Champs - Charter High School of Arts-Multimedia & Performing

This school has the most dedicated teachers I have ever seen! The students are so friendly, outgoing and accepting. My daughter has never been asked to use or purchase drugs by anyone. She said there is a small "stoner" crowd as there is at every high school in this world (even when we were in high school). The talent among these students is unbelievable! Most are gifted in both academics and the arts. The school is having problems financially due to budget cuts and small class sizes and needs more donated funds to stay afloat. Hopefully some donors will come through so all these students can have a great future!
--Submitted by a parent

After having read many of the reviews, I was a bit skeptical before the beginning of this school year. My daughter is a freshman and she came from a much larger school. It is now December 1, 2011 and I am so pleased with my daughters teachers, their enthusiasm, their qualifications, their interest and their great communicaton. i ALWAYS know what happening on campus, and how she is doing in her classes. The Honors classes are challenging, but encompass many aspects of the arts as well. I must say that all in all I, my husband, and my daughter are VERY pleased with the education, the teachers, and the atmosphere. It has put me at ease and I am looking forward to the remainder of her years to be the same.
--Submitted by a parent

I wanted to share my wonderful experience at CHAMPS with you. My child entered as a freshman this year. Making that high school decision was a tough one. The reviews here were so varied. Without bias,I must say that we are delighted with CHAMPS. First off, the academics are first rate.My Honors student is extremely challenged and has plenty of homework to back it all up. I was so impressed with the teachers at Back To School night. Their qualifications and joy of teaching are thrilling. It's a great college prep education. The variety of electives and Academies are all the icing on the cake. The New Media program has been top notch and we were so impressed with the theatre presentations that we attended last year. When I toured the school last year. I was amazed at how nice and outgoing the children were. My child has found that to be true and told me yesterday that she has never been in such a friendly setting even in elementary school. I feel that the administration and all the office staff are very helpful.We had a slight schedule issue in the beginning of the year and it was handled with personal care. Great parent participation, amazing college counselor and lockers too.BRAVO!
--Submitted by a parent

It's interesting to read the criticisms of CHAMPS. To be sure, there have been some changes in the school, and it's not perfect. But the teachers are very dedicated and generally of high quality. They go above and beyond for the students. And, the API scores continue to indicate the high quality of education. It's still a relatively young Charter school, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better LAUSD school.
--Submitted by a parent

To parents concerned about the variation in positive and negative responses: When CHAMPS first opened it was an exceptional school but in the last year the newly appointed Senior Administrators have taken a financial focus which is never good for students. Whenever there is excessive turnover you can be assured there are issues. To verify just call the school and ask how much turnover they have had in the last year that will give you your answer. Champs is no longer selective with the entrance process if you have a heart beat you can be admitted. The entire school year the transcripts from my child s former school was never requested. Many teachers do not post grades for months on teacherease and they do not send out report cards.
--Submitted by a parent

The majority if reviews here are from parents and I am a student at CHAMPS here to reassure you. I am going to be a sophomore and I loved my freshman year. I am in the Drama Academy and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The freshman drama teacher changed me as a person. Don't be afraid of sending your kid to this school due to the parental reviews. I loved it. Most people who dont like it just really don't care about school in general and I saw that a lot. CHAMPS is making a lot of changes and for the better. I love my school and it's doing a lot better than other schools. And remember parents: private DOESNT mean better.
--Submitted by a student

I think the whole "the parents are cranky but the students are happy" has pretty much been debunked by the the three (3!) student protests including the newly elected student council. It is ridiculous and extremely disrespectful to the parents who want a good education for their children, and the children themselves, to continue to deny, cover-up and if all else fails name call. Go to the GoPetition website (search CHAMPS) and look at some of the comments from students and parents and read whats going on with the executive board. I am not impressed with the new principal. He seems to find parents annoying and an intrusion at best. So many teachers are resigning. Also it's not a performing arts and media school anymore. Now more than 50% of the students aren't arts at all and the name is changing. Where was the consultation and communication for all of this? There is no communication at CHAMPS and you're a bad person if you think it should be otherwise. No one cared about my kid. She was taken out of a promised class and dumped in another with, again, no notice or consultation. Still no report cards or final grades. No schedules for next year.What a shame.
--Submitted by a parent

Charter High School of the Arts, Multi-Media and Performing, is high school as we all hoped it might be or could be! Students here are brilliant, creative, and aware, so kind and compassionate, intensely creative and dynamic. Students here are valued for the unique individuals they are! What's most incredible is that the school community of parents, faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and board encourages and nurtures every single student in finding their passion and pursuing it! Charter High School of the Arts offers a myriad of avenues for the creative student to develop their gifts, be it in Media, Performing Arts, Film, Robotics, Visual Arts, Radio, Creative Writing, Athletics, or Community Service Projects. The Faculty is top-notch and supremely dedicated, caring for the welfare, growth, and learning of all students. Please come visit us at champscharter.org or call (818) 994-7614. We have ongoing tours of our school throughout the school year which begins August 22nd. Please come find out for yourself about our most magnificent school. Sincerely, --Dedicated to CHAMPS
--Submitted by a teacher

To the parent who attributes negative reviews to cranky parents, let me first say that I was determined to give the new ED a chance and have listened quietly at Board Meetings before formulating an opinion on the changes that have occurred over the last year. When other parents bemoaned the demise of the school when the new ED took over, I said give it a chance. Even when the PA heads were terminated, I gave the ED the benefit of the doubt. I am not cranky - I am disenchanted and sad. It breaks my heart to see what has happened to this school in less than a year. Yesterday, we lost some great teachers. I imagine we will lose more over the summer. Board members are dismissive and rude to any parent who dares to ask a question or express an opinion contrary to a Board decision. At Board Metings, "open discussion" is placed on the agenda BEFORE any agenda item of controversy. If parents then wants to as a question, we are told that the open discussion portion of the meeting is over. The Board and ED govern with intimidation, fear and arrogance. This must stop. I used to recommend this school to my friends with younger children. I no longer do.
--Submitted by a parent

Unbelievably good teachers at this school. Much better academics than LACHSA (both from word of mouth and by API scores--823 vs. 663). I'm looking for stronger leadership from some of the administration, but the teachers are fantastic.
--Submitted by a parent