2709 Ridgepine Dr
La Crescenta, CA 91214

I just graduated in 2024 and this school felt like torture. Might seem good on paper but once you actually attend it’s terrible. The teachers pick favorites and all the science teachers are awful at their jobs, just making you feel stupid. Overall, would not recommend putting your kid in this school unless you want to make them suicidal.

We moved to La Crescenta just so our son could attend Monte Vista DLI program. The school and program exceeded our expectations as it’s a public school. I need to highlight the fact that it’s a public school and as a product of lausd schools it’s apples and oranges. Monte Vista teachers are supportive and engaging. The principal and staff is out there every morning greeting us as we walk our child to school. We love Monte Vista and we are happy with the school.

During my experiences at this educational institution, I have observed multiple scenarios that can complete my review without leaving anything out, as I have enough information to provide an accurate rating. The following observations were made in the 2024-25 school year and continue into the 2025-26 year.Learning is mostly mundane with a lack of depth and emotion, while some teachers excel in attempting and succeeding in their work, most fail at this and their class lacks depth and is unpleasant to most students. The lack of interesting and engaging work is concerning, as that is not helpful towards students or parents.Teaching in my experience is adequate and is one of their strengths. The teachers I was assigned to were highly skilled and efficient in their work. All of my teachers spend time to provide support for their students, as one of my teachers spent a lot of time to help me with my English assignments.Social-emotional support in this school has some decency but is mostly not enough. Though I have not experienced this, many people I know have been emotionally supported to a minimum, or even below the minimum that they should receive.Special education in this school is exceptional, with students with disabilities receiving the support they need. The staff that work in this category know how to their work well and are highly skilled.Safety in this school is inadequate and discrimination is a large problem. Racial slurs and prejudice against the LGBTQ community are a widespread issue. The staff have attempted to provide a safe environment, though people are easily bullied and taken advantage of by the students. Punishments are another large scale issue with students not receiving or not having a harsh enough punishment. I was assaulted by one of the students in my classes and they repeatedly attempted to choke me, I instantly reported him in the office after the period ended, though he never got suspended for assaulting me and had to apologize to me at a minimum. This category is their largest weakness.Family engagement is adequate and they include parents, though I haven't experienced this, I have heard from several of my peers.In conclusion, this educational institution excels in some categories while fails in others. I do not recommend this school to the average person and if I was a parent, would not send my children here.