We've had two nieces graduate from Vistamar and our daughter is currently a junior. We have been thrilled with the experience that all three kids have had at the school. The school has an excellent academic program. The curriculum was carefully researched and designed based on best-of-breed programs from private high schools and universities across the country. Classes are rigorous and the faculty is knowledgeable and very focused on the learning environment. We've observed how our daughter has quickly become comfortable seeking out her teachers when she has questions, attending office hours, and becoming a strong self-advocate. Great skills to have for both college and life. One of the most amazing things about the school is the strong culture that Vistamar has created. While the pressure of academics is part of the experience, much of it is neutralized by the strong sense of community and support across both faculty and students. It's an environment that has been really beneficial to our daughter, because it's one that encourages kids to take risks and try new things. She's discovered areas of passion that she may never have found had she not been at Vistamar. Again, something that we want our kids to find at this age so that they can have it for the rest of their lives. The school also does an excellent job bringing students together from different backgrounds and points of view and, through the culture they've created, enable them to build relationships and work together. Group learning and group activities are a big part of the learning culture which help develop skills that will last a long time. The actual school building can be a bit surprising when you look at it from the outside. It's much more of the converted-warehouse-tech-company sort of look than the green-campus-boarding-school. But step inside and watch how the kids work and interact with the environment. It's designed in a way where students and faculty are constantly interacting and creates a comfortable environment where you will often see students lingering well into the evening. read more

I have two daughters, one who chose to attend Vistamar School. It was the best decision we made for her. (My other daughter attended a different high school that was the perfect fit for her.) Vistamar is a unique and special school. Its most important characteristic is their intentionality. They have carefully thought through each part of a high school and made intentional choices to build a different and excellent small high school that allows each child to bring their individuality to school every day. The intentionality comes up in both large (why they offer Spanish and Chinese in their language program and require students to pass an oral proficiency language exam in order to graduate) and small (the temperature in the building) ways. You will not find a more enthusiastic and dedicated faculty. Their math program is incredibly strong that is joyfully brought to life by amazing teachers. Their high-level Humanities curriculum requires engagement with great and challenging literature like The Odyssey. My daughter, who wants to be a doctor, has taken advantage of the robust science offerings. All of this is wrapped by two key principals: (a) small class sizes that allow the faculty to know your student and (b) the idea that "there are no spectators" in learning. Your students will be challenged and engaged. As for extracurricular activities, this small school has a number of great opportunities for students. On their sports program, you are not going to have Friday Night Lights football. But what I appreciate about their program is that students are encouraged to try new activities. They have a "no cut" policy when it comes to sports. Their program is built to inspire students to build good, long-term, healthy lifestyle habits and find opportunities to go outside their comfort zone, as well as make new friends. On college prep, the school has built a system that prepares students to be successful in college, while not making the students feel pressurized by the college application process. The school does not want to have students focus their entire high school time on getting into college. The counseling team works closely with each student to ensure that they get into the college that is the best fit for them. As someone who has worked in education for most of my career and as someone who has seen the joy in my daughter's eyes when she talks about her school, I cannot recommend this excellent and innovative high school strongly enough. read more

My daughter is an incoming junior at Vistamar. I love this school! It emanates happiness and inclusiveness. A real treasure where students are comfortable getting involved, and performing outside their comfort zone. read more

Our family loves this school! Vistamar was a wonderful school for our son who is now a second year at UCLA. And it has been equally amazing for our current freshman. The faculty and staff are so caring and the class work is dynamic. I love the way my children have grown and thrived at Vistamar. The way they teach and empower students is extraordinary. It is a safe, positive, loving and enriching environment where students can live up to their full potential. I wish I had been able to attend a school like Vistamar! read more

I have 2 sons that go to Vistamar. 1 is graduating this year and the other is a sophomore. For both of them, it has been an amazing experience and we couldn't be more pleased. The school has prepared them academically, socially and ethically. Both of them take very rigorous classes that will help them get into excellent colleges (my oldest was accepted to 9 out of his 10 schools and all were ranked in the top 50 and the very top in business which is what he wants to study). Yet the experience is designed to not burn out the kids. And the emphasis is not getting into the "top schools" but the ones that are right for the student. And in the case of my son that was exactly what happened. Vistamar helped him learn about himself and learn to advocate for himself in a way he could never have in a large, bureaucratic environment. One of the themes of Vistamar is no spectators. It's your education and your life. The school is very diverse - ethnically, socio-economically, geographically, politically. And the secret sauce of Vistamar is how all these groups can come together as a community. They may not always agree, but they learn to listen and respect each other. In the years we've been there, it's sometimes the kids that don't get this - who mirror the dissonance and bullying they see in the outside world - who don't like the experience of Vistamar. And that's okay. There are other great schools for those students. But the words you hear from parents over and over at the school is that it's safe; it feels like home - safe to try new things and be yourself. I truly feel that Vistamar is one of the best schools around. read more

I moved to Los Angeles 3 years ago (halfway through my junior year) no local high schools or private schools would take me but, miraculously, Vistamar could. Having moved all the way from England it really was quite the miracle that this school that knew nothing about me and next to nothing about my educational history could take me in and get me enrolled and in classes before I had even got over my jetlag. I was handed a schedule and was "on my way" less than 48 hours after getting off my one way flight. Fast forward to about a month before graduation. I was sat in a room with my parents and the deputy head being informed of all the different classes (multiple semesters of credit) I am in need of in order to walk graduation in just a few weeks. It was a total sucker punch to the side of the head for me and my parents. Why were we only being informed of this now? Looking back, this is down to their money first, education second attitude. I still sit here writing this review without a high school diploma to my name (about to complete it in a few months at adult school). They completely took advantage of us as a family that had just relocated and knew not a whole lot about the education system and tied us down before we could really understand that there was no chance of graduation with my class. As for the school itself, if you like warehouses and/or buildings with less windows than you could count on one hand. This is the place for you. This is nothing more than a refrigerator box with more artificial lighting than a Kardashian photo shoot. The students are unbelievably cliquey. Be prepared to be judged and looked down on by people. Be prepared to be put down for your different, more conservative, political views. If I could go back I would go and start my High School career as a freshman at a REAL High School and get a REAL High School experience because the Disney-esque experience you receive at Vistamar will not prepare you for the Real World that exists outside the Warehouse walls of 737 Hawaii Street. read more

I am currently  a freshman at vistamar and am not returning next year. There are many reasons why I dislike this schooling environment. Beginning with academics my biggest problem is the Vistamath program. If you are coming from a public school like me that followed common core this is a tough transition. Here they teach math by having students perform several complex problems the night before and present them to the class the next day. This minimizes teaching the basic formulas and instead you are taught through word problems.This did not help me at all when I've been taught to first learning a formula and practicing repeatedly before applying it to a word problem. By the time the quizzes roll around I tend to have a loose grasp of the concepts and your score depends entirely on what the teacher feels like giving you credit for. I can get all the problems right on a test and get a C- for forgetting nitpicky details. Moving on to the social issues, Vistamar is advertised as a very free, open, and accepting learning environment, however this is isn't the case. Freshman and sophomores are very cliquey. This isn't odd in most schools but because there isn't a large amount of kids if you are out of the clique you are essentially alone. This has made for a bad social situation if you don't neatly fit into the nerds, jocks, and populars. We've been reduced to breakfast club standards. Another issue is the actual school facilities themselves. The school itself is actually just a warehouse. It is kept at a freezing temperature most of the time, and has very limited options for the arts and most sports. The only sports facilities are for basketball and volleyball and everything else is bused to a separate location. The arts commons is also minimal, being squished into a corner of the gym. Recently there has been a lot of problems with racial slurs, rape jokes, and antisemitism.  With these issues I can hardly classify the school as an open environment.  My largest problem personally with the school is though is their lack of understanding towards learning learning disabilities and mental illness. They have have an extremely strict set of rules towards everybody and do not take personal  issues like these into consideration even when various therapists and doctors discus making exceptions for the benefit of the kid. Therefore If you are looking for a place for a child with mental or social issues in general this is might not the place for you. read more

I am a proud Class of 2012 alumni from Vistamar School (as well as Emory University Class of 2016) and I have nothing short of praises to offer to this amazing institution! There is no better school in the South Bay equipped with instilling in its students a well-rounded education abundant with resources, incredible faculty, and a student body willing to learn from one another. The conscious and deliberate steps the school implements in order to make its students well versed in the dynamic world that surrounds them is truly impeccable. The faculty take such great care and time into their curriculum, and their passion for the subject material is palpable. Teachers know students not just by name, but by their interests and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, and are always willing to tackle any potential challenges together. I would highly recommend Vistamar School to anyone who is looking for an academically stimulating environment where they are truly "at home in the world." read more

Vistamar has surpassed all of my (very high) expectations. I have a senior daughter and a junior son. They are different types of students and have each had extremely positive experiences there. Yes, the school is academically rigorous, but the level of support provided by faculty and staff is truly exceptional. As part of my job, I work with students at various high schools throughout the South Bay and nationwide. I can honestly say that I count my blessings to have my kids at this absolute gem of a school. The three things that stand out most to me are: both kids have friends from all walks of life; the teachers bend over backwards to support the students academically, socially, and emotionally; there is freedom to "dabble," and encouraging new extracurricular pursuits. If this many kids are in love with what is in some ways a windowless box (!), you know they're doing something pretty special inside. read more

I have 2 daughters at Vistamar. Vistamar has a fresh approach to High School based on the concept of "a Better Way to do High School". Evidence of this approach is found in the resources devoted to individual students in the form of academic advisory, life planning resources and athletic coaching. Most importantly, my girls each have strong personal relationships with faculty members. Additionally, a mindful approach to curriculum, academic load, and exposure to many electives such as mandatory trimesters for freshmen in coding, macro-economics and linguistics. With all the benefits of an independent school, Vistamar blends in a rich, real world experience with exposure to the greater community, diversity of student body and personal responsibility. read more

This is a truly great school with dedicated educators who really understand how to engage students using a world class curriculum. The school is filled with so many outstanding teachers and staff who have deep passion for what they do! Class sizes are small so they all really know my student and have time to go above and beyond to offer help. It has been wonderful to see my student shift to a more intrinsically motivated learner after entering this environment. Also, insights from my student's counselor and 'life planner' have been very helpful (they are both human gems who are so good at what they do). The Head of School is a natural leader and always impressive (I love her vision for the schools' innovative new Creative Commons opening fall 2017, bringing an even more advanced focus to digital, visual, and performing arts education). This school really does an outstanding job of selecting a wonderfully diverse group of teachers and students who are interesting, kind, and fun. My son loves going to school and has benefitted from the wide array of perspectives he is exposed to in class discussions that challenge him to think more deeply and critically about issues. The students here seem to create a culture that is supportive of each other, making it feel safe to try new things. Overall, we could not have made a better choice of high schools. read more