MUSE School CA

We've been at MUSE School for 2 years. Initially we were thrilled by the possibility of child-centered learning, social/emotional development & a beautiful eco-friendly campus. Sadly our hopes 4 this idyllic education have steadily eroded. While many of the teachers are devoted & attentive, school leadership seems clueless about education in general. Absent a solid, over-arching curriculum from the top, teachers create curriculum at random with little thought to the whole. The result? Children who are struggling in reading & math but who enjoy hikes, gardening, art & music. The latter are all fabulous but seem to come at the expense of basic academics. With 3 different Heads of School in 3 years the school suffers from a lack of strong leadership & continuity. Current leadership seems grossly inexperienced & under-qualified to run a school of the caliber its own marketing materials promotes. Rather, there is a cavalier attitude towards children's education--and even their safety. Children can be at risk here from reckless (or even drunk) drivers, unsafe walkways & general lack of supervision. If you value your children's well-being & education you would be wise to look elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

MUSE School IS all it's cracked up to be. Incredible location, committed and dedicated staff, great community. My family is very happy to be part of this school. Expectations exceeded every day.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in the Second Grade at MUSE and we are thrilled! She takes the school bus from Sherman Oaks and it is well worth the commute. She is so happy. My daughter was at another school last year and she came home every day angry. She hated reading and math. This year when she comes home she is centered and excited about the things she is learning. The environment at MUSE is truly inspiring, the staff and teachers are attentive and warm and the parent community is supportive and non judgmental. The kids eat healthy food and are encouraged to advocate for their feelings, ideas, beliefs and interests. MUSE is a school where every child can discover their unlimited potential. We feel so blessed to have found this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I literally cannot think of a single criticism of Muse, and we have been highly selective as parents in educating our six-year-old son. He had attended mostly Waldorf schools before Muse, but the child-led, environmentally aware, Reggio-inspired approach of Muse has been a perfect transition. There is too much to say in one review but one of the most astonishing aspects of Muse (sad that it is so rare) is how involved the children - not just the parents - are in defining the direction and rules of the school. There are frequent "Global Councils," which the whole school attends, where children from pre-K up talk about their intentions, their goals and their wishes, both short-term and long-term. The result is that the children feel self-motivated and also very strongly a part of a community, in which they learn respect for themselves, each other and the environment - and especially of "the commons," that which belongs to everybody and is to be shared. Muse is also extremely generous with financial aid, insuring a broad mix of students from every background.
—Submitted by a parent

MUSE is a little school with a big heart! Pre-K through 5th and we're just under 50 children. MUSE facilitates a learning environment that is collaborative, respectful, and most importantly FUN!
—Submitted by a parent

My 3 3/4 year old son is in his second year in the MUSE Early Childhood program, which he began at 2 1/2. His highly educated, caring teachers are dynamic, engaged and 100% attentive to the needs of each student.. The enthusiasm and compassion of the staff is simply unparalleled . The unique teaching philosophy allows the children to express their individuality and gain a sense of self efficacy and confidence. I am excited that MUSE plans to open a middle school and possibly a high school as I can't imagine anywhere else I would want my child to be educated.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a definite MUSE magic at this special school. Kids are nurtured from the inside out--healthy bodies and minds, and joyful curiosity and creativity. Yes, they do all the skills and the subjects, but the difference is in how they do it--with the brain and the child in mind and at the center--kids at MUSE lead, kids at other schools seem to be taught to follow.

MUSE elementary offers a joyful, rigorous, and nurturing education. The school's culture is very welcoming, so it was an easy transition for my 4th grade daughter who is a new student this year. The teachers are amazing, the classes are small, and the school lunches are delicious (and healthy)! MUSE is moving next year to a new campus off of Las Virgenes, so next year will be a shorter drive for some and longer for others. We couldn't be happier with our experience. MUSE is definitely not a "cookie-cutter" school where they are trying to mold all the kids into the same shape. I would recommend going on the school tour to see if it is a good fit.
—Submitted by a parent