My husband, Charles, and I have been happily married for 24 years. My 2 sons attended school here…read morefor 2 years. The teachers harassed my sons by playing the cool kid rap music and my kids came home and using curse words such as, "poop", "butt" and "stupid". (My kids are in 5th grade they shouldn't be using this kind of language.) Not only that the female children that do go to this school have frequently asked for playdates with my eldest son, Trevor. I don't know what kind of radical, leftist ideals this school is promoting, but they sure aren't encouraging our children to act in an appropriate manner. My youngest son, Hunter, recently came home crying as his teacher, Mrs. Arisen, had asked for a hug after yelling at him for not completing his civil war reenactment script. Another terrible atrocity that occurred on school grounds left my son, Trevor, traumatized. He unfortunately has a peanut allergy, do he must sit at the peanut allegory table, alone. One day he told me that one kid had aggressively thrown a bag of peanut m&m's directly at him and yelled "BOMB!". And the staff did nothing to help. This is a terrible school and I would never send my worst enemy to this school.

My daughter attended Serrania for K-5. For all grades except 4th grade we had a great experience!…read more However, her experience with her fourth grade teacher, Ms. Tenzer, was beyond unacceptable and our multiple requests for meetings and inquiries into issues my daughter was having with her went unresolved. After much consideration we decided to pull her out of LAUSD for Middle School and High School.

This is the best middle school in California! My daughter absolutely loved it…read more Kathy Jamison was great. We asked her to fill out my daughter's entertainment application and a letter of recommendation, and Mrs. Jamison did it so fast! She was always there for us! We also loved the whole office staff especially Megan! She always helped with a great smile! Teachers were great! My daughter went to Calabasas High School and still misses her Chime Charter a lot)))

as someone who went to this school, it was... okay. the teachers and administrators are all nice,…read moreand they're all very inclusive, but the discipline system is NONEXISTENT. there are tons of kids there that bully others or misbehave regularly, and the most that they get is a... swis form??? that doesn't do anything but prevent them from going to school dance, and who wants to go to those, anyway? there was a kid in my grade who literally killed an animal, and he barely got reprimanded until my mom called animal control. plus, just because the staff is inclusive doesn't mean the kids are. for those two reasons, i left this school for another one, and i'm doing much better there. while chime may work for some, there are a lot of issues behind the scenes.

The parents at this school are incredibly rude and entitled. I have twice seen verbal arguments…read moreescalate into near physical altercations because the principal of this school refuses to manage the traffic situation at pick up and drop off. The streets around this school are made so dangerous by the parents who are terrible drivers and so lazy and entitled, they would rather park illegally and hold up traffic than walk one block. One day someone is going to get seriously hurt because this school refuses to do its responsibility and hold parents accountable for driving safely.

There will always be bad experiences at any school be it public or private. My daughter has been at…read moreWHECES since kindergarten and is moving into her last year. Overall, it really is a great school. You have to be an advocate for your child and as long as you are involved with their schooling the experience should be rewarding. We have all had great teachers and not so great teachers and this school is no different. Your kid will learn a lot! This school is not for every student. If you work with your child and make sure they are getting the right support...it does come from the parent and not just the teacher...they will have a rewarding and successful elementary school experience and be a head of the game come middle school.

As a parent of Calabash Elementary for the past 8 years I can tell you that I have been beyond…read moreimpressed by this school and this is why; * a principal that is fair, that shows no favoritism, and is a true child advocate. * a front office staff that are warm, knowledgeable and show respect for the parents and children. * teachers that care, are passionate about teaching and educated on our children Academic needs. * a librarian that has developed a generation of children with a love for books. * a PTA that has made a community, that has worked non stop to raise money for the programs and enrichments that our tax dollars no longer cover.

Update... as we near graduation…read more The Great -- The teachers. Almost without exception, every teacher we've had at Calabash (approx 12) has been top notch, committed and inspirational. The Good -- The PTA. It's improved. A lot. It's now run by a responsible group that is really committed to raising funds and implementing quality programs for the kids. The Mediocre -- The parents. With the exception of a few, the parent involvement is pretty lame. Same group of parents that volunteer at every event. The BAD -- The Principal. One of the worst I've ever seen. She attempts to run the school like a military base. She has her sights set on climbing the LAUSD ladder and, clearly, every decision she makes is geared toward furthering her personal goals as opposed to creating a nurturing, fun, inspiring environment for the kids. And this isn't just my opinion. Every teacher, parent and student hates her.

Both my teenage sons attended public elementary school, then went to Topanga Mountain School, then…read moretransitioned successfully back into public high school at El Camino. TMS provided a nurturing haven during the middle school years which has made my kids more resilient, better citizens of the world, and confident advocates for themselves and for others. Here are some of the experiences my boys had: - going on at least three one-week camping trips each year - learning to cook for themselves and to shop for their camping group on a budget - taking elective classes in pottery, archery, swimming, fencing, and aerial silks - composing and performing original songs during the music trimester - practicing public speaking in a variety of formats, from in-class debates to presentations to full-length plays - sitting in "council" and honoring the feelings and values of their classmates, even whey disagreed with them - burning off energy by playing soccer, basketball, and "mushroom tag" after lunch each day - exploring DTLA via public transportation - evaluating what constitutes a reliable source in traditional media and on social media - gaining an appreciation for nature through weekly hikes - feeling they had an actual relationship with their teachers (with whom they continue to stay in contact) - mastering the five-paragraph academic essay - working in small groups at a pace that was appropriate to their skill level, especially in math - graduating with a strong sense of self Sending my sons to TMS is one of the best investments I have made in their education and their personal growth. The only caveat I would offer is that, due to its small size and flexible curriculum, TMS tends to have more last-minute changes than a traditional school. There is no such thing as a "typical" week at TMS; the teachers may adjust the day's schedule if an issue arises and they feel the kids need to process events in the news or resolve interpersonal conflicts which impact the entire group. I f this to be a virtue, but if you are expecting rigid consistency, it's best to look to a more traditional school.

TMS has been a gift to our son and our family! Middle school can be difficult and distressing for…read moremany kids, but every morning my son wakes up excited to go to school. I've talked to other parents, and the sentiment is the same: kids love TMS! TMS is a mixture of appropriately challenging academics (with some room for individualization because the school is small), social-emotional development, the arts, and outdoor education. The school goes on four trips a year, and I love how the curriculum is integrated into the trips. For example, last year, they read a book that took place at a Japanese internment camp during WWII, and then they visited the actual camp during one of their trips. Also, there is a focus on making the learning applicable to the "real world." For some of the trips, kids are divided into groups, given a food budget, and work together to plan their meals and buy food. There is also a great community feeling amongst the parents at TMS. There is also a culture of kindness and acceptance at TMS. All-in-all, I am confident that my son will emerge from his middle school experience self-confident, ready for high school, and equipped to make the world a better place!

Just another happy parent here! My kids love going to school. Read that back. They love going to…read moreschool and it's all because of the incredible staff and admin at CWC WV. Their rigorous academics, the focus on SEL, and project based learning have given my kids the opportunity to not only learn, but thrive. As a parent, I feel so grateful to have such a supportive community and ample opportunities to volunteer. I'm a full time working parent and the school has found ways for working families to be involved in the community as well. School leadership is accessible and works in partnership with caregivers to addresses concerns, ideas, and more. This community is truly magical. We couldn't be happier to be CWC West Valley Unicorns!

We were beyond disappointed with CWC West Valley. It's a desolate, depressive educational landscape…read morewith a completely absent administration. My husband used to joke and call it kid jail. Sadly, not much laughing was done in the year all three of my kids were at this charter school. After starting in August 2023, by September I was already researching new schools. If I'm being honest, I had red flags simple touring the school, but I dismissed them because the social emotional focus really resonated with us. Turns out that was all performative as well. Classes were brimming and teachers overextended and under supported. The school takes on more IEP students than it can responsibly handle, simply to gain more state funding. It's icky. It feels irresponsible at best and exploitative at worst. So much for a school that prioritizes the social emotional. It's interesting to me how many parents who have never experienced a wonderful school environment (we have been fortunate to have ONLY experienced wonderful school communities outside of this one year at CWC WV) make excuses for the bad behavior at CWC. I can only assume they do this because they have only really ever experienced a school as subpar as CWC. If you're a parent at CWC with reservations, I'm here to tell you that wonderful schools do exist outside of this sad, little bubble. We are at an amazing school this year and we love it. My kids current principal is the figure head of their school, funny and outgoing, accessible to all parents at all times. The principal at CWC hid from us parents and would only come out of hiding to chastise us via email when we had complaints about the school. We were told essentially "good vibes only" in public forums (like parent WhatsApp threads, etc.) about the school and to bring any direct concerns to the administration. Which we would then do and those concerns would go unaddressed and admin was negligently unresponsive. It was a HOT MESS. The lack of transparency felt (again) icky. I can't trust any institution to care for my children that squashes dissent and eschews transparency. Which is hilarious being that their brand is "social emotional." Nahhhh. It's performative. The school does not live up to or implement the values it espouses. A number of Kindergarteners were sent to the principal and VP last year for acting out. Which is wild to me and feels ridiculously punitive for a bunch of five/six-year-olds. It certainly does not align with the philosophy the school promoted to us. The kids were shamed for misbehavior when the teachers and kids alike are not set up for success by the administration jam packing classes. I do not blame the teachers, all three of ours really tried. I fully hold the admin responsible for the chaos at the school. As Dr. Becky would say, if kids are acting up, do you hold the jr. employees responsible or the CEOs? This lack of structure, order and real-life implementation of social emotional values rests squarely on the shoulders of the ineffective admin. There is no nurse on staff. My six-year-old came back to me one day with blood all over the front of her shirt. She had a bloody nose at lunchtime, and the supervision is so lackluster no one was there to support her. Finally she did get to the office but not before she had bled all over herself. The office called and said she needed a change of clothes. Once I got there and she was changed, they dismissively told me to "get the blood out of her hair" before she could return to class. That's a direct quote. Bonkers. In no world is any of this ok. The final cherry on top is they literally shame caregivers into donating and volunteering. Fun times. We were so underwhelmed by the school and yet daily they would solicit our money and time in really shame-y ways. "If we don't meet X donations threshold your kids will lose their amazing access to art/music/etc. If you don't volunteer, we won't have XYZ." The one time my husband and I volunteered for the carpool drop, my husband was yelled at by a lead volunteer. Love these good time social emotional vibes, baby! The school is a mess. Their philosophy sounds good on paper, but their execution of those ideals leaves little to be desired. I remember complaining on a WhatsApp thread (and being silenced by admin) and a bunch of other parents privately DMing me to say they completely agreed with my concerns. We just couldn't complain in any public forums, or we would be shut down which is super shady. What do they have to hide? There was a mass exodus of families our year, and turnover of both families and teachers alike at CWC WV was very high last year. If you're a potential parent, I would advise you to really think this school through. And if you're a parent with a kid at CWC WV, trust your gut if things feel off. Don't let the community gaslight you into believing it's a great school. It's not. Full stop. Your kids deserve better and better absolutely does exist.

We love WHPS and the Collins St. Campus. Our daughter has been at WHPS for the past two years. We…read moreare so sad to be leaving and heading to TK because I am not ready to be leaving WHPS yet. Ms. Robin, the preschool director, is phenomenal. From our first visit to campus she made us feel welcome and comfortable. I was so impressed that she knew every student and parent walking around as we visited. To this day, she still knows everyone who passes through the gates of WHPS Collins. She is always available for questions, to discuss any concerns, is an incredible support for the teachers and is actively engaged with the school's programs and students' development. We first had Ms. Monica and Ms. Zulay and now have Ms. Kathy and Ms. Candy as teachers. They are INCREDIBLE. The teachers tailor their teaching styles and content to the students in their class and their interests. My daughter is an observer and the teachers have helped push her a bit outside of her comfort zone and she has grown so much over the past two years. There are a ton of extracurricular activities that families can opt into. We've done dance, Spanish, tiny stem, soccer, and tennis. We've also done the summer camp at WHPS. It is a bit of an extension of the school year but with lots of fun water experiences. There is a pool with a lifeguard and available swim lessons. The Parent Association Group (PAG) is highly involved. So many fun experiences like a Halloween parade and Snow Day as well as cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year and Holi. Also, the school is incredibly safe. Double entrance doors which is right in front of the director's office. Codes and sign-ins required by all. Great relationships with LAFD and LAPD who respond quickly if there were to be any concerns. Also, they do a number of drills that are age appropriate for the students. I know it can be scary to discuss drills at such a young age, but it is necessary. With so many preschool opportunities in the west Valley, we were in a bit of a decision paralysis until we got to WHPS Collins. It was an easy choice and we are so glad our daughter has had such a great experience.

Adding this review for other parents like me who felt incredibly anxious about the daycare…read moretransition. Our son had a nanny until he was 18 months old, and while we knew he could benefit from more structure and socialization as a high-energy, outgoing little guy, I worried constantly about whether he would nap well, eat well, and receive the love and attention he needed to truly thrive in a daycare environment. We originally planned for a very gradual transition with a few weeks of partial days. By day two, his amazing teachers reassured me he was doing great and encouraged us to rip the bandaid off and try full days. They sent photos throughout the day and were always quick to respond whenever I reached out for reassurance or updates. To our surprise, our toddler eats and sleeps at school like a champ. He now runs into school each morning and is never quite ready to leave at pickup. When we arrive, he's usually dancing, laughing, and clearly so happy and fulfilled. I've also been incredibly impressed by the thoughtful programming and enrichment opportunities the school brings in--from special guests and themed activities to PGA events and other unique experiences that make each week feel engaging and intentional. Choosing this school has been one of the best decisions we've made for our family, and we truly credit his incredible growth and confidence to the dedicated teachers who go above and beyond for both their students and parents. Special thank you to Alejandra and Brianna for making our little guy so excited about school.

We started in the Fishies class with Ms. Yojana then Froggies with Ms. Margaret post Covid…read more (2020-2022) It was a special time we had so many great memories at this place. The teachers were attentive and lovely and most of the other parents are nice and friendly as well. They took so many pictures every week so I always feel connected to my son even though I'm stuck at work. I also missed the professional school pictures. It's not the same quality at the other schools so buy all!!!

Our family had an incredible experience at CWS for 5+ years! Both of my children began in Room 1 as…read morebabies, and between the two of them, we experienced every class and nearly every teacher. I felt comfortable dropping off my kids each day because it was clear that each teacher truly cared about my child. The teachers were great about communicating with us, and I felt like we could really partner with them on things like potty training and other developmental milestones that came up. (For example, one of my kids was a little delayed in learning to walk, but Ms. Laly was very calm and reassuring that he would walk in his own time, which he absolutely did.) When my other child struggled with transitions, especially moving to a new classroom or having a new teacher, Ms. Vanessa was incredible at finding ways to connect with him and really see him for who he is, not the behaviors that he exhibited at the time. I am so grateful to all the teachers and staff at CWS who were incredibly warm, welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable. The special events each year - Halloween parade and trunk or treat, craft nights, holiday show, open house, and graduation ceremony - were incredibly well done and provided a great opportunity for our family to get to know the entire school community. But the cherry on top? The monthly movie nights where we could drop our kids off for 3 hours in their pajamas for dinner and a movie so we could have a date night or night out with friends. This is truly a gem of a school and community.

For the last six years, we've been lucky to have had each of our three children enjoy the Woodland…read moreHills Private pre-school and elementary programs. We can't understate how much of a unicorn WHPS truly is when compared to other private schools. First, tuition is noticeably less compared to other similar schools, but there is no drop-off in the quality of education. Our kids have enjoyed small class sizes and teachers who are able to give them one-on-one attention. The campus itself also has a unique layout, a mix of the modern and classic San Fernando Valley charm. The Oak Tree is a remarkable centerpiece and our kids have loved learning about animals in the barnyard. They've also spent quite a few summers at camp here, learning to swim and playing with friends. The teachers are just wonderful too. They really encourage children to be independent learners and thinkers. In addition, Christine and Roxana oversee the program. They are always accessible, helpful and super friendly. All this to say, if you are looking for an inclusive, fun and welcoming educational environment, make sure you consider Woodland Hills Private School -- you won't be disappointed.

Our experience at WHPS has been nothing short of exceptional! Its cultivating environment is what…read moreevery child needs to thrive. The school's community feels like one big family; the teachers are dedicated and passionate, the staff is proactive and always accessible. The school fosters a love for learning through their programs and offers excellent extracurricular activities after school. But most of all, everyone at WHPS is so kind! We love it here!

All my kids went there. I am happy with the experience . Loving, clean and fun place. God bless…read morethe teachers.

Our son completed his first year and is starting his second this August, we've had only good…read moreexperiences with St Mel's. Not sure what other parents are looking for who have reviewed poorly--but we have found everyone there to be professional, caring and always operating with our son's best interest in mind. Maybe customer service isn't their priority, but education is. Thank you to all of the dedicated staff there, we feel very lucky to be a part of the school community.