Although the school looks absolutely post-card perfect, that beautiful exterior barely conceals the…read moretoxicity that lies within. For the parent of a child with special needs, this facility is to be avoided at all costs and for those lucky parents of mainstream children: beware. There is no one watching over your student. Blake, my son's case coordinator, conducts himself like a pre-adolescent Neanderthal on muscle relaxants. He is incompetent, unresponsive, unprofessional and lazy. He has no knowledge of special education beyond that of a first year psych under-grad and he is proud to announce in meetings that he is unavailable the day after Halloween because he is planning on partying too much. Often, when his responses are actually intelligible, he is typically saying something along the extremely erudite lines of, "I don't know what you want me to do about it." Drug and alcohol abuse run rampant on campus and students walk off campus as they please despite not having passes. Administrators are distant and uninvolved and do not seem to mind having unprofessional individuals under their employ, who do irreparable damage without sanction or consequence. Parents, look elsewhere and do so quickly. Do not let the pretty buildings fool you.

This school is very interesting to say the least. I just wanted to give my advice on how the school…read morecan perhaps improve a bit to get five stars (first the good) -This school exceeds any expectations of what a public school is and looks like in Los Angeles. The school overlooks beautiful hills and houses. -They have a better arts center than most community colleges. -The facility is clean. -Beautiful sports facilities:including a pool, baseball field, track, football/lacrosse field -The custodians are friendly -FOOTBALL HAS GONE UP IN RANKINGS and THEY HAVE RECRUITED A FEW PEOPLE FOR CERTAIN SPORTS so needless to say they are projecting in the right direction with that (back in the day they were a joke) -The parents seem very actively involved especially with donations -many kids I have met here were very studious and went off to good colleges. However I am not certain that it is because of the school itself that allowed for that to happen. Most of the parents are college educated. -Los virgenes is a very small school district and a good one at that -the parking lots make the school look like a luxury car dealership (lol) The real reason why I am writing this review though is because Ive seen some weird stuff here. To be honest it is not unusual for students to be behaving the way I am about to explain (they are teenagers after all) but I am complaining because I know that if I had children who went here I know I would want there to be more security. There is a serious problem with the gate that stays open by the track. i see kids coming in and out whenever they please: During second period, right after first period or whenever! They just walk out in groups. And no one says anything. Not the PE teachers who are teaching their classes nor the maintenance or whatever. They get into the car and literally speed off and some come back later. Some are actually staying in their cars (doing who knows what...very suspicious behavior). As i said earlier this is really common in high school (so just because I am saying this does not mean that you should be worried, it's virtually everywhere), but I think what Im trying to say is that the school does not care if your child stays. Maybe the parents dont either sooo i guess it's all swell! but just thought id say something!

this school is tuff and mr. morales and ms. audras are peak 3 star because some teacher are mean thoread more

Excellent staff with a student-centric approach to well-being. I highly recommend if you live in…read morethe area.

Graduated a long time ago but know that the level of education is top notch…read more Expensive but most private schools are!

Seeing that Viewpoint has 4 stars and not 5 is proof that noting is perfect for everyone...not even…read morea school like Viewpoint. I will say, however, that Viewpoint is as close to "perfect" as a school could be. It is 6 stars in my book. I can't say enough about how the school is run, the individualized care, the facilities, the programs, curriculum. My son started in 7th grade and he is now is 11th and I literally have a smile on my face when I picture him being at Viewpoint. Easily, what stands out the most is the fact everyone in the faculty and administration seem to know my kid, personally...they are invested in all the kids..they aren't anonymous...my son feels like he is in a family type environment where people truly care about his welfare inside and outside of the classroom. That is a very rare characteristic for a school. I can't think on one single aspect of my son's education, from academics to administration, to sports, etc., that have not been handled with the highest level of care and professionalism. And, he has built a tremendous friend base at Viewpoint...definitely his second family. If Atticus Finch were to teach at a school...he just might pick Viewpoint. I will look back on Viewpoint and say it was perhaps the best money I have ever spent...and easily one of the proudest contributions that I have made to my son's young life. His mom and I got this one right!

Alice C. Stelle Middle School is literally the GOAT middle school no debate…read more First of all the vibes are immaculate . You walk in and it's giving main character energy while other schools are still in tutorial mode . Second, the students are chaotic but iconic . It's like a live reality show mixed with homework . And then there's Mr. Johnson -- bro is the teaching final boss . He explains stuff and suddenly your brain goes "OH WAIT I GET IT" . Also he somehow controls a class of middle schoolers which is basically like taming 30 raccoons . So basically: Other schools: Alice C. Stelle Middle School: W school. W teacher. W vibes. Skibidi academic success achieved. also Dominic is sussy baka

I've been at this school for 3 years, years 6, 7 and 8. The teachers assign too much homework and…read morescream at students

I am a parent in the Las Virgenes Unified School District and want to share my recent experience…read morewith the district's student retention process -- particularly as it relates to support for students with developmental needs. After submitting a formal request to retain my child, I provided extensive documentation from the Regional Center outlining his developmental delays and social-emotional concerns. Despite this, I was told that the information was not reviewed as part of the official appeal process. Even more troubling, I learned that most of the individuals involved in the decision-making process had little or no personal knowledge of my child -- raising serious concerns about how informed the final decision truly was. As a parent, I expected a process that was personalized, child-centered, and inclusive of expert and parental input. Instead, the process felt procedural, closed off, and disconnected from the realities of my son's daily challenges. When I requested a meeting with Superintendent Dr. Dan Stepenosky to share my concerns in person, I was denied based on a policy that gives final authority to a designee -- in this case, Jana Davenport -- even when significant concerns remain unaddressed. The stress and emotion this process has caused cannot be understated. It is incredibly disheartening to advocate for your child's well-being, only to feel that the system values procedure over people. In my experience, the district seems more focused on preserving its Blue Ribbon reputation, test scores, and public image than on providing individualized support for students with developmental or emotional needs. I'm sharing this review not to criticize individuals, but to advocate for a more compassionate, transparent, and genuinely collaborative process for families -- especially those navigating developmental, behavioral, or learning differences. Families deserve to be heard. Children deserve decisions made by people who actually know them. I hope the Las Virgenes Unified School District reflects seriously on how its current practices affect the very children and families it is meant to serve. -- A Concerned Parent Marina

I have High functioning autism. The school knew something was wrong in preschool and 1st grade…read more By the end of second grade the forgot about me and stopped helping. They used to threaten kids "this will go on your permanent record" to us. But, as I continued to struggle though the years, with everything from handwriting to socialization, everybody just forgot. As a senior I was still struggling, so I dropped Spanish class to lighten my workload. I asked to be a teachers assistant. They ended up assigning me to the janitor and wanted me to clean lunch tables for free. I was so embarrassed, everybody thought I was in trouble. I ended up ditching the class as there was no credit for it, which made me feel creepy inside, as I never ditched before. I ended up hating the school and not caring because i felt treated so bad. I ended up failing English, not graduating with my class. My parents were mad at me. Nobody ever congratulated me when I did graduate. They had told my partents "autism can affect your childs quality of life." Then they forgot.

Do not take an ACT test at this school. They have a complete disregard for the amount of time our…read morestudents put in to preparing and trying to achieve their colllegial goals. For September 2025 test they had a band practice right in the middle of the test. When approached the band said they had every right to be there. The test administrator assured me that it was a one time mistake and it would be fixed for October. Sure enough, the band started playing again and their adult representative did not care about the gravity of the testing situation. I am disgusted and this was our last chance for an ACT test before merit scholarships are awarded. Shame on this administration and the band teacher.

They care about each student, teachers are amazing and counselors are the best in the valley high…read moreschools

As a STEAM and VAPA teacher at Hale Charter Academy I take pride to call this my home school…read more Students strive to exceed in all of our programs and teachers here support those student goals. Our after school enrichment programs, VAPA gala, STEAM science fair, innovative field trips, upcoming Fall Fest just to name a few of our opportunities/events we provide to our student population. I have been as this school for 17 years and absolutely cherish it.

I went here from 2004 - 2006 and I was bullied quite a bit…read more The fact that I came to look at this page and see reviews of people talking about their kids getting bullied even to this day breaks my heart. I see that it hasn't gotten any better. I had some good times too and all, some of my teachers were really cool, but still.

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 a student who has been attending Manzanita for 4 years since Forest Kindergarten (…read morenow in 3rd grade ) and another child that is soon to enroll - We are so grateful to have this amazing school so close by. The campus is incredible, grounding , and inspiring for the students and parents - who get to spend time on the land , connecting to nature and learning in symbiosis with the world around them. We have seen our daughter flourish in the last 4 years - first in her confidence, creativity and sense of self - and then in her academics . Her teachers have worked incredibly hard to overcome any challenges she has experienced - gently encouraging and finding the best ways for her to learn. The community is strong and the school works hard to involve the parents in the culture and learning experience. Our personal primary goal as parents is to raise happy and healthy children who will have the ability to adapt, listen and learn in their future. We are very happy with our experience at Manzanita and can't wait to continue our journey under Big Rock.

Simply an outstanding educational experience in every way. Manzanita is an entirely new model for…read morelearning, one that doesn't neatly fit into any established category. Students learn on the land and from the land, supported by teachers trained as mentors for a truly personal, close-knit experience. Your child will be seen, known, and understood here. They will be taught how to think, not what to think. They will be prepared to show up as their most authentic selves. They will be exposed to a curriculum that is much more nuanced and engaging than most people can imagine. Your child will be in community with people who are committed to making the world a better place and often live lives far outside the mainstream. The lunch program is incredible. Tour the school to experience firsthand. Truly amazing.

I was a former student here and now my five year old son is in TK here! Bay Laurel gave me a…read moregreat education and I'm excited to see my son grow here at Bay Laurel. We have Ms. Amico for TK this year and she is a good teacher. I know that we're going to have a good experience here and my son will have all good teachers!

Not worth the hype, after almost 4 years we left highly disappointed at the way the teachers and…read moreadministration handled our child, who is a gifted student. We are now in a better district and the way they handle social-emotional issues and behavior is far superior. It is now plain to see that Bay Laurel teachers were not properly trained to handle Student Success Team meetings: they simply disregarded the "success" part of them. To add insult to injury Principal Duncan did not mind destroying a 3rd grader's self esteem by kicking him out of his class and school a week before Spring Break, without a goodbye or an explanation.