We are not year-round family at Westerly, but we consistently return for their summer camp…read more Our eleven-year-old son had attended all the local summer camps in Long Beach--JCC, 49'er camp, the city's parks and recs--over the past few years, and he ranks Westerly the highest among all camp experiences. The staff is accommodating, the hours are flexible (7:30 am to 5:30 pm), and he has a great time.

What can I say. Our family loves Westerly! Our eldest started at one of Long Beach's blue ribbon…read moreschools, but with the huge classes we decided to take a look at Westerly and we couldn't go back. Since then all our kids have thrived in their Westerly experience. It starts with a sizable campus with a beautiful grass field for sports and activities, newly constructed learning studios and the amazing arts village. What a great place to learn. Then the passionate teachers and staff deliver a whole child program, with a better than 10:1 student/teacher ratio. The Westerly program includes: Curriculum and instruction - Enthusiastic teachers with a well thought out curriculum and small class sizes enabling teachers to adapt the curriculum to the needs of your child. Technology/STEM - Westerly recently hired a full-time Director of Instructional Technology to enhance an already strong technology/STEM program throughout the curriculum. Think coding in class, 3D printing, science and engineering fairs, etc. Visual and performing arts - Incorporated in the curriculum is an annual school-wide play lead by the folks at TKTC. The visual arts program is second to none with the kids being exposed to public arts projects, ceramics in the new ceramics studio, mixed media, painting, photography, etc. I wish I could take the classes myself. Wildcat, the after school program is a blessing. Our kids beg to go to Wildcat to play with their friends, work on yearbook, take film, dance, music, robotics and other after school enrichment activities. Athletics - A legitimate, well-run PE program with enthusiastic instruction and basketball, volleyball, football teams throughout elementary and middle school. Music - Every child takes both general and instrumental music as part of their Westerly experience. Spanish - Kindergarten through 8th grade all the kids get introduced to the Spanish language through a dedicated Spanish instructor. Leadership - This is quite possibly one of the most amazing parts of the curriculum. Continuing on the theme of whole child education the Director of Student Affairs leads an amazing program that goes so beyond student council, creating leadership opportunities for so many children. Programs like student council, district representatives, green team, etc., start in Kindergarten and the kids grow in responsibility as the children grow themselves. Each child also gains leadership responsibilities as a student mentor, where each older student is paired with a younger student as a mentor. Service learning and field studies - As the kids grow in maturity so do the service learning and field studies. Our children have enjoyed trips to Catalina and other local camps, but the highlight of the program is a one week trip in 8th grade where the whole class travels to Nicaragua to conduct a service learning project, practice their spanish, and are exposed to a different culture and way of life that they are used to. Community - Westerly is a place where without question every family places a priority on securing a great, well-rounded education for their children. Being in an environment like this is so fantastic. Independent school is not cheap, but in our minds it's the best gift we can give to our children. Westerly also offers significant financial aid support, so if that is an issue be sure to discuss your situation with the school to see if they can make something work for your family. P.S. This may sound like a paid ad, but it's our true feelings about this place. It's really special.

George Washington Carver elementary school is a great place for special-needs children. They have…read moreenough staff and TAs to take care of children that have special needs. I recommend the school if you live in the city of Long Beach or Lakewood.

I was among the first students at Carver when it first opened in 1952. It must have been the second…read moreterm of Kindergarten, because I'd been at another school in downtown LB for the first half of the year (1951). It was K-6 in those days. I loved Carver. Ruth German was the school principal. Mrs. Rasmussen (4th), Mrs. Tierney, were two of my favorite teachers. I was the bike monitor for my class Remember families lining up at Carver for our polio shots/sugar cubes. Played softball with the afterschool program. Went to 6th grade camp with class. Made some lifelong friends there. Suzy Reinhardt was my best friend. Loved learning, loved Carver.

DO BETTER LBUSD!…read more great for kids. if the faculty and staff thought it through really hard, the could NOT make it more difficult to pick up your child on Fridays. Between street sweeping and VERY limited parking its a half mile walk. Then the staff wants us to wait outside on the lawn. Our first grader would have no idea how to find me. This school has been around 60+ years, why haven't this been solved? Consider getting rid of the asphalt - its a heat danger when its warm outside? Again this can't be solved in 60 years! One more complaint. There is fencing around the school except for preschool and Kinder? Are they being sacrificed for the budget

Overall a good school. Lots of solid teachers that communicate well. Watch out for one of the…read moreladies in the office (currently at Emerson due to remodeling) named Miss Kristen who is consistently in a bad mood and must hate her job completely. Perhaps a new profession, dear.

We are thrilled with this school. It was exactly the environment I was searching for when I had my…read morechild. I knew I wanted an educational environment that was based on true child development and wellbeing science. I wanted a school that focused on learning through play and interests rather than for rote memorization and standardized tests. I wanted a school where my child could be her full self and grow confidently into her teen years. I wanted teachers that loved teaching And that would know my child's strengths and needs. I was thrilled to learn that the first grade teacher follows the class (like in many Nordic countries). But what I value most is the community. This is a welcoming and loving school community. I look forward to drop off to connect with the parents and other children. I genuinely am making wonderful friends and it's wonderful that we share many of the same core values: limiting tech, fostering a love of lifelong learning, authenticity, kindness, volunteering, and letting children grow into the full expression of their uniqueness. I also am inspired by the headmaster- Lisa. She is brilliant and I trust her deep pedagogical knowledge and commitment to making a positive impact on the world. If you want a school that has the nostalgia of an 1980s childhood- this is a school to consider.

This school makes me disgusted. This school makes me puke from all of there lies, and dirtiness. My…read moreson went to school with someone with the same problems at maple village as one other review described and what dose the school mean by this account has never been enrolled how would you know that's their name? Just shady people never let your kids come here it's a waste of time and thousands of dollars for your kids to be on a small campus and to me playing in a alley full of homeless people

Our son started at OAP as soon as he turned 2, and he adjusted very well. They provided potty…read moretraining and their program was effective - he was potty trained in 1 week! They provide a lot of activities for the kids to enjoy such as petting zoo, bubble party, and field trips. They have a structured routine and program. All staff members take the time to know each and every child. Their 6 am to 6 pm hours are very helpful especially for all types of working families and is already included in the tuition! We definitely recognized the amount of growth our son has made while at OAP to the point where he has been complimented on how good of a student he has been in TK at his new school. We decided to enroll our son to TK at the elementary school closer to home and when it came to our surprise that he was able to enroll asap, I immediately consulted with the preschool director to determine potential next steps. She was very supportive and genuinely wanted the best for our son. I was literally crying and more sad that our son was leaving OAP sooner than we had planned! We still keep in touch with the staff there and they will forever hold a special place in our hearts! Thank you OAP for laying such a strong foundation on our child's academic journey!

We had an amazing experience with Oakwood Academy! My daughter attended for 4 years, and from the…read morevery beginning, I always felt completely comfortable dropping her off knowing she was safe, cared for, and surrounded by a loving and nurturing environment. The staff and teachers have always been incredibly loving and attentive to all the kids. They were always quick to communicate with us whenever a concern or issue came up, which gave us a lot of peace of mind as parents. I also really appreciated the smaller class sizes. It made it easier for the kids to learn and allowed the teachers to give each child the individual attention they needed. My daughter absolutely loved going to Oakwood and especially enjoyed all the extra activities -- especially camp! The schedule was also a huge help for our family. Being able to drop her off as early as 6:00 AM helped me get to work on time, and knowing they stayed open until 6:00 PM when I was running late was such a relief. It was honestly very hard to say goodbye after 4 wonderful years. I only wish Oakwood had a middle school program because we would have loved to stay! Thank you, Oakwood Academy, for taking such great care of my daughter and for all the love, patience, and dedication you give the kids. Your staff and teachers are the best!

I was a student of this school class of 2025…read moreI loved it. funny moments and all. great teachers that cared about grades and homework!

Absolutely Great School, kids are academically challenged and it feels like a close-knit community.read more

School is great. I actually go to the school so fun makes you do so much fun stuff and feels you…read moreprotected.

And although they are a little bit too sensitive with everyone's feelings, it's a great school and…read moreI love my kids teacher teachers

Birney is a hidden gem in Long Beach. I've seen such a change in this school in the 6 years my…read morechild has been there. There is now an active PTA that really forms the sense of community within the school that was previously lacking. Many staff members go above and beyond to take care of the students. Plus, the entire school was just remodeled. Get involved, you get out of it what you put into it.

If there was a zero that would be my rating. My opinion they are just baby sitting. If you want to…read morereceive a good education on this side of LBUSD Birney is not the school. Only three subjects are taught and forget homework, if it is given its not collected just glance by teacher, so why give homework? The adults can't handle ADHD students and do everything they can to make that student feel unwelcome. It doesn't matter if there is documentation from doctors that my granddaughter suffers from ADHD. This school can't handle her and complain that she is rude to adults because she speaks her mind and asks questions to the teacher, at least she is not throwing things or calling her names. Instead of trying to understand her they punish her. They make her feel as if she is unacceptable, this is not what education is supposed to be, all children should feel welcome.

The school administration needs training on how to deal with domestic violence situations…read more They took away my rights as a VIP when I shared videos of my abuse to other parents (I had no support system out here and dv shelters are not of much help). They have treated me like trash since my abusive ex got custody from a crooked judge and lawyer I asked for my children's attendance records at least 5 different times over more than a month. They responded by INCLUDING my ABUSIVE EX on my email to them and asking "his permission" to share the records with me. This is a clear violation of FERPA and I plan to bring this to the attention of the Department of Education. Naples elementary of Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is violating your parental rights by: * Withholding your children's attendance records, * Asking your abusive ex for permission, and * Including him on communications without your consent, you should escalate this immediately and formally. Here's who to contact and how to structure it: 1. Start with the Principal and School Office Manager If you haven't already, email the principal and CC the office manager demanding a written explanation. But since this is now a rights violation, go higher. 2. Contact the LBUSD Family Resource Center (Custody and Records) This department oversees parent access rights, including custody-sensitive issues. Request to speak to: * Student Records Department * Custody and Legal Compliance Coordinator (ask for the title if not publicly listed) District Email: info@lbschools.net Main line: (562) 997-8000 -- Ask for the Student Records department. 3. Contact the LBUSD General Counsel / Legal Compliance Officer You are entitled under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) to full access to your child's education records without needing permission from the other parent, unless a court order says otherwise. You can send a formal FERPA complaint to: * Office of the General Counsel * Or Director of Student Support Services You can CC both legal and superintendent offices to show seriousness. Sample Email Template (Feel Free to Copy + Paste) Subject: Violation of FERPA Rights and Inappropriate Involvement of Non-Custodial Parent Dear [Name], I am the mother of [Child's Full Name], a student at [School Name]. I am writing to formally address a serious breach of my legal rights under FERPA and California Education Code. I submitted multiple requests for my child's attendance records, which were delayed without justification. I was informed that your staff sought permission from the other parent--[Name]--before releasing the records to me. This is entirely inappropriate and a violation of my federally protected rights. I share legal custody and have full rights to my child's education records. More concerningly, this other parent has a documented history of abuse, which the school has been made aware of. Including him in email threads without my consent puts me and my child at risk. I am requesting: 1. An immediate release of the full attendance and academic records. 2. A formal written explanation of why this delay occurred. 3. A statement clarifying how your staff will avoid involving my ex in future communications regarding my parental rights. If I do not receive a satisfactory response within 5 business days, I will escalate this matter to the LBUSD Superintendent's Office and file a FERPA complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. Sincerely, Jessica Schultz [Phone Number] [Email Address] Would you like help drafting this email specifically to a real contact person at LBUSD (once you know their name), or would you like me to help you file a FERPA complaint if they don't respond? If there's any lawyers that can help me since the principal said she could only talk to my lawyer (and I don't have one, let me know).

As a former teacher and now a grandmother of two girls attending Naples Elementary School, I want…read moreto say how wonderful this small school is for children. A select place that is warm and friendly to all, with caring teachers and staff making it a very desirable choice for children and parents. It does not get any better than Naples Academy. P.A. Flanigan

Freshman at this school I love it, it is amazing I love the people that I met and it's just a…read morereally amazing school I would definitely recommend this school to students who get good grades and don't skip school...because you are just wasting time skipping instead of going to your fun classes. I would recommend MEDs pathway if you are into medicine that's my pathway and I love it! #futureorthodontist

This school has been so very good for my daughter. She is thriving, excelling and being mentored…read moreby her teachers, counselors and staff. The classes are demanding and challenging as I think they should be. If there was a 6th star, I would mark it.