9224 Willis Ave
Van Nuys, CA 91402

We had a bad experience at this school. My special needs kid never liked it. Special ed class was ok, the teacher is somewhat caring but not enough to engage them, help with potty training and even lunch. Tbey are in their own and the excuse is that the teachers cannot take care of all if them individually. So my kid was always on their own while some other kids were doing group activities. Nobody cared. When transferred to gen ed they made me believe there would be trained aids to help with my kid’s special needs. My kid hated the short time they wee in general ed. Would run away or even refuse to get off the car. Was a torture for my kid and me. Downgraded back to special ed. At least was a shorter day. Learnt nothing, changed nothing in my kid’s behavior. It looks like their special ed class is just place where the kids can exist without harming themselves while the parent is at work. Just some babysitters nothing more but babysitters care to feed and help with potty training which they didn’t care about. Changed to a special meeds kid’s school. I cannot be more happier now. My kid has grown tremendously. Potty trained in a short time, eating the lunch at least most part of it. Loves the new school so much demands to go there on weekends too and gets very upset when told that there is no school on weekends. Needless to say gen ed teachers not trained to deal with special ed kids, dismissive, arrogant, blaming all on parent. I wish I had moved my kid to a better school sooner. I hope to find another school that meets my kid’s needs once they sre done with the program.

The teaching staff at this school are atrocious. I recently witnessed a group of them accost other adults in a rude and assaulting manner. I was thoroughly surprised that the other adults didn't become physical with the behavior and disrespectful comments coming from these teachers. I would hate to see how they treat their students if this is how they treat other adults.

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.

Por favor traten mejor a sus pacientes de enfermería, con la salud no se juega y hay personas que de verdad si pueden estar mal y por decir la verdad deciden hacer maltrato verbal. 4/10

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.