817 Brooks Ave
Venice, CA 90291

VHS campus is beautiful and the new science, gym, arts building are first class. Students are diverse and seem to get along quite well. Lots of AP classes and programs for students with different interests. And the sports program is amazing…XC, basketball, tennis, football, soccer, baseball. And so many kids are getting into UCLA, Berkeley, UCSD, NYU, etc. VHS is morphing into a powerhouse public school. Best kept secret on the Westside.

Some of the teachers and staff of this school are not sensitive to diverse cultures. They need training in cultural differences and more of a focus on teaching rather than trying to change children's cultural behaviors and attitudes. Learning about unfamiliar cultures requires more than just learning about the food they eat and holidays they celebrate.

This has the potential to be a good school but in its current form, it's just not. Most of the kids are here to learn. The problem is there is a good 10-20% of kids who are failing and take up most of the teachers energy. The biggest concern for parents should be this: violent fights on a weekly basis. And this should be cause for alarm: these kids get a 1-2 day suspension and return to school the very next day. If you look ok tiktok you will see pretty intense unprovoked fights right out in the open. The principal Dr Ford, seems unwilling to enforce any serious disciplinary measures or maybe they are just overwhelmed and in denial. They actively keep parents out of the school and I think this is how most parents are ignorant to just how much sketchy stuff goes on at this school. There are great teachers here, super engaged and caring but they have so much work to do to help the failing students. Even the IHP and Languages program have to contend w the kids who are causing fights at recess, lunch and a shared PE. There is a lot of racism directed at kids who are in the minority so that's something you should be aware of as a parent. The AP is great but she definitely toes the line and there is only so much she can do. Dr Ford might be great behind the scenes but she is quite inaccessible to parents and students - except at events. Middle school kids will always act up wherever you go but MT seems to be especially rough. Maybe one day Mark Twain might get their stuff together but right now, it's not quite there if you are a family who cares about a safe environment for your kids.