Bel Air

Our family feels very fortunate to be at this school. After all, excellent public schools in LAUSD are tough to come by. The teachers are excellent, the office staff are friendly, and the principal seems to truly care about every student and their academic growth.

I’m speaking up because parents deserve to know the truth. This school isn’t what it’s made out to be. The environment lacks genuine leadership. Students show little respect for the principal, and it is reflected in the overall culture. Of all the “amazing teachers” the school promotes, only a small handful truly go above and beyond for their students. Many others seem distracted and disengaged, more focused on personal matters than on teaching, or just not invested.There is also very little diversity within the student body, and the culture often reflects that. Many families are extremely affluent, and some students are encouraged to flaunt that privilege, creating an environment that can feel unwelcoming or exclusionary.Academically, test scores are valued above all else. The school devotes weeks to test preparation, taking valuable time away from genuine instruction. As a result, the scores are not a true reflection of year-round learning but rather of how well students are trained to take a test.Even more troubling is the tolerance for racism and bullying, both of which are handled with little to no accountability. These are serious issues that directly impact students’ sense of safety and belonging. In these uncertain times, my child was afraid to go to school because of racism and her minority status. Families considering this school deserve transparency and honesty about the culture before enrolling their children.

I loved how nice Wise School is to their students.

After completing almost all my schooling years, my brother and I had the most wonderful experience within these halls. From learning violin to football. There is no better (or prettier) elementary campus in the world. I feel so lucky that I was set on a path of such success when I was younger, learning the skills to help me to be confident and mature. Almost all of myself I owe to this school and the sense of community and leadership I felt since a young age.

10 out of 10. JTD is the best elementary school in Los Angeles! The campus has a 270 degree view of Los Angeles and the school has an excellent curriculum and student body. I highly recommend this school as my oldest child goes there.