I definitely enjoyed this school and all the opportunities VNHS had to offer. I was a graduate…read morepretty long ago and had the honor of attending my cousin's graduation here. The teachers are funny, witty, and understanding. They have three magnet programs: performing arts, math and science, and medical. Their jazz choir is unbeatable and their volleyball games are through the roof. My cousin will definitely never forget her years here. We both enjoyed the many things Van Nuys had to offer. We also had fireworks at our graduation.

So I'd like to start with what was positive about coming to school here. I graduated in 2021. I…read morereally liked Mrs.Nirmal and Mr.Doctor. Mrs.Nirmal teaches chemistry and she's great. Mr.Doctor teaches history and he is very knowledgeable and helps his students succeed. My issues with the school started in 11th grade in the middle of the year before the pandemic. I was not permitted to join the dance company despite having a rudamentary knowledge of hip hop. This crushed me since I entered in the school specifically to the performing magnet arts program and that did not work out. There was an insane amount of discrimination and bullying going on behind closed doors and when it was brought to the staff's attention more specifically Mrs.Arana she did nothing about it. I experienced the worst cyberbullying and bullying from the kids while it attendance to this school that I'm now 23 years old and I still recall stuff that went on. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Do not send your kid here. I would recieve an endless amount of death threats, abelist comments on my former youtube channel, and a lot of people were targetting me because of my religion so I feel discriminated against. Making fun of my religion and sending me death threats is not the way anybody should spend their high school years. I know high school is bad but it does not have to be that bad if you choose the correct school. The students are insanely historically not informed and some of the comments they made towards me behind closed doors are disgusting, nobody should ever be spoken to the way that I was. In response to telling Miss Arana that I was being targeted for being Jewish, she said "there are conflicts in the middle East." NO! We are in Los Angeles and this is her school and this is what people are writing to me here and now, so I felt like she could have done more to take care of it. At the time there was even a "tea page" on instagram where there was a lot of cyberbullying. There were maybe 50 or so posts about me on there and I didn't really have any friends at the school so it was very unfair to me what was going on.

I just read some of the reviews for Birmingham and I beg you to take these reviews with "a grain of…read moresalt". Many of the reviewers sound bitter and want someone to blame for their lack of discipline. If you want to be successful at Birmingham, you CAN be successful at Birmingham, period. The simple facts are these: #1 The campus is beautiful (BIG but beautiful). The groundskeepers and the students take good care of "their home". There are new covered eating areas, new Amazing murals on the walls "Patriot Pride" and if there is a bit of "tagging", it's removed immediately. #2 High security. They installed hundreds of cameras recording all activities on campus. These recordings have been used to prosecute wrong doing. If a student is doing something wrong, security is dispatched immediately. Most students complain about too many security guards yelling at them to get to class! #3 Teachers who push their students to succeed and genuinely care about their students. Many teachers offer many hours of extra tutoring time if students need it. #4 Every sport, club, music, theater, and art class is offered at Birmingham. The sports teams are amazing! The band program, choir program, and theater programs win numerous awards and produce many successful concerts/shows. There are many visual arts programs including drawing, photography, digital imaging and even ceramics. # 5 SLC's (Small Learning Communities) that really tailor to your child's interests and goals. #6 Mr. Parks is a great principal! The staff will help you if you ask. I've seen many schools and most are not as organized and committed to excellence as Birmingham Community Charter High School. Can your child have issues if they go there? Maybe. As a parent, YOU need to check up on your child. You can go online and check your students progress on the Aries computer grading system.You the parent can see if your child "ditched" a class (which isn't hard to do with a population over 3,000 if a kid wants to do that) by looking on the system or calling the school. Don't wait for the school to inform you. Most students (and parents) who complain about Birmingham, are the ones who complain about everything! I know it's not the "Braves" anymore, it's the "Patriots" now---get over it already!! Did I mention how good the food is there now!?!?

After 12 years in school BCCHS WITCH 12 Grade VP DENIED MY KID GOING TO THE PROM, GRADUATION…read moreCEREMONY AND GRAD NIGHT bcuz of excess absences from our severe car accident two mos prior. His heart was broken all summer long and beyond. BCCHS 2010 - 2015 My polite, shy child w mod Tourettes Syndrome w IEP Individual Education Plan all 4 yrs was basically dismissed emotionally and mentally by counselors, admins, some teachers re his 'IEP Learning Plan Accomodations' ie extra time for assignments, exams, extra individual attention for same etc all spelled out signed and agreed to by all teachers counselors vice principal psychologist special ed staff etc every single semester all four years at our IEP meetings. I attended every single mtg, every single semester. I'm a retired elementary teacher myself and am well aware of my Student w Disabilities' rights. They were denying these rights in actual practice on a day-to-day class-by-class basis. They crossed all their tees and dotted all their I s to get the money from the govt. $$$$$ Extra for STUDENTS W DISABILITIES paid. When I would inquire a various staff members including teachers counselors and vps over the four years I was given a run around and treated like I was intruding on, or asking too much of them. In 12th grade we had a horrific car accident in which we both were on doctor's orders recovering at home, for a week and a half. Although I had informed w doctors note w reason for extended absences, the female VP waited for revenge on my child and me, until a month before graduation. She crushed my sweet, kind and friendly teenager's hopes, spirit and heart, and my heart too. Btw I attended Birmingham's #1 rival Taft High School, in Woodland Hills, CA Class of 1980 when many of my friends attended Birmingham. Then both are high schools were envied, fantastic 10 /10 A+ schools. Our families lived in the area Tarzana Encino to attend these fantastic schools nowadays those same homes have their children in private schools because Birmingham especially is such a failure. Read the stats yourself. That's why charter schools are not necessarily a good thing and definitely not usually superior. Also, that's why the Billions Tax $$$$$ Department Of Education must be eliminated. I believe this vengeful abusive disgusting VP action was definitely racially motivated. Birmingham is now only 4% white, 86% Hispanic, the VP was Hispanic and we are white.

This is a small charter school from PUC Schools. The charter is through LAUSD and the class size…read morecap is 30 students. Schools starts in Sept and runs until the end of June.

On the Lakeview side, this school is not mentally friendly. If you have a mental illness, they will…read morenot leave you alone until you're normal again or else they will send you away to an institution. The breaks are ridiculously short, the students here are not friendly or mature at all, and it's very dense with crowded hallways making it almost impossible to move around since it's a small school. If you have mental issues or want to settle your high school life peacefully and friendly, do not come to this school. Don't let the premium setting and high-quality education fool you, it's not worth it.

I'm currently a senior at VAAS, due to graduate in just a couple months. I was informed of some…read morehorribly inaccurate reviews of my high school on this site so i'm here to set the record straight. The following are MY experiences with VAAS and my personal perspective of the school based on what I've seen and been a part of, therefore keep that in mind as you read on. Lets begin with academics. VAAS oftentimes is compared to GHCHS when it comes to academic rigor, and although admittedly Granada has quite a stellar academic reputation, our school's educational quality has grown and flourished tremendously over the last four years and i'm honestly happy with my decision to go here. You can truly succeed and challenge yourself academically at VAAS. Let me repeat, YOU CAN TRULY SUCCEED AND CHALLENGE YOURSELF ACADEMICALLY AT VAAS. This whole rumor about VAAS being incredibly easy is true...if you take easy classes. So much of this school hinges on your decisions about what to make of it! There are plenty of great options for all grade levels to challenge yourself. TAKE AP CLASSES. Going into high school all i would hear is, "whatever you do man don't take AP euro you're gonna die" ...au contraire. At VAAS i took my first AP class in tenth grade (AP european history), i passed with an A both semesters and got a 3 on the exam. AP's at VAAS get a really bad reputation because of the low pass rate. Granted some of the teachers have room for improvement, but i can honestly say AP's at VAAS are manageable. The only huge thing is that you HAVE to be willing to do a lot of the work yourself. Its a college-level class okay its gonna be hard, but if you go home and put time into it you should be fine. Or you could sit there and blame the teachers but you do you. Sometimes though its quite frustrating dealing with instructors that you feel aren't doing your class justice and effectively preparing you for the exam. I've had teachers switched on me second semester before, and the adjustment was a bit frustrating. And this year is the first time i feel like i'm being adequately prepared for an AP English exam, (highly recommend Ms. Petrossian). English classes generally in my experience have been disappointing up until my senior year. If you can't work independently and REALLY take the class seriously then don't take an AP. Also as former captain of the VAAS Academic Decathlon team, i can truly say that this school features beautifully talented and intelligent minds, skilled in various disciplines throughout the sciences and humanities. ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere at VAAS is incredibly unique. Almost everyone is extremely nice here. Theres little to no bullying, fighting, or anything severe like that. You don't have to worry about stuff like gang fights or racial separation at VAAS, since our hardworking faculty makes sure that our school keeps its stellar behavioral reputation. If you fight here you're most likely getting expelled immediately, this school just doesn't deal with that, its a safe place for everyone. Again this is based off of my experience, and of course every school has rude and apathetic students and VAAS is no exception. Some aspects i don't like: Theres a certain degree of favoritism between faculty and students. Some kids get away with more because they're more well-liked by teachers and staff. The school's small size sort of makes it so everyone knows your business, kind of like a small town, and secrets aren't kept very long here. Plus if you have a falling-out with someone, expect to seem them multiple times a day and make awkward eye contact since your lockers are probably 5 feet away from each other and you have like 3 classes together. Like i said, small school. But just be nice so that doesn't happen! More importantly, we have an INCREDIBLY vibrant LGBTQ community at this school (faculty too!), including various clubs for those students and for others who would like to join in support of those communities. VAAS is a very progressive and liberal school for the most part, but i have plenty of conservative friends and they're welcomed with open arms as well, since this is a student body dedicated to tolerance, cooperation, and respect. If you've read this far then congrats i'm happy you care enough to take the time to do research. Don't let people tell you that students here aren't ready for college. Many of the graduating seniors, including myself, have been accepted into top-tier UC's among other premier universities, including a friend of mine that might very well attend YALE!! If we can do it then so can you. Bottom Line: VAAS has room for improvement but overall it is an amazing school and YOUR OWN decisions will determine your success here. The tolerant and friendly atmosphere is unlike any other, most of the faculty truly cares about you, and the academics are perfectly satisfactory if you take the right classes. Hope this review has helped you in making a decision, good luck :)

As a parent, I've had three children attend VAAS. Two have already graduated and one is currently a…read moresenior. Each of their experiences has been different, but one thing has stayed consistent: their confidence has grown and they've learned how to advocate for themselves. I remember when my oldest started as a freshman. He was nervous and trying to figure out where he fit in. He's part of the LGBTQ community, and as a mom you hope your child will be accepted for who they are. At VAAS, he was. The diversity here is real, and you can feel it every day. He joined the dance team, got involved in theater, and eventually became president of several clubs. Watching him grow into a confident leader showed me how much this school was helping him develop as a person, not just as a student. My other two children were excited to attend after seeing his experience, and I've watched the same kind of growth happen with them. They all have different personalities and interests, but they've each learned to speak up for themselves and take ownership of their future. As a parent, that means everything. What makes VAAS special is the smaller environment and the relationships with teachers and staff. Students are known by name, and the teachers genuinely care. I've had teachers reach out not just about concerns, but to share progress and ideas for growth. It shows they're truly invested. Both of my children who graduated from VAAS have now graduated from college, one from UC Irvine and the other from the University of Hawaii, and my youngest has already been accepted into college. That tells me VAAS really prepared them for what came next. One of my favorite experiences as a parent has been Digital Portfolio Night, where students present their own work and reflect on their growth. Seeing that confidence firsthand is something special. VAAS is more than just a school. It's a supportive community that prepares students for life after high school, and I would absolutely recommend it to other families.

This current 16-17 school year was my daughter's first year at St Gen as a Freshman. I am beyond…read moreimpressed with the school. I was just like every parent who is nervous in sending off their child to high school, especially with the horror stories you hear about schools in general but I was wrong. To date I have been very pleased with the caliber and education she has received. I was completely surprised when she told me that the first day of school was an all day event that was put together by the upper grade students as a Welcome Freshman day. I had never heard of any other school making every student involved in creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere to all the new students. I can honestly say that from day one she has been happy. She likes her teachers, has excelled in subjects that she struggled with in Jr High and better yet has not missed one day of school which reflect on her grades and GPA. I have St Gen's faculty and principal to thank for providing the right tools from the start! Additionally while this is a Catholic School and values, character and respect are high on the standards they uphold, this is not your average Catholic School. It is very modern and puts its academics ahead of everything else. They are grooming and prepping students for college from 9th grade by offering College Prep, AP and Honor courses, along with a plethora of extra curricular activities. Unlike most private schools that are very rigid in their dress code, they allow the students to wear daily "Nike athletic gear" that of course is sold in the campus. This is not to say that they are not strict about the athletic uniform because they are but my point is that they have created an environment of comfort and again focuses more on the academics and athletics over dressing like you are going to church everyday. Don't get me wrong there are days that formal wear is required but its not everyday which is really cool. On the financial side of things....don't be scared or think you cannot afford it. Talk to Mrs Z and explain your concern or hestiations and trust me she will walk you thru any process. They are willing to help so don't feel discouraged if you go online and review the tuition pricing. What I find very refreshing and innovative are the night schools which take place once or twice a month every other month or so. The night school sessions feature various motivational speakers that visit from all walks of life and offer such a profound view into their life and struggles that is so inspiring and special. I personally look forward to the night schools. Mr. Horn has provided a way for you as a parent to partake in these night school events which take place in the evening. It really shows how much this school wants you as a parent to have an open dialogue with your child after the end of the event and as you drive home. I really appreciate the time and effort every faculty member puts into these events. Its really a wonderful experience to be a part of and shows the school spirit in full effect. Frankly I have not come across that type of school spirit anywhere else. Its infectious and makes you feel not only like you made the right decision in enrolling your child in this school but that they are in the right hands with people that care and are helping them evolve into adulthood.

St. Genevieve Church in Panorama City, CA bought out an ENTIRE block of homes, demolished them, and…read moreconstructed the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. One is about 8 stories tall with NO windows (see pic)...what is the purpose of that?? What if there is a fire? This church has endless amounts of cash, they get the city to cater to their every needs, including special law enforcement from LAPD to sweep homeless people or anyone who looks unclean from the sidewalk in front of their church. I attended church there a few times, it was very quick and strange. I would never send my kids to that high school.

It is sad to read that my middle school has gone down hill…read more I graduated from Charles Maclay in 1984. Back then, Pacoima was a beautiful place to live and raise a family. It's interesting how things can change so completely through the years.

I grew up in Pacoima, and anyone here who lives in The Valley, they know Pacoima is like the ghetto…read moreof the ghetto. I didn't go school here but I lived right across the street aka The Projects. I went to Maclay from 5-8 when the gates were closed and the lights were off. Maclay is the place where I learned how to jump fences, play ball, and run from the cops. This place is a part of me, a bad part. From what I hear, education system here blows etc but hey it's the nearest middle school actually, ONLY middle school in Pacoima; so you have no choice. P.S. Their uniform was Green and White.. yes.. Green pants and White shirts... WOW

As a parent, we really want teachers and school staff who love and care for our kids as they do…read morespend most of the day with them. This school has been outstanding. From Mr. Lee's great leadership to teachers, staff, volunteers and school employees. I'm happy that my kid culminated from this school. 10/10 recommend. Shoutout to Ms.Wendell for being an incredible teacher. She's an absolute gem!

This a great school. Me. Lee the principal is always present. The teachers are awesome and truly…read morecare. The staff as well has been looking out for the kids and they are there for them.