I just read some of the reviews for Birmingham and I beg you to take these reviews with "a grain of salt". Many of the reviewers sound bitter and want someone to blame for their lack of discipline. If you want to be successful at Birmingham, you CAN be successful at Birmingham, period. The simple facts are these: #1 The campus is beautiful (BIG but beautiful). The groundskeepers and the students take good care of "their home". There are new covered eating areas, new Amazing murals on the walls "Patriot Pride" and if there is a bit of "tagging", it's removed immediately. #2 High security. They installed hundreds of cameras recording all activities on campus. These recordings have been used to prosecute wrong doing. If a student is doing something wrong, security is dispatched immediately. Most students complain about too many security guards yelling at them to get to class! #3 Teachers who push their students to succeed and genuinely care about their students. Many teachers offer many hours of extra tutoring time if students need it. #4 Every sport, club, music, theater, and art class is offered at Birmingham. The sports teams are amazing! The band program, choir program, and theater programs win numerous awards and produce many successful concerts/shows. There are many visual arts programs including drawing, photography, digital imaging and even ceramics. # 5 SLC's (Small Learning Communities) that really tailor to your child's interests and goals. #6 Mr. Parks is a great principal! The staff will help you if you ask. I've seen many schools and most are not as organized and committed to excellence as Birmingham Community Charter High School. Can your child have issues if they go there? Maybe. As a parent, YOU need to check up on your child. You can go online and check your students progress on the Aries computer grading system.You the parent can see if your child "ditched" a class (which isn't hard to do with a population over 3,000 if a kid wants to do that) by looking on the system or calling the school. Don't wait for the school to inform you. Most students (and parents) who complain about Birmingham, are the ones who complain about everything! I know it's not the "Braves" anymore, it's the "Patriots" now---get over it already!! Did I mention how good the food is there now!?!? read more

After 12 years in school BCCHS WITCH 12 Grade VP DENIED MY KID GOING TO THE PROM, GRADUATION CEREMONY AND GRAD NIGHT bcuz of excess absences from our severe car accident two mos prior. His heart was broken all summer long and beyond. BCCHS 2010 - 2015 My polite, shy child w mod Tourettes Syndrome w IEP Individual Education Plan all 4 yrs was basically dismissed emotionally and mentally by counselors, admins, some teachers re his 'IEP Learning Plan Accomodations' ie extra time for assignments, exams, extra individual attention for same etc all spelled out signed and agreed to by all teachers counselors vice principal psychologist special ed staff etc every single semester all four years at our IEP meetings. I attended every single mtg, every single semester. I'm a retired elementary teacher myself and am well aware of my Student w Disabilities' rights. They were denying these rights in actual practice on a day-to-day class-by-class basis. They crossed all their tees and dotted all their I s to get the money from the govt. $$$$$ Extra for STUDENTS W DISABILITIES paid. When I would inquire a various staff members including teachers counselors and vps over the four years I was given a run around and treated like I was intruding on, or asking too much of them. In 12th grade we had a horrific car accident in which we both were on doctor's orders recovering at home, for a week and a half. Although I had informed w doctors note w reason for extended absences, the female VP waited for revenge on my child and me, until a month before graduation. She crushed my sweet, kind and friendly teenager's hopes, spirit and heart, and my heart too. Btw I attended Birmingham's #1 rival Taft High School, in Woodland Hills, CA Class of 1980 when many of my friends attended Birmingham. Then both are high schools were envied, fantastic 10 /10 A+ schools. Our families lived in the area Tarzana Encino to attend these fantastic schools nowadays those same homes have their children in private schools because Birmingham especially is such a failure. Read the stats yourself. That's why charter schools are not necessarily a good thing and definitely not usually superior. Also, that's why the Billions Tax $$$$$ Department Of Education must be eliminated. I believe this vengeful abusive disgusting VP action was definitely racially motivated. Birmingham is now only 4% white, 86% Hispanic, the VP was Hispanic and we are white. read more

Birmingham Community Charter High School - 2015 BCCHS WATER POLO TEAM CITY CHAMPIONS 2ND PLACE - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Van Nuys, California

I highly doubt not recommend this School especially if your kids need extra help or support, they are extremely strict and they block the drop of area with gates which leads to students being late very often, the security is highly unprofessional,they have no control of the smoking problem as well as no empathy or sympathy for kids who struggle with attendance due to construction or traffic. read more

I don't have any problem with the school or any other teachers, but I do have a problem with the student store!!!! This happened today I was trying to get my locker code form the student store but the lady in the store was giving me attitude. She said to me I need to take a picture of my locker and the back of my lock. But I already did, but she said you need it to take it in one picture. I was already mad that I already take the picture of locker and back of my lock. I told her this and she like " no in one picture " like what the fuck I left and I write an email to my counselor I'm waiting what she have to say. read more

Not a school for African Americans. The principal should improve on his people skills when talking to an adult/person. Their tryouts for soccer and basketball teams should be changed to offer all children the same opportunity to be selected, and shouldn't select the same child year after year. read more

As stated in another review this is where the rich kids go, well rich parents and their kids. Hey nothing wrong with being rich.. But this review of the school I went to, not the current version. It was an old military hospital before it became a high school. The buildings and I do mean buildings a lot of them were spread out and connected for the most part with long wooden halls with many windows. It was such a unique place to be. It is too bad it is now just another school. If this were a review on the folks I went to school with it would have been a minus five. God you people were horrible. I hated every tortuous moment of it. The history of Birmingham; In 1943 the United States Government broke ground for an army hospital on land which was then a part of Petit Ranch in the center of a 160-acre Lima bean and carrot patch. The government constructed buildings that would house soldiers being returned home for medical care from the European and Pacific theaters of war. The swimming pool was built in 1947 as a therapeutic and recreational aid for recovering veterans. By direction of the Secretary of War, Birmingham General Hospital was named in honor of the late Brigadier General Henry Patrick Birmingham in 1943. After several years of activity, the United States Government abandoned the grounds and the buildings remained empty until 1952. As a result of population expansion in the San Fernando Valley, the 63.8-acre tract that is now the campus was reassigned as a temporary school site. Birmingham Junior High School was formed on February 4, 1953 at the campus of Van Nuys Junior High. It moved to the present campus on April 7, 1953. Originally a junior high school, the school expanded into a six-year school until February 1963, when Mullholland Junior High opened a new facility on the adjacent land. The ninth grade became a part of Birmingham High School in the fall semester of 1984 when reconfiguration changed the enrollment to a grade 9-12 school. The Communicatons Technology magnet high school was opened in 1994. In the fall of 2004, High Tech Charter High School will open on the south side of campus replacing the five unused vocational shop buildings. The Birmingham High School residential attendance area includes parts of the communities of Encino, Reseda, Van Nuys, Northridge, and Lake Balboa. In addition to the residential area, traveling students from the District Voluntary Integration Program and Satellite Zone Program attend Birmingham High School. Birmingham also receives students from over-crowded schools through the Capacity Adjustment Program and through Open Enrollment permits on a space available basis. The present Birmingham High School plant is a result of a three-phase building program, which has seen the replacement of all the original structures, with the exception of the old gym, now part of the multipurpose room and cafeteria, and the swimming pool. During the years 2000-2004 the interior and exterior of all campus buildings, arcades, and walls were repainted. Additional repairs included new roofing for all buildings and air conditioning schoolwide. In the fall of 2004, Birmingham will open High Tech High-Los Angeles. read more

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This is the best highschool on the left side of the Mississippi River. Over 250 cameras and security to make sure everyone is safe. We're known for best teams for sports. The campus is beautiful and clean . Overall this is a great school read more

Birmingham Community Charter High School - Football/track field - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Van Nuys, California

DON'T SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS SCHOOL! Especially if you are African American. The police harassment is REAL! I got my son out. Went to reseda High and did well. Graduated and went to college. They cared. No one at Birmingham really cares. I think I found one teacher. I have a daughter now and wouldn't send her there if my life depended on it. Education is a ZERO STAR! Worst school I know! Ok the football was good, but who cares about that! read more

This school is really amazing especially if you have band with Mr.Barrett. Mr.Barrett is a great band director and is well liked by all his students. :) read more

This review is for the aquatic center /pool area only. My kid attends it for more than a year and he is pretty happy. I am also glad that this pool is large enough to accommodate many teams of different age categories. Couches are great and watchful, paying attention to each kid and ensuring that kids perform. read more

Birmingham Community Charter High School - Pool - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Attended this school some time ago and can say I loved it.Staff teachers and faculty are all about serving their students.Amazing services and resources were always available.Cafeteria food was good and always held special activities and events during lunch.No idea where the bad reviews are coming from this school rocks! read more

I love Birmingham bc they have Mr. Wydra as a teacher. Mr. Wydra has taught me great things. He is a great mentor, a great English teacher, and a great person overall. He has patience and is willing to go the extra mile if that means the student will benefit from it. He includes pathos and rhetorical devices into his lectures preparing us for the future. Mr. Wydra should win teacher of the year. MR. WYDRA FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES read more

I personally did not attend this school but my "Kid -O" does. I was extremely impressed by the curriculum they follow. Very stern but fair staff that have your child's best interest at heart. Our son has said nothing but wonderful things since he started attending this school. There is a high level of police presence but that's only because it's located neat 2 other schools. It put my wide and I at ease knowing that they are so close by. If you're kid is entering high school and you want the best education no money can buy, then look no further. read more

I had to pick up our school's newspapers that were mistakenly delivered to Birmingham. I told the printers accidentally delivered it to them & told her what high school we were. Staff member proceeded to comment that the newspapers looked like a middle school had done it. She looked at me like I was suppose to actually respond. I tell people this story every time they ask about this school. If I had interaction with her everyday I'd hate school too! read more

REFUSED SON ATTEND HIS GRADUATION, Grad Night - Disneyland & Senior Prom. Our son has Aspergers with an enforced (legally) IEP (Individual Education Plan). Because he earned a D in an English class, BCCHS denied him and us, his involved lovingly supportive family, all of his long arduous work rewards HIS CELEBRATIONS. Never mind my many (5) calls w Vice Principal in his Business and Technical ed division. Even with our son's special education plan, which included our and our son's attending mtgs with 10 - 12 school reps, where he and we were fully appreciatively and engaged, every single semester, the VP would not be that tiny bit lieneint at all in ACCOMODATION to his SPECIAL ED STATUS. Our son found out in the last month of his 12th grade Spring semester. I'd already purchased class ring, prom tickets and photo package and rented his cap and gown. Our son was, and remained for many months afterward, absolutely devastated, and for some time initially, seriously suicidal. He was also on the Water polo Team and Swim Team, all four years, where his coach absolutely worked him just as hard as his peers, and appreciated him. This kid happily woke at 3:30am for four teenaged years to show up for their 5-7am( & 3-5pm) water polo and swim practices M-F. In addition, when held he made every early Saturday morning practices also. The teams made it into the Southern California wide Championship final tournaments all four years, and our teenage boy was happier than he had ever been in his young life. His accomplishments socially, athletically and also academically were hugely important to his success and sense of tremendous wellbeing. Previously, before attending BCCHS, he'd had a few close friends all through his childhood. Aspergers has great challenges in social development especially, which is why this tortuous emotionally abusive action, by BIRMINGHAM ADMIN is to be made known so no other student is subjected to their unconsciously uncaring albeit illegal practices, on children. Lastly, our son was well liked by teammates, fellow students in class and on campus, and teachers and counselors throughout. He never once had any trouble or behaviour problems with Birmingham CC High, nor previously at Millikan Middle School and Sherman Oaks Elementary. The heartlessness of that female VP destroyed his huge accomplishments in his 18 years of life, with no acknowledgment by BCCHS Administration. He was already enrolled in summer school that same month, which he finished with his heart broken, and in a deeply severe depression. He was seen by a good adolescent psychotherapist for the next eight months, to treat his deep depression, which beforehand did not exist. That VP's cruelty, in refusing his participation in all of these activities, with such value to a young student being so very paramount, are unforgettable and unforgivable. Do not subject your children to this sadistically horrific D- charter school. The academics and teachers were alright, but many were not up to par, which is well known nowadays in the community. I grew up in Tarzana attending H. Taft High in the 1970s, when Birmingham High was our friendly rival school. BHS then, was really exceptional and highly regarded. No longer so..... should have made this review years ago. May have spared many other families from the abuses at Birmingham. Was just to much for me to think about in writing, til now. Send your kids to El Camino High in West Hills if you want the best chance at public ed high school in SFV. God bless you and your children- Parent and Retired LAUSD k6 teacher read more

This is only a review of the pool area. My kids have been coming here for a couple of years for swim practice and swim team. The coaches are great and work well with the kids. The pool is clean and has enough lanes to accommodate large teams. What I really like is that they have a smaller pool for kids to do laps and graduate to the larger pool. read more

Birmingham Community Charter High School - Pool - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Great School! Very organized and there is assistance with everything a student needs! All of their programs are great from the Arts to Sports. This school has something for any kid to be successful! read more

Class of 2011 alumni, and slightly bitter. Parents: If you are considering sending your child here please be available to dedicate your time to ensure their progress and success not just as a duty of a parent but because they are attending Birmingham. My experience: I was apart of the switch to Charter and feel jipped of an education, my ninth grade year I had 4 different teachers for English -- horrible. A ridiculous run in with the principal, Coates, well I can rant on for a lifetime. Only PRO: CAL, if not for the small learning community of the Creative and Liberal Arts my English and history teachers who were there to help Birmingham would have been a waste of total time. From what I hear of current students new administrators will be put in to place and hopefully they can save this school. It has such a great history behind it, it would be a shame to see the school continue to deteriorate. read more

The Coaching Staff and Director sucks. They talk a great talk but there Sportsmanship is unprofessional. My Son has made the team 3 years and in 3 yearsvhe has been benched and if he plays he plays last 8 seconds of a losing game. The Coaches. Especially Coach Jay likes to break boys Self Esteem instead of building it. I am sadden by the unprofessional results of the Basketball Director and head Coach Halic yet another year of the same stuff. Kennedy is where you should go for Basketball or some place else your sons will truly regret coming here and I as a parent feel I let my son down by telling him things will workout and get better please please think twice before enrolling your B Ball Kid here read more

I absolutely love it at Birmingham!!! All the teachers are so nice and are always there for kids if they need help with anything. I believe that Birmingham does care a lot for the children. They do so much everyday to make children feel safe and have fun. Birmingham has so much to offer , so many clubs that you can join and enjoy with friends . One thing I like the most is that there are so many teachers and staff that are there to support you ! They offer people you can attend to talk about any problems that you may have and don't want to deal with them alone read more

This school is extremely film friendly. They get it. They utilize the money from filming for school activities and enhancements. Good for them. Lionel & Rick are are extremely helpful and know what production needs for a successful shoot. My hats off to them both!!!! read more

The most confusing parking area's & to many areas to enter from. If it's your 1st time here plan on spending a good 15min to figure out the way in & out. read more

I'm not going to indicate that it's not a good school because no school is perfect! I'm sure the School has improved! When I was attending the School was not good when it came to my particular special education teachers Mrs. Aguirre especially she was extremely bias, she was a bully, she from from the behavior she demonstrated had an enjoyment of getting other students in trouble and she wasn't that great to the paraprofessinals in my opinion from my observation! No teacher is perfect either we are human but Mrs Aguirre behavior was unacceptable! Another teacher who should be investigated is mr. Halic and his paraprofessinal James the Wrestling Coach they have the tendency to behave in a extremely childish manner and like to poke fun at students but hey this was 5 and 6 yrs ago when I attended so maybe things change but I don't want anyone to experience what I did so I thought I come foward read more

While we live less than a 1/4 mile from his home highschool for the last 2 years my son has commuted from the Santa Clarita Valley to BCCHS and he has since met a handful of other students who do the same commute. It's a sacrifice we both have to make but his experience here has completely changed his outlook on his future. He feels that the staff truly cares about him and his fellow students and they push them to do their best. The school itself is truly a community. Like with any school it will be what you make of it. Parent involvement at any school is what is needed and BCCHS provides ample opportunities for ALL parents & students alike. They are a school willing to take a hard look at themselves and address their issues head-on and not sweep them under the rug. The staff, parents, students and even local community are all vested in this school and I think that speaks volumes. I will be forever grateful to the BCCHS community for all the love, support and yes even discipline they have showed my son during his time there. read more

Excellent school! I graduated a Birmingham Brave 1996 and still have my letterman jacket with the brave on it!

For the parents looking to whether or not to send their students here or not u should .... I am a current student and I love it here .. I have found many teachers who got out of their way for u to succeed ...its a safe school and many great activity's ... theirs really no gang members which is a big plus maybe a group of 8 but that's it ... I've never even heard of them interfering with any students here I feel safe at this school and theirs so much security so their no drama...class of 2013 read more

Luckily I was able to graduate as a Brave in 95' before they became the Patriots. I'm sorry but the reasons for taking away our Mascot are pretty ridiculous as we were PROUD TO BE BRAVES!! I have great memories from this school and bad ones as any teenager growing up would...I don't know of one person that has had it perfect in any school. Athletics were great, I played Volleyball my last two years and other than our Ass wipe of a coach that dropped us the minute he got his dream job coaching the steroid long legged girls of Chatsworth, we had fun and always went to Finals. Don't ask me about the classes, sadly, I didn't pay much attention in school and I regret it but what I do remember is some teachers where there to collect a paycheck. Spanish teacher was a perv and all we did 3 out of 5 days was watch those terrible Mexican movies with sex and violence. Yes, there was a divide between rich and not so rich but I didn't care...i spoke to everyone, I never stayed with one group, I think groups are lame and I would get bored so I did my rounds through all the crowds until I got bored and moved on to the next. I don't regret going to BHS, I have great memories and I'll stick to those. Not sure what it's like now. GO BRAVES!!!! read more

As a student, the school needs more teachers. 3,000+ students is making its impact on class size.

I attended Birmingham Jr. High for one semester in the early 60s. I was then transferred to a new school known as Robert Fulton Jr. High in Van Nuys. I was glad to leave a 7th through 12th grade school! Being a small 7th grader wasn't easy in the halls with 12th graders! I returned to Birmingham High in the 9th grade. Both of my sisters choose to go to Van Nuys High instead of the rough ganged BHS, My parents made me go the BHS. There wasn't any bus service and I had to walk the three miles under the Van Nuys Airport tunnel twice a day. My reason for writing this is to let people know about the humiliations in the P.E. Program of the day. Yes, we did have a swimming pool. Cold, too much chlorine and nasty until tiled in about 1963. The girls had to wear school supplied stretched out bathing suits and the boys(swimming non coed) wore NOTHING! We were made to go off the high dive, which was at least four to 6 feet above the existing wall. This was great for the jocks who wanted all to see their bodies and not so good for the shy and "normal" guys. You had no choice but to line up naked, sit on the risers naked and dive naked. That was your P.E. routine for the hour. We even swam in the rain! The towels that were given were the size of a hand towel and often they ran out if your class returned late! Activities these days,like these, would have been illegal or at least protested and changed. You did as you were told or received an "F" back then. I tell these stories to my senior friends and they ALL say it isn't true...But unfortunately it was! I had some wonderful teachers while in attendance and some less than acceptable ones. I eventually became a teacher and these times at BHS gave me the knowledge of how to be a better person/teacher. read more

i went to birmingham 75-78 we had all sorts of classes there haves .. have nots ... but we all got along it did'nt matter to us back then we were all friends i dont know whats happen since but back in my days there it was a fun place to be well as fun as school could be read more

OMG! I only wish we had had so much technology at our fingertips when I was at BHS! Prior to graduating in S-61, we had Mimeograph, Stencils, IBM Selectric typewriters, Apple Machines. (not electronic). Not even Polaroids, that I know of. But, what we did have was the most amazing SPIRIT that one could ever imagine. We excelled in Football, Swimming, Track, Basketball, Baseball - you name it. We lived on a cloud! (Not in the Cloud). Knowing that our campus was kinda ugly, a previous military hospital, never deterred us. We navigated those 40 something acres with lightening speed, so as not to miss the bell. Girls were not supposed to wear red, nor wear skirts above the kneecap. Boys were coolest with their Letter Sweaters, jeans with a cuff, penny loafers, and the ubiquitous Pendleton shirt over a sparkling white Tee Shirt. (Most moms didn't work in those days). We were the true innocenti. We went through life like everyone else. Remembering those Backward Sadie Hawkins Day Dances. Those exciting football games. Winning Swim meets, gym meets, and on and on and on. This was before Viet Nam. Way before cell phones, PC's, video games. But, I suspect we had the very same hopes and dreams that kids have today. Gathering at Bob's Big Boy or Little Bob's, or DuPar's, or Baskin Robbins, we shared our quest for the good life, good family, and great fun!!! Our 55th Reunion is right around the corner. Someone said there will be wheelchair access. That many girls might be wearing flats. Wait a minute...I thought that 70 was the new 50!!! Come on now!!! read more