We've been at Village for seven years and truly couldn't be happier with our experience. Village…read morestrikes a wonderful balance between strong academics and meaningful social-emotional growth. It's a school that not only educates children, but genuinely nurtures them -- and we feel incredibly grateful to be part of this community. We see this play out in our family with excellent standardized test scores and excellent emotional intelligence. Village's placement into top middle schools speaks for itself. Through both COVID and the fires, the school demonstrated remarkable resilience, leadership, and care. The way they supported students and families during those unprecedented challenges was thoughtful, steady, and above and beyond.

A few years ago, I attended a Village School Zoom meeting that addressed critical race topics…read more Concerned, I later wrote to the school board to question their dedication to equity. They responded, saying that equity has been a core classroom value of theirs for almost ten years. Historically, the purpose of education was to help students excel. Recognizing that people have different interests, talents, and motivations, different levels of classes--such as GATE, honors, and AP classes--were created to ensure everyone could excel at their own rate. This merit-based system rewarded excellence with the opportunity to take more challenging classes and achieve even greater success. However, equity, as used by critical race theorists and DEI promoters, means equal outcomes. Equity is antagonistic to excellence because excellence naturally leads to inequities due to differences between individuals. Since educators can only do so much to help students achieve excellence, those who have integrity to values have chosen to handicap those with greater interests, talents, or motivations as a way to achieve equity. For example, San Francisco removed algebra from the 8th-grade curriculum in the name of equity. Typically, students could progress from Algebra in 8th grade to Calculus by 12th grade. Proponents of equity realized that not everyone could reach Calculus by 12th grade, so they handicapped excellent students by not teaching Algebra in 8th grade, ensuring the highest math level attainable by the end of high school was Pre-Calculus unless students doubled up on math courses in 9th grade. Similarly, Seattle shut down its honors program to achieve equal outcomes. Given Village's response and my purpose for sending my son there, I told my ex that I wanted him removed from that school. She countered by arguing that the teachers aren't actually practicing equity; it's more of an interest for the administrators, and Village admins give teachers a lot of leeway. As an example, she mentioned that our son is currently learning algebra in 6th grade. If an Asian boy is being taught more advanced math than his peers, it suggests that his teachers are not practicing equity. This indicates that Village is only virtue signaling equity without actually implementing it--or so I hoped. However, I am not blind to the effects of ideas. Even if Village's admins give teachers leeway, they are still responsible for setting the organization's culture, hiring, promotion, and firing decisions, and extracurricular activities. When I see DEI book clubs or events for non-whites, I see the writing on the wall. Organizational change may take time, but it happens. If I were a teacher focused on educational excellence, I would find these activities either a distraction or antagonistic to my values and would seek employment elsewhere. So, while my ex may have found examples indicating that Village currently lacks the integrity to fully implement equity principles, I have two remaining questions: 1. How much better would my son's education have been if they had rejected equity outright and fully embraced the merit system? 2. Given how much I pay each year, should I be satisfied with an organization that lacks integrity? Fortunately, my son has graduated from this school, so I don't have to deal with these questions anymore. Here are my reasons for the score. I give them 3 stars for the quality of education he received. The school recently raised tuition, but I don't see these funds being used to help teachers and students focus on educational excellence. Instead, I see them being used for DEI activities, such as dinners for families where one or more members "identify as a person of color." I give them 0 star for their lack of integrity. I completely reject equity as a value, but I have more respect for educators in San Francisco for taking their ideas seriously and trying to implement them, even to the detriment of their students, than I do for virtue signalers. Virtue signalers don't take ideas seriously. For an organization whose purpose is to convey ideas to their customers, the refusal to take ideas seriously is a betrayal of that mission. These scores average out to 1.5 stars. In conclusion, because I disagree with equity, I would not send my child to Village School again as they proclaim it to be a core value. However, even if I supported equity, I would still not send my child to Village School due to their lack of integrity. A business without integrity does not deserve my money or, more importantly, the right to guide my child.

We had just moved to LA, and I was looking for something special. Luckily, I heard from a friend…read morewho was in education to check out Muse. Besides the gorgeous campus in the Santa Monica Mountains, the thing that sold me on Muse during my visit, was none of the adults were talking down to the students, they seemed liked equals. Students are active in their education and we especially love that they choose a passion project every semester to focus on a subject of their choice. I really love the staff at Muse. Not only are the teachers stellar and extremely qualified, they are kind and inspiring leaders. My kids couldn't be happier. They bring home plants. They have their own gardens at school and eat plant based meals for lunch every day. They have amazing friends and love playing sports and performing in the school plays. We couldn't be happier with Muse and it keeps getting better! This is our 5th year!

Our daughter is happy, healthy and passionately engaged at Muse. We couldn't be more delighted…read more Staff have been supportive, and willing to go the extra mile. And I've liked all the parents I've met! Also, the campus is in a beautiful canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains, just north of Malibu. Students walk thru' nature when going from building to building. It's a great education, but within this uniquely calming, natural setting.

I can't comment on the school, but we have enjoyed a few concerts there at the Moss Theater, the…read morenew home for the Jazz Bakery. I love this theater. It's not too large, and the visibility from the seats enables you to easily see the stage. I always bring binoculars, so I can really see the performers sweat and their range of emotion. Last night, we had the privilege of watching Russell Malone and his quartet perform there. I brought my binoculars although we were sitting in the second row. From there, you could see the nuances of every song. The acoustics are good in this place, and the seats are very comfortable. My only criticism, is that I wish they had more places to sit while you are waiting to go into the theater. Because it is open seating, many people get there well ahead of the start time. A few more benches would be appreciated for those of us who don't like standing too long. Ruth Price does a wonderful job executing these events. She has the vibrancy and energy of a 20-year-old. It is admirable!

Inside the Spectrum Program: What They Don't Want You to Know…read more To the parents of New Roads School, I'm writing this because no one else will. Not the smiling admissions staff. Not the polished emails. Not the teachers who know something's wrong but look the other way. This isn't easy to say--but it needs to be said. Because what's happening in the Spectrum program is not care. It's not support. It's quiet, systematic harm dressed up as help. And it broke me in ways I'm still trying to undo. In middle school, I was diagnosed with autism. When I got into New Roads, I was placed in Spectrum. My family was told it was a safe space--a nurturing environment tailored for students like me. I believed them. I wanted to believe them. But not long after I started, I was re-evaluated. Turns out, I wasn't autistic after all. But that didn't matter. By then, I was already locked in--trapped under Elisa Schultz's watch. Once you're in, Spectrum doesn't let go. You don't "exit" the program--you disappear into it. It wraps itself around your life and convinces you that you need it, even when all it's doing is making you smaller. At first, I tried to play along. I was named grade-level ambassador. I met with new families. I made speeches. I wanted to believe I was helping build something good. But eventually, I did what Elisa can't stand--I told the truth. I started asking questions. I stood up for students who felt powerless. I spoke too loudly, too clearly. So they got rid of me. I was replaced quietly, like I'd become an inconvenience. But the worst moment came later--when a classmate I cared about came to me in tears. Elisa had called her a disgusting, sexist name--something that would get anyone else fired. We made the decision to speak out. And the moment we started talking, five staff members closed in on us. Not figuratively. They surrounded us. Physically. Like security guards. They told her it never happened. Over and over, until her hands were shaking and she started questioning her own memory. I stood there watching someone I admired unravel in real time. And I knew: this wasn't a "program." This was something darker. During COVID, I had a bad allergy flare-up. I stepped out of class to blow my nose in the hallway because I didn't want to disturb anyone. The Tesla classroom was right next to the bathroom. I wasn't sneaking off. I wasn't doing anything wrong. Elisa exploded. She screamed at me in front of everyone. Berated me for not blowing my nose in front of the class. As if I had broken some sacred, unspoken rule. I was embarrassed. I was sick. I was trying to handle my body and my space with some dignity--and she crushed that in one moment. No kindness. No understanding. Just public shame. What kind of "support program" does that? Spectrum charges over $13,000 a year on top of tuition. That money doesn't go toward student wellbeing. It goes toward building a system that punishes independence and feeds on fear. They don't care if you were misdiagnosed. They don't care if it's hurting you. They care about keeping your family's money. And your silence. There are others like me. I've spoken to six students--at least--who had stories like mine. Some gave me permission to speak. Most are too scared. That should tell you everything. Parents, you're being sold a lie. And it's packaged beautifully--with buzzwords, learning plans, and emotional jargon. But behind the curtain is something toxic. Something I wouldn't wish on anyone. Ask the questions they don't want you to ask. And when they try to talk around it, listen to what they're avoiding. This program nearly broke me. I'm writing this because I refuse to let it keep breaking people in silence. - A former Spectrum student who refuses to stay quiet

this Is a truly amazing school. BUT, some of the staff are mean to me :( PBL is my favorite thing…read moreabout it. It stands for Project Based Learning, which is insane. Like, WOW. Every day is an adventure and truly warms my heart. The student, OMG, th kids here are AWSOME. I met my best friend here! The principal is cool. The front desk is sorta weird. Zero dress code is amazing, World culture fair, so amazing! Grant Jogathon, AWSOmE! I am proud to be a geckos here!

Good, very good school the staff are super nice except the front office they are rude but other…read morethan that they are nice especially the yard staff, the coaches are great, campus is clean, wish I could go back, many many wonderful years at grant. definitely recommend

Very informative and a community driven school you can tell they really care about the students and…read morethe principal is very cool and laid-back. Ask him anything. My daughter just started here and they did a great job transitioning all the kids. My daughter is excited about school most important. So far very pleased!

My child has been going to this incredible school for almost 6 years. She is currently having a…read moregreat experience in Franklin. The teachers are great and the school is an anti-bullying environment. I'm soooooooo happy my daughter goes to this WONDERFUL and INCREDIBLE school.

I went here and now my daughter goes here. Her teacher mrs. Shinebaum is absolutely the most…read morewonderful 3rd grade teacher and my daughter has learned so much. The campus is also clean and beautiful. PTA is amazing and really do a lot to provide for the kids. The new principal is so much better than the one before. This area has a mixture of ultra rich and middle class and the school has a great mix of race and wealth. I recommend anyone in the area to put their kids here and support the school that focuses so much on art and science.

I have a kid here . All I have to say is that some teachers really suck. They always come up with…read morean excuse when there is something we parents want to say. For the most part, some of these so-called educators are here just for the check and have not necessarily to educate kids. Also, parking is really bad, cars are parked double lane all the time...there is no order whatsoever. I once parked my vehicle near the handicap spot and this dumb fuck came to tell me why I parked there knowing that there is no space anywhere, not in the school parking lot nor on the street. This ass would not dare to say what he said to me to a white folk. Also, they have these bunch of kids doing special ed at the adjacent school (smash)....kids do not even need to be in special ed.

PS1 truly feels like a hidden gem. We visited many schools while searching for the right elementary…read moreschool for our son, but as soon as our preschool director suggested PS1 and we toured it, we knew it was the perfect fit. The small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and excellent after-school program that runs until 6pm really set it apart. I can't say enough great things about this school, our son has genuinely thrived here. On top of that, the parent community is welcoming, down-to-earth, and a pleasure to be around.

This is a wonderful school with a pluralistic outlook (that's what the "P" stands for), meaning…read morethat they see each child as both highly individual and also part of the collective whole. My two boys have flourished here: They feel celebrated for being themselves, while also pushed to stretch in places where they don't feel as competent. Their curiosity is on-fire--questions are welcome and expected and they're allowed to follow their interests--but they're also academically prepared for middle class. The most important thing? They love school. There's no fight, ever, to get them to go.

Mr. Wit is a very odd inappropriate teacher at this school. Made my child feel very uncomfortable.read more

mr. brizuela is a very rude teacher he says that my child can't go to the restroom during class…read morethis is very disturbing my child came home and told me that they tried to look through her phone because a student sad that she was recording her they look through her phone and found nothing I find this unacceptable

the school is good, bathrooms are always dirty, very sad that the school walls were torn down, made…read moremany friends there, had a good 6 years there :)

This is my granddaughter's first year at McKinley and she is doing so well. She's a third grader…read moreand she was struggling at her old school. The teaching staff the principal everybody has been so welcoming and she is thriving.

This is a fantastic school for your kids to attend. My daughter has learned more than any…read moreneighboring public school so its well worth the investment. If you want your children to feel happy, safe, and supported this is the place to go. Small classroom size is also a huge plus. Keep up the good work!

Amazing School! Amazing and kind teachers! Highly recommended! My daughter thrives at Saint Anne…read moreand loves getting up and going to school!