. Students attend small, engaging classes on campus 2–4 days a week, guided by caring, credentialed teachers, and complete the rest of their work at home with the support of their parents. This hybrid model enables families to remain actively involved in their child's learning while ensuring strong academics, personalized attention, and a supportive school community. With locations across Southern California, JCS Academies are a perfect fit for families seeking structure, flexibility, and a personalized learning experience from transitional kindergarten through high school graduation. The Academy model offers an on-campus experience supplemented with home-study components.

✅ Why Parents Choose JCS Academies

  • Flexible hybrid balance: Structured on-campus days ensure academic guidance, while home-study days foster customized learning and family time.

  • Small, engaging environments: Classes prioritize project-based learning and collaboration, making them suitable for a diverse range of age groups.

  • Accessibility & choice: With six locations—including TK–8 and TK–12 options—families can select a campus that fits their educational and geographic needs.

Julian Charter School (JCS) offers a variety of flexible, hybrid learning options across multiple campuses. At JCS Cedar Cove (Encinitas, TK–5), students attend Monday–Thursday with Friday home study, enjoying project-based learning, Spanish immersion, and strong family involvement. JCS Mountain Oaks (Encinitas, TK–8) offers a GATE-aligned, academically rigorous curriculum, also on a four-day in-person schedule. JCS Manzanita (La Mesa, TK–8) features separate elementary and middle school programs with teacher-led instruction and home study Fridays. In Temecula, JCS Pine Hills TK–6 emphasizes small-group, independent-paced learning, while Pine Hills 7–12 combines college prep, theatre, and sports with dual enrollment and values-based development. Lastly, JCS Pine Valley (TK–12) provides a hybrid model blending credentialed on-campus instruction with at-home learning support.

TK–12th Grade Home Study Program

Available Across San Diego, Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties

Julian Charter School's Home Study program offers TK–12 students a fully personalized learning experience led by parents and supported by a credentialed Educational Facilitator. Families choose a curriculum that fits their child's learning style and work at their own pace from home, with guidance, planning, and regular check-ins from JCS staff. Students can also participate in optional enrichment classes, field trips, and community events, creating a well-rounded and engaging educational experience. Ideal for families who want flexibility, involvement, and individualized learning, the Home Study program empowers parents to take an active role in their child's education while receiving expert support every step of the way.

🎯 Why Families Choose Home Study

  • Deep Parental Involvement: You take the lead in daily instruction, with EFs as your academic partner.

  • Flexible & Personalized: Customize pacing, curriculum, and schedule based on your child's needs.

  • Support When Needed: Monthly EF meetings, access to specialists, extra tutoring, and field trips help keep students engaged and progressing.

  • TK–12 Continuity: Students can remain in the same program throughout their educational journey, with options to blend in hybrid or academy-based learning.

💡 How It Works

In this flexible home-study program, parents serve as the primary instructors, guiding their child’s daily learning at home. Every 20 school days, students meet with a credentialed Educational Facilitator (EF) to review progress, adjust pacing, complete assessments, and plan next steps—ensuring families stay on track and supported throughout the school year.

K–8 students can enhance their learning with optional classes at JCS Learning Centers or through online platforms, while grades 9–12 benefit from access to teacher- and specialist-developed courses tailored to their academic goals. Families can also take advantage of optional enrichment days (such as Friday sessions for TK–8), resource libraries, vendor-funded activities, field trips, and a wide range of curriculum choices—all designed to support personalized learning and student success.

Julian Charter School's INSITE program is a flexible, supportive independent study option designed for high school students in grades 9 through 12. Combining the freedom of home-based learning with the structure of in-person academic support, students attend the INSITE center up to three days a week to receive direct help from credentialed teachers in core subjects such as math, English, and science. This focused environment helps students stay on track, catch up on credits, or accelerate their progress, while still allowing for a personalized schedule. INSITE is ideal for families seeking a balance between independence and accountability, with the added benefit of social interaction and individualized guidance.

LIVE - Virtual Learning

JCS LIVE is Julian Charter School’s fully online TK–12 virtual academy, serving students across San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and Imperial counties. It’s a tuition-free, public independent study program that combines flexibility, personalization, and professional support to meet each learner’s unique needs       

Flexible Learning, Real Support, Real Results

👨‍🏫 Parent-as-coach model + credentialed mentors: Families guide daily learning with support from dedicated JCS teachers through regular virtual check-ins. Across all grade levels, students are partnered with mentor teachers to monitor progress and stay on track. 

🧩 Personalized, flexible curriculum: Choose from independent or guided learning tracks across TK–5, middle school (6–8), and high school (9–12). The 9–12 program offers flexible pacing options, including accelerated six-week focused sessions and traditional 18-week semesters, and supports pathways for college prep, vocational training, or personalized achievement.

💻 Comprehensive resources are included: Each student receives a Chromebook and all necessary curriculum materials, from core content to art and science supplies—at no cost.

🎒 Engagement & enrichment: Monthly in-person field trips, elective clubs, internship opportunities, and dual enrollment options enrich virtual experience. High school students also have access to honors/AP courses, career-technical education, and structured academic programs.

📈 Accountability and progress monitoring: Students are expected to complete a minimum of four hours of daily schoolwork. If weekly assignments fall below 80%, mentors schedule proactive support meetings.

Why Parents Choose JCS LIVE

JCS LIVE offers a rare combination of educational quality, flexibility, and support. Families who want a customizable learning experience, without sacrificing teacher guidance or community, will find it ideal. Whether you’re drawn to full scheduling freedom, a mix of synchronous/asynchronous classes, or a structured high school diploma pathway, JCS LIVE provides an empowering and supportive virtual education.

California's Universal Meals Program

At Julian Charter School, every student has access to free breakfast and lunch each school day through California's Universal Meals Program. This statewide initiative ensures that all TK–12 students, regardless of income or enrollment type, receive nutritious meals at no cost. Whether your child attends an Academy, participates in Home Study, or is part of the INSITE program, they can count on daily access to healthy food that supports their focus, energy, and overall well-being. By removing barriers to school meals, JCS is proud to help families save money and ensure that every student is ready to learn and thrive.

🍽️ What This Means for Families

  • No forms or income criteria are required; every student, every day, can access hot breakfast and lunch on campus.

  • This benefit applies to all Academy, Home Study, and INSITE programs operating across Pine Hills, Cedar Cove, Manzanita, Pine Valley, and Mountain Oaks.

  • Shores up equity and reduces barriers, so all students can focus on learning without hunger holding them back.

Beyond the Classroom: Enrichment, Support & Choice at JCS

Julian Charter School provides a variety of special programs across its campuses to enrich the academic experience and support each student's unique path:

📚 Resource Center & Field Trips

  • All campuses offer free field trips monthly for TK–8 students and at least once per semester for high school students, covering a range of activities including museums, science labs, outdoor education, and the performing arts.

  • At Pine Hills, students can access a well-stocked Resource Center featuring a variety of materials, including textbooks, microscopes, art supplies, manipulatives, and games, with up to 50 items available per student.

🏫 Academies (K–12 Hybrid Programs)

  • Cedar Cove, Mountain Oaks, Manzanita, Pine Hills, and Pine Valley academies offer a hybrid learning model with 2–4 days on campus and the remaining days at home. Instruction includes project-based learning, small-class environments, and community engagement. 

🏡 Home Study Learning Centers & Enrichment

  • For TK–8 Home Study students, JCS offers learning center days, typically held once a week (e.g., Fridays), where students participate in STEM, art, music, PE, language arts, and social activities alongside their peers in a structured setting.

  • These centers enhance academic learning with hands-on, social experiences at no additional cost.

🎓 INSITE (9–12 Independent Study)

  • Available at the high school level, INSITE blends flexibility with structured teacher support. Students can attend dedicated INSITE centers (such as at Pine Hills) up to three days a week, receiving daily guidance, pacing assistance, A–G course support, credit recovery, and diploma preparation.

🌐 Specialist Support & Dual Language

  • High school Home Study students have access to credentialed subject specialists (e.g., math, English, science) for course design and tutoring.

  • Cedar Cove Academy in Encinitas offers a dual-language Spanish immersion option for TK–5, promoting bilingualism and biliteracy.

JCS goes beyond classroom instruction by offering weekly enrichment, dedicated independent study centers, resource-rich facilities, field experiences, and specialized language and academic support, available at no additional cost to families. These special programs create a rich, personalized educational ecosystem that caters to different learning styles and family lifestyles.

JCS Can Change Your Child's Life Forever!

Have a question?

Want to speak with a real person?

Contact Jillian Tonkin

760-466-5720

MAIN OFFICE

1704 Cape Horn Ave Julian, CA 92036

PO BOX 2470 Julian, CA 92036

760-466-5720