The Willows Community School

My two children have attended the Willows Community School for the past five years. They love their teachers and classmates. Both kids are thriving academically and are growing into kind, responsible people. We were looking for a community and have found it at The Willows -- from the daily interactions with the children and faculty, as well as the school-wide activities throughout the year. If I could turn back the clock, I'd enroll myself!
--Submitted by a parent

My husband and I toured many schools in Los Angeles when we were looking for an elementary school for our daughter. After doing our due diligence we found The Willows to be the best fit for our family. Our daughter is now in 4th grade and we have been very happy with the school thus far. The teachers are exceptional. They are committed to the learning process and are able to teach in a nurturing way that has allowed our daughter to grow not just as a student but as a person. She is excited to go to school every day. The students have an air of self-confidence and poise from the DK to the Middle school. A recurring thought that my husband and I have had, since we first toured the school, is that if we were kids this is the place we would want to be!
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter has been at The WIllows for four years and has been thriving! Everyday, she engages in creative, inspiring, and thought provoking lessons... and she adores her teachers and fellow students. The administration is always available and interested in discussing your child's individual strengths, and areas for improvement - both academically and socially. This year, our second child started at The Willows and she, too, has exploded with love and enthusiasm for learning. We feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to send our kids to The Willows - and we know that the confidence and work ethic they're getting from the school will follow them far into the future.
--Submitted by a parent

We've been at the Willows for 6 years and I have had a very different experience regarding bullying at the school. There is a zero tolerance policy towards bullying and the way the school intercedes is very age appropriate. In the lower grades, there is a lot of modeling and discussion with the children in how to treat each other. Teachers & administration absolutely provide plenty of guidance while empowering the children to find their voice and develop the skills to resolve conflicts on their own. The school emphasizes kindness and inclusion.... This has been ingrained in my 3 kids. My daughter was targeted in a "mean girl triangle" and I found the teachers & administration amazingly responsive and sensitive in dealing with the situation with all parties. In addition, the education my children have received has been amazing. The curriculum is very well planned and thought out. Programs are implemented if they strengthen the curriculum, not because they are trendy. And I can't say enough about the teachers. In the 6 years we have been at the school, we've never had a teacher that was less than excellent. These teachers truly get to know your kids.
--Submitted by a parent

My two children at The Willows both love their school, their teachers and their classmates. The teachers are wonderfully intelligent and caring. They inspire and engage the kids on a daily basis. The school has a supportive community of parents and an extremely accessible administration. My kids are thriving and come home happy everyday. We are so pleased to belong to such a nurturing community.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has a bullying problem each year due to a general lack of supervison and care. Teachers often sit and talk to eachother during recess and staff during pick-up time is scanty. As a result, children fight and treat each other meanly. Values like friendship and kindness are not emphasized. The idea is for them to work everything out themselves. Discipline is punitive rather than instructive. If you bring an issue up to administration your kid will be targeted and you may be asked to leave the school. So if your kid is not an alpha dog or mean girl...And all for 25-30k per
--Submitted by a parent

The Willows has been a warm and inspiring community for my whole family. My child had some issues and the entire staff including the head of school worked very closely with me to identify the issues and make sure that he got the help he needed in and out of school. He is really thriving and loves to go to school everyday. Lisa Rosenstein is a passionate founder of the school and a true visionary. When I have volunteered at the school and have worked closely with Kim and many of the faculty and staff, I have found everyone who works there to be inspired and they take great pride in their work and the school. It is a true working and warm community. There is a wide range of socioeconomic diversity, but a beautiful thing about The Willows, unlike other private schools, is nobody knows how much money anyone has because there, the economic wealth of a family is not their greatest virtue. Every family needs to find the perfect match for them. The Willows has been that for us and all the families we know that attend. I feel so fortunate and grateful.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in his second year at the Willows and I could not be happier. The teachers he has had have been nothing short of fantastic. They have each been fun, enthusiastic, creative and warm. When my son comes to school, they greet him like they are genuinely thrilled to see him. Although there are some very wealthy families, there is no snobby vibe, no designer clothes or handbags on gaudy display at parent events, and there are plenty of "normal" families to counteract the wealth. In addition to the regular curriculum, my son enjoys music, art, science, gardening, p.e., poetry & library visits every week. Although it is expensive to attend private school, I feel that the money is well spent because they are fostering a love of school & learning that is priceless.
--Submitted by a parent

My son eneterd the school in the first grade and stayed for one year. I would say the quality of education was good ,and similar to public charter schools that he has attended. The promise of continuity of teachers between first and second grade fell through as both first grade teachers resigned at the end of year. Like most previous reviewers, my biggest challenge was with the administration and specifcally the principal who lacked flexibility and understanding of how to deal with a student going through adjustment. So, if your kid is not a 100% comformist, save your self a year of aggrevation and $20K and look somewhere else,
--Submitted by a parent

The Willows is a good school, however, it is not a fit for everyone. My child entered the school in the middle of the elementary year sequence and had a bit of a time adjusting. Like the previous poster, the administration lacked sensitivity and focused on problems rather than uplifting and enhancing the strengths. I think this school is great for children who are relatively average and not into breaking the status quo. In addition, the location of the school is less than ideal, it's smack in the middle of an industrial area, no lawns and the parking horrendous/non-existent, making it a nightmare to attend school functions.
--Submitted by a parent