8654 Mason Ave
Winnetka, CA 91306

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.

This isn’t the Chatsworth High school you’ve heard about from years ago! Since the magnet program and advanced studies have been emphasized, the school has become a beacon of light. Chatsworth was ranked the 23rd best high school in Los Angeles one place ahead of Sierra Canyon which cost over $35,000 a year. The list included the most prestigious high schools in Los Angeles. If they just took test results of the magnet program, they would have ranked top three and put $40,000 a year programs to shame. With the caring and supportive instructors who genuinely showed me they care about my child’s Success was refreshing. Don’t get me wrong. It is a lot of hard work and requires dedication. But the results are undeniable this program is making a difference in the students lives. If you hear the list of Ivy League schools that the graduating classes have been accepted to, you would be blown away. I look at programs like Granada hills and laugh because people don’t understand that because they are a full charter they can choose which kids tests scores to count and which not to and get great scores and ranch high BUT Chatsworth has to take the average of the whole school!!! Because the are a public LAUSD school! Let’s just call a spade a spade and call it like it is… pound for pound the biggest impact and improvement goes to Chatsworth. So proud and thankful to be a part of this amazing program!!

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.

This school is definitely not the greatest nor most comfortable school you can send your child to. The students there are extremely disrespectful, many vocalizing racist, homophobic, or disrespectful slurs and comments. The school is also very unclean, the students don't contribute to cleaning up after themselves either. The food isn't great, though that's typical with many schools. If you are being bullied, the counselors and teachers do not help you whatsoever. I was bullied during 6th grade and I did ask for help from the counselor, my mother specifically had contacted them. They called me in and just told me to fill out a sheet, and when I had put that the situation had made me cry many times, the counselor herself told me "why are you still crying about it" in a tone that wasnt welcoming. She looked annoyed too. I consider that highly unprofessional and she didnt even do anything to help me after. Many teachers in this school are lazy and dont even know how to teach the children properly. There was one teacher who almost all the kids in that grade with her class who were failing it. Most of it wasn't even the students fault, it was the teacher's flawed way of teaching. This school has a disgusting, disrespectful, unfriendly, and overall sad atmostsphere to it and I can only feel sorry for the students attending it.

I'm writing this super upset of the bullying that's going on in this school, My niece has came home crying saying kids have been bullying her. I am going to peruse legal matters regarding this school and specifically the principle Brenda Olortegui . They are doing a horrible job at keeping this school safe. My niece will not me a victim of bullying - This is another Reseda case all over again and i refuse to let what happend to that poor little girl in reseda happen to her.

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.