The principal, Ms. Hall-Johnson is no-nonsense and is well balanced in her approach. My son enjoyed her a lot and so did we. There were a handful of great teachers who presented as what anyone would want in a teacher for their kid. The parent center is incredible and the woman who runs this program is awesome along with the families who are very relatable, kind and welcoming- made leaving this school mid year a devastating but necessary choice. We left because of my son's Kindergarten teacher, Ms. King. How this woman is a teacher is still a perplexing issue for me. Her tone with children is beyond intolerable. My kid was so happy to go to school, excited for learning, being dropped off by the Garden, his friends, then things started to change very quickly. There are several examples I can give that let us know he was not doing well. But this one sums it up pretty well, one day on our walk home from school he asked "Mom, do you think my teacher is mean to me because I'm not smart?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but also not surprised he picked that undertone up from her. After his pre-school years, going into her classroom was hugely difficult for our family. Witnessing her consistently rude, patronizing and sarcastic personality towards kids- I had no choice but to unenroll him from the school. It was barely 6 months into the school year. In addition, on the field trip, I sat behind her in the bus and heard her gossiping to a parent about another child's parent. The kid of the parent being gossiped about happened to be sitting right next to me and I wondered, did he know who she was talking about? Well, the kid said "you're talking about my Mom". He knew!! Ms. King then gaslights this 5 year old, telling him she wasn't, that he should "mind his own business". This is when I also figured out why my kid asked me that question about being smart. Her tone with certain children, who happened to know how to read, was clearly much kinder and softer, in her way of being those things. Children can read a room pretty well, they in fact are incredibly perceptive which I suppose could be called "smart". I literally walked to the office and un-enrolled him from this absolutely toxic learning environment after that field trip. My issue with the school is I know everyone knew what was going on with her. You'd have to be completely checked out not to notice. Everyone can hear Ms. King's voice, her tone and rudeness throughout the hall with her door shut, at the fence during drop off... and for this, I felt there was no need to discuss her behavior, which is obviously negligent and inappropriate for a classroom of ANY grade. In addition to this, she never took the kids to the Garden (at least during our 6 months there) for learning. Which I was told would be an extensive part of their sciences and environmental learning. After unenrolling my kid, I saw a parent, who was not from the same classroom but saw every morning at drop off- I was visibly sad. I let her know we were leaving. I said "it's just not the right fit" and she said "does not the right fit really mean Ms. King is unhinged?" So. Yeah, people know... My kid is finishing 1st grade now at another school. We are on still recovering from those 6 months. read more

This school is horrible first of all the teachers are rude to my kid they made her cry.

What a gem of a neighborhood school! We knew when we moved to the Carthay neighborhood when my daughter was 1 that we were interested in our home school. The more we learned from families who were there - and by comparison visiting a couple other schools -we knew we didn't have to look any further than right up the street. The school has grown and evolved (now an environmental studies magnet program!) and my kids could not be happier. As someone who works in public education, I can say with certainty that the quality of instruction is very high. My kids have thrived with nurturing and loving teachers who take the time to understand how they learn, and have given them the tools to be successful. Hats off to Principal Hall-Johnson for making really strong new hires over the last couple years - the team of teachers is really quite impressive. And the community! We have made some of our closest friends, and everyone genuinely cares about and supports one another. Whenever I'm at drop off or pickup, I have kids run up to me saying "Hi Ivy's mom!" and I know my kids enjoy the same personal connection with other parents. We're all in this together, working to ensure that our public school works for our kids - we have strong advocates and team players, all with the same goal. Everyone steps up to help however they can, and it's truly a community effort to make the school as great as it is. read more

Carthay School Environmental Studies Magnet - Happy students on the first day of 3rd and 1st grade! - Elementary Schools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Tbh some what a bad school I go there myself when I was in kinder they wouldn't switch me to a different class I wanted to switch cause my teacher was very rude for no reason also they do nothing about bullying I was bullied and they did nothing about it!! read more

Not happy. My daughter used to love learning but she is now frustrated. Tk has been a bust. She had substitute teachers for the first 3 months and the new permanent teacher is rude and gives 5 pages of homework a night to my 4 year old. First grade math problems tonight. I don't trust this teacher to watch my child because she is not even nice to the parents. I've had many issues with my daughter coming home telling me children had taken her hair clips, pushed her around and one time she was even covered in marker all over her arms and face. Everytime I ask questions about what they are doing in class I get the run around. They had to switch classrooms because of a leak and much of my daughter's belongings were left in the old classroom and I have been told I cannot retrieve them. The people in the office are not very kind. If you ask them any questions they look at you like you have 10 heads. I understand this is a public school but how am I expected to leave my 4 year old somewhere where I can't even have a normal conversation with someone? This place is weird. I had high hopes for Carthay and I heard it was a good school but we have not had a good experience. Really upsetting. The parents in my daughter's class were blatant antisemites. A father of one of her friends verbally assaulted me on school property and screamed at me in front of a large group of parents, racial slurs, while everyone just stood there and watched him threaten my family. The school did nothing and refused to even acknowledge it. The crossing guard had to step in front of him. Think twice about sending your child to this cold and callous institution. Children deserve better than this type of treatment and the whole place is like cesspool of low vibrational people. read more

My daughter started TK about a month ago and we could not be happier. Her teacher is amazing, patient, and the children respect him! The staff is always helpful and support the parents- and the same goes for the parents who help support the staff. Parent involvement is wonderful. They also have a full time librarian which is not true for all schools. Take a tour! Tomorrow at 8:30am and Oct 20th at 8:30am. No RSVP needed. Just go to the front doors on Olympic- sign in at the office and someone will bring you to the auditorium. read more

We chose this school once it turned into an environmental magnet school since we own 2 Chevy Volts and care about the environmental impacts on our planet. However, from the beginning it was mismanaged, at best. Children with IEP's were disregarded for over 8 weeks after school began and court cases had to be filed to have services started for special needs children. Staff were more concerned about their jobs than the children. One after school staff member was terminated for voicing her concerns over a regular teacher forcing a child repeatedly to sit down.. The principal yelled at children and failed to follow protocols. We donated iPads to the classroom and $$ to this school for supplies and books and projector lights, yet had to appear on a Board of Education TV show to bring attention to the issues at this school. After our child, with a previous traumatic brain injury from a drunk driver, was beat up on the play ground by 4 kids no one contacted us!!! No one returned phone calls or ever responded to our questions. We felt it was our only alternative to remove our kids for their safety. Every day was a challenge for parents and children with disabilities at this school. Staff will retaliate against parents who express concerns and meetings require being recorded to maintain any level of civility!!! Reconsider all of your options before enrolling your child in this school. read more

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We are in our 8th year at the school (older daughter for k-5), younger daughter now in 5th) and it has been a fantastic year every year. Both kids are flourishing academically and socially. Our older daughter was very well prepared for middle school. Both kids love the STAR after school program and the extras paid for by PTA such as California Dance Institute and Garden Science and Science Fair. The kids are great and so are the teachers and parents. It's a real community. read more

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Great neighborhood school with a wonderful principal and some fantastic teachers. It is an environmental magnet, and it is public! The STAR after school program is excellent, and kids can remain there, engaging in various activities or doing their homework, until 6pm. The outdoor grounds and gardens are among the best, if not THE best, of any grammar school in Los Angeles. What would I change? I do wish the parents were slightly more active in fundraising -- in order to provide each classroom with a full-time teaching assistant to help the main teacher. But, you can't have everything. A woman previously posted that her son was injured at the school and that no one cared. That is the exact opposite of my experience -- the teachers and after school staff care tremendously. Bullying of any kind is exceedingly rare at the school, or even non existent (with two kids attending, I never heard of one incident). read more

Soooooooo glad the school year is over!!! My first and only child, first time in school and they ruined his whole experienced for him and us as first time parents. I see my Facebook of all other parents my age with their kids graduation kindergarten/preschool and carthay did absolutely NOTHING, they sent the kids home with their certificates BORING. I wanted to see my first and only kid walk the stage and celebrate his first of many diplomas hopefully but they didn't have ANY kind of celebration. The staff is the absolute worst! Except for Rosa she's super sweet. For the christmas show they didn't allow the kids to dress up so they did their performance in uniform.. this school is so DULL, the kindergarten playground is super dirty, EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED with this school I would never in a million years wish this school upon anyone! The incident with the P.E teacher getting naked and chasing kids around the playground was NOT handled appropriately. School is the worst school I ever set foot in, I apologize to my son for putting him in this school. DO NOT PUT YOUR KIDS IN THIS SCHOOL! read more

This school right before your eyes deprived my son of lunch they wouldn't let him eat the lunch I would pack him and they would not let him in the cafeteria! read more

I culminated last year. I had a great experience through kindergarten. I was president of student council last year. The teachers are great, and so are the kids in the school. The little kids are real involved with learning and in STAR most HYPE students help with homework and conflicts. ( HYPE stands for Help Young People Exel). read more

We support Carthay Elementary Magnet for Environmental Studies. I have twin boys finishing 1st grade. These 2 school years have been great. The teachers and staff are very supportive and involved. The parents and the PTA are engaged and create a great sense of community. read more

Very happy we decided to come to Carthay Elementary three years ago - it's our neighborhood school and truly has been wonderful. There's a terrific group of teachers and a very active core of parents that continue to move Carthay into a more progressive and enriching learning environment. VERY excited about Carthay becoming Environmental Studies Magnet this fall (2014). My son thrives on project-based learning and with the extended garden science program and the new environmental focused (humanities, science and math) curriculum its promising to be exceptional. We love the school and hope more and more neighborhood families will continue to join us. read more

Carthay Elementary--soon to be Carthay Environmental Magnet-- has an impressive diversity of parents,students, teachers and administrators working together to make the school a real center of learning and activity for the neighborhood and the larger community. The Garden Science program, created and developed by parents and staff, is at the center of the new Magnet and promises endless possibilities for students to learn not only about food and nutrition, but about biology, solar energy, genetics etc. Parent involvement is strong at this school so bring your energy, enthusiasm, and ideas! They will be welcome! Does this school face challenges? Carthay receives money under the Title 1 program for disadvantaged learners--students who are at the greatest risk for failure and need learning assistance. It creates a big challenge for teachers who have to meet the needs of students at different levels. I've been a Carthay parent for two years and I haven't heard any complaints from my son's teachers. There is a great spirit of possibility at this school, especially now that it is becoming a Magnet and will be attracting students from all over L.A. Jay G read more