New West Charter School

Overrated by hype. The principle is rigid and uncaring. There is no yard. Not accommodating. The bus stop is full of high end cars yet they claim to reach for underprivileged kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Having experienced many schools in several districts I can say that New West has been the one were my now 7th grader has become the confident happy girl I knew she could be, due to the NW nurturing environment that is. I have never once seen the principal when she has not taken a moment to say hello with some pleasant easy conversation. Very approachable! No problem speaking to VP either or any staff. We love the new campus, it feels modern, clean and enjoyable for the kids. The park for PE is a block away. Many options for the kids to as far as electives etc. Some great teachers in history, math, dance, study hall, that are adored & respected by the kids. For all that had to be done in order to open the new campus it went very smoothly. The only negative aspect was reaction in the neighborhood, even before any kids set foot there. Difficult to understand why, NW is one of the most efficiently run campuses I have experienced. The kids feel a sense of family, are kind and encouraging towards each other. Thrilled to be a part of the NW family. Very proud to send my kids here!
—Submitted by a parent

Administration & teachers do not respond to email inquiries.Parents are made to feel like a nuisance.There is no sense of community for the parents/families who are asked to fundraise, volunteer, and contribute to the school in many ways.. The youth of the teachers can be a benefit at times, but a huge drawback at other times in terms of relating to parent concerns, students who are not understanding what is being taught, and attitude. Coming from a very community oriented &, welcoming elementary school,NW leaves most parents feeling frustrated & disenfranchised at the lack of communication from administration and staff, who tend to use a bossy/demanding tone of much of the correspondence we DO get.Athletic teams/facilities are subpar.They do not seem to make use of the nearby park & YMCA, etc as is suggested in much of their promotional material.It seems some children who behave inappropriately/offensively do not get dealt with in an effective solution oriented manner.Administrators seem to have superiority complex implying "lucky" to be there, however they need to feel "lucky" to have parents who care about their kids education & the school, & treat us accordingly, respectfully.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent I am fiding New West to be highly over-rated and largely dysfunctional from the top down. Educational leadership is incompetent and incapable of building a good teaching/learning environment. The administration panders to a select few and really doesn't care about kids. The opening of the school year was a six week fiasco and all down hill from then on.
—Submitted by a parent

We feel so lucky to have been granted a spot in this school! Love the teachers all of them committed and happy to be part of NWC. Great Principal!
—Submitted by a parent

A "PRIVILEGE" to attend a school with no yard, no grass, and no gymnasium for the kids to participate in any sports, built in an unattractive old warehouse, in a busy part of Los Angeles that offers NO honors classes and has an arrogant principal. This is considered a privilege?
—Submitted by a parent

I love New West. I am thrilled that my two children are able to attend this wonderful school. I love the enthusiasm and discipline of the teachers and administrators. I value the students' focus on academics. I admire the active and required participation of the parents. I like that all of the New West students and families want to be there and count their blessings that they won the lottery to get in. New West has just completed a huge undertaking opening a high school and relocating to a new location at the same time. This has been an enormous undertaking not without many hurdles and obstacles, and New West has persevered and is moving forward as a shining example of what a public school should be. Thank you, Dr. Weir and all staff at New West.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is doing very well at New West (getting all A's the last 2 years) I would be happy, but I am concerned she doesn't really have to work for them. This school seems really easy, and not challenging enough. Her friends seem to get more homework and need to study more at another public school and are not getting A's. I am disappointed New West does not offer any AP classes as well. I feel this is important to be prepared for college.
—Submitted by a parent

New West is a great school with some of the best and most educated teachers. I went there for a year and met most of my best friends that i have today. I was very sad when i had to leave. The school might not be so big but it has many great activities to be involved in. All of the students there are extremely nice and always try their best. New west pushes you to achieve more and become more intelligent. I definitely recommend going there.

The attitude at the school is not "growing pains". It comes from the top down - elitist snobs, rude. A friend of mine moved her kid to a magnet school because she was tired of the attitude. Now I understand what she was talking about. I was rudely told I should count my blessings that my kid is at New West since it's a priviledge to be there. Entrance is by lottery! How can that be considered a priviledge?! The school has been in complete chaos since the move, I'm still waiting for school to begin. I so wanted to like this school but so far I have found nothing to like. I will continue to apply to magnet schools.
—Submitted by a parent

I am sorry that the parent who posted yesterday felt that the New West administrators have treated her poorly. The New West administration and teachers have just completed an enormous undertaking to open a new school location and add a high school at the same time. This has been an incredible undertaking, and will benefit our children for years to come so I hope parents can be both understanding and appreciative of what New West staff and administration have accomplished. The new school has only been open for 3 days, there will be issues and as parents we should be understanding, supportive and patient. This school is worth it!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

The administration at this school is in dire need of customer satisfaction training. I have never been treated so poorly at any other school. You do not get return phone calls, even after leaving many messages. You are lucky if someone answers the phones these days with the move to the new location. Lost uniform orders, no uniforms, etc. The principal can't give you the time of day and is rude and abrupt when she does look your way. I am very disappointed and unhappy. I have many friends who feel they are treated poorly here. Parents are not respected! A few parents are "in", but the rest of us are lower than cattle. The future for the high school is not bright when parent are dismissed and the principal is so uncaring.
—Submitted by a parent

We are so happy our son is attending New West Charter. He had been in a private elementary school and we were happy to have gotten him in on a lottery. The school is amazing in how they have guided our son into the 6th Grade arena. They taught him how to organize himself and to feel free to ask many questions. He is proud to say he was a "Science Student of the Month". He is an A to A+ student and proud of his accomplishments. We thank every teacher for their love of teaching and commitment, and yes we will be sending him to the New West High School. How lucky we are!
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. My daughter is in the seventh grade and this is her first year at the school. We attended Dana Middle School last year and she made the honor role, but I felt she was not being challenged. We applied to the lottery this year and got in! Her grades still remain hgh and she appears to be challenged yet still learning. I don't think there is a better public school education you can receive in the city of Los Angeles, it definitely ranks up there with some of the top schools in Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Beverly Hills and Cerritos. It also ranks up there with the private independent schools, but it is free. The only draw backs for us are the small size of the buildings (it is very cramped), the distance we have to travel to get to the school, and the lack of PE facilities. A great plus is that they will be expanding to a high school next year.
—Submitted by a parent

Outstanding teachers and principal, involved parents, diversity, and respectful students. New West is a beacon of hope in the public education system. I've taken tours at independent / private schools, and I can't believe we get to send our kids to a superior school, without paying a tuition. What we hear most from our daughter is how incredible and caring her teachers are, how nice the other kids are, and how much she looks forward to going to school. The students know how lucky they are to attend this fabulous school, and they sure show it. They are enthusiastic, respectful, trustworthy, high-achieving, and they have wonderful values. The students are very involved in community service and the take responsibility for their own actions. Similarly, we as parents know how lucky we are, and we give back to this deserving school through our involvement and volunteering. We truly won the lottery when our number was pulled during the admissions lottery at New West, and I encourage everyone to apply to this school.
—Submitted by a parent

New West is one of the greatest schools in the Los Angeles area. They really have helped every student according to there needs. They are really a family. My child has no problem going up to the teachers and asking a question. I love the student involvement. This school is great. and especially since they are now opening a High School. I just hope they have sports for the high schoolers (swim, volleyball, etc.). Over 900 API score, impressive.
—Submitted by a parent

I am searching for a good Middle school in Los angeles Area. Many parents have recommended me about this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended the 3 years of middle school at new west, she is now entering 10th grade at a very demanding high school . She can still now feel the benefit of attending New West as the high school program feels easy to her because she was so well prepared at New West. If you want your child to be well prepared for high school and to be successful with her/his education, try to get into New West. There is no doubt this school is fantastic Also great music department! New West THANK YOU , THANK YOU, THANK YOU
—Submitted by a parent

New West Charter is unlike any other middle school in Los Angeles. Small classes, fantastic teachers, a phenomenal principal -- they are constantly evolving and continuously thinking deeply about how best to educate middle school kids. The teachers have fun, the kids have fun and the quality of education is as good as it gets. No public school is perfect, but New West Charter comes pretty close. They just announced they are going to expand and open a high school. I'm sure it will be amazing. Dr Weir (the principal) is a force of nature. Because New West Charter is a charter school, it is untethered by the bureaucracy of the LAUSD. I wish the rest of the LAUSD schools could be this successful!
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a child entering 8th grade at New West. My son has been extremely happy here, but I admit that this school is not for everyone. The location is terrible, but if you accept that we live in an urban environment and consider the high quality of teaching, it is a compromise we accept. The school makes great efforts to offer the children athletic options, like offering the "velocity" elective where the children have the opportunity to train at a professional gym. The greatest strength of the school is the quality of the education in an intimate setting. The teachers keep a very close eye on the kids and I do not see bullying or a lot of cliques. The small school aspect allows for special field trips and also a unique closeness between these kids. An area that really needs improvement is in the area of 7th grade science, but otherwise a very good education. Most importantly, my son is happy in middle school, and I don't know very many people who can make that claim, which I think pretty much says it all.
—Submitted by a parent