1455 Hepner Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90041

I had two students there, both who left after 2 and 3 years, respectively. Both are bright, engaged students who love learning and have the strong desire to be good classroom citizens and students. Both left Rockdale with their spirits totally crushed, shellshocked and anxious. This school is founded on a culture of bullying that starts with the top administrator. The principal seems to delight in berating and belittling both parents and students, all carefully masked behind a caring persona. Many PARENTS have been driven to tears and shamed into silence when bringing classroom concerns to her attention. My oldest came home from the first day in 5th grade in tears, saying he wanted to kill himself due to the teacher shaming him, and encouraging students to shame him as well. Much lip service was given to the issue however no honest attempt to create a safe learning environment was truly made.The torture (not using the word lightly) persisted through the end of the school year. He moved schools the following year and has found happiness and success in every classroom he's been in since leaving Rockdale. My younger child -previously a star student- was reduced to a shell of himself due to bullying by his teacher and other students. He is an academically gifted student who got no support in meeting his academic needs. In fact, his 4th grade teacher who was the GATE coordinator for the school, offered no different curricular options to keep him engaged, and called him "lazy and unmotivated" during our final parent-teacher conference. He became so anxious about being in the classroom that he would nervously shred paper under his desk and get in trouble. Kids stole his snack at lunch and he was petrified to say anything. The principal on more than one occasion made him spend lunch in the office. I was never told about these infractions and he was too embarrassed to tell me until the end of the year (he absolutely hates being in trouble- especially with authority figures). Knowing he would soon be going to another school, he basically stopped going towards the end. They never called- not the teacher, principal or front desk, to see if he was ok or where he was. He is now excelling at his new school, back to being "a pleasure to have in class" and working above grade level. Rockdale refused to send his records to his new school after multiple requests. The pettiness and ineptitude from the top down is beyond shocking. Dreadful excuse for a learning institution.

Eagle Rock is a good school with the rigorous IB DP program where students can opt in beginning in 11th grade. AP and honors courses are available to all students. Students get admitted to IVY Leagues, top notch private and public universities such as Yale, Stanford, Harvard, UCs, and Cal States, and other out-of-state colleges. The school also has the IB MYP program where students are suppose to complete the personal project their 10th grade year.The sports program is pretty good with teams and individuals winning championships and athletes drafted to play at universities throughout the country. Not bad for an underfunded LAUSD school.Eagle Rock has revamped their gyms and auditorium so it has been in continuous construction for the past 5 years. It’s beginning to look better but it needs a main building out in the front overlooking Yosemite Drive.Overall, it’s a good solid school with a team of educators who are trying to get it to an outstanding school.