8520 Gateside Rd
La Mesa, CA 91941

My son is just finishing his first year here (1st Grade) and we couldn’t speak highly enough about our experience! Kindergarten in the SDUSD was the biggest let down (my child regressed) but thanks to Mr DeVos and the team at La Mesa Dale my son has fallen in love with school again. Not only has his academics improved (168% growth based on iReady testing) but he’s also getting the emotional and social support that all young children need for shaping into great little humans.

Both my kids attend LMAAC, and so far the experience has been good despite the effects of the pandemic. My daughter will be going to HS next year and has had the opportunity to be in two years of culinary which she's appreciated. My son is in choir which wasn't his first choice, but he's done well, and I think performing has been a good experience for him. I don't think that they have particularly rigorous academics, but I do feel like they're learning what they should. I wish they had the opportunity to learn a second language, but I feel great about all of the arts opportunities my kids have as they are both creative.

My son’s schedule was full of engaging teachers who cared for their students even though at times that could be difficult given the clientele of students that attend the school. But, the teachers did care, and for the most part, it seemed as if they were making the absolute best of the situation’s in front of them. My son really wanted to play football at the school, even though I was against the sport for safety reasons, I allowed him to play because I hoped it would build his character. Boy was I wrong. The football coaching staff is flush with men taking their coaching jobs far too seriously and completely ignoring the fact that the young men on their team need social and emotional building as much as they do athletic building. coach Braswell, his coordinator on the team, was simply strange. At first glance I ignored the foul language and machismo building as just part of the deal. By the time I hoped to see the fruit of my son’s labor, I instead saw a kid afraid of his coaches, Braswell in particular, instead of inspired by them. He needed men in life that would see him as an athlete after a student, not an athlete that could be a stepping stone to a coaching job at another school, which I know a few of the coaches see as their trajectory. MMHS, do better!