Lisa is an incredible investment in your child's future. We reached out to a few experts because…read morewe simply were not able to keep up with the research, timeline, and steps necessary to be competitive for private school (elementary). It was clear from our first conversation with Lisa that she had expansive personal knowledge of the private school environment, compassion, and the competency required to take control (in the best way). She got to know our son, recommended (with clear backing) schools we hadn't even considered, was our personal reminder system for deadlines, editor for written materials, invaluable for prep, and just a wonderfully kind person to have on our side. Her responsiveness is off the charts. She is right there with you every single step of the way. I thought I knew what these schools wanted to hear. I was wrong. But Lisa knows. She worked with us as we needed to be worked with - every family is different and Lisa comes in ready to find out how she can best help your individual family on day one. Result? Our son is THRILLED (and so are we!) to be at his new school (she found us a slot for the 4th grade which is not at all common) and it could not possibly be a better fit - at a school we had never heard of - a very small school with, in our opinion, even higher quality of personalized education than bigger schools we had been prioritizing. Looking back, those would have been fine but in no way compared to how well a fit as the one at which Lisa found us a home. We were lucky enough to have quickly found our dream school but there is no question in our mind that if we'd had to continue the process for the following year, she would never have left our side. Lisa is a choice you'll never regret.

Our family highly recommends Lisa and her expertise when it comes to any school application. Our…read moredaughter was applying to middle school and Lisa made the entire process smooth, organized and more simple. She met us personally and with our daughter to prepare her for interviews. She kept everything organized and reminded us for upcoming appointments and events. She made sure we knew to send out thank you letters and a first choice letter. With her help our daughter is in the school we imagined her to be and we couldn't be happier!

Amazing school for kids who need extra scaffolding. Low student-teacher ratio. Great instructors!read more

A great non-public school; grades 1-12, Administrators, teachers, and staff are an amazing team. My…read morechild was struggling in general education; even with additional IEP supports. We were desperate to find an alternative that could work with his learning differences. We toured several schools around Southern California and were so happy when he got accepted here. He has now been in the school for two years and has made meaningful progress academically and socially. I wish I had found the school sooner.

We are so blessed to have found Westland! We saw ourselves having one shot at giving our children a…read morechance to be children and find a joy for learning. Westland makes space for just that - in a safe, nurturing, and deeply respectful environment where curiosity is encouraged, individuality is celebrated, and community is built with intention. The teachers are extraordinary in how they meet each child where they are, guiding them to grow not just academically but socially and emotionally. The emphasis on collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving prepared our two older children to transition confidently into middle school, where they continue to thrive. Our third child is right behind them and growing with the same confidence, curiosity, and love of learning that we know will carry forward. Westland is more than a school - it's a community that partners with families to raise thoughtful, capable, and kind young people. We could not imagine a better foundation for our children.

Westland is an absolute gem. The most authentic and best progressive school in West LA…read more Simply put, Westland cultures great kids, in part due to its experiential curriculum, but also due to its masterful teaching staff and small size that allows it to attend to each child and family (enabled by a great student to teacher ratio.) The family community is cohesive and tight-knit, in part due to the engagement that the school requires, and this plays as important a role in creating the Westland kids that middle and high school admission directors selectively seek; the kids at Westland are part of a community of engagement and service at school, for school, and amongst the broader community. In this technological moment, the importance of progressive education has never been higher, and Westland is the best progressive school in West LA. Worth the application though difficult to get into due to small class sizes!

We currently have two children attending WISE School and feel very lucky to be providing them with…read morean incredible educational experience.  Our boys are thriving and look forward to going to school every day.  From the nurturing and caring teachers to the endless array of high-caliber sports (including swimming) and extracurricular opportunities (#1 debate team amongst competing schools), not to mention the beautiful park-like grounds, Wise has it all.  Wise also provides our family with a wonderful sense of community. The families that attend Wise have similar values and goals for their children and bring diversity and warmth to the community with their cultural backgrounds. The administration has been extremely supportive during the pandemic, with a flexible and balanced approach to ensure as normal as possible of an elementary school experience for the kids. The head of school communicates with parents on a weekly basis to ensure transparency as well as to accept feedback from the community. Wise is a leader amongst other schools, tuned-in with the needs of like-minded families and operating from a place of reason. I know our children will leave Wise with a strong sense of self and confidence as kind young adults armed both academically and socially to handle whatever lies ahead.

Wise school is a sanctuary not far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is perched on the…read moremost beautiful well maintained campus off the 405 and Mullholland. It is where kids come to thrive and learn while having Judaism in their lives. You do not have to be Jewish to join the school all are welcomed! Pam Kleinman and Tami Wiser are the roots that ground this school and care so much for the children. They work so incredibly hard to make sure that all children are getting the best possible education! All the while teaching our children how to be good people in the world. I love this school and community and feel beyond blessed to be apart of it as do my children. We actually left for a short bit because I live next to a public school. We ran back as quickly as we could there is just no comparison to private school verses public on so many levels but the one I appreciate the most is my kids are thriving at Wise because the entire staff loves what they do from the front security to the lovely girls in the front office. This is a very special community and school where everyone is happy and living their best lives.

PS1 truly feels like a hidden gem. We visited many schools while searching for the right elementary…read moreschool for our son, but as soon as our preschool director suggested PS1 and we toured it, we knew it was the perfect fit. The small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and excellent after-school program that runs until 6pm really set it apart. I can't say enough great things about this school, our son has genuinely thrived here. On top of that, the parent community is welcoming, down-to-earth, and a pleasure to be around.

This is a wonderful school with a pluralistic outlook (that's what the "P" stands for), meaning…read morethat they see each child as both highly individual and also part of the collective whole. My two boys have flourished here: They feel celebrated for being themselves, while also pushed to stretch in places where they don't feel as competent. Their curiosity is on-fire--questions are welcome and expected and they're allowed to follow their interests--but they're also academically prepared for middle class. The most important thing? They love school. There's no fight, ever, to get them to go.

The Willows is the best elementary school in Los Angeles! It is academically challenging while…read morebeing so warm and supportive.

I was the typical Westside mom with a Microsoft excel spreadsheet of all the private elementary…read moreschools that we were interested in for our son. The Willows was the only school on my list that wasn't on the "Westside" and I was hesitant to even go to the tour because of that very reason, but I am so glad I did. Touring private schools is like being on the Bachelor. You get to know each other by going on dates (tours), spend money (applications), and one magical day (in March) you get a rose or not. Usually the process is very one sided being that there are way more applications than availability, but Willows never made me feel like they were dating anyone else. I toured a total of 5 schools, but Willows was the only school that sent me a thank you note for the time I spent on my tour. I'm sorry, but a gesture like that goes a long way. We as parents are expected to send follow up notes (hello beyondthebrochure), but to receive one- made me get butterflies. Who wants to date someone and not feel special? When I toured Willows, we lucked out and had Kim Feldman as our tour guide. She is not only the director of enrollment for the school, but she started there as a parent. I toured the school and was just in awe of their progressive approach. They recognize that every child learns differently- so they offer different approaches and strategies when it comes to teaching. This was the only school that I toured that left me wishing that I went to a school like this as a child. The school is warm and beautiful, but what makes the school stand out the most are the teachers and support staff. You can tell that everyone that works there loves their job and love what they represent. They genuinely care about you and your children. They are known throughout the community for hosting some exceptional parent education events - Besty Brown Braun, Dan Siegel, Frank Bruni, and etc were all speakers this year. They have a wonderful WPA and there's always events going on that promotes community and unity. If you are looking for a haven where your child will grow and thrive. Willows is it. My son has grown immensely not only intelligently, but emotionally as well. I credit them because they use the RULER approach which really resonated with him (so much that he wanted to make our very own "mood meter" at home). He has gained so much confidence and found his voice in such a short period of time here and I'll be forever grateful to the Willows because of it.

We love our preschool! The teachers are highly qualified and bring a strong background of music…read moreand arts to the classroom. More importantly, they are warm and caring and great partners in educating the children. It is truly a magical place for learning and growing. They are not just learning, they are developing as whole, well-rounded people. Bread dough is made every day by the kids so they have freshly baked bread each morning as part of their snack. There is lots of outdoors time on the beautiful wooded playground and there is even a little garden that the children help tend and harvest. Always art projects and group projects going on. It is a great, welcoming and friendly community that I feel so lucky to be able to be a part of!

I was a student here. I graduated 10 years ago. This school is an incredible place that forms a…read morefirm and meaningful life-long community for its students. I hope to send my children to the same school some day.

I would have loved to have sent my child here as I really liked the vibe I got, the staff I met and…read morethe curriculum, but even with what little tuition assistance is available, it's still way out of financial reach for non wealthy parents. I'm a single parent, an essential "blue collar" worker, and I cannot even afford to buy a 1b1b in my own city let alone have my child receive a fulltime Jewish education. Additionally they here really tone deaf things on their website imo (I hope the staff sees my review and realizes I don't mean any bad intent). It says "tuition made affordable". Elementary school tuition is just under $33,000 and that does not include a required temple membership or any of the other fees. They also have listed to "reach out to grandparents and other family members for additional assistance when appropriate". That really rubbed me the wrong way as to me it suggests to me that that I probably have family who could help me pay for it year after year. My advice to any parent or parents in my situation who aren't the stereotypical MOT living the good life in the 310, apply to every LAUSD school that you are interested in through school choice. While the schools you will likely want your child in will have a lottery with hundreds of families competing for spots, you have a chance of getting 1 of them as from what I understand from moms I know. I'm planning on doing this along with enrolling my child at a nearby synagogue for Hebrew School once a week and supplement this all with family events through Chabad and the Jewish Federation. It's not what I wanted ideal but I have limited options.