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.

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.

there's a bunch of fights in this school and they barely even stop them and all the kids vape in…read morethe restroom or at least some overall it's a good

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.

As a tai chi instructor, I gave an introduction class to the wonderful of Maple Village, Waldorf…read moreschool who very thoughtful and appreciative of the art presented. It's great to see a teaching establishment provide the artistic world to students who have a thirst for all art forms. Dav-Ekon, the Art of Tai Chi

We are starting our sixth year at Maple Village Waldorf School, and with the first day of school…read moretoday, I am reminded of just how grateful we are for this community. Over the past five years, our children have been met with love, patience, and a true dedication to their growth. The teachers and staff are among the most devoted educators I have ever seen. They don't just teach--they nurture, guide, and partner with parents in the most thoughtful way. Their holistic approach meets kids exactly where they are, helping them not only to learn but to love learning. What I appreciate most is how much the school truly cares about the kids as whole human beings. It's more than academics--it's about building confidence, fostering creativity, and cultivating empathy. If you are looking for a school where your child will be seen, valued, and supported in every way, Maple Village Waldorf School is a rare gem. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community.

We love Oakwood Academy (preschool). Our son joined in October of 2025 as a 2.5 year old. The…read moreschool is very clean and organized with processes that support safety, stability and care for the kids. My son has already learned so much in less than 6 months. I love that they post the lesson plan so you can reinforce the learning at home. There is a lot of communication through the Class Dojo app and postings at school. He also was potty trained fully in 2 months which I was more than happy to pay the extra $25-30 a week for that guidance. They have fun activities like field trips, Christmas recitals, special guests like firemen, dentists, etc. He LOVES his teachers, Ms. Cynthia and Ms. Khalifa and we do too! They really understand each child and their personality nuances. I can share what is happening at home and they help guide and reinforce behavior changes at school. It takes a village to raise a child and I'm so thankful to have Oakwood Academy as part of mine!

We love Oakwood Academy and their staff. Our daughter has blossomed since she started attending…read moreOakwood. She is excited to go to school in the morning. The staff is so warm, loving and inviting. Academically they challenge my daughter and has her excelling in her schooling. Our daughter has meet a lot of new friends and love her OA family. There are so many great things about this school not enough space to type on this review. We also love the diversity of staff and students as well. So glad we found Oakwood

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

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.

I went to the school from when I was in kindergarten to fifth grade and it was excellent it was…read moreextremely diverse in the neighborhood and the people were all kind. back then I would've definitely recommended the school but currently it's a different story. Recently my niece went to the school just for a little bit after relocating from Huntington Beach and apparently they just kept having weird presentations with pink bunnies and blue bunnies and saying that the blue bunnies can be with the blue bunnies and the pink bunny can be with the pink bunnies and the pink and blue bunny didn't have to be together. None of this is actually educational as far as math and science and history is concerned so I'm very worried about the approach that the school is taking now and my niece went back to Huntington Beach school district where they actually focus on education.

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

My son is a Senior at Poly and a member of the Varsity Basketball team. He also is in the CIC…read moreprogram. If you have an outstanding student and want a free private school education, send them to Poly.. The PACE & CIC programs are outstanding. The teachers, the Administrators and Councelors in these programs really care, go the extra mile and are quality people. These programs are a feeder to the best schools in our country, including the Ivy League. If your child is a talented committed athlete send them to Poly. It is not easy to make the teams at Poly- including the girls teams. But this is an inner city school with a lot of talent. Poly is the number one feeder school to the NFL AND ESPN's High School of the Century. Music program - fantastic. There is a lot of pride among the students and parents. And it is amazing how successful this school is despite what's available to them. Gyms- old and need to be upgraded. Pool - terrible! Needs a remodel. The common area - needs work. I really wish Snoop Dog, Cameron Diaz or a wealthy alumnus would donate a lot of money to start a fundraising effort to upgrade the school. The basketball coaching staff is respected and loved by players and families. And they give so much time, so much effort VOLUNTARILY. These coaches care, are talented themselves and want to make a difference. My son transferred to a private school after attending Poly two years and realized he made a mistake and transferred back for his senior year. Go jack rabbits!

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.