Wonderland Avenue Elementary School

We moved from another county to Los Angeles and heard only the best about this school. We were very surprised about the opposite reality we've encountered: Big but very aggressive parent involvment with a great deal of business networking...A lot of money was raised but you couldn't see it in the classrooms. We also wondered how this school gets the high test scores, since academics in our kid's classes were very weak. It was more socializing than anything else, but they always got super grades...We were so concerned after a while that we moved away from this school. It took our kids one year to get back on track and their new teachers wondered what kind of (bad) school these kids went to!
—Submitted by a parent

a lot of parental involvement. good music.
—Submitted by a parent

One of the best public schools in the city--great parent involvement. the children have arts, music and PE which is funded through the parent's booster club-Friends of Wonderland. The ethnic diversity in the magnet school could be better balanced (ethnic minorities are primarily Asian, but it is getting better. There has been an increase in African-American kids in the past 2 years, but very few Latinos). If your child has been designated as Gifted, they will get a superior education which will prepare them for good public and/or private schools, hands down!
—Submitted by a parent

The wonderland magnet has been the best thing that has happened for my daughter. The teachers have been more than stellar, very supportive. The biggest problem I see with this school is the principal is not good with parents, teachers, or especially children.
—Submitted by an administrator

Teacher quality varies greatly! We were happy in the neighborhood school, but moved our child into the magnet. Expectations and assignments were unclear. We switched schools, but stayed in the LAUSD and are now very happy. There is very high turnover in the Wonderland Principal's office, and the current one seems unable to establish eye contact or mainain a conversation. There is seemingly no overall curriculum plan that sets standards to prepare one grade's graduates for the following year's requirements. The parent involvement is very strong, but chaotic and a very few people do the majority of the work. The affluence of the surrounding community means that they can raise a lot of money, but there is little agreement on how to spend it.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent parent involvement, extracurricular activities such as build a skateboard, karate, etc - art & gym added by private funding. The best public elementary school in LA. Disadvantage - must live in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school for my kids. I wish I'd gone there when I was a child. The arts program is great
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended from K-5 and our experience was very positive. All years he did well and felt comfortable and safe on campus. I think the API scores speak for themselves. After school there is the STAR program which would vary and is probably more geared toward the K-2 grades. The parents are an 'eclectic' group, but despite surface differences, place high value on the education of children and are very involved. Probably the biggest drawback is the small playground. Older children, especially boys, needing more room. Overall a very good experience.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderland is a fabulous school. It's small so attention to the individual is great and the level of parent involvement is superb. There is an parent paid for art program as well as music and PE. If you're lucky enough to have your child go to Wonderland you will be thrilled. It's as good, if not better, than any private school in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

Principal and staff are so caring. My daughter got an IEP for her problem with ADD without any problem. At a prior school the staff didn't want to deal with the problem.
—Submitted by a parent

Terrific school in the hills of Los Angeles. Great academic programs and guidance espescially from 3rd grade up. Very nice atmosphere and lots of motivated teachers.
—Submitted by kees vanoostrum, a parent

If only this school, especially the magnet, could go through 12th grade, our public school issues would be solved! And incredible place, with supportive families, extraordinary teachers, in a beautiful setting. Very well prepares the kids academically, creatives, and self-esteem wise. Our two children loved it.
—Submitted by a parent

We are in the Magnet where the quality of teachers is excellent! Being a gifted program, you would expect there to be many hours of challenging homework. However, the work load is very managable. Yes, it is challenging, but that is why we are there. I beleive it is the teaching techniques not the amount of work that contributes to the extremely high test scores. Very inivative projects and a lot of stress on the children doing their own work and the parents simply being there to make sure it is completed but not to complete it for them. Many wonderful field trips, and I can't say enough about the wonderful parent community and the pride they have in the school. And though the location is a bit inconvienent, the campus is relaxed and filled with many happy children.
—Submitted by a parent

Fantastic extracurricular - art, drama, gardening, music, dance, PE - all with specialised teachers paid for by PTA. Small so all the adults know your child. Safe - the kids are not fighting each other. Very desirable, so get good longterm teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

this school raises an amazing amount of money for how small the student body is. because of it, they have an aide in every class, music, p.e. and orchestra which has translated into high scores on the CAT/6 and motivated children.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is in the Gifted Magnet program, which is superb through second grade, when class sizes are restricted to a max of 20 children. Educational standards here are very high, as reflected by the standardized test scores. But I felt that, starting in 3rd grade, when the class size jumps to 32 per classroom, children do fall through the cracks, unless the parents are on top of the situation and request additional teacher oversight. One of the more difficult aspects here is the physical site, itself. It's very, very difficult to attend student concerts or any event at the school, due to lack of parking. Also, kids in the magnet program have a hard time socializing with each other outside the classroom, because kids come from all over LA.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the most amazing elementary school I've ever seen. My son has been in 2 LAUSD schools with Wonderland Magnet being one of them. The quality of education and challenging curriculum along with the amazing 3rd and 4th grade teachers make it an incredible experience. The children go on field trips regularly in the magnet to amazing places which enhance their education as well as overnight trips which increase their independence. The children at this school and families are also incredible. Everyone seems to really care about what's important in life, there children's education!
—Submitted by a parent

The cream of the crop for public elementary schools! Great teachers who know how to motivate students, a principal who is truly involved and parents who care--the perfect formula for success. My daughter has made lots of friends (in the magnet school) and loves going to school here.
—Submitted by a parent