9218 Applegate Ter
Chatsworth, CA 91311

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!!

I’ve had three of my children attend Hale and honestly I have no complaints. Two sons attended the regular school, one with an IEP and 504 plan and my daughter is currently in the Gifted Steam magnet and I’m honestly impress with the academics, support, activities available and the administration. Previous administration didn’t really let parents know what was going on but the new administration is very proactive and communicates with parents about any issues or concerns. I’m not saying it’s a perfect school because it’s a middle school with students going thru puberty but it is an environment where my children feel safe, my concerns are addressed and efforts are being made to make sure that students are supported and that they thrive. They have tutoring and support for students after school, clubs to encourage engagement and teachers that do their jobs. The special education department was also very helpful in helping my students receive the accommodations necessary to succeed in their classes.

Amazing school!! Excellent staff, great PTA. Couldn’t ask for a better experience.

I've lived in the valley my whole life and have known of ElCo's stellar reputation. Visiting the campus for shows in the auditorium or games on the field feels a bit like walking into a high school movie. The campus is clean, classrooms are largely upgraded, and you can tell the school is well-funded.Unfortunately, however, the school's good looks on the outside mask what's going on inside. Campus police are a CONSTANT presence, under the guise of safety. But there is a huge difference between having a learning community that prioritizes safety and one that prioritizes rules, regulations, law & order *so* heavily that the school feels more like a prison than an inclusive, supportive learning enviornment. Trust me, take the tour. You'll hear them proudly talk all about constant locker sweeps, WEEKLY drug-sniffing dogs, and their officers stationed at every entrance and exit. The still engage in old school "tardy sweeps" (which we called "tardy lockouts" back in the day), which means that teachers are instructed to lock all doors to, quite literally, LOCK OUT any/all students who are running late to class. It's just another punitive tool in their discipline toolbelt. They also brag about how their ROTC is apparently second in the nation. Second for what, I'm not entirely sure. But I can tell you that a group of 14-15 year-olds warming up for PE are literally being marched to "left, left, left, right, left" whilst looking generally miserable and tired. If you want to send your children to a psuedo military school or think your child would thrive being educated in what feels like a police state, then by all means, enroll at ECR! But if you prioritize SEL learning, authoritative (NOT authoritarian) discipline, and a kind culture that pull students up as opposed to pushing them down and back in line, look elsewhere.