My daughter has been at Page Academy Hancock Park since she started pre-school 4 years ago in 2013…read more She is currently in 1st grade and will return next year for 2nd grade. My family's experience at Page has been very positive.
After reading some reviews here, I would like to highlight that while some parents have stylistic differences, or rather different expectations for their children in elementary school, a review written by a disgruntled parent after two months should hold less weight than does a review posted by a parent who has chosen to stay at the same school for five years. For this reason, I am writing this review of Page Academy.
I understand that everyone has different expectations for their child's education, and if what you want is a school that emphasizes play and dance with very little academic work appropriate for each grade level, Page Academy is not the school for you. And that is ok. Not every school suits every child. The "homework" the kids completed in pre-school and JrK was appropriate for their age level as it was just an introduction to shapes, letters and numbers in pre-school, and a reinforcement of those skills in JrK. For elementary school, the homework and home projects change and evolve as they should. Homework, and the testing of sight words is merely a way to introduce a routine to children, and is also a barometer for parents to see what and how your child is learning in school. If you have an academic standard to which you desire your child to live up, and if you are looking for a school that will help foster and develop skills like reading, writing, mathematics and critical thinking appropriate for their grade level, then Page Academy is pretty terrific. My daughter, and her cohort of Mrs. Tamte's 1st grade class is reading and writing above a first grade level, and has been most of the year (they were also together for kindergarten). For our family, this is exactly what we would expect by enrolling our daughter in private school. For children who have fallen behind, the school and its teachers have suggested and even offered private tutoring or alternative methods for the kids to catch up, before or after school.
In the event that we were to move, my daughter could easily adapt to any program and in fact is probably performing at above the average grade level were she to go to a public school. Many in her cohort have been together since pre-school and kindergarten, and will move up to 2nd grade together as well.
Page Academy is a terrific school if what you want are small classes (I believe the max is 15 per class), an attentive staff (teachers, coaches, and administration) where everyone knows your name. These details are important to our family. The school is safe and clean, and has undergone recent renovations at the 3 different playgrounds on campus.
Page Academy has a physical education program run by a terrific coach who also (based on his many talents) teaches the students Performing Arts and also an after-school dance program. The after-school dance program prepares unique numbers for the Winter and Spring shows (which are free to attend for all guests; no tickets are sold as was mentioned by a reviewer on this page). The school also has an on campus pool where swimming is part of the PE program during the fall/spring/summer months based on the weather.
Page also offers a rotating schedule of Spanish, Art and Computer classes (with Apple computers) for the kids as well. I am frequently amazed how my daughter can show me things on the computer that i never knew existed, but then I never had a computer class at school!
There are many after school programs offered for the students at extra cost that range from Science classes with Egghead Academy to tennis classes, soccer with Super Soccer Stars and music classes with the Loft Method (in addition to the music classes offered to all grade levels as part of the regular curriculum). This is a bonus, especially for a working parent, so you don't have to shuttle your child all around the city for after school activities.
At Page Academy, the students are required to wear a uniform. Each parent is required to read and sign the handbook at the beginning of each academic year, confirming that we will abide by the guidelines. Yes, there are guidelines, but it is pretty easy to follow, as the school asks for students to wear particular colors of undershirts, leggings and socks.
We truly feel like our child has benefited both academically and socially in her personal development at Page Academy. She has a love and respect of school, of her friends, and of herself. It is very reassuring to know that every teacher and staff member knows her name, and as cliche as it may sound, we really do feel like Page is a part of our family. Our years at Page Academy have been very positive, and we hope to keep our child enrolled until she ages out of the school.
