Chart Trl, Topanga, CA 90290

We have two kids at Topanga Charter and they're both happy and thriving. They were previously at private schools and we could not be happier about making the switch after paying huge fees for something much less special. All in all, it's a magic school with a magic community, and it's free!Teachers. and Students:Our experience of teachers has been that they're smart and passionate about what they do, and the kids seem genuinely happy in themselves and around their peers, which I think is the strongest indicator of a good school spirit. The principal is pretty new to the school and seems to be proactive in pushing for academic excellence, and campus improvements and upgrades.Academics and Enrichment: Topanga school enrichment program offers 90% of what we loved about the private path, and the LAUSD support creates a much more robust infrastructure for supporting the learning journey of lots of different kids with different needs. Because the school is at the heart of the Topanga community, it has access to unique local creative opportunities, such as the Will Geer outdoor theatre and drama program, Sycamore design-thinking maker studio, local science hikes, arts and outdoors programs. Their free afterschool program is essentially like a giant daily playdate with activities for kids, and allows for the different schedules of working parents across all kinds of different careers, which means a much more diverse community of families can attend. Community: The parents we've met have real love and care for their community, and lots of families seem to live interesting and creative lives, and have a real connection to the nature they live in. The school calendar has a bunch of big yearly events and the community really shows up for these and makes it feel pretty special. There's also a fun Friday morning parent-run coffee shop where families get to meet each other, and form bonds between families.Campus:The campus is pretty amazing. It sits on a green hillside looking out across a state park, and the kids have a real daily connection to nature. Classrooms have nice natural light, and play areas have epic mountain views. Areas for improvement: Some of the common spaces need more trees planted and more shade. I think there is a plan to do this, but waiting to see it take shape. Some of the classrooms in the upper school need an update.