My children have attended 156th St. School over the last 7 years. The school is very diverse and…read moresafe. Two of my children have went onto the next level of education ready for the challenges they were going to face, because of the family of staff at 156th St. School. The teachers are friendly and patient. They have a great principal Ms. Dudley to lead them. She is approachable and friendly. 156th St. School is also academically the best you are going to get in a public school in the surrounding areas. We have been blessed to have had our children at a place that builds a good foundation for the students. Great School!!!!!

Sending your kids here is the best decision you could ever make. I am 24 now and still think about…read morethis school and all the amazing teachers I had. From pre k to 5th grade, I was taught by the most amazing and passionate people I've ever encountered. This school is also very diverse and safe. Do yourself a favor and sign your kiddos up at 156 if you haven't already. A very special shoutout to Mr. Hayashida, Mrs. Skrumbus, Mrs. Nearing, and Mrs. Verner.

My son has been going to school at the Academy of the Arts for about a year now and he loves it…read more Previously, my son attended the Growing Gardens which is the daycare at the same location. The teachers and the administration make learning fun for our kids. I know this because my son comes home everyday and can't wait to tell me what he learned that day. COVID Specific: The administration and the teachers at the Academy of the Arts took COVID safety protocols very seriously from day 1 and they continue to stick strictly to the protocols today. I feel safe sending my son to the Academy of the Arts on school days (I'd even send him on the weekends if they were open). Thank you Dr. Bogle and team!

This school is exceptional in every way, shape and form. If you're looking for an academically…read morerigorous school that's completely student-centered with LOW class sizes and some Judaism sprinkled in, this is the school for your child! Your child will THRIVE here, period. The administration and teachers are masters at "Fitting 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound bag" .... Let me explain. This school year, in addition to a phenomenal academic course load, our daughter has consistently been engaged in Gymnastics every week with Coach Paige, Rolling Robotics STEM, Musical Theatre, weekly cooking classes that are so impressive my husband wants to sign me up, targeted writing instruction from a USC Writing Professor, Chess class on Mondays, Legos on Fridays, Sports with the coach on Tuesdays, Hebrew everyday (GREAT for the developing brain!), Art class with a talented artist, Science Fair, Beach Clean-Up, weekend camping trip in the San Bernardino Mountains, and a bunch of field trips throughout the school year. No wonder the students LOVE coming to school everyday! Come see for yourself - take a tour and see what a school that's rooted in BEST PRACTICES truly looks like. Your child will thank you! It's truly a GIFT for your child to NOT share the instruction with 25-30+ other students. If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me here on Yelp. In addition to being an Academy parent, I'm also an educator with nearly 20 years experience. Happy to answer questions and/or help unpack different educational situations.

One of the best schools in the South Bay. Great teachers, administrators and students. The campus…read moreis clean and newly renovated. Parent involvement is huge, which makes the school so good.

Fantastic school!!! Just the best experience here! Great teacher, and wonderful environment.read more

Agree with the more recent comments - don't let the older negative reviews deter you! The current…read moreadministration is top notch - the director Hillary is wonderful and so are all of the teachers and staff. Our two year old runs into her classroom with excitement every morning and doesn't want to leave when we pick her up at the end of the day! The curriculum is fantastic, as are the extracurricular activities and family events. You won't be disappointed.

Please please don't let the reviews of the past cloud your decision. MSMB is top notch - the…read moreteachers, administrators, and support staff are all warm, caring, and want nothing but a great environment for your kids to thrive in. We were a bit hesitant after reading the reviews, but upon speaking with the staff and other parents, we decided to enroll our second kid (2.5yo) and we've absolutely loved it. Our kid is quite shy in new environments and separation anxiety is still high. The teachers and staff are always so warm and welcoming in addressing him to make him feel safe and loved. He now talks about Ms. Hillary and his teachers like they're his friends. For context, we moved this past summer to MB from San Francisco, where we had our first son in multiple private preschools due to covid. Of all the different places we've experienced, the communication, structure, staff, the wide range of activities, and the warmth of the admin especially, have all been top notch. We also had our kid in another preschool in MB prior to this where he was having a hard time, so we toured a multiple other places to look for alternatives all across MB and El Segundo. I can honestly say that you won't get a better team than MSMB. I echo all other positive reviews as well re: the Band app, the campus, the community, extra curricular, etc.. If you're on the fence because of the reviews, please take a visit for yourself and experience what the school has to offer before you judge based on the reviews of parents that are no longer associated with the school.

This school is really organized and dedicated to the families and children who attend Pacific. My…read moresons attended here (2011), and I was so pleased by all the parent involvement that produced such fun and successful fund raisers, family events and just good education. There was always a parent volunteering for every grade my sons went to, sometimes 2 or 3 parents who would dedicate a day or two each week. The teachers send emails to you each week informing you of everything that is being taught in class that week, so you really feel involved in your childs education and know just what to focus on! The new principal, Mrs. Linz, has so much energy and is very involved in every aspect of the children's education and the parent's concerns. Susie at the front office is an example of excellent parent-school relations and you can get most answers directly from her. The grounds are well kept, they offer enrichment programs each season, and after school care is just an excellent extension of the school day, doing homework and providing reading time, sports and other fun activities. Mrs. Leigh from EDP (extended Day Care Program) and her staff are super dedicated and very friendly! I adore this school and recommend it to anyone considering attending. ~ A Happy Parent

I like Washington Elementary and love the staff / faculty and educational programs that includes…read morewhat I'd maybe call extracurricular activities beyond the classroom. The culture teaches the students the importance of proactive respect and passion for education. I read some of the not-so-kind Yelp reviews and also compared Washington to other RBUSD elementary schools (discussing with my peers), so wanted to write up a debatable rebuttal. Where Washington falls short is, what truly makes a school extraordinary is not only just the staff/faculty but that sense of community and parent participation as well as support by/from local businesses. I feel the parents of Washington students are for the most part, non-contributing as volunteers nor supporters beyond dropping their kids off and picking them up. It feels like the PTA has a half dozen or so very passionate members. The school supposed to have enrollment of 800-850 students annually for grades K-5 and let's say there's a blend of traditional 2 parent families as well as single parents or parents of multiple siblings who attend the school That might come out to a potential of 1,200-1,500+ parents/adults (also factoring in possibly grandparents/relatives who take an active interest in their family students at the school). It feels like there's maybe about a 5-10% active engagement/involvement by any parents (60-150) with the potential to contribute time (or even donated money) to the school. That leaves over 90% seemingly doing absolutely nothing. I could be wrong, but probably am not that far off from the reality of the statistics. Sure, they'll show up for free events, but how many every volunteer? It seems like the same generous volunteers are spread thin repeatedly helping out. So, in one breath it's easy for a parent to be critical of a school of falling short of their expectations, but if you look at putting the UNITY in CommUNITY and notion of "It takes a village..." to make Washington the best school it can be for their students, then reflectively, those who whine and complain might need a mirror to see who's to share in any blame of non-support to make it the best school it can be. I've had awesome experiences with the front office, teachers and all faculty members. I feel the PTA does the best they can do with the limited resources they have in those willing to pitch in. I know it's hard for working parents to carve out time or with a tight economy in a public school to find extra money to donate, so there's not easy solutions... but if you're being critical and complaining without doing anything, you become more part of the problem than a constructive component of the solution. The Washington Explorers are great and that's why I have a * * * * * Five Star review with the context of the issues that are outside of the school's control that could be improved to make the school level-up to it's most awesome potential.

If you are considering the Spanish Dual Immersion program at Washington Elementary, I encourage you…read moreto carefully research the program and speak with current and former families before making a decision. My children entered the program as native Spanish speakers, and we speak Spanish at home. We considered them fluent when they enrolled and hoped the program would provide a rich bilingual environment where both native speakers and English learners could benefit from one another. Unfortunately, our experience has been disappointing. Over the years, we have observed a decline in the number of native Spanish-speaking students participating in the program, which has made it feel less balanced and less mutually beneficial than we originally expected. As native speakers, my children were often expected to support classmates who were learning Spanish, which sometimes created additional pressure rather than allowing them to focus on their own growth and learning. We also felt that classroom placements were not always equitable and that our children did not have the same opportunities to learn from some of the more experienced teachers in the program. The biggest concern for our family has been the social and emotional experience. While every family's experience will be different, our children faced significant challenges that at times made us question whether the program was the right fit for them. We believe all students, especially native speakers who are essential to the success of a dual immersion program, deserve a supportive environment where they feel safe, valued, and able to thrive. After exploring other Dual Immersion programs in neighboring districts, I believe there are stronger options available that provide a more supportive environment for native Spanish-speaking students and their families. I would encourage parents to research multiple programs, visit campuses, and ask detailed questions before making a decision. I share this review not because I oppose bilingual education, in fact, I strongly support it. because I believe families deserve a complete picture of the program. Ask questions about native-speaker representation, classroom placement practices, teacher experience, student retention, and social-emotional support before enrolling.

GREAT SCHOOL. My daughter is on the autism spectrum and…read moreADHD, she is always treated with love, respect, and compassion. The school is extremely inclusive and seems transparent about their methods and the campus. Parents are always encouraged to participate in volunteer opportunities, school projects such as their carnival, PTA works very hard to give the children at this school a great experience. Office staff is loving and caring, Ms. Michelle, Ms. Caroline, and Nurse Gina are all a great representation of Lincoln. Mr. Brown is a fantastic principal. Always professional, down to earth and very involved in the children's education and safety on campus. He seems very hands on deck. My daughter was fortunate to have an amazing SDC teacher, Ms. Mi. I am forever grateful for her big heart and dedication to her students, including my daughter. Overall, our experience at Lincoln has been great so far.

Lincoln Elementary is a fantastic school! Both of my daughters are/have been Lincoln Lions and we…read morehave had a wonderful experience. Not only are the teachers and principal top notch, the community of parents is supportive, caring and eager to create a fun learning environment for all of the students. Parents volunteer in a variety of ways: as Hands on Art Docents, Garden and Nutrition Docents, Room Parents and for various PTA supported events. And speaking of the PTA, Lincoln has the best! The PTA pays for additional classroom materials, educational programs and events as well as fun community events throughout the year. Lincoln is a welcoming school environment that truly supports the whole child. We are proud to be Lincoln Lions! Rooooaaarrr!!!

I loved VCA!!! My daughter started Valor in 6th grade and she just graduated this month. She had a…read moregreat middle school experience! Their middle school program offers small class sizes, field trips, sports, electives, and much more. My daughter made lots of friends and loved most of the teachers. She got good grades all throughout her middle school years and earned academic honor roll and other achievements both academically and for sports. During her 8th grade year, her class did a very memorable missions trip and went to DC. She told me that it will be a year she will never forget. The staff was great and very supportive. Mrs. E did a wonderful job in her new role as the principal. Coach Phil is a special person who was always available to the students when they need someone to talk to. He was a great coach, pe teacher, and yearbook teacher. My daughter loved coach Phil and I am so grateful for him. Mr. Shook was another favorite. He taught science and history. My daughter enjoyed him because he would always crack jokes and make everyone laugh. Mr.Shook was a great teacher, however, sometimes, I think he should keep his political opinions to himself. That was the only thing that kind of made me uncomfortable. The other thing relating to staff was the staff turnover. My daughter had a different English and math teacher every year. Which was annoying because she would build a strong relationship with them, then they left and she would have to rebuild. I understand that isn't the schools fault. But it did interfere with math and her math grade. Overall, my daughter and our family loved Valor! We highly recommend this school if you are looking for a small close-knit Christian school community. We felt safe sending her which was a big deal considering the unfortunate times that we live in. Thank you Valor for all the wonderful memories and for providing my daughter with a great Christian middle school experience. Please let me know asap when there is a Valor High! :)

We have been apart of this school for now 2 1/2 years and this review is long overdue, as we get…read moreready to send kiddo #2. We couldn't be more happy with this school and the biblical foundation it offers especially from what is being experienced from public school. We are so thankful we have found valor and it has been such a blessing to us. How prayerful and considerate this team is in finding solutions and going above and beyond and taking a biblical approach is rare. Our child has superseded his academics which has truly been amazing to see him grow. We look forward to growing with this school.