The Buckley School

I highly recommend this school! The teachers and the curriculum are amazing. My child gets so upset if he's sick and has to miss a day of school. The Singapore math method is so great for the children and the school is constantly training the teachers on new teaching methods. The teachers go above and beyond for each child. I do wish the cost wasn't so high, but I do feel like we are getting what we pay for. The new buildings are incredible! The robotics department is a must see. A great school in every way, involved loving parents and wonderful teachers!
—Submitted by a parent

I did extensive research before choosing a school, including tours and interviews with parents and students of all the top rated schools in LA. All the schools preach similar stories, but Buckley actually walks the talk. There is an emphasis on academics, but also personal responsibility and self-reliance. The parents are down to earth and the children are kind with a strong sense of community. The staff is enthusiastic and positive and my children can t wait to get to school each day. The campus is beautiful located off the smog beaten trail in a lovely canyon surrounded by trees. I can t say enough great things about it, but do the research yourself and you will see. Good luck with your decision.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers and curriculum are the best. Amazing performing arts program. The athletics department could use a boost though.

This school provides a top notch education and is a feeder to the best universities in the country: Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, Stanford, etc. The small student body size allows each student to be given special attention from their teachers and advisors. Yes, the students tend to come from rich families; however the admin is working on diversifying their student body from different socio economic backgrounds through their financial aid program.

Wonderful school.... the teachers and administration are wonderful and kind. Our son has flourished at Buckley. We feel the education is excellent and well-rounded. The teachers are thoughtful and intelligent. We feel blessed to be able to send our son there for school. The other parents are hard working and down to earth. Marjorie Yong
—Submitted by a parent

The Buckley School is an amazing learning environment for me. Im currently a freshman in high school and i absolutely love it. There is not as much bulllying and social split due to income as many people have reviewed, and as a freshman, there is much less of the "get the freshmen!" as i thought there would be, although i would think that happens in other schools, but idk. ive been lucky enough to have been at buckley since kindergarden and plan to stay there until i graduate. I do not choose to leave because it would be hard to fit in somewhere else but because i really think that buckley is well rounded in terms of arts, education, and athletics. Im no jock, im not stupid, but i fit in just right everywhere at school with a couple honors classes, and a spot on a junior varsity team. I also noticed at a couple of away games, the other kids at schools like campbell hall nd viewpoint r pretty rude. Also, Aside from a few, most of the "rich" people at this school are pretty down to earth in terms of their "showboating",and it doesnt hurt the image of the school to see like 8-10 range rovers in the parking lot :)

This school does have rather good academics. Most of the children are nice. However, they do tend to judge you based on how much money you have. Many of the kids brag about being lifers. Good friends are hard to come by there, but there are some.

These kids are spoiled brats, and the more rich and celebrity-ized they are, the more popularity and leeway they gain. I was the only kid without a pool (haha) and it added even more to my unpopularity because I was a very quiet kid. Not very quiet anymore, and now I go to Van Nuys Middle School, which is the polar opposite. This place is pretty clique-y, too. Newcomers beware.

this school has its flaws, for example, the students arent the nicest (SOME of them.) there are some REALLY nice people there tho. the teachers can get annoying, but thats ok. whats really amzing about this school is the performing arts program. their plays are JUST like broadway's!
—Submitted by a parent

You really must see the campus and speak with students and teachers to see how amazing Buckley really is. It's a difficult school to get into, but a little known entry point into the middle school is the sixth grade. The sixth grade program is a wonderful transitional year that blends elements of a lower school and a middle school.
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest graduated two years ago and so far has found college to be a walk in the park compared to buckley.I'm so happy as a parent that it prepared her so well.Lots of her friends that went to public school {great ones like bh and laces} had lots to catch up on once they got to college they just were not prepared.I didnt find the money thing to be a problem we have a small house no pool and my daughter had friends in all social-economic groups.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is horrible. I have gone here for over 7 years and my experience has been rather awful. There are only a few nice teachers and the rest of them, along with the board, seek to get everybody in trouble for everything they possibly can. For example, giving a student 4 hours of detention for having a pen streak of pink on their shoes. It is absurd and a horrible upbringing for a child. I have to say, the school's downfall really kicked in during my high-school experience. In addition, the students form many cliques and they are all very fake. They really don't take kindly to new-comers. In other words, if you are not a 'lifer' you will have a lot of trouble making friends. Everybody smokes weed and drinks in high school, and I mean everybody.
—Submitted by a student

People bullied my mom and I. The kids made fun of my house because it is small. All of my friends said, after I left, that I was wierd and that Buckley was better without me. Please listen to me, world. I was the only kid without a big house or a pool to swim in. Kids would say that they would invite me to their birthday parties days before, but they would never call. When I splattered paint on my CA mission model to make it look authentic, the kids would laugh and say, 'It looks like a slaughter house.' I was hurt. Buckley is a bad place for nerds like me. You have to be rich and have fancy stuff for kids to like you there...

When I went to Buckley, I was bullied so bad that I had to go to therapy. Kids would call me a tattletale, even when they bullied me directly. I don't like Buckley. The Country School on Laurel Canyon Blvd. is much better.
—Submitted by a student

I am a picky parent. I am very awhere of what school my child goes to, and I struggle to make it the best. When my child applied to Buckley, it was an amazing change in her skill level, social level, and creative level. She started painting these amazing pictures with bright, vibrant colors. She started having friends come over to our house to 'Hang Out.' Before at her old school, ********, she was the kid in the corner, scared of everything, no friends. Now she couldnt be happier! If you are thinking about sending your child to Buckley do so! It took my child a while to adjust,but that was a different story. I promise to all of the parents out there it will defenetly be BETTER than satisfactory.
—Submitted by a parent

I have to say that I was very impressed at Buckley since the first time I visited. The children were so polite and looked very happy. Gratefully, I have had the opportunity to find out that the children, not only look happy, but they are happy to be there. I am so pleased, as a mother, that my daughters are enjoying life, while reaching their academic and artistic potential.
—Submitted by a parent

Strong in academics, well organized, friendly, warm, happy place to be, great students and faculty
—Submitted by a parent

Love this amazing school. This is my son's first year and is in 6th grade. Sending him to the Buckley school is the best thing I've done for him. He come home happy and is enthusiastic to return to school everyday. Such amazing teachers, as my son has mentioned so many times 'the teachers are enthusiastic about their job'. So thankful to have found such an amazing school.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school- Top notch. Their attention to every detail is amazing. Administration and teachers are fantastic. The kids are well rounded- academics, drama, music, art, and sports. We are considering moving and one of the main considerations for a house is staying close to Buckley! Our kid loves the teachers, learns tons, and has a blast. In deciding on a private K-12 school, private school tuition over that period is like paying for college a couple of times- but It has been absolutely worth it to us.
—Submitted by a parent

Our son is in Kindergarten there and he & we (his parents) couldn't be happier. His teachers are outstanding. It is progressive but very structured. He is bright but they challenge him. What other LA school has 2 full-time accredited teachers of that caliber for only about 20 students. The other classes like PE, Art, Music, Computers, etc. are all terrific. For instance, they have PE 4x/week and the 2 PE teachers make it fun and inventive. The faculty and administration are top-notch. Many have been there for a long time but rather than being jaded or cynical they remain enthusiastic, committed and passionate about teaching, the students and the school. The parents also are diverse, smart, good people with strong values and although many are affluent, they don't flaunt it like at other schools. As a parent you feel just as accepted as your child. It's worth the money.
—Submitted by a parent