Public school or private? That debate is as old as the Bible and, speaking of the Bible, Catholic…read moreschool is a nice middle-ground alternative. Smaller classes and more money in the classroom, but not the twice-as-high tuition bill of the privates. And you don't have to be Catholic (or male) to attend Notre Dame. It's co-ed now, and I would guess that at least 50% of the students are not Catholic. I don't have a student at the school, but I speak at Notre Dame's annual college fair (representing one of the University of California schools). Every year, I'm super impressed with the students I meet, in terms of academic preparation, college readiness, thoughtfulness and a genuine love for their school. It's high end of course, as the long line of Range Rovers tell you every morning at drop-off-time. Students are engaged in classes, sports, clubs and activities. They were ready at the college fair with questions about college majors, two-year vs. four-year options and completing the UC common application. While I see only a very small slice of high school life at the college fair, the students are impressive and that says a lot. Worth considering!

I graduated from NDHS when Jimmy Carter was POTUS. Great experience. Can't really compare that…read moreschool with current one. Almost unrecognizable to me when I visit LA now. I never really got over the school going co-ed. Back in my day it was just 800 Catholic boys (and a couple Jews). Parents rarely ventured on campus. There were 3 women on campus (a secretary and two ladies who cooked the hot lunch in the cafeteria). But the parking lot filled up with cars from the girls' schools as soon as the last bell rang. The freshman got hazed. Personal disputes were settled (one-on-one), on the back lawn of the Brothers' House. Tuition was $550/yr. It was not an expensive, fancy prep school filled with the children of the rich & famous. It was far more "Lord of the Flies," than "Jesus Lord & Savior." We did stupid things, but no one ever got expelled. Nobody got in trouble for things that happened off campus (that was left to parents and LAPD). No cell phones/text messages/smart phones/social media. Unless you saw it happen, it was all rumor, plausible deniability and a conspiracy of silence. I went on to USC, and then became an attorney, but my two best friends in the world are guys I met when we were freshman at NDHS over 50 years ago. I sent both of my sons to an all-boys Catholic HS in Northern California because I wanted them to have a similar experience.

I'm glad our child has graduated this year. Change in some teachers and principal Matt coming on…read moreboard in 2025, and implementing changes that parents and kids are not comfortable with...I felt like we started at one school and finished at completely different one, and the sad part was that many students were not looking forward to go to school... And a spike at tuition, without any heads up to the parents felt wrong. In a good sense I would NOT recommend TCS , even if the school would lower the cost of tuition... very sad

Our children were welcomed mid year to this school. The teachers and students made them feel…read moreimmediately at home. The Country School empowered them. They are more confident and self assured because of this inclusive and nurturing environment. The music teacher has a background in music therapy. The end of year musical performance was incredible. The visual arts teacher is engaging and provides enriching opportunities for kids regardless of their experience. The Spanish classes are creative, stimulating, and a lot of fun. The home room teachers make learning exciting. The Country School really values diversity and progressive education. We love this school and highly recommend it!

This experience has been extremely disappointing and disturbing. The way bullying is handled at…read morethis school is unacceptable. When my child reported being slapped by another student, the school staff dismissed it as "a game the kids are playing." Explaining physical assault as normal behavior is not only irresponsible -- it sends a dangerous message to both children and parents. When a child comes forward saying they were hurt by other students, it deserves to be taken seriously, not minimized or excused. If this is considered "normal" by the staff, then this school has a serious problem with student safety and accountability. I have lost all trust in the administration's ability to protect children. I am counting down the days until the school year ends so I can transfer my child. I will also be formally escalating this issue to the school district. No child should feel unsafe at school, and no parent should be made to feel powerless when advocating for their child.

I currently go to this school i want to say do not send your kid here!!! It is not a safe space at…read moreall students get bullied by staff here. Staff is not trusting at they focus more on useless stuff than the students safety. Some of the teachers here act racist and don't even try to hide it. There has been multiple occasions where i have felt unsafe at louis armstrong and i can't talk to the staff here. Yes some teachers are OKAY but like i said do not send your kid here.

Our two children have attended St. Francis since preschool and absolutely love it. There is such an…read moreemphasis on community and fostering a love of learning at a young age. The teachers are all attentive and very skilled educators. The school provides wonderful enrichment such as chess, tennis, and science - this is on top of the weekly school curriculum which includes Spanish, art and music classes. I also have to mention Principal Goethals - who is just the crème de la crème! She goes above and beyond to ensure the students feel safe and nurtured while also cultivating a great atmosphere for learning. We are very grateful for this terrific school and community!

I normally don't post reviews but I felt the need to review the school my kids go to because it's…read moreso hard to find a good private school that's big enough to have many friends in the class but small enough to foster a strong community. Saint Francis de Sales is committed to fostering a sense of community that you don't find in many places around Los Angeles. They organize various events and initiatives that bring together students, parents, and teachers, creating a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom. SFDS encourages students to explore their imaginations, fostering a love for innovation and problem-solving. SFDS students are given the freedom to express themselves and develop their unique talents through art, music, sports, drama, science and many other ways.

My grandchild has been a student at Buckley for the past three and a half years and loves going to…read moreschool every day. HIs friends are all grounded, lovely humans who treat one another with consideration and respect. The teachers are dedicated professionals who make learning engaging and foster strong relationships with students. I can't recommend the school more highly for the way it has helped our chikd grow as a learner and member of the community.

The worst year of my life, was my one year at Buckley School. Three decades ago, entering 7th…read moregrade; the children and teachers of this school welcomed me with bullying, daily threats, physical assaults and teacher-encouraged mocking. The evil I experienced at this school in 1990 was breathtaking, and by today's standards would have lead to this school's closure with all the social media video to back up my assertions. I almost committed su***de that year. "We let the children work out their problems themselves" was the mantra. No relief. No protection. Just the infliction of pure cruelty .... while the "adults" stood by and watched. Tho they ALWAYS stepped in to punish me when I tried to fight back. "The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats it's most vulnerable members." -Mahatma Ghandi. This quote follows me - haunts me to this day, BECAUSE of Buckley School. They taught me a very valuable lesson in this life: to not trust anyone.

The staff is very good, and the principal is very respectful and kind. She helps and supports…read morestudents in every way for their safe learning and academic progress.

The teachers here are incredible and so nice they feel more like family but most of the students…read morecan be quite rude

55 years of accesss, yearly luncheon, bi weekly meetings, campus visitations allowances.read more

Absolutely amazing experience, I met two very cute and finely distinguished young men. They were…read morevery polite, though they shared some dislike of their short lunch and nutrition periods. They gave me a pleasant tour of the school as well as several photo opportunities to pose in places such as the "new gym," "goose's landing," and "mr mccollums glorious classroom." All in all, this school seems absolutely amazing and I wish I had gone here for my high school years.

We are extremely pleased with Campbell Hall. Our child is being both supported and challenged in…read moremeaningful ways, and we feel confident they will be well-prepared for college on every level, mental, emotional, and physical. The school's commitment to student well-being is evident, and our child truly loves being part of the CH community.

Campbell Hall is an INCREDIBLE school. I am so grateful my daughter got in (for Kindergarten, now…read moreshe's in 2nd grade). Yes it is expensive, but 1 out of 4 kids is on partial or full financial aid and that was very important to us, because we can afford it, but we did not want our daughter going to a "rich kid" school. And this school really values diveristy, including socioeconomic diversity. It is technically Episcopal but 22% of the student population is Jewish and the kids learn about and celebrate all kinds of different holidays including Diwali. We of course worry about gun violence and the campus is a COMPOUND. You cannot get onto campus without being checked out by security, and there is a former Marine on campus at all times with his adorable German Shepard, Otto - who is GREAT with the kids but I imagine also trained to attack and take down anyone threatening. One of the things I like the best is there are so many after school activities on campus I don't have to drive my daughter anywhere else, I just pick her up a bit later on days she has activities like Toy Design, Junior Shark Tank, Tennis, Mindfulness, and Improv. And while we do not use the bus system yet, my understanding is that Campbell Hall has the widest and most extensive bus system of any of the private schools in LA. Lastly, the parents CARE and are really involved and the school really welcomes their involvement. And the kids are taught values and kindness is a major priority along with education. Again, I recognize the expense is daunting and it's very hard to get into, but we applied and got into Laurence, Oakwood, Hollywood Schoolhouse etc, and are extremely happy (and so is our daughter) that she got into CH. She is absolutely thriving.

For all the parents who have had emotional kitchen table conversations about what the next steps…read moreare for their child who isn't fitting into the structure and learning environment of a more traditional school, whether public or private, Bridges really might be the answer for you. Book a tour, send a message, check it out and see how this leader in 2E education can help your family.

Our son attended Bridges from 6th Grade through 12th and went on to graduate from a prestigious…read morecollege. His time at Bridges gave him the room to know himself and to appreciate the great strengths that come with being neurodiverse, along with the challenges. He also found his tribe, a group of kind, brilliant and creative young adults who he is good friends with to this day.

The Wesley School website has a link to a document titled "Adult Student Boundaries" on the Program…read morepage. It's unclear if the document was intentionally posted or someone made a mistake. In any case, it's pretty unsettling, especially from a K-8 school. This isn't boilerplate language -- many of the bullet points feel disturbingly specific. Wesley made headlines a few years ago when they arranged for their staff to cut the line and get Covid vaccines in 2021 before they were eligible. Prospective parents might want to think twice about this school.

If you are looking to place your child in a private school, I highly recommend considering The…read moreWesley School. Yesterday, my husband and I were lucky enough to attend their prospective parent open house and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. The morning began by having us sit in on their twice weekly school assembly (called "Community"). It hit to the heart of what it means to be in a community! It was inspiring. Completely led by the students themselves, yesterday's assembly was entirely run by the second graders! What a joy! It really set the stage for what proved to be a very enjoyable morning. Everyone we met made us feel instantly at home...the staff, the parents, the security team who helped us find a parking spot and especially the two 6th graders who gave my husband and I our own special "VIP" tour! Their engagement and passion for sharing their experiences truly warmed our hearts. We appreciated hearing from so many staff members who are clearly committed to providing the most nurturing educational experience for the students. We know the students at Wesley are in very capable hands.