Open Charter Magnet School

Open Charter Magnet School is not a school you want your child to attend for a solid education. His teachers weren't organized and one of them gave us the feeling that she just didn't want to be there. My child had no spelling tests for almost two years. The administration here is a revolving door. The children are good kids and the population is diverse. I have taught elementary, middle and high school, so I know what a REAL classroom needs to help young minds grow. I cannot recommend this school as a foundation for learning.
—Submitted by a parent

Per the Open School Directory about 30% students are from within non-busing area. Many friends live in Mar Vista, Mid-City, Village Green and Koreatown. I love the multi-age classrooms, allows kids to progress at their own rate & have a BFF who is 1-2 years younger/older. Love the library & the annual 3 week Readathon (parent-led) is amazing. Each class also has libraries specific to its themes (Ex. Red does "Start to Finish" with book series of that theme. Orange Cluster has an extensive research/inspiration library. Math teaching seems inconsistent from class to class. But, teachers very adaptive. Ex. I saw a cool tool for learning multiplication tables in another class, brought it to ours and teachers adopted it. Few tests overall. Until CST testing my child had only had a few spelling/math quizzes. Open is great for enthusiastic learners taught in variety of ways, lots of hands-on, cross-subject teaching with lessons as likely to come from Garden or Art as from the classroom. Know your child though, for while small groups, centers,volunteers and aides mean that the ratio of adults to kids is pretty good, your kid still walks into a classroom of 48 or 60 kids each day.
—Submitted by a parent

I was not aware that most of children that attend come from the community of westchester as stated in previous reviews, maybe someone could post that percentage to clarify?

My son just hit the lottery and will be attending Open School as a Kindergartner in Fall 2013. From what I have heard from current parents this school is amazing and offers much more than academics. I am so excited and look forward to joining the community.
—Submitted by a parent

I toured the Open School a week after looking at private schools and one other highly regarded Magnet school. After talking to teachers and watching the students, it didn't take long to realize that this school was every bit as good, if not better than schools I had already seen. Four years later I was not surprised to hear someone at a party call Open Magnet "the best public school in LA". I have yet to find an elementary school with teachers as impressive as the ones you'll find at Open. The kids are engaged and interested and they want to come to school. They love learning - and as a parent you will love watching them grow at this extraordinary school. The music and art programs are pretty special; but what struck me the most is the challenging and rigorous academics. While many students come from the neighboring Westchester neighborhoods; most of the students come from zip codes spanning the LA basin - making Open Charter one of the most diverse schools on the west side. If you're like me and you came to LA to live in a dynamic community filled with interesting diverse people, you and your kids will feel right at home at the Open School.
—Submitted by a parent

It is my child's last year at the school and we are very sad there is no Open Charter middle with the same quality of teachers, principal and staff. We have experienced OCS for 5 years and all greades have been excellent. The teachers are experienced, motivated and very creative. The classrooms are full, but children still feel individual attention. The approach used to teaching goes beyond covering the information required by LAUSD. Teachers show children how to relate the information to the world around them, how to use creativity and imagination...how to love learning.
—Submitted by a parent

I go to this school and love it so do my parents.The teachers are all really great.So I really recommend IT!

I am a parent of two children who attend Open Charter. Open School is an inviting environment for eager learners. Individuality is embraced and addressed in lesson plans/academic programs. The extracurricular activities are awesome and cater to a variety of interests. The level of parent involvement is incrredible. I love Open School and feel extrememly blessed that my children are involved in such an amazing program.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm so lucky to have my kids in this school. Both of my kids have flourished and the teachers have been great partners in teaching and raising them as well.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal is intuitive, creative in problem-solving and the teachers are dedicated and inspired. The office staff; top of the tops. The children learn to be thinkers and doers.
—Submitted by a parent

Open School is an amazing school and we are so lucky to be there. The families, teachers and the Administration are the best.
—Submitted by a parent

The sense of family/community is phenomenal!!
—Submitted by a parent

individualized instruction, mixed age clusters, diversity, socially conscious, creates learners and independent thinkers, emphsizes development of personal responsibility, creative programs and acitivites
—Submitted by a parent

it is the most well diversed...parent involved, family atmosphere school you will find out there..we are a family and each one of the kids and parent know that.great teachers and kids grow with the respect and love they need to get them through their future schoolyears ahead
—Submitted by a parent

Open Charter Magnet school is truly an oasis in a sea of average LAUSD elementary schools. With a strong governing board, everyone from the principal, office staff, teachers, aides and parents are actively engaged in the enrichment of the students. In Los Angeles, from K-5, hands-down, there's no place you'd rather have your kids than Open.
—Submitted by a parent

A school that actually emphasizes and promotes music, arts, gardening, and physical education. It provides a well rounded holistic experience for students that allows them to excel academically without teaching to the test.
—Submitted by a parent

the teachers are so committed and devoted; they always go the extra mile, they have been partners with us in the raising of my children, to be compassionate citizens of the world of whom I am so very proud.
—Submitted by a parent

Open School is amazing! My twin boys are both flourishing. The teachers take the time to ensure each child is proceeding at his/her own pace and make learning interesting & fun! My boys (and I) all love Open School!
—Submitted by a parent

Such an innovative curriculum -- makes learning exciting for my child. The teachers really care about her growth and work with her based on her individualized needs, rather than basing their teaching on the assumption that the entire class is at the same level. The parental involvement is amazing -- truly a community, even though the students come from all over Los Angeles.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a relatively new parent at the school but the creative learning approach is unbelievable, it gives kids opportunities to learn at their own respective pace while exposing them to amazing things along the way!
—Submitted by a parent