Linwood E. Howe Elementary School

Sure LH could do better, but it's on the right track. API improved to 826 - can only hope it keeps gaining because LH is better than its test scores. While test scores are important, LH is also focused on nurturing a well-rounded child. It focuses on social responsibility as well as academics. Lots of parent support. The 2nd grade teachers are fantastic. Class size is manageable despite budget cuts. Principal knows each student by name & listens to parents. An active booster club raised money for class aides. Downside, for 2011-2012 the boosters scaled back aides to 3 instead of 6 because of threat by the union (ACE). Kids were cheated of aides because the boosters was forced to unionize volunteers. I bring this up because dedicated staff & parents are working to better LH and create an enhanced instructional environment despite budget cuts. When a group like ACE complains that the boosters are taking away union jobs that didn't exist & are not paid for by CCUSD, their actions hurt our kids by taking donations from classes. As a parent stakeholder, I want LH to be the best in the district and it has the potential. It has a diverse student body and great parent community.
--Submitted by a parent

This is our 1st year at LinHowe and we are pleasantly surprised by our experience at the school having moved into CCUSD and we were not able to get into Farragut. The principal impressed us in our one-on-one talk with her to discuss our concerns about LinHowe being the lowest ranking school in CCUSD. She continues to impress us by being very involved with the kids and we see her roll up her sleeves to help with the mundane behind the scenes tasks that go to run the school smoothly. The jury is out on how savvy she is on dealing with the district to benefit LinHowe, but she has proven to be approachable, dedicated, and hard-working in a thankless position. I find the homework to be light, but I understand LinHowe follows CA standards. When we complained to the teacher, she went out of her way and made a set of extra homework for our child. Our teacher is hardworking and collaborative with us to meet our child s needs. There is strong parent involvement and a lot of fundraising, which is ever more needed because of state cuts. Between the many LinHowe activities, afterschool and Cornucopia programs, our child is getting a good balance of academic and extracurricular stimulation.
--Submitted by a parent

Obviously the Parent who put that Lin Howe is a mediocre school is a disgruntled parent. Probably an Ex? Speaking of mediocre education, for future reference "bye" should be "by" in the context that you wrote it in. Furthermore you neglected to put specifics on what makes this school mediocre. Someone who wants their child to go to the Valencia School District is obviously unaware of the issues the Valencia Schools have, as my kids used to be in an Elementary School in Valencia and are now in CCUSD. If a parent has a problem with the school you should address the principal or district to see what can be done to improve the situation. This was clearly a parent who is uninvolved. Be proactive. Linwood Howe has outstanding parent involvement and incredibly dedicated teachers. My children are thriving at Linwood Howe. As far as Ivy league education goes... My first concern is that my child grows up to be a happy, well rounded, productive, member of society. I'm not knocking it, if my child or any other strives for an ivy league education, great. But it's not everything, don't forget, there are a lot of people who went to ivy league schools that are now convicts.
--Submitted by a parent

Mediocre, LinHowe is NOT. Public schools in California follow the California Content Standards, Culver City to Coto De Casa, they are the same. It is a small community school, that is extremely diverse . LinHowe is focused on service learning, the environment (a pilot school for Green 5), has programs like Hiking Vikings, a walking school bus, where over 100 children and parents walk together each Friday. Each year the academic advance . Outside organizations bring in programs like The Young Story Tellers, Shadow Puppets, Music, and assemblies. The strong parent groups raise funds to support extra help in the classroom, green projects and art out reach. Programs like Pair Pals teaming students with special needs with buddies for social events allows all our students to better understand disabilities and eliminates the misconceptions almost eliminating bullying. While our test scores may not be the highest in the district, the gains each year are remarkable. During computer lab time, students have access to success maker software, a program that teaches testing skills, at the students academic level, class time is about developing the love of learning, not teaching to the test.
--Submitted by a parent

Linwood E Howe is anything but a mediocre school. My son started in Kindergarten this year. We moved to America from the UK 2 years ago so this is our introduction to the US education system, Lin Howe has a great community spirit, led mostly by the amazing principal. She knows each child by name and always has time for the children. There are numerous opportunities for kids after school, and lots of parental involvement. For the previous parent wanting their kid to go to an Ivy League school. Huh. I want my child to be happy, successful, and achieving his potential. Which he is. To be honest I don't look past the next couple of years never mind college Lin Howe works to meet each child's potential. I volunteer in kindergarten and today was "retaught" how to do 3 numbered multiplication. By a just turned 6 year old. The teacher spends "free time" encouraging and teaching children in areas they are interested in. For my son, this means he has fun playing Star Wars. For this other kid she teaches him multiplication. Lin Howe absolutely rocks and offers children and their parents a great education with a great sense of community spirit.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a former student and now a proud parent of a 1st grader at Lin Howe. We have had nothing short of a great experience at Lin Howe. My daughters teacher (Ms. Burns) is wonderful, incredibly dedicated and very hands on. The environment is like a very close knit neighborhood school, where the parent involvement is outstanding and all the parents know each other even when their children are in different grades. We couldnt be happier at Lin Howe.
--Submitted by a parent

The school is a mediocre school where the kids aren't pushed very hard hard to succeed. It is a school to just get bye there is nothing great about the school in general and improvements are hopefully in the future going to come. If you can avoid it try to send your kid to a school out in valencia or out of the la unified school system. Culver city schools are not in the la unified school systerm and thats why people say they're better but in reality its just a farce to make yourself feel better. There is nothing great about culver city school. Sending your kid to a culver city school is really nothing special. If you want your child to go to an ivy league school then dont send them to any schools here. If you don't care about that and you just want your kids to go to school and drift through the system the culver unified schools are for you for in the end you are getting below par education
--Submitted by a parent

I am a very happy and proud mom of a wonderful Lin Howe student. I have my child in morning and after school care due to my work schedule, but she does not mind being at school for extended hours because when I pick her up she always makes me wait. CCUSD Office of Child Development has an excellent morning and after school care with a wonderful and caring staff. I would recommend this school and extended programs to all working parents.
--Submitted by a parent

Took my kids out of private school to place them in an environment that educates the entire child. This is the best place in Culver City to educate the entire student. The focus on the "whole child", rather than the test scores is a great example of what our schools should be like.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful neighborhood school. My daughter just finished first grade and has had fantastic teachers in both kindergarten and first grade. Her reading and math skills are above third grade level. The sense of community there is great with a diverse student body and so many opportunities to follow any interest your child may have. The parents have worked hard to make Lin Howe a school that fosters the "whole child".
--Submitted by a parent