This is the best school in the world Good teacher…read more Good office work Thank you very much

This school was pretty good, I went here til 2022, the teachers were so fun, however, there was an…read moreaid worker who wasn't necessarily nice to the kids, but she was just doing her job. And for the most of 5th grade I was alone. But besides that, I like it there, better than my current school I go to right now

My daughter is in her first year of kindergarten, and Mrs. Best is truly the best! We love this…read moreschool -- all the staff are so kind and welcoming. Next year, my son will be joining the school in TK, and we're really looking forward to it!

This is such a great school! The teachers and administration genuinely care about the students. It…read morefeels like a big family! The environment feels safe and it is such a beautiful campus. Everyone is kind and the kids are really happy attending. It really is the best school!

Lockurst is the best elementary school we could have dreamed up for our children!!! We moved to…read morethis area for the schools years ago, and Lockhurst has exceeded our expectations in every way! We're able to be involved in the school and both kids' classrooms, and the community has been and continues to be incredibly welcoming. Just a fun group all around! The teachers, staff and principal make this school what it is and we feel very lucky that our littles and ourselves are part of this special place. The PTO works hard to make the family and student experience as fun as it can be throughout the year and lots of families are very dedicated to keeping it amazing. The kids are thriving academically and socially and adore their classmates and teachers. Thanks to everyone at Lockhurst that makes this school what it is!

Love this school! It is a small tight community of parents and teachers. My kids feel supported by…read moretheir teachers and so do I. I especially like that they are actively building community with lots of events like a glow dance, movie nights, Fall Festival. It feels very small town in that wonderful way. Plus they have music, dance, robotics and other classes that help my kids enjoy going to school.

Round Meadow is one of the best school academically! For second grade we had Ms. Fleischman and she…read morewas such an incredible teacher. My son excelled like never before in reading, math, writing etc. All the counselors and teachers here are very nice and proactive. They have a lot of fun ways to bring the community together! such a great school. The drop off and pick up can be a little backed up and take a while sometimes but its worth it. Its also located in a beautiful area near the hidden hills backside gate.

I had the pleasure of attending my nieces elementary school for a holiday play. The Auditorium was…read morepacked with parents, bursting at the seams, with people standing in every aisle and doorway . It was different compared to the private school experience because not one person complained of the crowding. There was a feeling of comradery and friendship in the parents and their families who were willing to make the best of the overcrowded facility for the sake of the kids. The school did a fantastic job in their performance. and from what I hear have great teachers such as Mrs. Baird who teach the kids the life skills that will keep them organized and help them to achieve success early on so they are better prepared for junior high and beyond.

Great school! I am a student here and the staff are really funny and nice. Our principal Mrs. Cao…read moreGarcia is kind and helpful and, also the event at our school is really fun and I enjoy it a lot. The teacher is so nice to their students. I am going to 5th grade this year and I wish that I can go back to kindergarten because how good the school is. Also, the kid at our school is super nice.

Best Elementary School. Wonderful teachers! Principal and office staff are so kind and care so much…read morefor each and every child. A great balance of education and fun extra curricular activities.

This review is long over due, we our going on our third year of enrollment at HillPoint Montessori…read moreand we are extremely happy about our decision. Prior to having our child here, school was a real daily struggle. We did not enjoy having to spend long hours each night completing work sheets and hw; our child was not happy. Being professional working parents having to come home and complete a stack of "work sheets" was utter misery for all of us. Each Sunday night we began to hear "my tummy hurts", since school was on Monday. The final straw came the day when our little one yelled at us in tears "I HATE SCHOOL!!!", we finally accepted that we needed a change. I searched and spent countless hours reading, talking to other parents, and doing campus tours of different private schools in the SFV area. Most were either not affordable for us or followed very traditional teaching methods. We knew our child needed something different, "aHillpoint Montessori was the answer. I remember the first day we toured the campus with our child; we meet the school director and lower elementary teachers. We were in awe as we saw that Ms. Alyssa (the lower elementary teacher) had in her "parent library" the same books that we were reading about child development and child neuro-development. The more we got to know Ms. Alyssa and ask her questions, the clearer it became to us that the Montessori teaching approach was in perfect sync to what our child and family needed. We were in disbelief that such a school and classroom could even exist and that the tuition was within our budget. By the time we were done with our tour we knew we had to enroll our child at Hillpoint Montessori. We asked lots and lots of questions to the school director Ms. Dayani; our questions were very direct and upfront--we needed to know and feel secure that this school would be the right place for our child and family. We didn't want to find our child and family in another school environment that didn't support our child's needs. Making a change was a bit intimidating, having to change your child's school is and can be nerve wrecking. However, the school and Ms. Alyssa made the transition a smooth and beautiful one. The approach that Montessori takes is one of respect, inclusiveness, and acknowledgment. In other schools I noticed that children are "talked at" and not "talked with"; now our child has a voice and is heard by the teachers and classmates. In the Montessori method, children are taught empathy, independence, good citizenship, curiosity, and creativeness which foster an environment of learning. Our child loves to learn and explore the world, the questions we now get asked and engagement is astonishing. At our previous school, which followed the traditional teaching method, our child did not want to go to school and upon being picked up there was nothing to share or mention about the day. All the answers were "I don't know..." followed by endless silence-regardless of what we asked, how we asked, or how creative we were in engaging a conversation about the school day. Prior to Hillpoint, the passion/curiosity to learn within our child was disinterested; we were able to see a drastic difference within the first week of starting class at Hillpoint Montessori. It's as if our child was back!!! Now, pick up time is the best part of the day, and very often our child says to us "why did you pick me up so early! Can't you pick me up later please?". The car ride back home is endless chatter as we hear about everything that happened at school that day, what lessons were taught, and what subjects were learned. We have also been able to form beautiful friendships with other school families and our children very often get together for play dates and to do fun activities together. We didn't have this at our previous school, it's a special community we have built at Hillpoint. There is no other learning method that comes close to the Montessori method, with the exception of the Waldorf Method, however, this is not financially permissible to our family or most families. If you don't know what the Montessori method consists of, I encourage you to look it up-- if you are reading my review, and taking the time to get this far, it's probably because your child and family are searching for a better fit and learning environment. We understand as we were there three years ago. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out; happy to pay it forward and share more of our experience with you. * We are a real family and we were not paid nor given any type of incentive from the school or anyone at the school to write and share our experience.

My son started at Hill Point Montessori when he was just 2 years old, and the growth we've seen in…read morehim over the past two years has been incredible. His vocabulary and communication skills have evolved remarkably, reflecting the Montessori approach that truly fosters independence, confidence, and a love for learning. He has had amazing hands-on experiences making fresh orange juice, churning butter, observing the life cycle of chicks, and gardening that taught him practical life skills, responsibility, and curiosity about the world. The community at Hill Point is wonderfully diverse. Along with our son forming beautiful friendships, we as parents have also built lasting connections. Mrs. Dayani and Ms. Anishka are incredibly passionate and dedicated, and their love for Montessori education shines in everything they do. Their wonderful teachers Ms Dinorah, Ms Ishani, Ms Maryam, Ms Rakhi and staff ensure every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated. Hill Point Montessori is a nurturing, vibrant, and truly authentic Montessori environment. We are so grateful for the foundation they've given our son--it will stay with him for life.

Both my teenage sons attended public elementary school, then went to Topanga Mountain School, then…read moretransitioned successfully back into public high school at El Camino. TMS provided a nurturing haven during the middle school years which has made my kids more resilient, better citizens of the world, and confident advocates for themselves and for others. Here are some of the experiences my boys had: - going on at least three one-week camping trips each year - learning to cook for themselves and to shop for their camping group on a budget - taking elective classes in pottery, archery, swimming, fencing, and aerial silks - composing and performing original songs during the music trimester - practicing public speaking in a variety of formats, from in-class debates to presentations to full-length plays - sitting in "council" and honoring the feelings and values of their classmates, even whey disagreed with them - burning off energy by playing soccer, basketball, and "mushroom tag" after lunch each day - exploring DTLA via public transportation - evaluating what constitutes a reliable source in traditional media and on social media - gaining an appreciation for nature through weekly hikes - feeling they had an actual relationship with their teachers (with whom they continue to stay in contact) - mastering the five-paragraph academic essay - working in small groups at a pace that was appropriate to their skill level, especially in math - graduating with a strong sense of self Sending my sons to TMS is one of the best investments I have made in their education and their personal growth. The only caveat I would offer is that, due to its small size and flexible curriculum, TMS tends to have more last-minute changes than a traditional school. There is no such thing as a "typical" week at TMS; the teachers may adjust the day's schedule if an issue arises and they feel the kids need to process events in the news or resolve interpersonal conflicts which impact the entire group. I f this to be a virtue, but if you are expecting rigid consistency, it's best to look to a more traditional school.

TMS has been a gift to our son and our family! Middle school can be difficult and distressing for…read moremany kids, but every morning my son wakes up excited to go to school. I've talked to other parents, and the sentiment is the same: kids love TMS! TMS is a mixture of appropriately challenging academics (with some room for individualization because the school is small), social-emotional development, the arts, and outdoor education. The school goes on four trips a year, and I love how the curriculum is integrated into the trips. For example, last year, they read a book that took place at a Japanese internment camp during WWII, and then they visited the actual camp during one of their trips. Also, there is a focus on making the learning applicable to the "real world." For some of the trips, kids are divided into groups, given a food budget, and work together to plan their meals and buy food. There is also a great community feeling amongst the parents at TMS. There is also a culture of kindness and acceptance at TMS. All-in-all, I am confident that my son will emerge from his middle school experience self-confident, ready for high school, and equipped to make the world a better place!

As a parent of Calabash Elementary for the past 8 years I can tell you that I have been beyond…read moreimpressed by this school and this is why; * a principal that is fair, that shows no favoritism, and is a true child advocate. * a front office staff that are warm, knowledgeable and show respect for the parents and children. * teachers that care, are passionate about teaching and educated on our children Academic needs. * a librarian that has developed a generation of children with a love for books. * a PTA that has made a community, that has worked non stop to raise money for the programs and enrichments that our tax dollars no longer cover.

Update... as we near graduation…read more The Great -- The teachers. Almost without exception, every teacher we've had at Calabash (approx 12) has been top notch, committed and inspirational. The Good -- The PTA. It's improved. A lot. It's now run by a responsible group that is really committed to raising funds and implementing quality programs for the kids. The Mediocre -- The parents. With the exception of a few, the parent involvement is pretty lame. Same group of parents that volunteer at every event. The BAD -- The Principal. One of the worst I've ever seen. She attempts to run the school like a military base. She has her sights set on climbing the LAUSD ladder and, clearly, every decision she makes is geared toward furthering her personal goals as opposed to creating a nurturing, fun, inspiring environment for the kids. And this isn't just my opinion. Every teacher, parent and student hates her.

I went to the class of 2023 to 2024 and all my six years I spent there I had an amazing time…read more 1. The teachers are really nice and encourage you to be kind and nice to others 2. The principal there is such a nice lady and she wants to get to know you and make sure you have a good year 3. Mrs Carter the councilor is probably the best one in the world she is never mad at you but if you do something bad she is disappointed she makes sure she makes time for you in her day

My son was at a private Christian school with high academic and behavioral standards from the age…read moreof 4 to 10 when he transferred to Lupin Hill. He is a high energy boy and our Christian school did not recognize ADHD as an official diagnosis, it was extremely strict and he had a hard time. We thought that since public schools takes kids with different mental health diagnoses, he would thrive there. Boy, we were wrong. Honestly, he is back in a less strict private school setting, thriving while looking back at Lupin Hill as the worst experience of his life. Now he is in a supportive environment and is getting awards at a new school, is a successful athlete in his flag football school team, and has not had a behavioral issue at all this year. Lupin's teachers, counselor, and their principal with PhD have done nothing to help him and everything to make sure he fails. The 5th grade teacher constantly yelled at the class, one time to the point where the principal made her apologist to the children. She literally called the kids COWARDS for gravitating towards their friends during group projects. That's what kids do! They naturally want to work with their friends! The teacher also reprimanded the children for touching other children but grabbed and pushed kids from one place to another all the time. And the counselor is her side kick. The teacher didn't think my son has ADHD, which is understandable because he is borderline and his symptoms are mild, but made his anxiety far worse with her yelling. He was literally in tears not wanting to go to school for the entire second semester. Had great anxiety every Monday and still recalls that teacher as a nightmare experience. Other kids from the school that attend the same jiu jitsu classes as my kids know that teacher's reputation of being a bully, yet she is still there. Their principal with PhD tries to act all sweet but compensates for her lack of knowledge by flipping the "mean switch" on. She kept telling us she knows kids with ADHD and suggested that my son has another underlying mental health issue worse than that because he won't admit his faults. I don't have a PhD and haven't worked with children, but just listening to information on ADHD tells me that classic signs of ADHD is to see yelling and accusations as a sign of attach and the brain tries to do anything it can to justify and defend itself. You don't need a PhD to know that, just some minor reading on the subject. The academics were a joke as well, I volunteered in class and some kids can barely read. Given my son's private school background, his reading was one of the best there. Their grading system is a joke. We feel like we wasted a year! Glad now we found such a great support system at West Valley Christian School!