Great school! Amazing community feel. The graduation is the most beautiful I've ever seen. Love being a part of this legacy of incredible women. read more

Terrible school. DO NOT GO HERE. The middle and high school is cruel, they mostly focus on the dress code and hire a lot of male teachers causing an environment to be extremely uncomfortable and unfair. Along with that, they overwork the students with hours of homework. I would also like to mention that I was sent death threats, homophobic comments, and bullied for years and the school did not care one bit at all. They knew, they just didn't care enough. Even caught a teacher bad mouthing and talking bad about me to my parents. This school is terrible. DO NOT ENROLL YOUR KIDS. read more

Im a student here, and this is the worst school ever. I feel so out of place and Ms. Morris and Mr. Pridgeon are so horrible. The food is horrible, and to get lunch you have to walk a mile up a steep hill which is all stairs. Everyone is so strict and it feels like you dont have any freedom here. I sit in the bathroom for lunch and there is so much drama. Do not come here. read more

A lot changed over the 7 years we were there. Not necessarily for the better. Middle school was as a good experience but in hindsight wish we'd left for another high school. The hs principal is mostly useless and hangs onto practices I believe she brings with her from her time as a student. Any communication from her was always news of policy restrictions or things they were now taking away from the girls experience. Retention has fallen post middle school and the board is heavily focused on recruiting new students. Academics are still fairly good; however, the last 2 years the teacher attrition rate has been huge, with over 10 leaving that I know of based on my students schedule. Administration and internal messaging are inconsistent and punitive towards the girls. Focus has shifted from progressive, nurturing and academics of the actual attending student body to acts of manipulated perception, by either not telling families what is happening or skewing the reality of actual events. Poor teacher new hires, new administration of men (it absolutely changed the way the girls are perceived), with one roaming the grounds looking for uniform violations, crazy stories of reshooting class videos because some girls 'develop' faster than others and must be obscured, horrible interventions filled with misinformation on difficult subjects. Ensure you are speaking with your daughter proactively about everything. Including college apps, as that whole process can be made excessively stupid and complicated if you have an officious counselor who mis-guides you. The girls who seemed to do the best had a good outside support system and were mostly self directed. We did stay for the entire 7 years. My daughter is going to a great college. But the last two years were unnecessarily cruel and rough. I felt like every email was doing battle to get what we needed. Pushback was the common response. I'd probably look into Marshall HS or ND for high schools. The school would do best by embracing their colorful and historic past of leadership and rebellion. That's what we want for our girls! read more

Poor admission process. This high school claims to be supportive and inclusive to all students. In my experience, the school did not demonstrate a supportive learning environment for all types of students. Gratefully my daughter was admitted to another school that is all about diversity, equity and inclusivity. read more

When my family first moved to the states, they settled in Hollywood. As a little girl my mom would would take me to Griffith Park a lot because apparently I liked climbing on the brass bear at the front entrance off Los Feliz. She would look over to the school around the corner and hoped that one day she would be able to send me there. And 10+ years later I graduated from that school! I graduated from Immaculate Heart...well...long before Yelp even existed and when we were still using Encarta instead of Google! :-) As a grown adult, not only do I cherish my 4 years there, but I cherish the person I am because of it. I left academically prepared when I arrived at college. People in my dorm were always bringing their papers to me to edit and review - techniques and writing skills I mastered in my freshman English class at IH. I developed patience to work as a team and with people I didn't quite care for. I couldn't stand my Honors Chem lab partner, but I'm sure the feeling was mutual! The diversity and cultural exposure expanded my tolerance. And dancing on the lawn after Welcome Day or the 10K Walk is when I truly learned my passion for ass shaking the bass of live DJ music! I mostly cherish that I truly have learned what it means to be a supportive friend and sister first. My best friends till this day are those from IH. Even though not every single member of my 109 graduating class are super close to each other 15 years later, we genuinely care for each other and enjoy celebrating our life events...even if it's just a simple "Like" on FB! I have no frame of reference when my other friends say they don't have any close friends from high school or keep in touch with anyone from their class. Sorry, can't relate and I kinda feel bad for them! I met a woman at the grocery store last week who recognized my class ring - she was an alum too. It's an instant connection when you meet a fellow Panda! My mom worked 2 jobs to send me to IHHS and I can't thank her enough for finding a way for me to go here. I can't say I would *force* my own daughter to attend as well, but I would sincerely hope she would want to go. The traditions and life lessons are invaluable. In my opinion, Immaculate Heart truly does develop young ladies into women of great heart and right conscience. read more

one of a kind place! For true scholars and world shakers. My daughter was not catholic but was more than welcome and cites it as her fave 6 years of school. she's a Ph.D. now! read more

An amazing all around experience in academic learning, social activism, social-emotional wellness and strong ethical, moral and value based education for girls. Could not be happier w middle school and the unique focus this school brings to girls at this age. Looking forward to finishing middle and onto a stellar high school experience. read more

I'd just like to state that for anyone who reads Stephan B's review, that girl got expelled from Immaculate Heart for making inappropriate comments about a teacher on Facebook. Ever since then, it's been her hobby to bash the school. Obviously she hasn't gotten over it and is too insecure about it to let it ho. I recently just graduated from Immaculate Heart, and I have to say it has to be one of the best experiences of my life. Hey it's High School, some parts of it are not going to be fun, because that's what High School is. This school not only had an amazingly welcoming atmosphere, but taught me to speak my mind, and with hard work and effort I can achieve anything. I thought this had needed to be brought attention too, because that review is unfair and wrong. read more

Awful. The people who run this school are completely inflexible, punitive and authoritarian. They don't really care about individual students, just themselves. Most of the teachers - especially Math - fail to engage the students and then grade them harshly when they underperform. They also load the kids up with 3-5 hours of homework every night. My daughter started 9th grade there after being an A student at Berkeley Hall (an excellent school btw). She was utterly miserable, so much so that she fell ill with severe migraines and spent several weeks home sick, going to doctors, getting MRIs, blood work, etc. What the doctors came up with was that it was most likely stress related. When she finally felt well enough to return to class -- guess what? They kicked her out mid semester. They have a policy that if a student misses 10 days of class for whatever reason they are out. And of course they are completely inflexible about this. They did not care that my daughter was sick, and they refused to come up with any plan for her to make up the work she had missed. They just said she was out , and by the way, you still owe us $7,000 tuition. Frankly I was both shocked and not surprised at the same time. Obviously if she was at either a public school or a traditional private prep school they would have made every effort to help her. However the folks at IH profoundly lack both compassion and imagination. They simply don't care. They have no shortage of eager families applying every year and their arrogance comes across thickly. After some scrambling we placed my daughter in a small private school in Pasadena and miraculously her migraines went away, and somehow she made up the missing work and completed 9th on schedule even though IH said that was impossible. She just graduated as an A student, and will be going to a prestigious liberal arts college in the fall. Leaving IH was the best thing that happened to her... read more

My daughter graduated from IHHS in 2004. She went from a drama filled dysfunctional middle school to this oasis. Many of her best friends today are women who were her classmates. She too found college easier than IHHS. Immaculate Heart gave her a solid educational background coupled with a deep sense of social justice. While all the girls certainly are not angels at IHHS I do believe that she avoided many of the pitfalls that some of her friends encountered at fancy shmancy high schools. The broad socioeconomic spectrum at IHHS is reflective of the real world. As a parent I also appreciated the affordability of Immaculate Heart. I just wish that there would have been a comparable high school for my sons. read more

Want your daughter to grow up with a strong sense of self, an appreciation for humanity and a passion for making an impact on this world of ours, than IHHS is probably a good place to start. I think our graduates speak for themselves, and as I was brought up with a small degree of humility, I won't name drop here, but our girls do go on to become women of great heart. If you're dying to know who, I'll assume that if you found your way onto Yelp, you can probably do the leg work yourself. After five years at the middle and high school (please see my lost year at FSHA at http://www.yelp.com/biz/flintridge-sacred-heart-academy-high-school-la-canada#hrid:QLWbNncS2lRHSYX4JTDpLA), I can say that Immac prepared me for college very well (who knew those all nighters in middle school would pay off for something?) and provided me with a confidence I just never see in my girlfriends who attended coed high schools. I don't know... there's just something to be said about girls who don't have to shave their legs for four years I guess. While Immac is strong on the liberal arts, I would disagree with the idea that we lack strength in the maths & sciences. The great thing about IH is that the school doesn't pressure you to follow any one academic agenda... my schedule was science heavy, and I went on to finish graduate work in the sciences. Maybe Jennifer D. said it best, there definitely is a strong sisterly bond that permeates from each and every class since 1906, and we carry that with us always! Proud to be a Panda, too! - Class of 1996 read more

Oh. Em. Gee. I can't believe my alma mater is on YELP! wtf. I'm not going to lie, I had an amazing high school experience and I'm going to get mushy here and say I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for good ol' Immac. It's been around since 1906. That says a lot. I actually found college EASIER than Immac. A little too easy. Needless to say, I was very well prepared. I met my best friends in the whole world while going here, and we're still amazing friends. There is definitely that sisterly bond among the majority of Immaculate Heart girls. It's like being part of a huge sorority. The fact that it's also in such a culturally rich location isn't bad either. Hollywood and Highland is just a short distance away. It's been the tradition to graduate at the Hollywood Bowl for over 50 years (My class graduated at the Kodak Theater because the Bowl was under renovation.) Don't let the fact that it's a Private, Catholic all girls school fool you. This place is secretly a liberal, feminist, hippie, oasis. And as far as religion goes, they don't jam it down your throat. They touch a very wide spectrum and teach, not preach. Spiritualism and mysticism are very prominent more than religion itself. Girls of all faiths are welcome to attend IH. They lack strength in the math and science departments but compensate in the language arts, history, and art departments. Let's just say a lot of Immac girls tend to lean on the creative side once they graduate. As a whole though, you get an excellent education. If I have a daughter, I will totally send her to Immac. Even if I'm not living nearby, I'd ship her over. Hmm, maybe they should reinstate the boarding school... Proud to be a Panda! - Class of 2004 read more

I don't doubt that this school used to be good... but now it isn't. Do not send your daughter here. This year's class had grad night... one girl OD'd on molly. Another girl sells it. She didn't get expelled even though the school had known it for a while... other girls bullied someone and they didn't get a single detention. I know all this firsthand. The administration is cruel and unthoughtful. They facilitate a terrible, unhealthy environment for teenage girls by not punishing the girls who sell drugs or the ones who bully... at one point I spoke to a psychologist who treats adolescents. I told her I used to go to Immaculate Heart and she rolled her eyes. I told her I didn't attend the school anymore and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God," she said. "I've treated many girls from Immaculate Heart - it isn't a good environment." The years I've spend here were among the worst I've ever experienced. That being said, some of the greatest teachers and friends I've ever met have come from this school. There are always exceptions... but a school is only as strong as its weakest link. This school's weakest links are bullies and drug addicts... Every high school is going to have shitty people but I have a problem with expensive private schools that act like they're some pristine perfect environment... this shit isn't a ratchet public high school for sure, but you're surrounded by some bad people. Expensive private schools should be exclusive and if they're promoting this holy image they can't have poor girls overdosing at Disneyland and selling molly to their friends. You can be ratchet or you can be expensive. IH chooses to be both, like the little Mexican girl in those fucking taco commercials. Some girls can ignore this and have fun with their friends and have an amazing four years... . Savannah W. had a great time at IH and I knew her. She was nothing but kind to me at IH. Your daughter might have a good time too. But if I were a mother to a girl about to go into high school, I wouldn't risk it. Bad environment + girl in a weird growing up teen phase = bad combo... Send your daughter to Marymount if you want a better all girls school... but all girls schools in general are not a good idea. Find a good co-ed high school. Seriously. PS - I am a girl. I am just uncomfortable with putting pictures of my face up on the internet... I used to have pics up on here but the thirst I got from random guys was incredible. For now, I'm MC Ride of Death Grips. read more

Went here, too. Hated not having boys to oogle in class while I was there, but now I appreciate it in hindsight. As women, we were able to achieve all roles: students, tutors, held every class office, and were our own leaders. And, of course, we were able to ship in boys from our brother schools, you know, for dances and play and crap like that. They helped me to understand I had a deep passion for math, which is what I eventually received my degree in. Never quite did as well with English, apparently... read more

I almost went here. When I first stepped onto the campus for their open house I felt a sense of home. I have friends that went here and they had a wonderful experience. It's in Hollywood and the campus is beautiful! If you want your daughter to get a great education, send her here! read more

My daughter is a Senior at Immac, she has spent 4 happy years there and I can honestly say we've been very pleased with the school. She has had a wonderful time, has developed a huge group of lovely friends and I know she is more than prepared for a rigorous college program. What more can a parent ask? There are many good schools in L.A. so rather than going through each aspect of what we like about Immac, let me tell you what's most unique. Immac attracts girls from all over L.A. - so my Pasadena-raised daughter has friends from all over: Hollywood, Mid-City, Long Beach, San Fernando, Glendale and Hawthorne. I love that. Immac doesn't have to reach out to "attract" diversity - it comes along with being a high quality, affordable girls school. Parents from all different walks of life want what Immac offers so diversity is built in. Immac really emphasizes community service and contribution - not just in the "It will look good on your resume" but the school itself donates a large portion of the funds from its major fundraiser (annual walk) to local charities. How many private schools do you know of who do that? The sisters of the Immaculate Heart were once a fairly radical group of nuns and although much of the rebel attitude is gone from the school it's still a place that emphasizes personal conscience and personal responsibility. We are not super religious but I've never been uncomfortable or unhappy with the "religious" education my daughter has received at Immac because the program works to help the girls find their own truths. The negatives for Immac are minor from this parent's perspective. My Cons: While I appreciate that they put the girls first and the plant later, I wish they'd fundraise a little more and fix some of the buildings up - a capital campaign wouldn't hurt. I was not happy about inaccurate information that was given on the effectiveness of contraceptives in her sophomore religion class. I don't like the new assistant principal as well as the one who was in place when we joined the school; I think the school has lost some good teachers. So some criticisms but having been a parent at several private schools over the last 12 years, I can honestly say that Immac is the school I have the fewest reservations about! Last but not least - it's a total bargain. Given what their competition charges their tuition is very reasonable and when the girls get to considering colleges, Immac has a lot of connections to colleges that offer great financial aid packages and scholarships. Each year at graduation, the number of college scholarships won by the graduating class members is phenomenal. In short - 5 stars. In the crazy world of L.A. private schools, this is as good as it gets. read more

Both my girls go to school here. It's a wonderful community and I have only great things to say about the school.

I gained so much from this school, it's tough for me to begin. I graduated in 2005. The teachers are amazing, they only expect your best work and have very high standards. I missed the campus and the camaraderie when I got to college. Now I'm proud to say that I'm in grad school, yet even now I think about IHHS. As with any high school, there's inevitable girl drama every now and then, but I can easily say that a good 80% of the time it felt like sisterhood. read more

My 2 girls attend Immaculate Heart and I have nothing but great things to say about it. One of the best things is that they have to work for their grades. They are pushed to give their best effort and really prepare for college and life after school. There are not a lot of 4.0 kids there, in fact my older daughter's unweighted GPA is 3.6 and she is ranked in the top quintile for her class. There are a lot of schools with grade-inflation and the colleges are well aware of the practice. My daughter was accepted to her first choice college with that 3.6 GPA because colleges know what the grades mean at IH. Also, socially, the environment has been so welcoming and accepting to all. They are a bunch of really nice girls who study hard and want to get good grades and get into a good college. There is not a lot of drama and I can tell you first hand that bullying is taken very seriously and drugs are not tolerated at all. I know of an incident that did not even sound very serious but the girl who was bullying was suspended and nearly expelled. And everybody knew all about it because this is a community that does not tolerate bullying. I know of 2 girls who transferred to the school because they were bullied at their previous schools and they love IH. This school has it all, academics, sports, and a great community. I recommend it extremely highly to anyone looking for a middle school or high school for their daughter. read more

I'd have to agree about the super starchy pleated skirts! Oh man, you can drop the sense of fashion! however, it was quite nice not to worry about how you looked, who you hung out with, or what boy liked you. The all girl "sisterly" activities drove me nuts, but overall, I made some excellent friends, and was completely prepared for the college work load. College was easy after 4 years at Imac! Glad those years are long over, but looking back, I'm quite happy my parents sent me there. ---class of 2000 read more

raise on high your standard, sing to alma mater.." wow ok have some extreme fond/hateful memories of this place. it was a great place to grow as a women and they definitly enforced us to be women of great heart and right conscious ( as cheesy as that sounds). I am proud to say that they definitly help out with college and finding scholarships. the good thing was that u never had to worry about what to wear those blue pleated skirts and super starchy shirts came right in handy. all in all i had a great education. read more

Heartbreaking. Felt like a reform school. Administration down to earth and humanistic, as one would expect from the school's proud, educationally progressive history. Once inside the classrooms as a new freshman, my daughter encountered authoritarianism, disorganization, and old-school shaming tactics. There are lots of arbitrary, overly detailed rules and regs that get in the way of learning and getting organized. Once I came to them with a problem, the admin was ineffective, unwilling and unable to take a look at what we were saying. My daughter went into IH with a 3.65 GPA and she wanted IH to work but it was a disaster. She was the third generation in my family to attend IHHS. It is also my beloved alma mater. Our experience was that, at its heart (and pedagogy), there is no connection to its rich history. I have been an educator for 25 years with additional administrative duties. We left before the end of the first semester because it was destroying my daughter's internal motivation to learn. If your freshman daughter needs to be whipped into shape in a fear-based environment that is very stressful, this would be the place (except nobody needs that educationally-speaking). I cannot speak about the other grades. I hear 11th and 12th graders are having a better time. I hate to have to write this, but their propaganda did not come close to matching our experience. A totally heart-breaking experience and wildly labor-intensive and inconvenient to have to find a new school so quickly. Wake up, IHHS! You were once great. You set the progressive educational bar that so many have followed. What happened to you? Immaculate Heart Community, we need you back at the school. Please. I have a fourth grade daughter too. read more

I went to this school for middle school, and all my classmates were super nice! The teachers paid attention to everyone and you individually. They also have a great sports and art programs. If you're thinking of transferring to a private, or any, school, this is the one for you!!! read more

My grandmother lived on Franklin and Harvard from around 1905 to 1952. I went to Immaculate Heart for first grade and that was 70 years ago. I remember the nuns being so kind and such wonderful teachers. read more