7415 Hatillo Ave
Winnetka, CA 91306

My experience at this school is fair. I describe the community as friendly as can be. I do not remember going into the classroom.

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 older son is now a junior at Cleveland. His experience has been wonderful. He entered the Humanities Program after being in the Humanities Academy at Walter Reed Middle School. He was a decent student in middle school but has become a really engaged student as a result of the support and challenge of his teachers and community. He also plays on a team for the school. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a welcoming and supportive experience.

Will never have any good words for this school. My son attended this school and was rudely disrespected and emotionally abused multiple times. One of these instances happened to be on his birthday I don’t recall the name of the staff member or the principal at the time, I had got him an ice cream on his birthday and he strolled on with his day till lunch when he wanted to go ahead and eat said ice cream out on the field sitting(he is a very clean child almost a germaphobe) he got yelled at the staff for not being in designated area so he went to go to said designated area (lunch tables) and she was still not happy with this situation so she decides to grab him aggressively and walk him to the trash then decides to vigorously shake his arm till he drops his ice cream. Soon after I called the principle and she sided with the staff member and we where never able to get onto an agreement. Unfortunately this situation left a bad taste in my mouth and will never speak proudly about it after so many cases like this has happened before.

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.