P.S. #1 Elementary School

My daughter has been attending PS#1 for three years now. What we love about this school is that our daughter loves to go to school and she even requests to stay in the aftercare program. She has also met many amazing friends. Even when there are problems, they are quickly addressed, and the quality of the teaching and curriculum is excellent. We also really love the balance of learning, playing games, the arts, P.E. and recess. We are also extremely grateful for the support of the school during a crisis. The teachers, staff and parents really let us feel supported during that difficult time.
--Submitted by a parent

It has been 3 years since my daughter first started at PS#1. Upon her first visit to the school (after many visits to others), this was 'hands down' her choice! I am forever grateful that my daughter knew instinctively, what had taken me 2 years & 28 school tours later to come to the same conclusion. I started the private school search 2 years prior to enrollment. The difference between traditional vs. progressive, etc was knew to me. I soon learned that my pre-concieved idea of a progressive school to mean 'new age' was wrong when it came to PS#1 after hearing the headmaster the first time. His belief of 'not how smart the child is, but HOW the child is SMART' made a profound impact on me. I thought I wanted what I had, for my child, but instead, I got exactly what 'we' (child & family)needed in PS#1!
--Submitted by a parent

We're just finishing our fifth year at PS#1 and couldn't be happier. Our daughter who entered the school with a ton of self esteem just seems to have more and more. In fact when you look at the older kids, you can't tell which ones are the shy ones. And our son who has a very different personality from our daughter is learning and flourishing. Our feeling when we started was who they are as a person is more important than what they learn. There's plenty of time to be academic later on if that's who they are. As it turns out PS#1 is considerably more academic than we thought. The kids don't sit in rows and take tests day in and day out. But they are learning an immense amount, without the pressure of grades or unnecessary homework. PS#1 allows kids to be kids.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree the school is overhyped and not the right place for all kids. It is good for kids who need to build up self-esteem or have self-confidence issues. They say kids will learn through play and so far in my two years, I have not seen this. There isn t much learning going on, at least not academically. They do a lot of extracurricular activities, plays, art, music, PE. They have more days off and half days than most schools. There are a group of parents who do influence the school greatly. It is not as inclusive as they make it seem and the preferred method of communication is by email. Heavy parent involvement and volunteering is mandatory and they do a lot of fundraising. Also they raise tuition every year even in the toughest economic times. The principal is outstanding and the staff is great but teachers are just ok.
--Submitted by a parent

My son loves PS#1. He is in his second year there, and is eager to go to school and eager to learn. We chose the school because of its emphasis on social and emotional development and the attention that teachers and the administration pay to each individual student. In our time there, we also learned that the teachers are excellent and the curriculum is very strong. Through hands on projects and group work, our son is constructing his own knowledge. We see his eagerness to learn when he comes home and wants to read and do more math problems, as well as continue to play out what he started in school. The school has a warm and welcoming community. Older children are kind to and protective toward younger children in a way that is truly impressive, and likewise more experienced parents are welcoming to new families. There is a high level of parent involvement, with many programs run by parents and new projects starting all the time. My son has gained confidence in his abilities through encouragement to be a leader, public speaking and class performances, physical education taught four times per week, and excellent after school care. Children are allowed to be children. The school is lovely. My husband and I are both physicians; we place a lot of value in our childrens' education, and we feel grateful that our son and his brother will experience their early education in a place as special as PS#1.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is a graduate and went onto one of top private secondary schools in LA (Harvard-Westlake), 99% of graduating class got into their first choice and most received acceptance from a few schools! PS#1 gives its students what they need to matriculate and succeed in any secondary school while not burning them out with a bunch of boring rote memorization and busy work. Many schools talk the talk of diversity and creativity, few implement it, PS#1 does. Evident in its staff, student body and teaching methods. My child still loves school and learning while consistently receiving A's! PS#1 is a sweet and gentle place that allows children to be children, perfect for any family that does not want their child a carbon copy of the next behind a desk all day like a tight wound package!
--Submitted by a parent

We are entering our second year after transferring from public school. Very happy with the teachers, programs, facilities and individual teaching. Teachers really know their students academic ability as well as social, emotional levels. All 3 are addressed during a childs education. Parents are very involved and feels like a community. We are thrilled to be at PS#1!
--Submitted by a parent

This school is great if you are looking for a school that emphasizes on each individual kid's potentials and talents rather than working on test scores. They teach the kids how to enjoy learning. Kids learn to be leaders and at the same time respect all the member of their community and care about them. Teachers are great and friendly and the principal is the best. My son has been in the school for three years. He always feels like being at home and enjoys every single moments of the school. I have a hard time in the afternoons to take him home. Parents are very involved in running the school which is one the things I love about the school. If you live in Santa Monica or west LA, you don't want to loose the chance to be part of this great academic family!
--Submitted by a parent

Don't believe the hype - the school is good but not great. It's the first year for my child and he does love it - but more because of its summer camp like feeling than anything else. There are a group of parents who practically run the school and the environment feels very exclusionary. It's not an open school and there is no discipline or consequences for things like bullying. The principal is great, some of the staff very personable, but the teachers have not impressed me at all. They keep you at arms-length and keep communication limited to emails! Not sure how long we will continue here.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 1 child still attending and 1 that recently graduated. The school has many fantastic teachers and creative special assignments; the school community is warm and down to earth; parents are creative and highly involved. Science and math instruction are less strong than social sciences and language arts. Art, music, and foreign language are not priorities. Not strong on curbing disruptive students. Your child will definitely graduate as an accomplished public speaker- every class performs in front of the student body, multiple times each year.
--Submitted by a parent