Seven Arrows Elementary School

Seven Arrows has been a wonderful school for my daughter. It is not only very artistic, but also academically strong. One of my daughter's strength was Math, and upon graduating from SAE she placed in the advanced Math in her Middle School. This made her feel valued for her effort and her study habits. Middle School has been very easy and she has been able to be a leader in creativity through her technology skills. She got a well rounded education that has helped here excel in her Middle School years.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a gift to children. My 3 children attended Seven Arrows from Kindergarten through 6th grade. Each of them had a unique experience and received a top notch education. All 3 have gone on to well regarded, academic and highly competitive middle and high schools. The incredible teachers at Seven Arrows are kind, caring and truly in touch with each and every student. These kids go on to become leaders among their peers. They are well informed about their world and larger world all around them. The signature festivals and the special events are just a small sample of the unique education children receive from this gem of a school. Truly a magical place where each child grows to their full potential.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a magical place, wonderful academics, caring teachers, involved parents. It is a school for parents who are committed to ensuring their children get a quality education AND get wonderful exposure to dance, the arts, music, choir and athletics. The school has a school choir, a dance troupe, fabulous art, great athletics, a fantastic music department PLUS advanced math, spanish language instruction and overall great teachers. Both my children graduated from Seven Arrows, and are thriving in their middle school of choice (they easily got into the schools they wanted to) but we are so thankful that they had the magical experience of Seven Arrows.
—Submitted by a parent

The turnover of teachers and students is great. We left when the director told us our son could not stay in the school unless we saw the psychiatrist of HER choice and followed his directive. We initially complied only to find her psch intolerable and his mandate to medicate. We moved our child to an excellent public school and he got a much better education without drugs. Also the facilities are small and cramped.
—Submitted by a parent

We went to this school for 4 years and it got worse every year. The principal might tell you that your child can't come the next year due to her whims and perhaps she will decide that your sibling can't come too. Then she might ask you to put your child on medication if you want to stay in the school. She thinks she knows more than you about your child and her history is in real estate sales not child/family psychology. This school is a sham and it will take over you life. Since leaving I feel like I've gotten my life back! The principal here takes advantage of sensitive, well meaning parents. The staff comes and goes all too quickly too.
—Submitted by a parent

Seven Arrows is a school that honors the beautiful things in each child. The director has created a small tight-knit community in a large city. Though the parent body is diverse, it seems everyone has a similar mindset of sophisticated, joyous, and wolrdly perspectives.
—Submitted by a parent

the curriculum is second to none -- so rich with academics, arts and more. kids are honored as individuals and love and passion abounds. I couldn't say enough about this little gem!

Seven Arrows is an excellent school -- wonderful, supportive teachers; a close-knit, involved parent community; innovative, creative learning techniques. It has exceeded our expectations.
—Submitted by a parent

not great...too small...doesn't have the facilities needed to make a great school!
—Submitted by a parent

We absolutely love, love, love this school. It is socially emotionally based while still being a top academic school. It requires a lot of parental committment as the school flourishes because a lot of people, especially the parents, dedicate themselves to make it work.
—Submitted by a parent

fabulous and loving artistic and educational from students grandother Bev

We are very happy to have found this school. There are growing pains for this ten-year-old school, to be sure, in terms of organization and the perennial issue of private school fundraising. The school also has a small facility but makes ample use of the Pacific Palisades parks for its athletics. This is a great place to consider if one is looking for a small community (about 110 students, K-6), superior teaching, and a focus on the individual child. This is also a school that places a high value on ethics and learning about other cultures. Spanish is taught as a daily subject in the lower grades, and the enrichment classes offered are of high quality. Visual arts and music faculty are stellar, and the school benefits from its talented and enthusiastic parent volunteers as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Our experience with this school was very unfortunate and if I had it to do over again, I certainly would not. The school is run like a dictatorship and the whims of the dictator change with the wind - or perhaps the amount of cash coming in. Every class I have seen has had a problem with bullying that has not been solved adequately, and I have seen many families and many teachers and administrators leave the school. This is a bad sign. The promises made upon entry are that of a good salesman and not of a true nature. I only write this to warn people about what they are getting themselves into.
—Submitted by a parent

We have had a great experience with this school. I strongly disagree with the previous reviewer that 'most of the kids are special needs.' That is patently untrue. If that is the type of school you are looking for, this would not be the best place for your child. Seven Arrows does, however, make a strong effort to address the individual educational needs of the children, to encourage their enthusiasm for learning. In fact, currently there is an extra-curricular math/science class geared toward certain environmental issues and what these children can do to help. They are not just learning about these issues intellectually, they are participating in hands-on projects to try to effect change. Math, language arts, and Spanish are all taught in a manner that addresses the needs of children, including when they are advanced in a particular subject and benefit from more challenging work.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have tested in a range that caused us to consider sending them to a gifted academic-only type of school. Both of us (parents) attended traditional schools and ivy league colleges, so there is a certain appeal to continuing that for our children. Probably such a school would have worked out fine, but we are grateful we chose Seven Arrows. Our children are not only receiving a top level academic education, they are also developing into engaged, kind, and articulate people who care not just about themselves, but about the world.
—Submitted by a parent

Please do not be fooled by the fa ade. The school makes promises to parents that they do not honor. They are not looking out for the best interests of your child; unless perhaps you can pay for it. The morality of the parent body and staff are extremely questionable. It is a dictatorship and the leadership at the school is inconsistent. The faculty seems to be scared to death to think for themselves or make decisions without the approval of their fearless leader. Most of the kids are special needs and academics do not seem to be a priority to the families who attend. It was just a very strange experience; needless to say I got my kid out of there ASAP. The space is cramped and if you desire and an adequate sports program; not going to happen. It is a joke and I am disappointed that I made such a poor decision.
—Submitted by a parent

I disagree completely with the positive reviews for this school. My child attended this school and not a single one of the personal commitment made to us by the principal herself ever came true. Furthermore this is a school based solely on the will and views of the owner-principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Aside from the critique made here about Seven Arrows, it can t be denied that it attracts a superior cadre of teachers. Even during times of turnover, when as parents we have worried about whether or not our children (son and daughter) will have missed the chance of working with a talented, departing instructor, the incoming faculty member always proves to be just as intelligent, curious, fiercely dedicated, and loving. We roll with some of the school s growing pains knowing our kids are being taught by some of the best in the field (including the one here who is weary of our reviews).
—Submitted by a parent

I am weary about the positive reviews for this school. I taught here and I found the leadership to be disingenuous. One thing was told to the parents and another thing was practiced. I would not recommend this school to anyone. Save your money and get a better education for free at a public school.
—Submitted by a teacher

We have found this school to be incredible. It combines acedemic priorities with other aspects of education that are critical to the development of my son. The staff is extremely competent and has provided our son with a level of personal attention that has exceeded our expectations. And the feeling of community among the families is icing on the cake.
—Submitted by a parent