Renaissance Arts Academy

I went to this school for 3 years, and I can tell you from experience that they do not treat all the kids the same. They play favorites, and unless you are one of there favorites than you will not learn much. There are 2 women that run the school and they are crazy. manny of there decisions are uncalled for and not justified. word of advice to the parents: if your child comes home with a crazy story and you do not trust them because it sounds outrageous; listen to them it is more than likely that they are telling the truth.

My child was expected to work together with others around her and contribute to the community as a musician and a scholar. This experience has served her extremely well in college. RenArts gave her daily opportunities to learn and solve real problems as an intellectual and a performer. She developed a deep confidence in her ability to communicate and direct her own learning. For students ready to work on challenging material and develop discipline this school is a perfect match.
—Submitted by a parent

I can honestly say this school is OK for middle school. Ren Arts was a wonderful place during my middle school years because I got to learn the cello. But beware favoritism does exist at this school. There are a lot of things wrong with this school for example: very bad math department, distracting environment, verbal abuse, emotional pain, and DRAMA! The school directors are not very good at solving problems and always put the blame on the student! Another thing is that they expect you to learn something even though there is another lesson going on in the "station" next to you. I loved this school very much but the academic program gets really boring after a while. There is also a problem with teachers getting fired constantly because they do not live up to the standards of the school directors.The directors probably make a kid cry at least every month( I know I cried alot) But if you want you kids to get into the arts renarts is the place BUT ONLY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL! If your kid succeeds in the arts after middle school they can apply for places like VAPA, Idywild and if they are really good Lachsa or Interlochen.I 'm grateful because this school introduced me to the cello!

My daughter attended RenArts and had the best education I can imagine it is possible to get from a progressive, forward-thinking institution. The staff here, especially PK and Sidnie, are superb, thoughtful people who know what a safe, smart school should be.
—Submitted by a parent

OK SERIOUSLY THIS SCHOOL IS NOT A GOOD CHOICE! My child attended a few years ago he loved it! But then he started to notice that everything was based on if the school directors liked you or not! The teachers were not very helpful and never responded to my emails. The directors made my child would come home crying on how the directors where mean to him. My child had terrible grades, so the directors called me to sit in classes with him. What I observed is that the teachers mainly only help the students that they like. Oh and if you already play an instrument this is not the school for you, my child always got bullied to even though the directors said it was a "bully safe location. The kids there where very mean to him and pulled pranks on him. And they have a "special (rehab arts) program for the kids who are not "talented" (they had to change the name because parents got furious). This is a terrible school! The office staff is terrible to it took them a month to give me my childs transcripts to switch. My child told the directors that he/she was audtioning for another arts school and the director said "Oh and you think your going to get in" my child got inTHIS IS THE WORST SCHOOL

This school is perfect in the way they teach the classics and the arts, and is wonderful in that they combine children into groups based on their learning level and not their age. Also, learning in a large space like this requires focus of attention. For a motivated, artistic child, I'm not sure there is a better place in LA to learn. And for kids who enter the school far behind, advisors will spend countless hours 1 on 1 trying to help them catch up (I remember spending hours teaching a 15 year old who came to us unable to read)... HOWEVER, the discipline philosophy at this school is a serious problem- they don't quite understand the best way to deal with un-ruly children and so the children are forced to sit idle on a dirty carpet (and shamed for it) as a result. This needs to change. But from an educational aspect, this school can be incredible for any parent/child willing to commit to the content (of the classics and the arts). And for parents/children who are willing to work hard and be motivated.
—Submitted by a teacher

My child has been at Renaissance Arts Academy for five years. She has blossomed BECAUSE of the things that this school DOES NOT have. She has been challenged to think beyond the every day concerns of most teenagers. She has had experiences that should would never have gotten in a regular school. She's performed at Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, she's taken Physics and Latin, she's read Wuthering Heights and The Aeneid. Stressing about grades and tests and homework is something she has NEVER had to worry about at this school, and me either. She is free to put all her focus on learning.
—Submitted by a parent

Rating this school using a star system is nearly impossible because it has many pros and cons that make it a great experience for some and a dispiriting one for others. My child attended for middle school , so my comments cover grades 6-8, though I think most apply for high school as well. PROS: - Safe environment - no gangs, guns etc. Close quarters--and constant supervision--keep bad behavior to a minimum. - Great, quirky kids. Although admission is decided by lottery, families tend to self-select. (Lots of aging hipster parents.) - Amazing classical music program (strings, choir, percussion ) and good modern dance program CONS: - No sports, P.E , drama, visual arts, spoken language classes or extra curricular activities such as dances, clubs, etc. - Academics are spotty. A lot of the best teachers don't last . There is virtually no academic homework, and while provocative longterm essays are assigned, teachers are apparently either not qualified to, or too lazy to, provide constructive feedback. - Grading is capricious, one teacher says she never gives the top grade, no matter how well the student did, because she "doesn't want kids to get a swelled head." Really.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been a student since 6th grade she is now in 10th. We love this school. Teachers are the best. They stay after if a child needs help come in early if needed as well.She has learned so much and really looks forward to going to school every morning. Sid & PK have been very helpful in placing her in just the right classes.We are hopeful next year she will be in honers. Thank you for everything we are soooo happy she did not have to attend Eagle Rock High School.Thanks to Ren Arts in Eagle Rock
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current scholar at Ren-Arts and this would be my second year attending this school I feel that this would not be the right school for me I am in 7th grade and i know 9/10th graders in the same class as me. When I was in 6th grade I found myself not understanding the material completely for the fact that this school will move very fast. So, if you feel that you can keep up very well then you can come here if not then you should not. The teachers here sometimes choose favorites in times. One of the main parts of this school is responsibilities for the fact that they dont have a janitor at lunch you must clean your own area and they do not give homework so you must study on you own to fallow your own classes

This what school should be! Someone start one for adults! This school truly challenges our young scholars to use their minds! The focus on community is setting us up to address the challenges ahead. Seeing these children grow and blossom is amazing. Reach further, stretch your mind, and your talents! YEA RENARTS!
—Submitted by a parent

i like the progressive curriculum, the attentiveness of the directors and the adviser's (aka teachers) and their dedication to providing the best education for their scholars (aka students). Scholars are expected to demonstrate dedication and commitment to the performance arts and academics. You won't find the Breakfast Club cliques here, Prom or Homecoming Game Bonfires. It's pure arts and academics. As a result, the school has a 100% graduation rate, the highest API scores among LAUSD middle schools and the second highest among LAUSD high schools. I am grateful that this school exists and that my granddaughter has the opportunity to experience the high level education they provide.

Renaissance Arts Academy is keeping music education alive and well in Los Angeles.

I'm a second year here at Ren-Arts and absolutely loving it! My teachers are all very helpful and it's hardly ever boring (except fro study period, which could use some work). There is no real social competition, no bullying, and no fights. The staff is strict, but only if you disobey, and if you are ruffian this not the school for you. I find it interesting and the music is cool!

I must disagree with some of the recent reviews, especially such remarks as "Jim Jones", and "Soviet". I've chaperoned field trips to Disney Hall and sat on the sidelines of many after school rehearsals and what I see are hundreds of kids experiencing enrichment that they would not receive elsewhere. Some of the top performing kids received their first instrument at Ren Arts and started from scratch, so the comment that the teachers only care about the talented kids is just not true. Regarding Parent Involvement, I just don't know. There is no PTA and I have never been aware of a parent meeting. The few parents I've met agree with me that there could be better communication in regard to events and scheduling. This is my only concern, which is a small price to pay in return for seeing my child perform at Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.
—Submitted by a parent

The stated mission of RenArts is certainly admirable, and the annual performances are impressive, but there are some pretty questionable pedagogical practices employed here. The director of the school rules the cavernous, one room campus with the assistance of a public address system, Jim Jones-like. Students are routinely rebuked publicly for various infractions and made to sit on a small rug in the middle of the schoolroom. The interior is monochromatically grey and grim, and the pervasive atmosphere is Soviet: students at their tasks look unhappy. Further, the school has embraced a questionable sink-or-swim pedagogical philosophy of autonomous scholarship where kids are more likely to be told to look it up in the book than have their questions meaningfully answered and faculty members seem more interested in their students making multitudinous margin notes in their texts than their actually understanding the material.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is very hard. They make you study stuff that is unnecessary. ITS IS DIFFICULT and you must purchases items that you will only use once in your life. This school makes you spend alot of money for for dumb music stuff.
—Submitted by a student

i attended renarts a few years ago, when I started there i thought this is going to be easy, no problem. As the months went by i realize the teachers only care about a specific group of students who the teacher thought were talented. i was left behind. And now in a public school i realize how much important info i missed in those years at renarts. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL FOR ANYONE!
—Submitted by a student

This school is great. I'm a first year here, but now I feel like I've been here forever. There's so much to do and so many things to find out, and none of the classes are boring. I just have to say that I love RenArts, and I plan to stay more than just one year.
—Submitted by a student

I have been attending Renaissance Arts Academy since the 8th Grade. When I started I was with one other student as the foundation of the bass program. I helped build that from an independent music study class, to a full fledged focus for students, and now that focus has many talented players. even though I was a music focus, I have been very interested in the dance program, and in my junior year switched majors to Dance, and I love it. It is Fantastic, the dance program really encourages full body and mind development, much like the music program, but I feel that Dancing has really made me happy. As a senior now, I take advantage of our amazing choir, Dance Companies, and creative writing as after-school programs. its an acquired taste but i love it.
—Submitted by a student