Clarkdale

We could not be happier with this amazing school community. It won the designation of being a CA Distinguished School for 2025. The academic program, SIP program, and social emotional learning are very strong here. The Spanish Immersion program is amazing, with some veteran teachers who have been at the school a long time and know their stuff. Our Spanish-speaking child's language development is so much stronger since starting at this school. The community is very diverse in terms of race and class - our child has many different friends from homes and cultures both similar to hers and different. This school is also much smaller than the other language immersion school in the district because there are less classes per grade level. This means that our child is known by all adults on campus and that supervision is strong in various settings on campus. The community feels intimate and supportive. This school has also invested in additional counselors and this support is available to kids who might need it for a range of reasons. Our child saw the counselor with other students in a small group that lasted several weeks. She came home talking about the different tools they learned for emotional regulation - all in child friendly, fun terms!We highly recommend this school. If you are on the fence between this school and the other Spanish Immersion school in the district, know that the curriculum is the same at both schools and that there are many experienced teachers on La Ballona's campus, as well as a committed principal who has been part of the community for a long time. We think this school is a hidden gem!