We have had a really positive experience with Broadway Elementary. Coming from a home where both English and Spanish are spoken, we were especially interested in third strong language, and the school has exceeded our expectations. The Mandarin program has been a standout. Our child recently started and is already progressing quickly, which speaks volumes about the structure of the program and the quality of instruction. We also appreciate the overall environment, it is supportive, diverse, and focused on helping students grow academically and culturally. We are very pleased with the school and the direction they are taking with language education. read more

The amazing teachers and Dual language opportunities at this school. We love Broadway. https://www.westsidecurrent.com/news/broadway-elementary-invites-the-community-to-annual-boo-bash-celebration-of-fall/article_22021642-93d6-46b3-adec-f21c5f2cf3f4.html read more

Broadway Elementary School - Boo bash Gate entrance at Broadway Elementary School on Broadway St. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Venice, California

This is a review for the Mandarin program only at Broadway. I have 2 kids, and both have had excellent experiences there. We went to Taiwan this past summer, and they could order food at restaurants and fully interact at camp, so it was proof that the program works. The parents in the Mandarin program all very supportive of their teachers and children, which makes for a great learning environment. Lastly, the academic achievement for the Mandarin program is outstanding, as a recent Achievement Rating study shows (see attached photo)--a 98! read more

Broadway Elementary School - Recent Achievement Ratings showing 98 for the Mandarin program - Elementary Schools Near Me - Venice, California

My daughter just completed her kindergarten year at Broadway and we could not be happier. The teachers and quality of education are top tier. My daughter chose the Spanish track (which we do not speak at home) and she's already speaking the language. The kids and families are inspiring: the school has a strong sense of community and a deep commitment to seeking out the best of the best for the students. If you choose this school, your child will have a happy, fun, and excellent education. read more

OOOHHH WEEE MAMA. DONT LISTEN TO THESE DUMB PARENTS Broadway is amazing. I spent 6 years of my life here and I wish i spent more. The teachers are wonderful. Shoutout to Ms.Sussman, Ms Yankelevit read more

I am blown away by how wonderful the Mandarin Immersion program is at our school. My daughter has an IEP and Broadway has been nothing but supportive from day one. While I was waiting for her BII to be official, the principal granted my daughter her resource specialist to me for 5 months!!! Our school is outstanding because of the communication and efforts of parents and teachers. We raised $409,000 last year because our parents rock it. It feels like a private school. That being said, it requires parents to be highly involved with fundraising and volunteering. That's what funds all of our TAs and thensome. I thank my lucky stars every day my daughter attends this school. read more

This review is for the main office. I have received condescending attitudes and dismissiveness from Julie Chen on a few occasions now. She behaves as if she's put out or annoyed. This is where our kids go to school, I don't understand why parents aren't met with patience and kindness. My child has been at school here for 3 years and it's always been the same. I am a smiley, kind person when interacting with the office employees. In return i'm met with a bad attitude. I want to feel good about where my children go to school and not feel like I'm being annoying by asking for help figuring something out. read more

My daughter graduated from Broadway in 2021 and got into the highly sought after IHP (individualized honors program) at Mark Twain. To give perspective on how great Broadway is compared to our neighboring schools. During her year out of 32 spots in IHP, 16 from Broadway got in and the rest of the schools trickled in with 2-3 kids max. Mark Twain had to limit the number of Broadway students for diversity because there was too many qualified students coming from our school. My son is currently in 2nd grade at Broadway and loves the school. Both my kids are now fluent in Mandarin. Broadway's teaching methods are second to none. There is a reason for everything that teachers do to prepare your kids for future success. The alumni's of Broadway are almost always honor roll students at their respective Middle and High Schools from what I've seen. There's a reason we are #9 elementary school in LAUSD and have a score of 98% achievement rating. Sure Venice has homeless, but what part of LA doesn't these days? We've been going to this school for over 8 years and it's never been an issue for us, especially when I'm getting a private school level education for my kids at public school pricing with the Mandarin program. With dedicated teachers and parent community, we absolutely love our school and highly recommend anyone to come see why. read more

Glad to be at this school. We applied a bit late and did not have a problem getting a spot. We don't speak Mandarin and its really a joy seeing my child learn a language outside of our own. She comes home singing songs she learned in class and is happy to go to school. Lots of involved parents helping out the teachers/school. I appreciate the leadership and transparency of Principal Wang and staff. This year they have added a fourth Mandarin kinder class so I you might get a spot for sure. read more

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This review reflects my views on the school after my kids have been through K-5, and opted not to continue MI in middle school. Initially I had high hopes for the program and spent a lot of time tutoring my kids in writing, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading, and essay writing. I figured that elementary school was so easy, why not learn a language? The pandemic hit and I ended up tutoring them in Mandarin daily at home with the materials provided for a year, which was absolutely fine with me though time consuming - I think this was actually the best year for them. In 4th and 5th grade, they began to write and type simplified Chinese. I noticed a degradation in language skills right away. By the end of 5th grade, they did not retain enough of the language to comfortably continue onto MI in middle school, sadly, despite getting great marks on all the tests and getting into the IHP. The conversational fluency was never really there - it might be better for a family that actually spoke the language exclusively at home. I also do not know if the MI was truly immersive either because all the kids knew that the teachers spoke English. During this entire time, I was also tutoring them myself in math and English. They barely had any practice in math at home. Around 5th grade I suddenly realized that they were pretty far behind in math and had to sign them up for external tutoring programs. I also realized that the majority of parents had signed their kids up for extra math programs outside of school, but nobody really talked about it. When we went to 6th grade at a highly gifted middle school, catching up to their math level was extremely difficult. By this time they had forgotten most of their Mandarin language (or had never mastered it) over the summer despite having learned it for 6 years. I would classify their language skills as nonfunctional despite having received good marks throughout each grade. In theory, this was a great program but it does not work for many. There is not enough emphasis on conversational skills and recall. The teachers and admin try hard and are helpful, but unfortunately for us this was not enough. If your child has IEP / 504 plan there are not many resources unfortunately. Socially speaking there are a lot of parent and student cliques - I will not go into it but if you or your child have any issues, you will be stuck with the same cohort for 6 long years. My oldest had a terrible time here. As soon as they went to middle school they finally started to recover from the trauma of constant peer rejection and started making friends. When asking teachers who they might pair my kid up with, they just said "everyone is nice just talk to anyone" - but obviously that did not work because kids are very good at hiding their behavior when teachers are around and once you are "out" you are out for good. I hate writing this review because for the most part the staff was very accommodating, but I did not realize how negative things were until we got out of the system. I think if I were to do it again I would leave after 3rd grade and enroll kids in a mandarin supplemental class so that they can learn that while getting more of other skills (socioemotional, English, math, science, music program). Though they are now starting up some extra math (Math kangaroo, however nontransparent selection process to get in) and Elemental music (tuition about 1k) so maybe there is hope for improvement in the future. In summary, some kids do well here, but expect most not to continue on to MI at Mark Twain. I have heard you can't do MI with IHP anymore either, so prepare to have trade offs in learning. read more

Incredible Spanish Program - but you'll probably never see that advertised which is a pity. Usually you only see Broadway sold as an Mandarin program which it is! And it's great. Just know there are two equally great programs to choose from. If you're looking for a school where you don't have to play politics to ensure an equitable education, and you want to learn Mandarin, look at Braddock Elementary a nearby LAUSD school which offers an honors program, a magnet program and a Mandarin Immersion program without the drama. If you're looking for a Spanish program on the westside, consider Broadway or Grandview. Broadway has better test scores and a 50/50 model which I prefer, but at Grandview you'll skip the drama of the MI parents if you can hang with a 90/10 model. I hear Grandview has great teachers and again, no drama of a dual program school. As for our experience at Broadway, my son was speaking Spanish fluently after a few years, and we do not speak Spanish in the home. I had the opportunity to listen in to the lessons during covid, and was incredibly impressed with the quality of the teachers unique approaches to engage and encourage the student's to flourish and grow in all aspects of their education. The diversity is fantastic. There's after school opportunities like music, tennis and supervised play. Parents have tried to beautify the campus. Lots of parent involvement (some commendable artists at the school really make holidays a visual treat). It was a hard decision to leave, but ultimately I left after 3 years due to a few things. 1. Trouble getting MI teachers & downstream impact. Most are from China through an educational exchange type program. Completely understandable due to the complexity of the language but not sustainable. One year three went on maternity leave at the same time, and the school could fill the positions. A parent stepped in to teach the Chinese portion of the day. This was not an actual teacher... every year staffing was an issue. Spanish dedicated teachers were recruited to teach the Mandarin program, so the SI classes were combined to allow for that. Is that the best planning and use of resources? Both programs are thus at risk of having resources stretched thin. 2. A small but vocal group of MI parents want the Spanish program closed. It's pretty gross and classist feeling tbh. There are wonderful parents in both programs who gave it their all, but some of what I witnessed in the Mandarin program put a bad taste in my mouth. Lying about the caliber of the program in public forums for example pretending to not be current parents. Or fighting over TAs. The Spanish program has incredible, dedicated teachers and is represented by dedicated parents who love and support the school. The class sizes are small and the SI community from parents to teachers is dedicated. Make sure you get SI feedback from actual SI parents. 3. The homeless situation is wild. It's not the school's fault, and it's not unsafe, it's just you WILL be exposed to homeless people doing things like drug use or relieving themselves in public which has happened more than once. 4. The traffic and drop off situation is a nightmare. It's not the most convenient location right on Lincoln. That said they have a kid valet system which really helps move things in the mornings. There you have it, an HONEST review. Good luck! read more

I had the experience of touring the school with my child when she was 3 years old. We entered classrooms which form a circle around a playground and outdoor covered lunch tables and field. I was surprised to find so many parents of current kids, volunteering to give the tour. I was afraid that getting in would be very difficult as this school was ranked top 10 in los angeles and we'd need to drive an extra few miles to attend. I also grew up on the east coat and language immersion was unheard of except for a handful of kids in a trial program (french immersion). And those kids were 100% fluent and bonded as best friends for life. I was hopeful when I heard that "everyone gets off the waitlist". That proved accurate, I was able to register directly and I know of some parents who were "last" on the waitlist and got it towards the end of the process. It is competitive because this school has 5x more years of experience doing this type of immersion program than neighboring schools. And the Principal answers your emails personally same day, knows the names of every child, and most importantly has a great repoire and know how to get funding for the school and the kids from the LAUSD school system. My child now knows more than me, reads, writes, does math in Mandarin! We are an English speaking home. Diversity: It was fascinating to see people who looked asian like my parent, speak american/cali/English like me. I started to see how many different generations of Asian Americans (of all different ethnicities) have grown up here, speaking no Chinese or Japanese themselves. Safety: When I first moved to California, ironically I lived across the street from this school. So i have first hand experience walking the dog at night and being in the neighborhood and neighboring park and never had a safety issue. It's also cool that next door is a charter school with what look like High Schoolers in uniforms. It's a whole block of school age kids. Community: the facebook page is run by parents. The parents are very passionate yet easy to get along with. The parent volunteers are a force, from taking care of the teachers, door decorations, valet drop off, fundraising, chat groups, extracurriculars - the school is a well oiled machine that runs like a tesla. Teachers: I don't see any burnout. In fact the opposite. My kid is now in Kindergarten. She has 2 teacher, they switch 1/2 way through the day. The seem to really enjoy everything they do. Our teacher has such an excellent reputation I hear other parents try to get her as their teacher. I also see other kids at 6th grade and 2nd grade from this program, the teens are reading full books and writing book reports all in Mandarin. They may not even have huge career aspirations and maybe just enjoy ordering for their family in Chinese, but they do tell me they can't wait to visit Taiwan or China and get to have a first hand experience as a fluent speaker. read more

I strongly recommend Broadway Elementary School to the parents who are seeking public elementary schools with great academics and multicultural education programs. My child joined Broadway's Mandarin Immersion Program in the second semester of 1st grade. After only one week, she made several new friends and told me: "I feel I fit in at this school!". After only one semester, her speaking and written Mandarin made significant improvement. This year she is graduating from elementary school. I am so happy to see a confident 5th grader who can fluently speak both English and Mandarin and, more importantly, is proud of who she is and where she comes from. Broadway Elementary has a 85% minority enrollment rate and a high diversity score (0.77 compared to state level of 0.63) according to the review of Publicschoolreview.com. The school and parent volunteers organize various activities, such as assemblies, field trips, and holiday celebrations to create a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive (JEDI) learning environment for all students. I have witnessed my child's blossoming cultural competence over the years as a result of those efforts. She loves Christmas as well as Lunar New Year and Día de Los Muertos; she enjoys burgers as well as noodles and tacos. We love the teachers and staff. Our beloved Principal Wang and Assistant Principal McErlean recognizes every student in the school and promptly responds to parents' emails. The teachers are kind and skillful. They successfully help the students accomplish the required studies in English in 50% of the normal school hours and the studies in target language (language, math, and history!) in another 50%!! In addition, the double speed doesn't sacrifice the quality at all. At Broadway Elementary, 86% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 84% scored at or above that level for reading. These numbers are almost twice the state average! The afterschool program is also great for working parents. There are many enrichment classes that we can enroll in for kids: tennis, music, coding, chess, dance, ...... The program also has dedicated time for homework, which really helps the kids to form good study habits - finishing homework before playtime. My child enjoys the time in the afterschool program. She even asks me to pick her up late so she can spend more time with friends there. Overall, our whole family loves Broadway. If you are interested, come and join a school tour (check the school website for dates). I am sure you will be impressed, just like me several years ago :) read more

This is an amazing school! I can't recommend enough, if you're lucky enough to get in! Principal Wang, teachers and families are all so great and work together to bring about great programs for our children. We have a child in the mandarin immersion program and she has already learned so much already in just one year. We truly value the immersive learning experience of a second language and appreciate the cultural and historical significance of the language too. Many awesome after school programs like computer coding, choir, tennis and more have been added for the children's enrichment. Parents have been so involved and work together to give their children and excellent educational experience. read more

This is our first year at Broadway (mandarin immersion, kindergarten) and we absolutely love it. The teachers care so much and pat really close attention. There is a terrific community of parents who seemingly all chip in their time and energy to create great, culturally relevant events - big and small. And most importantly, despite the strong focus on academics our son seems to really be happy here! read more

Both of my kids go to this school and we love it. We live in Westchester and the drive is 25 minutes, but so worth it. The principal and teachers are all amazing. This seriously is a gem of a school in the LAUSD district. LAUSD gets a bad rep, but this school stands out above all that. I wanted my children to learn Mandarin because even though I'm a native speaker, I terrible at teaching them and speaking to them consistently. My kids knew not a lick of Chinese before they started this school. Now my 2nd grader can write traditional characters and I love to show off with my family. They are all amazed about the fact that she can write such complicated strokes. My kinder is learning so fast too. The teachers there have a method that works. They get the kids to love Chinese through songs and art. If you go to this school, just know that you are getting a quality education with high caliber teachers and a principal who works tirelessly for our children. read more

My son is in the Mandarin program for almost 4 years now. I remember that I couldn't be sure if Broadway was the right school for him or not when we were deciding on an elementary school. I took the school tour multiple times, asking the same question to Principal Wang, because we are not Chinese speakers and my son didn't know a word of Chinese. He went to a play based preschool for 3 years, he wasn't much of talker(yet), but an active high energy kid. My husband and I decided to challenge him and I am so glad that we made that decision. Not only did he transition from a play based to structured setting, he made friends, loves the teachers and school, and is doing great. Now he can communicate with native Chinese speakers outside of school with very positive comments. Elementary school starts with Kindergarten, but it goes so quick and by the time kids graduate from 5th grade, they need to be ready for middle school. I have no doubt that students at broadway will be more than ready at the graduation. School is challenging and we as parents needed to support our kids especially early kindergarten years. But teachers provide many resources and nowadays technology provides a lot of opportunities. I think he is very fortunate to be where he is. Principal Wang is often seen on campus talking to students, being firm and caring. In many school events, kids are coming to show and tell her what they did, what they thought and she is responding to all of them with a smile. She is always available when we as parents have concerns, and she responds quickly and clearly. As a LAUSD school, there are rules and restrictions, budgets are tight but it doesn't slow things down. Parents have opportunities to be involve and volunteer. And we do have great school community. I am a very proud parent of my kid who is learning to be himself while at the same time challenging himself and respecting others. read more

Broadway Elementary has been an enriching primary school experience for my 3 children. They all have been enrolled in the Mandarin Immersion program and the program is rigorous. Homework can be challenging but learning Mandarin necessitates the repetition of character writing for successful language acquisition. Getting a tutor for non-Mandarin speaking families for support is highly recommended. Principal Wang is a cornerstone to the school and a strong leader for both Spanish and Mandarin Immersion programs. Parent involvement is highly active on campus. I have volunteered there since 2013 and find great fulfillment in all categories of volunteer work. read more

Amazing school! My daughter is in 3rd grade in the Mandarin Immersion program and my second daughter will join next year in K. I can't say enough how great the Mandarin program is. Principal Wang is an extremely dedicated Principal, she is very responsive and returns parents emails within hours. She has selected amazing, dedicated teachers who truly love teaching and children, they are hard-working and completely dedicated to dual language education: for example, this year, my daughter's English teacher has been awarded LAUSD best teacher of the year and is California Teacher of the year finalist. My daughter still talks a lot about her teacher in K who she loves and she is excited her little sister will be in K soon. The children spend half of the day in English with an English teacher and then half the day in Mandarin with the Mandarin teacher, it is a true immersive education and they learn everything in both languages (science, maths...). We are Caucasian and not Mandarin speakers, my daughter loves Mandarin, she not only speaks (apparently with a very good accent according to native speakers) but she also reads and writes. Writing chinese characters has developed my daughter's fine motor skills. The school is also a true cultural experience and immerse children in a different cultural, for example, around Chinese New Year, the campus is beautifully decorated, cultural activities are organized with the help of parents... Being immersed in a totally different culture make the children more curious, more understanding and appreciative of other cultures and difference, developing empathy as well as developing their imagination, creativity, critical and creative thinking. The Mandarin Immersion program is absolutely excellent in English as well, as proved by the very high test scores in English that places the school in the top 10 LAUSD schools; the hard-working teachers are constantly adapting to all the children making sure they all learn and develop a life-long love for learning. read more

Our son is in kindergarten Mandarin Immersion at Broadway and we love it! Principal Wang has an incredible level of energy and cares about students both academically and emotionally. The teachers support our son and have been quick to respond when there were issues of bullying and fighting amongst the boys; everything got quickly resolved and our concerns were addressed promptly. I know some schools ignore conflicts but we really appreciated how seriously the teachers took the situation. The teachers also have made personalized adjustments in the classroom to help accommodate our son and his personality. There is also a great community of parents-- lots of input on our WhatsApp chat, social events, and above all volunteers who look out for our kids during the day and often send pictures or updates on how the kids are doing. There are also so many after school activities available. My son loves coding and clay class. We do not speak Chinese at home but so far our son is keeping up (I will say it's the hardest homework to help w... but we are managing and between the mp3 files from teachers and worksheets from other moms and google translate we are doing ok). I was worried that Broadway would be hard to get into, but I think everyone we know that tried to get in did, even friends in Santa Monica and Culver City. I think they are also attempting to add a fourth Mandarin class for the fall so there may even be more room this next year! read more

This school actually consists of three separate programs on one campus: the traditional English program, the Mandarin Immersion program and the new Spanish Immersion program. Our child just finished kindergarten in the Mandarin program, which we have found to be among the very best elementary schools in Los Angeles. We have a long commute each day and opted-out of top-rated traditional and charter schools right in our neighborhood, yet feel that it's definitely worth it. Children complete the traditional public school curriculum, but with the added rigor of mastering the ability to speak, read, write and solve math problems in two languages. Teachers work extra long days to coordinate and collaborate on the dual language team-teaching model. Parents are super involved, fund raise to hire full-time teaching assistants for every classroom, and have created a nice community. This school shares one common problem with every public school in Los Angeles: it's part of LAUSD. That said, Principal Wong and the active parent community have successfully advocated for necessary resources. The Mandarin program is popular and has grown rapidly. A two-step move to a brand new facility on the Mark Twain Middle School campus is now scheduled from 2015 to 2017, enabling the Spanish and English programs to continue at the current location. I do share the other poster's concern with unhealthy GMO food, but this is a common problem for all of LAUSD. Our family solves this by teaching our child about healthy eating and packing homemade snacks and lunches. This is a review of a school, not a restaurant, and I give 5-stars to the Mandarin Immersion program. read more

Kendra C. I have a daughter in the 2nd grade at Broadway Elementary. She was a pioneer in the first class of the Spanish Immersion program. I have been impressed with the teachers and staff. I am extremely pleased with her educational development. Broadway provides an awesome opportunity to provide my child with a competitive advantage. Go Dolphins!!! read more

My son went to the Spanish Immersion program, they were primarily focused on making the kids follow their curriculum and not adapting to your child's needs. They frequently would send our child to the principles office for being disruptive to the classroom. Soon after talking with the other parents we realized most of the boys were also spending a lot of time at the principles office. This was so much so, that they were no longer getting an education. They would just sit in principle Wangs office as punishment. We would have frequent meetings about how they could keep him engaged and assimilate to their class, but over and over again they would never implement the ideas we had. It became very frustrating. We eventually left after two and half years and have had a much better experience at a new school with a more flexible approach to teaching children. Unfortunately now however, my son already has a negative association with school. You never know the impact of the first school your child will attend, but it's very important. I wish I hadn't started here and we really tried and wanted to make it work. read more

I don't like this place. The lunch room smells and the school lunch isn't healthy. There are GMOs in it and they microwave it with the plastic on it. Some students are over weight and they are eating the school lunches that have lots of calories. Also about the playground. They're saying kids have to stay in an area when they go out to play. I think every class should get to play at a different time, or not make these area rules. That playground has many places to play for every class so there shouldn't be that kind of rule. Only kinder can go play where ever. There can be too much homework for classes under the grade of fourth. They shouldn't give that much homework. I don't like this school. read more

Broadway is a great school. The principal is a great leader. Our 5 year old loves being in SI kinder. Like any school, there are good things and bad things, but when issues happen, they are promptly and professional addressed. read more

My son goes to Broadway. He's in 1st grade Spanish Immersion - I just love it!!! (and I have another son who will be at Broadway next year) He had the best teachers last year and so far this year too! Since its a 50/50 model, the students spend 1/2 the day with 1 teacher in 1 language and 1/2 in the other with a new teacher. After only 3 months he was starting to speak to me in Spanish at home (as an added bonus my Spanish is getting better as I help him with his homework! :) Broadway also has amazing leadership, Principal Wang (she rocks). The school has both Spanish & Mandarin immersion programs, so it creates this great cross cultural environment. Dia de los Muertos festival, Chinese New Year, etc... my son also does STAR afterschool with kids from the Mandarin program so he's actually learned some Mandarin from them and is very interested in learning about it. Broadway's Spanish Immersion program is only 2 years old, so since its so new its really a "hidden gem" - we have a few parents that discovered us and are driving over 1/2 hour to get to Broadway's Spanish Immersion and others that left SM and Coeur d'alene to come to our school. I can't say enough good things about it! read more

My Daughter is happy and learning Spanish!! In just a couple months she is speaking more at home. So happy I chose this school. The Kinder teachers are awesome!!!! read more

Couldn't have asked for more - great education in a dual-language setting! It all starts from the top - principal Wong. She is all about kids' education and well being, even with the budget constraints of LAUSD. The teachers and many parents are equally devoted to the students and the school. The emphasis on disciplined learning and achievement is preparing our son well for his future. The school's 10/A rating on academic is extremely well-deserved. read more

The school has progress over the years with a core competency in dual language immersion. Our son is in the Spanish Immersion (SI), and though the program is just a few years old, its apparent that lessons learned from the older Mandarin Immersion program have been applied to SI. The SI program has a diversity of students, in race and economic backgrounds, and provides a learning atmosphere that is second to none. Most importantly, the teachers are excellent, with strong leadership from Principal Wang, who not only has an eye for selecting new teachers, but can work within the restrictive LAUSD rules and processes to achieve a high performing school. read more

The principal runs this school like a dictator, all work and no play even for little kids. The families who utilize this school are so blindly obsessed with having their kids learn Mandarin that they turn a blind eye to the way the kids are actually treated. Some of the Chinese teachers are so demanding it is almost abusive by American standards. The general studies curriculum is mediocre, typical LAUSD crummy Common Core nonsense. Kids seem stressed and unhappy. Not a warm friendly campus. read more

When Broadway launched the Mandarin Immersion curriculum a few years ago, we had to make a difficult decision for our child. We bought a home in a good school district with the intention of sending our children to the local public school with an API of 953. We then had concerns about public education and the lack of rigor compared to the education system in other countries. Yet we felt we could not turn down the opportunity for literacy and fluency in Mandarin, to provide future career opportunities as well as enhanced cognition for other subject matter. While we are an English only family at home, we strongly believe in the evidence for dual language immersion to help our children grow. One child starts 2nd grade this year and the other child will begin kinder next year . The day is split into 50% English and 50% Mandarin training. The principal is a visionary with strong leadership. There is no English written material in the Mandarin class nor spoken by the teacher. Children are held to the same high standards as native speakers. Parents are heavily involved and committed in both active and financial contributions to the program. It has been incredible to watch my child grow in confidence as she accomplishes science, math, reading, writing, art, fitness across 2 very different languages. Math in Mandarin is formulaic and easier to do than in English. Learning to read and write traditional characters helps with literacy but also requires artistic energy. Children have homework daily and we love that we are learning alongside her - although not as quickly. We do accept the vagaries of LAUSD which may include a change in location soon, but thankfully the program will stay on the westside. I initially had concerns about the safety of the school location, being in this part of Venice, but the school is beautiful and the campus is secure. We can't say enough good things about this school. We have a committed, close educational cohort and group of friends who will be together throughout their primary school years. read more

Both of my children are in the Mandarin Immersion program. This is one of the best LAUSD program on the Westside. The study body is extremely diverse. The principal, teachers and parent community are amazing. Being a public school has many constraints, and this is a traditional LAUSD academic-focused school. Parents have high expectations in both educational and develpmental growth of the children, and have worked very hard to provide the appropriate support. I definitely recommend interested parents to tour the program. The tours are monthly throughout the school year. read more

My daughter is in first grade, and just started her second year of the Spanish Immersion program. We love it there and so does she. The community of parents is excellent and supportive, the teachers are dedicated, thoughtful, and attentive to the kids, and most importantly my daughter comes home every day excited about something new that happened or that she learned. Whenever my wife and I have had questions the teachers and principal have been available to us. Finding the right school for your kids is as tough as it gets for a parent, but we've never regretted choosing Broadway. read more

A wonderful Mandarin immersion program with a brilliant principal, Susan Wang. The teachers are caring, the academics are rigorous and are beginning to be differentiated, and the parents are very involved. We don't speak Mandarin at home, so it seems like a gift every day to hear our kids speaking. And the rest of the English curriculum is up-to-speed, although done in half the day. We've been very happy with our choice. read more

We LOVE the Spanish language program here!! Our son did not speak Spanish before starting, but after 6-8 weeks of adjusting to a new school, friends, teacher, and language, he started to speak a little Spanish at home. He is very happy there now and as parents we are so glad he is there. Our son loves his teachers, it's academically strong, which is important, but we also came for the community. It's a smaller program, with only 2 SI kindergarten classes, so you get to know most of the parents, and there are a lot of opportunities to volunteer and be involved. In fact the principal encourages volunteering and wants input from the parents. Get in while you can! It's a new program (now in its third year) and not yet full, so we were thankful to get in because word is definitely starting to get out about this program and the classes will soon be full. read more

We love this school! We are not native Chinese speakers, and our son is thriving in Chinese, English & Math. My husband and I are thrilled we can send our son to a public (LAUSD) school. We both grew up going to public schools - my husband in California, me on the East Coast. We also love the cultural aspect of the school, broadening his world view - both his kindergarten and First Grade class has been multi-ethnic. Our son is in the after school program, which is also terrific, where he has lots of time to play. In the year before our son went to kindergarten, we applied to over a dozen charter schools and attended numerous open houses. Principal Wang was one of the most impressive school administrators we met. read more

SPANISH IMMERSION: My son is new to the Spanish Immersion program at Broadway and we couldn't be happier. It was evident from the first contact that parent involvement is *very strong* here. These parents know the benefits of dual language programs, beyond just knowing a second language, and are willing to do what it takes to give their kids the best education possible. From our observation it's obvious the teachers are very experienced and know how to teach Effectively to young kids. My son came home the first day completely excited and telling me the new Spanish words he learned that day. Parents and staff are warm, friendly, approachable. There are communication kinks to be worked out the first few days, but the principal has been open to feedback and the administration invites parent input and participation. We looked at four different dual language/language immersion programs in West LA and we felt this was the best Spanish Immersion program for us due to the teachers and administration experience, manageable school size (not as overwhelming for a young child), API score trajectory, and the parent involvement/community. read more