This review is not about RUHS, Redondo Union High School of the RBUSD Redondo Beach Unified School…read moreDistrict. This review is about the REDONDO UNION AQUATIC CENTER SWIMMING POOL and both the Public Pool Access and the Summer Swimming Lessons as well as the lead contact, RAMONA CARISTO the Aquatic Center Coordinator. This is located on the campus of Redondo Union High School. RAMONA is such a wonderful person. Very polite, helpful and professional. We've known her for the many years we've enrolled in the Summer Swimming Lessons for Kids. The staff, during the Summer, I suspect and assume are qualified lifeguard caliber student employees. They've all been very good with the children/kids they teach as student swimmers. The front gate staff are always very welcoming and cheerful. It's an overall great environment that Ramona has created for the Aquatic Center. Weekend swimming, when open to the public is well organized. The clientele (customer) patron swimmers have been respectful and polite using the facilities, such as sharing lanes. Parking can be both easy and challenging depending on whatever activities are going on on-campus, whether sports games, rally/gatherings or anything else. It's a family friendly environment.

Every Sat/Sun the pool is open for community swim. They have 12 lanes open for lap swimming and a…read moresmall area for kids. It's $3 for residents (with ID) and $4 for non-residents. The shower area is pretty basic with nowhere to hang your things and no lockers. There's also a parking lot with direct access to the pool off of Vincent St.

I went to pick up my son early the other day since he was feeling ill and I noticed there was a new…read morenurse. It turned out Dawn, one of the best nurses in the RBUSD has retired. I only met Dawn a couple of times, once during school registration, a few times by the front desk, and I talked to her a few times briefly on the phone. She was always very helpful and cheerful! And from what I gathered, she was very kind and compassionate with kids at school. In a public school with that many students, one could imagine how busy it could be for a nurse! I don't know if she ever got any award for her outstanding work, her cheerful down-to-earth attitude and most importantly, her kindness toward others, if there is such an award, I think she would be the most deserving person to have that award! Dawn, thank you for being so awesome!

This school has its good sides and bad sides. On one hand, the teachers are super experienced and…read moreall are super smart. Many of them try their best to help each and every student. The administration is where I think many people dislike. The TOSA loves to accuse people and approaches people in a very disturbing manner. She assumes that the students have done something wrong. When she is dealing with an incident, she changes the story and manipulates students minds to get the to "fake confess". She pits students against each other with fake accounts and stories.

I did not like this school at all. First of all, the system when I was here was terrible. I…read moreliterally have to change it around with my counselor each year that I was here. This was annoying because it was very inconvenient and frustrating. Secondly, terrible student wifi and cellular data here! The student wifi has weak security! Not very good at all! Sometimes the cellular data on my phone goes to 3G! The wifi/cellular data here is even worse during office hours! It's very slow! I was playing Kahoot for my classmates and Kahoot wasn't loading probably! Please improve your student wifi and your cellular data speed here! Will not be returning here!

What a great school and sports facilities. Coaching Staff…read moreare really professional and positive. A lot of great talent at all levels

I visited The Manhattan Beach Middle School and the campus looked nice and parking was spacious. I…read morewas helped / assisted by a very professional at the front desk area named Michelle. She was excellent in providing information and had a very friendly disposition that was very welcoming and gracious.

When my child first entered the school at home he complained non stop about the food the staff the…read morebroken rules about how you have to pay for water and everything. We also got kicked out because "we weren't living at manhattan beach" they said, couldn't even let my son be there till the end of the school year. Now he has to redo 6th grade and loose basically all of his friends

I was a West High School student in 2018 and had Mary Callahan Flaxman as my Algebra 1 teacher…read more Unfortunately, she was one of the most unhelpful and impatient teachers I've ever had. She would tell students to raise their hand if they needed help, but when I actually did and asked questions, she would get irritated and tell me to "figure it out myself." There was even a time I got frustrated and quietly said to classmates, "What's the point of asking for help if she won't help me?" and she came up to me and embarrassed me in front of the entire class. That situation made me feel humiliated and genuinely affected me emotionally. No student should feel scared to ask for help in a classroom. A teacher should support students who are struggling, not shame them for it. I'm also still in contact with staff from West High, and I've heard similar concerns over the years about her behavior and lack of patience. It's disappointing that this seems to be an ongoing issue.

I saw the West High Theatre department's musical production of Grease and was quite impressed! The…read moremusical was held at West High's Performing Arts Center and auditorium which was quite spacious. The sound and lights were spot on and the whole production was really nice. Overall I was impressed with how well the high school kids performed and the modern art facility. I had a great time watching Grease here. Well done, West High!

If you're looking to put your children in a safe high school filled with amiable (at least most of…read morethem) teachers and a fairly rigorous academic program, Bishop Montgomery is the place you want. Like all private schools, it will take a huge bite out of your wallet. All the books, uniforms, and even scantrons have to be bought. Uniforms, despite what teenagers may think, are actually very helpful to the school environment. Almost everyone will judge you based on what you're wearing/how you look and if everyone is wearing the same thing, that means it's much easier to make friends. My favorite part of this school is Drama Lab. I have had many profound memories in that club. Mr. Masters is truly an inspirational teacher who is very fun to work with and talk to.

This school was so incredibly damaging to my child. He went into the school with what a public…read moreschool would call an IEP. They wrote him something called a "step program", They never followed it. The teachers berated him and treated him as if he were a bad child. The "dean of men" told me that he would never treat my child any differently than the other kids. Even though, my son struggled with some neurodivergent issues. We are still dealing with the repercussions of having gone to this school. Do not send your child to Bishop Montgomery High School. Particularly if they are neurodivergent in any way.

Review #995 2026-065…read more Let me preface that this review is for an event that was held at/hosted by South High School. Opened (3rd) in 1957, South High School is 1 of 4 high schools serving students in grades 9 - 12 in Torrance Unified School District; according to their website, they're the #1 ranked high school in TUSD. The school also rents its space to Asahi Gakuen, a weekend non-profit Japanese language school. Did you know "American Beauty" was filmed at South High School during 1998 - 1999 winter break? For 2025 - 2026, the school is helmed by Principal Jim Evans & supported by Assistant Principal Dr. Tera Black. The 2026 TUSD "Academic Pentathlon" was held at South High School, hosting since post pandemic. It's an annual academic competition for 4th - 5th grade students that tests their knowledge on multiple (5) subjects: math, science, social science, art, literature. Winners receive medals & trophies for their school. Unlike Math Field Day, there's no county (LACOE) competition since it's primarily for middle school students. My son competed for 1 of 4 spots representing Hickory Elementary's 4th Grade Team. The hour-long competition consisted of 2 teams of 4 (comprised of 2 4th grade & 5th grade students) for their school to answer 50 questions; it was announced at the end that there were 49 questions due to an error. There was a short break at the midpoint of the competition, & another at the end while the scores are tabulated. The school's score is the calculated mean of their 2 teams. Unlike Math Field Day, there's no "trail mix" snacks offered during breaks so we gave M a quickie snack at home before the competition, & added a granola bar in case he needed a little lift. The auditorium wasn't as packed with competitors... I think maybe 1/2 of TUSD's elementary schools participated? Though it was standing room only with all the parents & families out to support their children. 2026 Academic Pentathlon Winners 1st: Victor ES (40.5 points) 2nd: Hickory ES (38 points; so proud of my l'il guy & his teammates!) 3rd: Towers ES (35 points) No back-to-back wins for Hickory ES (placed 1st in 2025)... M plans to come back next year to help regain the honors before he graduates. =D Congrats to all the lifelong learners... great job!!

Now, let me tell you that my kids do not go to this school, but if I lived in the area they would…read more We were there to go to their wonderful and new theater to see a play for Special Needs kids, of which my grandson is one. The people working there were so nice and patient with all 4 showings. It was put on by Anchorless Productions and the Friendship foundation. First, parking is so easy right in front to the theater. The theater itself is beautiful and spotless. It is comfortable and seating is easy. They are great with disabled people and are just super nice. They have it all, from the cool curtain to a super sound system. We were so lucky to be able to use this venue for the play. Before the play we walked around just a little bit, a lot of it was locked as it was a weekend, but the football field is so pretty and there is a tennis area. I think this school does a lot of performing arts. I wish all schools looked like this.

We've had two nieces graduate from Vistamar and our daughter is currently a junior. We have been…read morethrilled with the experience that all three kids have had at the school. The school has an excellent academic program. The curriculum was carefully researched and designed based on best-of-breed programs from private high schools and universities across the country. Classes are rigorous and the faculty is knowledgeable and very focused on the learning environment. We've observed how our daughter has quickly become comfortable seeking out her teachers when she has questions, attending office hours, and becoming a strong self-advocate. Great skills to have for both college and life. One of the most amazing things about the school is the strong culture that Vistamar has created. While the pressure of academics is part of the experience, much of it is neutralized by the strong sense of community and support across both faculty and students. It's an environment that has been really beneficial to our daughter, because it's one that encourages kids to take risks and try new things. She's discovered areas of passion that she may never have found had she not been at Vistamar. Again, something that we want our kids to find at this age so that they can have it for the rest of their lives. The school also does an excellent job bringing students together from different backgrounds and points of view and, through the culture they've created, enable them to build relationships and work together. Group learning and group activities are a big part of the learning culture which help develop skills that will last a long time. The actual school building can be a bit surprising when you look at it from the outside. It's much more of the converted-warehouse-tech-company sort of look than the green-campus-boarding-school. But step inside and watch how the kids work and interact with the environment. It's designed in a way where students and faculty are constantly interacting and creates a comfortable environment where you will often see students lingering well into the evening.

I have two daughters, one who chose to attend Vistamar School. It was the best decision we made…read morefor her. (My other daughter attended a different high school that was the perfect fit for her.) Vistamar is a unique and special school. Its most important characteristic is their intentionality. They have carefully thought through each part of a high school and made intentional choices to build a different and excellent small high school that allows each child to bring their individuality to school every day. The intentionality comes up in both large (why they offer Spanish and Chinese in their language program and require students to pass an oral proficiency language exam in order to graduate) and small (the temperature in the building) ways. You will not find a more enthusiastic and dedicated faculty. Their math program is incredibly strong that is joyfully brought to life by amazing teachers. Their high-level Humanities curriculum requires engagement with great and challenging literature like The Odyssey. My daughter, who wants to be a doctor, has taken advantage of the robust science offerings. All of this is wrapped by two key principals: (a) small class sizes that allow the faculty to know your student and (b) the idea that "there are no spectators" in learning. Your students will be challenged and engaged. As for extracurricular activities, this small school has a number of great opportunities for students. On their sports program, you are not going to have Friday Night Lights football. But what I appreciate about their program is that students are encouraged to try new activities. They have a "no cut" policy when it comes to sports. Their program is built to inspire students to build good, long-term, healthy lifestyle habits and find opportunities to go outside their comfort zone, as well as make new friends. On college prep, the school has built a system that prepares students to be successful in college, while not making the students feel pressurized by the college application process. The school does not want to have students focus their entire high school time on getting into college. The counseling team works closely with each student to ensure that they get into the college that is the best fit for them. As someone who has worked in education for most of my career and as someone who has seen the joy in my daughter's eyes when she talks about her school, I cannot recommend this excellent and innovative high school strongly enough.

My kids are about to go into 8th and 6th grade. We have been at this school for 6 years. If you are…read morelooking for a school that is nurturing and loving to each and every student, don't look any further. No school can mimic the experience we are getting at RHLS. If your number one priority for a school is the best and newest facilliies, don't come here. If you are looking for a principal and staff that genuinely cares for your child, consider RHLS. I would definitely NOT listen to the reviews below that are from families who do not attend our school. If you need to ask questions, feel free to reach out to me via Yelp and I'll answer any questions.

If I could give less than one star I would. This school talked a really good game at their info…read morenight, but in reality, they're not interested in the kids. They were terrible with communication, the Principal is very stand-off ish and gossipy. The teacher who "assessed" my son was arrogant and condescending. I really wanted to like this school, but I was very disappointed. Avoid. My son is now thriving in public school, so I guess this was a blessing in disguise?

I loved VCA!!! My daughter started Valor in 6th grade and she just graduated this month. She had a…read moregreat middle school experience! Their middle school program offers small class sizes, field trips, sports, electives, and much more. My daughter made lots of friends and loved most of the teachers. She got good grades all throughout her middle school years and earned academic honor roll and other achievements both academically and for sports. During her 8th grade year, her class did a very memorable missions trip and went to DC. She told me that it will be a year she will never forget. The staff was great and very supportive. Mrs. E did a wonderful job in her new role as the principal. Coach Phil is a special person who was always available to the students when they need someone to talk to. He was a great coach, pe teacher, and yearbook teacher. My daughter loved coach Phil and I am so grateful for him. Mr. Shook was another favorite. He taught science and history. My daughter enjoyed him because he would always crack jokes and make everyone laugh. Mr.Shook was a great teacher, however, sometimes, I think he should keep his political opinions to himself. That was the only thing that kind of made me uncomfortable. The other thing relating to staff was the staff turnover. My daughter had a different English and math teacher every year. Which was annoying because she would build a strong relationship with them, then they left and she would have to rebuild. I understand that isn't the schools fault. But it did interfere with math and her math grade. Overall, my daughter and our family loved Valor! We highly recommend this school if you are looking for a small close-knit Christian school community. We felt safe sending her which was a big deal considering the unfortunate times that we live in. Thank you Valor for all the wonderful memories and for providing my daughter with a great Christian middle school experience. Please let me know asap when there is a Valor High! :)

We have been apart of this school for now 2 1/2 years and this review is long overdue, as we get…read moreready to send kiddo #2. We couldn't be more happy with this school and the biblical foundation it offers especially from what is being experienced from public school. We are so thankful we have found valor and it has been such a blessing to us. How prayerful and considerate this team is in finding solutions and going above and beyond and taking a biblical approach is rare. Our child has superseded his academics which has truly been amazing to see him grow. We look forward to growing with this school.