1813 Ashland Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Hello! Was and am horribly bullied here. Accommodations can be good but are often flimsy and awful in the experience of myself and my friends. Lots of teachers have obvious biases that they make little to no effort to overcome. Trans kids not allowed to go to correct bathroom, “gender-neutral” bathrooms (converted teachers’ bathrooms that are essentially just there for the sake of an “all gender restroom” sign) perpetually locked. My friend had things thrown at him by awful boys when he was just trying to use the bathroom (an attitude that is, may i add, more common than not among the student body) and he was the one who was punished for being in the boys’ bathroom. Queer and disabled people horrifically bullied, clearly struggling students essentially ignored. May I restate the obvious biases among some staff? I am autistic and am blatantly mistreated by teachers and students, almost every day. Certain staff members (will leave unnamed, I don’t want anyone getting in trouble over me saying this) mock me whenever I am in the hallway. I am moderately traumatized (not because of this school, although it sure made it worse), and it is par for the course to have people intentionally yell my name or pose threateningly just to see me flinch. My friend was sexually assaulted on campus. Sexual assault merits a suspension or expulsion according to the JAMS rulebook. The boy who did it was mildly punished, told to leave them alone, and then essentially otherwise let off scot-free. When we directly approached the vice principal about this, she treated us as if we were being ridiculous and ungrateful. Had a teacher that laughed along with my bullies once because I was apparently strange enough for it to be acceptable. This school can be lovely in many ways, I’m sure. For every icky teacher there is a good one , and for every student’s struggles ignored or improperly treated there is a student with a lovely IEP and complete assistance who thrives with the help of on-site counselors. But the two months until I leave for high school seem revoltingly, unbearably long.

Context: New to the area family. Two kids across two grades (2nd & 3rd).Teachers: We've found the teachers to be very invested in our children as individuals. They partnered with us to provide me context on where my child was strong & where we could invest time. The teachers were patient and did a great job at including all the children in class in teaching. We had one child who is very quiet and would not raise her hand when she did not understand, resulting in not completing in class assignments... and the teacher found that place where she would gently draw my child out; but not make her too uncomfortable. I feel that the teachers care and am very happy with the relationship. One of my daughters, while walking home, just freely said that she loved her teacher. That's a powerful indicator of the relationship these students are developing.Principle: Very involved, and cares. He's doing a great job ensuring a positive learning opportunity. I'd give him an A+.Academic Rigor: My children came from private school (1st grade) and were behind when it came to state testing standards when starting at Grant. Working with the teachers, who sent home (by request) material, I reinforce lessons that got them from behind the pack to the mid-range by mid year. Coming from behind is never easy, but I felt that we left that grade at a reasonable place. I couldn't have done it without great collaboration with the teachers.The following year, one of my children is now in the top percentile (both class and state) and the teacher has given her appropriately challenging material. The other child is still running mid-pack, and her teacher is working with me to reinforce topics as home, still working on her quietness. I am comfortable I can keep her improving and I know I have a partner at the school.Social Commentary: My kids have developed deep and meaningful relationships with their classmates. They occasionally write each other letters, have playdates, and talk about working together on assignments during our walks home. This is important as Grant is in a very diverse part of Santa Monica, with both high-income and lower-income families. There is no perception of "status" among the kids or the parents. I have felt very welcomed and my children, who we check in with often, have not reported any social issues that aren't normal and common for their age. Issues, like bullying, are immediately addressed and have not become problematic.

Good to see the score on Great Schools has gone up over the years. I had some reservations before my kids attended looking at the reviews. Now, I am SO grateful for this school and the district. It's a diverse school that offers quality education for my two sons who are pretty different. One is academic and can take lots of advanced classes, have a strong cohort that spurs each other on, and lucky for him he is into music. Samohi's music program is INCREDIBLE. He's performed in Carnegie, the Berlin Philharmonic, Dublin. My younger son is more athletic and has a 504. His volleyball coach, the AP Lit teacher, goes way above and beyond, organizing team travel, potluck lunches in his classroom, etc. The counselors really know them. And I love that they have fun, school spirit, and friends with a lot of variety which is another important kind of education you can't get in private schools - some in public housing, some extremely wealthy, kids from different cultural backgrounds. The previous superintendent did an incredible job dealing with crazy parents, covid, and introducing ACES curriculum before the state did.