Hollywood Schoolhouse

Our son has been in pre-school and JK here for two years and LOVED IT! And so have we! The administration is caring and engaged and the students are likewise. They also invite involvement from the parents, all of which combines to form a great community in which to raise curious, intelligent, perspicacious (learned that word from his JK teacher!), outgoing kids! We recommend it HIGHLY!
—Submitted by a parent

Look elsewhere unless you are only considering pre-k and k. And be prepared to give give give if you do go there. They ask for donations on a weekly basis.
—Submitted by a parent

Hollywood Schoolhouse has been a wonderful school for our entire family for our first child, and we look forward to the fall when our youngest is there as well. There are so many opportunities for parents to get involved as a volunteer, my child is always engaged and excited about learning. The community is strong, warm, diverse, and full of families with the same mission--to raise confident, challenged, thoughtful, and compassionate members of society.
—Submitted by a parent

The Hollywood Schoolhouse if fantastic. I am shocked to hear that anyone would have something negative to say about their experience there. I have two children that went from preschool through 8th grade. They are both thriving in their High Schools. They had many options to choose from for high school and HSH helped us transition to the right school for our child. I know that HSH is thriving in the elementary and due to lack of physical space, they have decided to phase out their middle school. Many families were sad to leave earlier than they planned. I highly recommend this school if you want a inspiring place where your child is nurtured and educated under the same roof.
—Submitted by a parent

The academics in the middle school were very progressive and my child advanced intellectually by leaps and bounds. We were quite impressed with the teachers at HSH. What is unsatisfactory about this school is the administration; from the principal on down. Administration lacks a backbone, and the kids pretty much run the school. No policies in place for several things any other school would have in its manual or code of conduct. We had issues with bullies at this school, and virtually nothing was done about it. There was talk of putting policies in place, but no action. Another reason to stay away from this school: 8 students in 7th grade left HSH en masse to attend another school to finish out 8th grade. The 6th grade has left in the same manner, although to different schools. That should tell you something! We had heard so much about "community" when we enrolled at this school. We felt nothing of the kind while my child attended. The principal is a major fail!
—Submitted by a parent

Our son has been a student at The Hollywood Schoolhouse for two years, starting with Pre-K and moving onto to junior Kindergarten. We've had the most incredible experience there. We wanted to congratulate the Headmaster and Director on the great news that so many middle school students were placed in highly academic and prestigious high schools upon graduating HSH. Also, we wanted to say THANK YOU to all of the staff and teachers that make school days exciting and meaningful and that our son had the BEST TIME at this Spring's FUNNY BUNNY CAMP. The yard was a magical place everyday and it was so full of love and play. He had a ball. Thank you to and your excellent team of teachers and staff for making HSH the best school ever! With much love and appreciation, Gianna and Conrad Smart
—Submitted by a parent

Had my daughter in this school for pre-k. She is now in 1st grade, but periodically I check this school on Great Schools to see if things have improved. Looks like things are worse than ever. Wish the principals and staff at this school cared about education instead of their egos. The people who run this place should be in advertising or PR, not teaching children. Spend your money elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

We love the Hollywood schoolhouse. I am the mom of a third grader and a kindergartner, who have both been there since pre-school. When our older daughter was getting ready to make the into-K shift, we looked at every school that appealed to us: Oakwood, Campbell Hall, and many others that seemed to have the same philosophy as HSH. What kept us at HSH, though (and why we didn't even bother looking further when the same time came for our son) was the loving, diverse, involved community of families and the intimate, devoted, creative yet rigorous curriculum taught by the teachers. We live in what can be such a status-driven, surface-level-is-the-only-level town, yet despite the large presence of celeb parents, HSH remains an intimate, low-key, yet challenging and exciting school. Did I mention that we love it?
—Submitted by a parent

HSH is fantastic. My children have been at this school for six years and I am continually amazed by the breadth and depth of their education. HSH is clearly dedicated to continually assessing and enhancing their curriculum to keep the kids engaged and challenged. The teachers are all amazing and inspired. They put their hearts into their work, and it shows. The administration is wonderfully supportive and available to the parents. Not only are my two kids stimulated and thriving academically, but they are also learning important civic values. The school s commitment to putting social service and community outreach in the curriculum is unlike any other school I ve ever heard of. It s truly inspiring. HSH is a real community, you feel it as soon as you step onto campus. I highly recommend it to prospective parents.
—Submitted by a parent

We LOVE HSH! Our kindergartner has transformed, almost magically. Through the attention, dedicated one-on-one teaching and inspired atmosphere of HSH, my highly physical son has found his quiet, thoughtful, smart and creative side that was hidden until this year. And we love the families at the school. I spent years in mommy & me groups without ever really finding "my people." The community at this "little red schoolhouse" is full of educated, warm, giving, open, funny, dedicated parents; people who I now consider some of my closest friends. The student and parent body are diverse and even "cool." I consider the principal leadership to be at the forefront of not only education but also developmental and social issues. I often seek her advise on navigating through parenting questions and even life's sometimes bumpy roads. The faculty as a whole are sharp people who are wonderfully committed to connecting with children and creating a meaningful education. It is a pure joy to be part of such a special school. We couldn t be happier anywhere else.
—Submitted by a parent

The Hollywood Schoolhouse has far exceeded our expectations, and our expectations were high. They have provided the most loving, nurturing, interesting environment for my son to begin his education. He has grown so much and they are always thinking ahead to make sure his next transition is a smooth one, weather it is the first day of school or potty training or moving on to the next grade. We are grateful everyday that this school exists!
—Submitted by a parent

The Hollywood Schoolhouse (HSH) is a wonderful school. Last year, when we were preparing for our move from NYC to LA, we checked out the Great Schools website regarding the three schools to which we had applied. Once we received our acceptances, I went back and studied the parent comments again. Honestly, they only served to confuse me. Ultimately we chose The Hollywood Schoolhouse for our second grader. We liked the school immediately but I felt it was necessary to wait until the end of the school year to write an objective review. Here is why we are happy with HSH: Their curriculum is very well thought out. As the year progresses, they review and reinforce concepts so your child grows comfortable and confident. The way they teach subjects is fun for the kids, and why shouldn't it be? For example, they just finished a project about a historical figure of their choice that included a biographical essay, an art project, and a performance. My child learned more than I ever anticipated and had a great time doing it. That's just one example, it has been a year of great experiences. The parents are friendly, the school has a good vibe, and the administration listens when you have a problem. Yes, they ask you to volunteer and donate money, but every school, public and private, asks that of parents--they have to. The Head of School, Mr. Stephen, works very hard to make HSH great and is always looking for ways to improve it. My child is excelling academically and is very, very happy. No school is a perfect fit for everyone, but HSH works for us. We're looking forward to third grade.
—Submitted by a parent

We love this school and have considered free schools in our area, but sadly nothing shaped up to the hollywood school house. From the head of school to each class teacher, everyone involved is caring and so involved with the children. This is a school that I have dreamed of for my kids. I'll Just have to work a bit more to pay for it, and why not!!
—Submitted by a parent

I am extremely happy that my two children are attending The Hollywood Schoolhouse. I know that my kids are happy. The decision to put them in a private school isn t an easy one, especially in these times, but our family works hard to make this possible. I did my homework and researched and visited all the possible options from public school, charter schools, and other private schools, but clearly for me there was no other choice. HSH has a rich history that started in 1945 and it shares a lot of the same core values that I have which is a sense of community, family, academics, extra curricular etc. HSH knows my children and addresses their needs as individual people. It says a lot when my kids are eager in the morning to go to school. Other parents and students are friendly always saying hello. Even though there are 300 students from preschool to 8th grade, some how you get to know families from all grade levels. My 3 year old daughter says hello to the 5th graders. It takes a village to raise a child, and we have chose the right village for our children.
—Submitted by a parent

I found this school to be a major disappointment. Very expensive without anything to show for the expense. They constantly ask you to volunteer, contribute and donate, yet they are not appreciative of all the effort given. The school begins to feel oppressive and uncomfortable after one or two years, or if you have any issues with anything pertaining to HSH. I do not recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

I would first like to address some comments that have been made on this site. First, it is so unfortunate that this site, which is meant to be a tool, is being used for a negative venting forum for some. With the few staff that do have children here, we are very fortunate to have a small decrease in our child's tuition. It is a wonderful feeling to know that not only HSH takes care of their families; they take care of their staff as well. In a few years my child will be ready for school. I have an opportunity to enroll her into several other really good programs. With that said, the importance for her to develop a love of learning and establishing a strong self image, HSH is the only school that will give that to her. I also know first hand the dedication and qualification of the teachers I work with. Many have been here for years with his or her credentials and most with Masters. Again, I can t say enough great things about this school as a teacher and future parent.
—Submitted by a teacher

I'm sorry but the recent posts about this school are hard to believe. This school was, in my opinion, a place where not much learning took place. I do not believe the staff were very qualified, and many 'instructors' are there because their own children attend, whereby tuitiion is reduced or waived for them. The school environment is right out of the fable the Emperor has no clothes. There is no auditorium, no grass, no space really for children to move freely and not run each other over. As a result more than half the time spent by parents and faculty is on fundraising. It's relentless, and exhausting, and does nothing for your child. If they went back to simply focusing on pre k through Kintergarten, I'd say great, no harm, no foul. But the truth is they have bitten off way more than they can chew.
—Submitted by a parent

I couldn't have chosen a more magical place for my children.The staff is amazing and creative. They have inspired and instilled a love of learning within my children.HSH has a well balanced curriculum that truly follows its mission statement.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been a teacher at the Hollywood Schoolhouse for 18 years. I find it quite funny that some parents feel the teachers are droppping like wild flies. I can assure anyone who reads this that 95 % of the teachers who are here have been here between 10 to 18 years. Why so long? Because we love this school and are passionate about what it believes in. Not only do we have one of the top fine arts programs, we have a teaching staff that puts 110% into the curriculm he or she teaches. It shows with the amazing projects, assembilies, field trips to Sacramento and Washington DC, and strong test scores. As for the administration, they couldn't be more supportive and go out of their way to help families with needs. Our strong community is felt throughout the school. I would not want to work anywhere else!
—Submitted by a teacher

I had the unique experience of working at this school. It became apparent early on that the parents ran the school. It also became clear that the emphasis was on creating a 'fun and funky' (actual quote) school that was more akin to a day care center. Academics were present but were not stressed. Big deal made about a sense of 'community,' but I never felt it. Lots of cliques amongst parents and teachers made it feel like high school. Finally left and am now happily ensconced in a real school where academics are emphasized and all are valued and appreciated. My vote? Stay away.