I have two kids at this school - one in STEM and another in Dual Language. Here are some things I…read morelove and some other observations: Love: 1) there is a very large active parent/family community at this school that cares deeply about our kids. Though ideas about implementation can differ, the sheer number of committed and involved grownups is wonderful. 2) there are some teachers here who love the students as they would love their own family, and it shows. 3) the whole community comes together a few times a year for performances, brainstorming sessions, supporting teachers, fundraisers, parents' night out, etc. 4) though there are strong differences of opinion on how things "should" be run, everyone does their utmost to ensure kids are well-resourced. 5) the greening project, though it looks different than the original plan, has created a more comfortable atmosphere for the kids 6) teachers assign projects to kids that really develop their whole person 7) the PTA works for the benefit ALL kids at the school and doesn't feel snobby to me at all (I grew up thinking PTA would be complain-y adults feeling holier-than-thou, but that's not the sense I get at all). They put on a TON of events for the school and really make it happen (career day, friendship dances, harvest festival, dine outs, guardian's night out, performance support, so many more things) 8) the special ed program has a teacher whose creative mind and heart are unparalleled (Ms Aquino) 9) Ms Pedroza (UTK/TK) is just THE BEST 10) Ms Kim (5th grade STEM) is WONDERFUL with the kids - helps them feel respected, seen, heard, competent, and provides huge opportunities for enrichment 11) Ms Olga (community rep) does a heck of a lot getting communications out, organizing, presenting, and making events happen 12) Ms Carmen and Ms Karla (front office) are wonderful humans AND keep the school running in huge ways 13) the school puts a LOT of effort into getting the arts and music available to kids. Grants for ukuleles, music teachers, art clubs, etc. are worked for and obtained regularly. I could go on and on. Any school you go to will have benefits and detractors, but these are some of the strengths I've witnessed personally. LAUSD Admin are working closely with the school right now (June 2026) to establish strong leadership by appointing a new principal, so the school is being followed closely for support.

We feel SO lucky to have Buchanan St. Elementary in our backyard. Our son is thriving in the Dual…read moreLanguage program and the staff, teachers, and community are second to none. Go Bobcats!

Think twice about sending your children to this school. Weigh your options…read more Rude staff and administration is even worse. Lack of empathy. When my son was seriously injured on campus (during a prior school year) there was no show of concern for his well-being. His recovery was months long and the principal did not reach out nor return my calls. When I went in the office to speak with her, I was told she was unavailable and in a meeting. Sadly, her office door was wide open and she was sitting in there alone not looking occupied whatsoever. There is heavy emphasis placed on the magnet program but unfortunately, not all students are given the same opportunities or attention. Our family learned that over the years. My three children attended this school. My daughter's 4th grade teacher lacked emotional intelligence as did the school psychologist. The teacher made me wait in the hall 20 minutes for our scheduled teacher/parent conference. She took a personal call during our session which cut into my time. She seemed to be screaming on the phone in a foreign language so I don't know what was being said but the tone was very uncomfortable/inappropriate. She was late and ended early not allowing me my allotted time. She did make time to accuse me of not having my kid study enough. The psychologist insulted me and suggested my child was below grade level because I worked until 7:00 pm and served dinner too late. She proceeded to ask me personal questions about my job and my educational background. It felt like an interrogation. My son's 5th grade teacher mocked my son for clearing his throat too often. She was a bully and kids fed off this behavior. There is no accountability from their end and no supportive services were offered to help enrich my children's education. Any deficiencies were blamed on me, the parent. Anti-bullying rules are not enforced. Major concern.

My two girls had Miss Wong in 3rd Grade. My youngest had Miss Miller in 6th grade. Miss Miller and…read moreMiss Wong are the best! They made a positive difference in my kids' life. They treat kids fairly and nicely. They handle different kinds of students accordingly depending on a situation. They teach really good and make sure kids will learn. I want to thank them both, especially Miss Miller who helped my youngest gained self confidence and believe in herself. She is the coolest and funniest teacher. My family loves Miss Wong and Miss Miller!

This school has come a long way from where it was about ten years ago. The administration is…read morealways walking around the hallways, helping me students that are lost in this gigantic campus. They are very personable and easy to talk to. I can tell teachers really care about and motivate the students in different ways. The principal has an annual Christmas raffle where all students have the chance of winning a variety of prizes from candy bars, gift cards to Target or In N Out, to bicycles and skateboards. The students really enjoy having their name called on the intercom to report to the office and collect their prize. Mr. Roskam (principal) makes it fun for students to love learning!!!

For being a STEAM Magnet school (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), the math…read moreis lacking. My son and his friends who came from the same elementary school repeatedly noted that the subjects covered in 6th-grade math class were a repeat of things they had previously learned. There is no accommodation for students who need to be challenged more in mathematics. The school has cut its music program after firing the music teacher, and they have yet to find a replacement. They still have art classes, but music apparently isn't important enough, even though they should focus on "Arts" as a STEAM school. The current principal, Dr. Salazar, is quite unresponsive and has yet to follow up on concerns regarding our younger son, despite my wife and I reaching out both in person and via email. The staff is not friendly and lacks empathy. When calling in, they act as if they are trying to get off the phone as quickly as possible. One of the counselors, Ms. Barajas, is also unresponsive; an email from the last academic school year was finally addressed after the issue was escalated and someone with more authority made the requested change. If you are considering this school, be sure to supplement your child's math education with outside tutoring; otherwise, they may fall behind. Do not expect prompt responses to any concerns without escalating matters. They do offer unique electives (graphic design, game design, film appreciation, and robotics, to name a few), though these options are being reduced annually. This was a major point of attraction when we selected the school, but the variety of electives may be so diminished by the time your child enrolls that it will be no different than any other middle school.

We moved into the neighborhood specifically for the benefit of proximity to the school! The staff…read morehere is so kind and very talented. My child has blossomed and learned a lot through their STEAM opportunities in our first year here. Though the teachers can lack going above and beyond with communication to parents and get by with bare minimum communication. Regardless I'm grateful for this school. They also do different events with the community throughout the year.

OOOooooo SAN PASCUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOW DO I LOVE THEE…read more... I would like to say this first if it wasn't for this school who knows where I'd be today. This school has made me be the best person I can be. Their are lots of stuff I can't remember as a kid but if you ask me about my memories at S.P. Elem. I can go on and on. It might be due to the fact my mom worked there and still works there today. My very first teacher still keeps in touch with me. She is 85 but is a great Mentor to many. SAN PASCUAL ELEMENTARY is located between Highland park and Pasadena so you have some of your ritzy kids and some of your hood kids (I've always been hood) anyway all the kids here always seem so happy and well mannered, I guess that's why I have bedside manners... So if your ever looking for a good school in Highland Park look no further...... thanks for reading "KEEPING IT 1 HUNNID"

I have two of my littles ones here and I cannot get over how happy they are with their experience…read moreat Logan! The teacher to student ratio can be a little better (when can it not), but I can definitely tell that the teachers really care about their students and go above and beyond for them - my little ones can vouch! It's not often you find such motivated teachers that go the extra mile. Not only are the teachers awesome, but also the various clubs (specifically the robotics club)! It gives my babies something to look forward to outside of the classroom. The administration is also very accommodating to all the needs that our family has. Enrolling my little ones here was a great decision and I can tell they're on the right path for their future when they graduate. Private message me for more details! Would love to share :)

please do NOT enroll your child here! -- I'm a current 6th grader who went to elementary here at…read morethis school and it was hell. The students here who used to be my friend here are very disrespectful, rude, evil, and fake. i lost about 15+ of my friends just because of a rumor. After that i became severely depressed and i still am. i was bullied twice in 2025, my last name was made fun of all the years i´ve stayed here. it all goes downhill in 5th grade. Not exaggerating, speaking from experience. There is a lot of drama and rumors at this school!! -- My name is Zoey hong.

TK parent here. Yorkdale is a wonderful neighborhood school. It's seen a lot of changes over the…read morepast 100+ years in Highland Park. Highlights: - Great teachers! Experienced, & dedicated - Small class sizes - Large, clean, well-kept campus - Great facilities: music room, library, auditorium, garden area - Free & low-cost after school programs - Kind, welcoming, energetic PTA The new principal, Mr. Grass, is very open and engaged. The school is striving to become a district leader in science and technology. As someone who has toured 20-some charter & magnet schools, I'd really encourage local parents to check it out. Yorkdale is a school on the rise!

Yorkdale is a wonderful and welcoming neighborhood school. Our kids are in kindergarten and 2nd…read moregrade, and we have had a great experience here. At Yorkdale, we've found more than just a school - it's become a nurturing home for our children's education. With attentive and experience teachers, small class sizes, and a warm community atmosphere, our kids have flourished academically and socially. We also appreciate the PTA and school's commitment to organizing fun events to build community. Highly recommend!

I am a current parent of three kids at Latona in the dual language Spanish program. I have been…read morevery happy with the experience at this elementary school. My children are very happy there and I feel that the teachers truly have their best interests in mind. I have found the teachers to be great at communicating concerns or giving guidance. I also am grateful for all the extracurricular activities they plan for the children. My kids have had many experiences through the school they never would have otherwise. The ballet, theater, aquarium, museums, etc. They also have a great robotics program as well as Minecraft team where the kids create a better world and solve real world issues. So cool. I've also noticed that the parents are very involved. We have new greening grants coming in to increase our already beautiful campus and provide our children with even more natural play areas. I think what I like best is that the students who come to latona are all from the neighborhood or close by. So the kids all play together and hang out outside of school. It feels like the communities of the 80s. Love this school and its teachers.

All three of my children attend Latona. I cannot express my gratitude towards the teachers at this…read moreschool, especially the dual language Spanish program. We have been a part of the Latona community since 2020. The education and care my children have received has been exceptional. The teachers are communicative and I always feel aware of both their academic struggles and their academic achievements. More importantly, my children have been appreciated for the individuals they are. My oldest is in 5th grade and has learned how to be a leader while prioritizing kindness and respect. My middle is in 1st and is autistic/ADHD with an IEP. Her transition to the school environment was so difficult for her. But the teachers were so dedicated to helping her find her groove. They never tried to change who she is, but rather learned her needs and went from there. She is now thriving there. My youngest is in TK and this is by far the most organized and thoughtful TK experiences we've had. He is given both guidance and is learning autonomy. His learning has exploded and I completely attribute this to his teacher and her environment. This school is a hidden gem. The parents are also amazing. Very dedicated to improving the school and servicing the local kids. We truly love this school.

My son currently attends St Teresa of Avila (STA). I must say that it's as close to a family…read moreenvironment as can be. All the teachers know every single student, and students respect and appreciate it. So far my son's doing very well. His teachers have done a wonderful job. We are very happy with how things are working out for him. The kids' education is very well complemented by other enrichment programs. Some of those being musical in nature. Yes, they do have music rehearsals (as a previous review pointed out). These are for the Xmas show (at Church) and two outdoors fundraising events (one in October and another in June). These are not just-for-fun activities. All schools have to do some kind of fundraising. These happen to have music involved. It's wonderful to see the kids sharing and enjoying themselves. It's beautiful to see them so involved in their school. If you're looking for a close knit, one-on-one option for your kid, I invite you to check STA out. There's a place for every kid out there. Maybe STA is the one for you. You won't know until you check it out. We're glad to be part of this family.

This school has made me a very kind genuine and smart person. The teachers here have helped me…read moremaintain a Honors certificate and I really appreciate this. I really appreciate the way this school has helped me become the person I am if you would like to put your kid in the school it is an amazing idea. thank you for all my knowledge.