Review #980 2026-046…read more Let me preface that this review is for an event that was held at J.H. Hull Middle School... J.H. Hull Middle School is 1 of 8 middle schools serving students in grades 6 - 8 in Torrance Unified School District. It's named after the 1st TUSD superintendent, Dr. John Henrich Hull, who served as superintendent from 1947 - 1970... at which time TUSD grew from 4 to 41 schools. Opened in 1970, JHHMS was originally built using steel portables from defunct Madison School, which closed in 1969; the school was later rebuilt & reopened in Fall of 2011, & is currently the district's most technologically wired & environmentally efficient campus. For 2025 - 2026, the school is helmed by Principal Jackie Ryan & supported by Assistant Principal Kimberly Lee. The 2026 TUSD "Math Field Day" was held at J.H. Hull Middle School, hosting the past 3 years. It's an annual competition that focuses on computational skills, conceptual understanding, & complex problem-solving while encouraging teamwork amongst elementary (starting from 4th grade), middle, & high schools students. Winners received medals & trophies for their school, & top winners from each quadrant advance to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Math Field Day, usually held in April. My son competed for 1 of 4 spots representing Hickory Elementary's 4th Grade Team. It's a 2-part competition that consisted of an individual 10 question quiz (20-mins.), followed by a break, then a series of questions for the team (30-mins.), ending with an hour break while the scores are tabulated. The students loved the "trail mix" snacks that they got during breaks... my son says it was candy galore with trail mix, gummy bears, popcorn, M&Ms, chocolate chips, goldfish crackers, etc.!! And totally worth the after school hours to enjoy these treats (can you feel the eyes rolling?) & wants to come back next year. O_o 2026 Math Field Day Winners 4th Grade: 1st: Victor ES 2nd: Hickory ES (so proud of my l'il guy & his teammates!) 3rd: Riviera ES 5th Grade: 1st: Hickory ES (back-to-back win!) 2nd: Walteria ES 3rd: Towers ES 6th Grade: 1st: Richardson MS 2nd: Madrona MS 3rd: Calle Mayor MS 7th Grade: 1st: Magruder MS 2nd: Bert Lynn MS 3rd: Madrona MS 8th Grade: 1st: Magruder MS 2nd: Madrona MS 3rd: Calle Mayor MS High School: 1st: West HS 2nd: North HS 4th: Victor ES, 5th: Hickory ES, 6th: Richardson MS, 7th: Magruder MS, 8th: Magruder MS, & West HS will move onto LACOE Math Field Day. Good luck! Congrats to all the mathletes that qualified & to the winners for their excellent performance... way to go!!

Great school. The teachers are awesome, they school is very organized and clean grounds. My son…read moreloves this school. We like it because its 5 minutes from our house. Highly recommend this school.

The institution refused to enroll my son citing his placement within the autism spectrum as the…read morereason, despite their attempt to justify the decision with additional explanations that ultimately proved insufficient.

This school is a gem. Several of the faculty have been teaching here for twenty-five years. They're…read moreunquestionably qualified and experienced. Academically, parents don't have a worry. However, where SBCS leaves other schools in the dust is what they manage to achieve OUTSIDE the classroom. Class size allows the faculty to focus on EVERY student and their needs. No one gets lost in the crowd. That means if your child is dealing with any issues, they'll be noticed and get the attention they should get. This school is all about teaching to the whole individual. Learning to handle responsibilities, conflict, impulse control--the faculty have it under control. If you don't just want your child to grow up a competent math student, then this is where they should go to school. They'll learn how to be moral, caring, thoughtful, and self-aware people (who are also good at math or English or ...!). They've also had a new principal for two years now, Kirstin Born, who taught for twenty-five years before assuming the top position. You couldn't ask for a more savvy, sensitive, experienced person to guide the school. She bends over backwards to meet the needs and requests of her students' families. You won't complain about crickets if you approach Mrs. Born with any concerns. SBCS is great for any student, but it is a gift to students who need extra attention and personalized care in the hands of loving, experienced teachers and administrators.

If I could give this school zero stars, I would. This school used to be amazing when Mrs. Kaiser…read morewas the principal. Unfortunately, the new principal, Mrs. Peairs, has been a terrible experience. She made my child feel terrible, and I am extremely disappointed. I strongly recommend considering another school for your child.

My daughter attended this school since she was in TK and is now in 7th grade. I have never had…read morecomplaints about this school until this past year with the new principal. My daughter was dealing with her own mental health and learning disability and instead of working with her and supporting her they made her feel worse and not heard. I've had a couple meetings with the principal and her assistant and they both made my daughter feel like she was the problem and although they said they were there to support her they really weren't. Although my daughter only has 2 years left in Jr high, I had to make the decision to get her out of there for both of our sanity. It has been the best decision I've ever made.

ambassador high school has been a wonderful experience for my son who is now a sophomore. I very…read moremuch appreciate all of the staff and administration who respond to all of my requests very quickly. They have also assisted me in helping and encouraging my son to be more successful. They have plenty of clubs and sports to offer every student. I also love that they have a independent study opportunity with hundreds of learning opportunities. I highly recommend.

My daughter has been attending Ambassador School for the past two years, and we couldn't be happier…read morewith our experience. The small class sizes and excellent teacher-to-student ratio mean every child receives individual attention and support. The teachers are highly experienced and genuinely dedicated, creating an environment where students thrive both academically and personally. The academic standards are outstanding; every student is well-prepared for college, with an impressive 100% college admission rate, and many even graduate with an AA degree! Beyond academics, the school places a strong emphasis on character development and spiritual growth, teaching biblical values that truly shape students into compassionate, well-rounded individuals. Ambassador also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including various sports, dance, and an incredible annual theatre production that consistently sells out at a local theatre venue, a highlight of the year! We are so grateful to be part of the Ambassador community and can't recommend it enough. If you're considering this school, attend an open house or have your child shadow a student, you'll immediately see what makes Ambassador School so special.

My baby daughter was in PICU & I was coming from the hospital to drop off my older daughter for a…read morefield trip at the school. I was 10 minutes late so the school gave away my daughter's spot away & also refused to return my trip money. I tried to explain that I was coming from the hospital but they still refused. They didn't want to 'disappoint the child' who they gave my daughter's spot to. They didn't care about disappointing my daughter, who had been looking forward to the trip all week. They then accused me of 'arguing with the teacher' & gave me a warning. The people who run this place are horrible & heartless. They will steal any money you pay them (this is only one of several instances). If you have any concerns about anything going on with your child, you are not 'allowed' to voice them or they will kick you out of the school. Bend over & take it. You have no voice as a parent. If you leave, they will keep any tuition money you've paid. Only if they kick you out will you get it back. I highly advise you send your kids elsewhere. They are a nightmare. Seriously, I'm warning you, DON'T go to this school. We then went over to Pine's Christian- night & day difference. They are wonderful. Highly, highly recommend you go there.

Today marks the last day our kids will attend Hickory Tree and words can't express the amount of…read moregratitude we have for this school and this staff in helping us develop our children. We had the greatest experience here for both our children as the staff has done a great job in fostering an environment for kids to grow, while also allowing them to be kids. I grew up in suburban America with great schools and a big community emphasis. Seeing my kids go through the program here reminded me a lot of my childhood. I read another review from a parent complaining about hickory having structure for the kids. The truth is, kids need structure. They need to learn manners and how to play with others. Michelle Obama said it best when she said her parents raised her to eventually be an an adult one day. I personally don't think I'm doing any favors to my kids if I'm not preparing them to be an adult in this world. In todays fast past environment, so often are values lost and forgotten that it was really nice for our family to be able to allow our kids to also have that for their early schooling. They allow kids to be kids while still learning boundaries along with curriculum to keep them ahead academically. Both our kids have really come into their own during their time there and we have hickory to thank for that. So Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Great High school in the South Bay. Went to watch an…read moreexciting Volleyball scrimmage . Great games, the Gym is okay for a High School. Parents, friends were all together cheering on their loved ones. Bathrooms are clean. Good to watch Coach Quan at the sidelines !!!

There are plenty of fun events, clubs, and opportunities for academic achievement. The school…read moretests high on standardized tests. However, there is a lack of discipline when it comes to verbal bullying and harassment. Students cannot count on their authorities to protect them. The visual and performing art programs are quite underfunded. The school prioritizes the football program, which brings in the most money and that favouritism goes so far as extra effort being made to keep those athletes in school. They do this by putting them in the art classes for an easy A (where they don't do the work and show no interest, while taking up the spots of students who actually want to take art) And by avoiding giving them expulsion or suspension, even if that means turning a blind eye when they bully their peers. Pretty standard for a high-school, I guess.

this school is very good has many activities for your kids to do…read more it can be a little better but I love how nice the teachers and staff are kind. It has bad aid and it doesn't help our kids get smarter

Great school please bring your children here! This is a great place to be! Study is also show that…read morestudents have a higher rate of achievement in later life if they go to Catholic schools!

Good church and choir. I love coming to this church. Is reserved and nice I like the church so muchread more

I miss the days when the church is open around 6:30pm-7pm. I often come here after work and just…read moresit in silence and pray, it's very therapeutic after a long day of work. Since COVID, the church is lock early and I'm unable to come visit.

Review #1024 2026-094…read more Opened in 02/1957, Madrona Middle School is 1 of 8 middle schools serving students in grades 6 - 8 in Torrance Unified School District with Dr. Sue Key, Principal, at helm since 02/2024. Per U.S. News & World Report, the 26:1 student-teacher ratio is on the higher side, & the reading level is stronger than the math. GreatSchools.org shows a 20% Algebra 1 participation rate with a strong 95% pass rate. Under Dr. Key's helm, Madrona Middle School earned South Bay's BEST Public Middle School in 2026, following recognitions for FAVORITE school in 2025 & BEST in 2024. After participating on behalf of his elementary school's math & academic pentathlon teams (placed 2nd on both) this year, my 10 YO 4th grader wanted to map out his future academic career & research his options, even though Madrona MS is the natural progression from Hickory ES. His interests are vast: Academic Pentathlon, CJSF (CA Junior Scholarship Federation), Coding/Robotics, eSports, GATE, Math Club/Math Field Day, MathCounts, Science Olympiad, Spelling Bee, etc. I scheduled a 30-min. tour in 05/2026, & it was led by Dr. Key; the short tour ended up being almost 90-mins. It was a detailed & informative tour of an impressive campus with plenty to offer for academically strong students (refer to posted photos of School Brochure & Class Selection Reference Sheet! I particularly love that their classrooms post a door sign of the teachers' contact, sponsor, & education info (e.g. Mrs. Heather Hallsted teaches Science 8 & Science Olympiad, sponsors Madrona Family Night, & earned a B.S. Biochemistry & M.A. Curriculum & Instruction from UCLA, CSU Bakersfield, CSUDH; Mrs. Nancy Ton teaches Science 7, PLTW Design & Modeling/Computer Science App Inventors/Automation & Robotics, sponsors esports & earned a B.S. Liberal Science & M.S. Science from CSULB & CSUDH). What's great for working parents is that students can be dropped off as early as 8:15 AM & go to study hall before the 1st bell. Subsequent to the tour & info received, I learned the following week that Hickory Elementary School will be offering an accelerated math summer program to prep interested & qualified students for the Accelerated Math 6 in fall. My son took the accelerated math this summer, & qualified for Accelerated Math 6 in 5th Grade. It's been a month, & he's maintaining a 4 (out of 4) on the math quick checks. M's plan is to follow his elementary school's progression to Madrona Middle School since they hit most of his interests on the checklist. Last school year (2025 - 2026), MMS placed in all 3 grades at Math Field Day: 6th - 2nd Place, 7th - 3rd Place, 8th - 2nd Place. M plans to tryout for Math Field Day again this school year & is strategically recruiting his team for a 3-peat win for 5th Grade, & hopes to bring the same team to Madrona Middle School for continued success.

5 STAR this school is great it has a lot of activity's and its a great learning potential!read more

School Year 2010-2011…read more We moved in April and I have been trying to take care of this with your office since May. Your office was very harsh with me telling me my proof of residency I was able to print out online was not good enough- not letting me finish my sentences and discuss it and try to understand- but just saying "no" over and over again. I left that office crying. That is not a feeling I expect when dealing with a school office. Over the summer, I checked your website daily hoping for some information about when you would open and what I needed to do. To this day the website still says "Interdistrict Permit for Torrance residents- Information sheet- Coming soon!". I emailed you on Friday, August 13th to find out what date your office opened and you responded on Tuesday, August 17th and told me that you were open from M-F from 8:30-4:30 being closed for lunch from 2-3. I waited for my last piece of appropriate proof to come in the mail, and I showed up with my children on the morning of Friday, August 20th. There was a note on the door saying you were closed. On Monday August 23rd I brought all of my paperwork to you, which you still tried to tell me was not acceptable even though your office told me exactly what to bring, and you told me you needed to process my application and I could not leave with my release letter. I tried to discuss with you what my options were and you finally looked at me and offered to pull mine out and get it done ASAP. You told me I could pick up a copy so I could hand it over to RBUSD. I followed up with you the next day and you responded as if you did not know me with a blanket answer that the permits would be mailed out and I could not pick them up and you could not fax them. I have not received anything in the mail as of yet and I have missed registration for both kids on Wednesday August 25th. Today is Monday August 30th, and the kids start school tomorrow. They will be late to class because we missed registration and have to register at 9AM tomorrow. I cannot register them without the permits in my hand, and the problem is I only received a permit for ONE child from you in the mail on Friday and the RB school office received NOTHING. Later on August 30th: I showed up today to pick up a permit for my other son and you were so rude and didn't smile and didn't apologize for me not receiving it. You snapped your gum and mumbled something to your co-worker about the apartment number missing. You handed me the copy and I said Thank You and you said "uh huh". I have sent another email since asking- just so I could be properly prepared- the procedure for renewals. I got NO RESPONSE. I do not appreciate being treated like this and I personally think you should be doing a much better job. I do not agree with you working for the benefit of my children and think you should think about the way you treat people as well as represent the Torrance Unified School District.

I enrolled my kid and I in a parenting class, at the Levy center, the class is so overcrowded…read moretheres never room on tables for artwork or lunch time, we gotta do artwork standing up, ridiculous i dont know why they dont set a limit. Cant wait for it to be over since i cant get a refund