2521 Kelton Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90064

We moved to LA two years back and had the good fortune of moving to a house up the street from Overland Elementary. We have two boys in the school and have been nothing but impressed. By the teachers, the administration, the parent involvement, the community welcoming us and feeling familiar after only a few short months. Wonderful experience and would highly recommend.

This school is disproportionately minority students and caters to kids who are not white and straight. I constantly get messages about equity and inclusion and how I should support it but nothing ever about how to protect all student from the weekly fights that take place between non-white students. The Spanish teacher (chair of the Spanish Dept.) has an LGBTQ flag in her classroom that she took down for back to school night when parents were going to be at the school. The next day, she put it back up. Strange. Seems she’s hiding something. Patents are not made to feel welcome and are questioned at the entrance upon showing ID. I’m surprised they’re not frisked, which is what should be done with most of the students. They also got rid of school security for the 2022-23 school year and fights broke out weekly, if not more, between non-white students. Our child won’t be returning.

This is our "neighborhood school" that very few neighborhood kids go to. We permitted into the "much better" Palms Middle School only to find daily fights, bullying, and a general lack of attention from staff. Webster has 1/3 the enrollment of Palms (and less than half of Mark Twain) so the staff can be more attentive. The principal, Ms Bell, as well as the Assistant Principals and Dean are standing in front of the gates in the morning to welcome kids, reminding parents of happenings at the school, and building relationships with the students and parents. My kid, who never feels safe, feels safe there. Teachers have been in constant communication and reply to emails and texts (yes, they give out their cell phone numbers) and schoology is constantly updated so we always know what is going on. While the test scores do not show it, the opportunity to learn is absolutely there. Even by LAUSD standards this school is a bit dated. I'm guessing it is because enrollment is low and LAUSD funds are spent on... other priorities. I bought into the neighborhoods opinion of Webster "not being an option". We didn't even consider it when considering middle schools. We got caught up in the WISH, GALA, CWC, charter school application process then permitting to ANY other school close by and didn't give Webster a fair shot. I'm now kicking myself for not sending my kid here from the start of middle school. If you live in the neighborhood do yourself and your child a favor and give Webster genuine consideration. Don't take my word for it, stop by at pick up time and chat up a few parents. I have no doubt you'll hear the same from them.