Vistamar School

I am currently a senior at Vistamar and i have loved my high school experience. I have been at Vistamar all 4 years and cant imagine myself at any other school. It is so welcoming and i feel like i actually have what it takes to make it in the reall world. I think it is a wonderful fit for people that what to see the world from a global view and want to be engaged in the learning process. I love Vistamar but it does have its faults. Students at the school can be a bit cliquey and the school is becoming less and less diverse.Hopefully, this will change over time but I feel llike Vistamar is becoming another Brentwood or Harvard Westlake. Also, since it is so small and new we might not offer everything you are looking for and clubs fade away very easily. Overall, Vistamar is a great school that I would highly suggest to anyone looking for another option for high school.
--Submitted by a student

Vistamar School is the school that changed my life. I absolutely hated school before attending Vistamar. The word school made me quiver in my shoes, metaphorically speaking. I hated it. I didn't think that Vistamar would make me change my opinion about school, but it did. After years of dealing with teachers that didn't care and kids who picked on me, it took awhile for me to build up trust again in school towards both teachers and students. The calm accepting feeling that I got whenever I walked into the building and making friends that were on the same wavelength as me made me want to come to school. My suggestion for parents would be, if you have a student who is worried about fitting in or who has been picked on - send your child to Vistamar. It will change their views on school and life.
--Submitted by a student

Classroom setting is very engaging for the students. There is almost none of the droning teacher syndrome--students participate in their education. It's both a nurturing and challenging environment. Forcing kids to think outside themselves is a challenge for any high school, but they are doing a fine job. As good as it gets.
--Submitted by a parent

Our son just entered 9th grade at Vistamar and is very happy. We chose this school because its philosophy mirrors that of his former elementary/middle school and made for a smooth transition. He has been dutifully completing his homework without our nagging him and seems to want to do well. He is enjoying the sports programs and clubs, and eagerly signs up for the various student volunteer opportunities presented to him. (Vistamar requires 20 hours of community service from each student every year for a total of 80 upon graduation.) While some prospective parents balk because it's a relatively new school, it really has so much going for it that parents really should overlook that fact. Vistamar is an excellent choice for us.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school ! Teachers are fantastic... The students are happy. This is my childs second year and we have any problems of any kind.
--Submitted by a parent

I've been volunteering at Vistamar for several years, long before my kids were old enough to attend it. Now that they are there, I am extremely pleased with what they (and we) have experienced. The faculty is outstanding and the comaraderie among students exceptional. Kids of all ages and all races interact with dignity and courtesy. The curriculum is challenging but time is not wasted with meaningless homework. Indeed, one of the WASC team members who worked on Vistamar's accreditation made the comment that Vistamar's message is communicated extremely well and embraced by all the stakeholders - students, faculty, parents...
--Submitted by a parent

I have been very pleased with Vistamar. I will have two students there in the fall and I'm very confident that they will get lots of attention and opportunities to practice their academic, spots, and other skills. The teachers really pay attention to their students. Because the teacher care so much I think that the teenagers do better work and stay out of trouble. Vistamar students seem to want to please their teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

Good school, small classes, experienced teachers. Must agree with previous poster about the wisdom of including Westside Neighborhood's ex principal on the Board, particularly in light of some of the issues that went on at WNS. Also, the life planning director at Vistamar is a disappointment. Fancy title, lots of talk, very little follow through.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school... my kids started here after attending another private school in LA. No comparison. Teachers are fantastic... parents dedicated. Questioning trustees choice of including former principal from Westside Neighborhood School to the board. Let's hope it all works out for the best!
--Submitted by a parent

Vistamar has provided me with an education that I could have never found in any other school in the South Bay. The student-teacher ratio allows for an education that is truly my own. I would recommend this school to any student who is looking to be noticed in his/her academic community; anything is possible at Vistamar.
--Submitted by a student