Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School

A lovely location with some kind and caring teachers but sadly lacking in academic focus or rigor. If you have the time, money and inclination to hire outside tutors to supplement then it might work for you. My kids are getting bored and coming to the realization that they are falling behind their peers who attend other schools.
--Submitted by a parent

The school is part of UCLA's GSE&IS and is a laboratory for training teachers and for testing teaching methods. Will your kid have wires taped to his head? No. It means that researchers may record his class and ask him some questions, or that he might be in a section trying out some variation of Singapore math. It also means that his teachers will be demonstration teachers - deemed good enough to teach others how to teach. All this outside interaction with the class yields more transparency and accountability. The place might look unstructured but there is actually an amazing amount of thought applied to the curriculum and its delivery. And although there are no grades, assessments are taking place all the time. If you're a parent who fundamentally believes kids should learn by sitting at a desk and being lectured to, this is NOT the place for you. The Lab School is all about project-based learning, working in groups, developing and testing hypotheses, etc. I'll admit, I was a little concerned at first because I had little visibility into what my kid was learning. But I'm always surprised by the things that come up in our conversations (that I know we didn't teach her at home).
--Submitted by a parent

UCLA Lab School does some things amazingly well! Kids & families are from diverse backgrounds socially, economically, racially. The mix seems to work. There is a sense of community, tranquility & natural beauty on this campus like no other in L.A. Most kids are happy to go to school! On the flip side, this school emphasizes creativity but NOT academic rigor & they make no apologies for it. Stay away if you seek hard core academics. No focus on CA Standards like spelling, writing styles, math basics. In 4th to 6th grade, we saw 1/2 the class tutored outside school. Savvy parents know kids get in to the best middle schools but too much "catch up" is required. If you can afford tuition & pricey Westside tutors, don't hesistate. The administration says the school produces "leaders," "kids with good self esteem," "creative thinkers" but never any mention of TOP STUDENTS. FYI Schoolwide standardized test scores not shared openly nor exact number of middle school acceptances. There are nice kids but many not challenged to their potential. Some great teachers but teams/curriculum uneven & some teachers should really go. Focus groups with non-donor parents & alumni needed.
--Submitted by a parent

FYI-This school was previously referred to as Corinne A Seeds Elementary (Seeds) as well as University Elementary School (UES). The name was officially changed two years ago to UCLA Lab School.
--Submitted by a parent

We are very happy to be a part of this school. The teachers are intelligent, warm, and supportive. The administration is willing to make tough decisions in the best interest of the students. The campus is beautiful, and the school has access to amazing resources. The campus is very diverse and the programs are innovative and research based.
--Submitted by a parent

My child goes to that school and it is amazing!!! Becuse of that school she is a much responsible person the teachers and staff are amazing and really nice
--Submitted by a parent