10808 Dempsey Ave
Granada Hills, CA 91344

I am an eighth grader in the gifted magnet at this school. This school is a fairly good school, with a good ciriculum and good support provided. The quality of the teachers depend on what teacher you get, but a majority of the teachers here help kids learn the right things and provide support if they need it. Some teachers may be seen as strict, serious, and having a bad teaching style, but that is only for some specific teachers and they still do an okay job. Most classes have interesting activites, experiments, and and projects, but there are still assignments that are tedious, not exciting, and maybe evne unnecessary. However, basically every school and class will have work like that. While there are a lot of busy work in specific classes, a good amount of homework is productive. The social emotional environment is not very good. The staff has failed repeatedly to provide the emotional support needed by their students. They don't totally ignore the students or disregard them, which is good, but their support just hasn't bene enough to improve the emotional state of students. I cannot comment on their special education program becasue I do not have enough knowledge about it. The school is fairly safe, there hasn't been any extremely concerning incidents during my time here. However, there are fights between students, but most schools have fights. There was a trashcan fire and a bush fire during the 2023 - 2024 school year, but they responded appropriately and all students were safe. Teachers and staff do try to actively engage parents, but it won't be very effective unless the parent wants to be activly engaged. There are good and bad students, so if you are planning to go there, you have to make sure to befirned the right people. Some kids are mean, don't care about class, and just overall jerks, but there are a lot of kids with unique interests, a good mindset and habits, and sometimes even a good sense of humor. As long as you make the right friends, you will be happy here.

Great school, except the fact that there is only one bathroom open at a time EVER and There are 10 boys in there at a Time.

My daughters look forward to attending every day ! The teachers make learning fun and engaging .Mr. Matsu and Ms. Atwell really believe in the development of the whole child. They are fantastic teachers.I am so happy we made the choice to transition my daughters to this school.

My daughter graduated this past June 2025 and was there for her four years of high school in the Magnet program. Over that time, I’ve seen the school go through many positive changes with staff and campus improvements. My daughter was actively involved in sports, activities, and school events, which really enriched her high school experience. She received support from the Gleam Program instructors, as well as from the College Counselor, who was always available and willing to help. I truly believe that when students stay involved and keep a positive outlook, both they and the school thrive.

As a parent, I’ve had three children attend VAAS. Two have already graduated and one is currently a senior. Each of their experiences has been different, but one thing has stayed consistent: their confidence has grown and they’ve learned how to advocate for themselves.I remember when my oldest started as a freshman. He was nervous and trying to figure out where he fit in. He’s part of the LGBTQ community, and as a mom you hope your child will be accepted for who they are. At VAAS, he was. The diversity here is real, and you can feel it every day. He joined the dance team, got involved in theater, and eventually became president of several clubs. Watching him grow into a confident leader showed me how much this school was helping him develop as a person, not just as a student.My other two children were excited to attend after seeing his experience, and I’ve watched the same kind of growth happen with them. They all have different personalities and interests, but they’ve each learned to speak up for themselves and take ownership of their future. As a parent, that means everything.What makes VAAS special is the smaller environment and the relationships with teachers and staff. Students are known by name, and the teachers genuinely care. I’ve had teachers reach out not just about concerns, but to share progress and ideas for growth. It shows they’re truly invested.Both of my children who graduated from VAAS have now graduated from college, one from UC Irvine and the other from the University of Hawaii, and my youngest has already been accepted into college. That tells me VAAS really prepared them for what came next.One of my favorite experiences as a parent has been Digital Portfolio Night, where students present their own work and reflect on their growth. Seeing that confidence firsthand is something special.VAAS is more than just a school. It’s a supportive community that prepares students for life after high school, and I would absolutely recommend it to other families.