Tarzana Elementary School

We are in our third year at Sage Academy and have had a wonderful experience. Our daughter started at age 2 and is now in prekindergarten at Sage. I highly recommend the school for parents who are looking for a great balance between play based and structured learning.Our favorite things about Sage:- THE TEACHERS and Assistants! Sage attracts wonderful teachers. Our first year teacher, Miss Enma and her assistants Sylvia and Jen were so tender and supportive with the 2 year olds and really helped our daughter fall in love with going to school. Our prekindergarten teacher Miss Katy and her assistant Parvenah are PHENOMENAL and the preK curriculum balances of play and structured learning in a way that makes us confident our daughter is prepared for kindergarten. We also had Miss Gina, Tiffany, and Ariana for summer camp and have been impressed by them all.- the school is clean (it was my husbands favorite when we toured preschools for that reason)- The Administration has been responsive and helpful. Wendy is quick to return calls and is a helpful director who actually Knows all the kids. Liz, the Assistant Director has been a tremendous resource and she is the school’s expert on Conscious Discipline.- They have accommodating schedules with extended care for working parents - The kids get exposed to wonderful enrichment as part of the curriculum; music, gardening, snow day, visitors from the fire department, etc,- For the years we have been here it seems to attract really nice parents, too. We’ve had good friendships develop and on holidays someone usually plans a big sage play date.I could go on and on about Sage. Most importantly, our daughter enjoys going to school and is excited about school and learning. It’s been a good foundation for us.

We have had two daughters go through LILA in West Valley from preschool when they were 2.5 turning 3 through 1st grade and K. We are not French speakers, but after looking extensively at preschools in the around Encino/Sherman Oaks/Tarzana, LILA stood head and shoulders above any other preschool.The curriculum is a more academic and far more advanced than any American pre-school. We were so impressed with the depth the school teaches about French, English, Science, Social Studies starting at age 2. Both our girls are now fluent in French, and native speakers in France are amazed at the lack of any accent from them. Their English are as advanced if not more than their friends in normal American programs. The small class sizes are a huge benefit to our girls, with none of their classes larger than thirteen kids, with a dedicated French teacher, teacher's assistant, and English teacher. The parents have generally all been very friendly and active. We've made lifelong friends with some of the other families. The teachers are absolutely the highlight though, energetic, warm, and highly professional (we hear the pass rate for the teacher's French govt credential test is less than 20%). They are many levels of ability above the normal daycare workers at other preschools we've sent our oldest to before LILA and during the summer. The program is fairly academic, and your kids will be challenged, so if you are looking for a babysitter to watch your kids play during the day, this probably isn't the place for you. That said, there is a good amount of differentiation, with small groups for different levels for both French and English, and lots of 1:1 teaching time as well. Starting in 1st grade, top American magnet and private schools may start closing the gap with LILA in terms of quality of instruction, but from ages 2-6 we really don't feel the competition is very close.

Both of my daughters have attended Woodcrest and we love it. You can't find a better preschool, many parents drive out of there way to take their children here. We are going on our 4th year here, and the teachers, staff, and parents are welcoming and every day is energetic and fun for the kids. The teachers here are incredible. They are so loving, they have attended birthday parties, each of my daughters have told me they missed their teachers over the weekend! The teachers truly care and show affection for the students, while also instilling expectations around classroom behaviors that pays dividends when the students get to elementary and they know what is expected of them. The photos every day NEVER gets old. It's so sweet. I LOVE them. I soak up every single photo because I know I won't get this when my little one goes to elementary. The dance class, critter time (they get to touch & see crazy animals almost every week!), and gymnastics are SO GREAT! I absolutely love that they get exposure and experience each week with this! This is so huge and my daughter loves it.I love that Woodcrest is NAEYC accredited (I'm only aware of one of preschool in the area that is) and so I feel great that my daughter is learning & having fun. Lastly, I have really loved getting to know the families and parents at Woodcrest. It is a really great place to meet other people, and I've stayed connected with families we've met here even when my oldest is a different elementary school! Lastly, the summer camp is SO FUN! A theme and party each week! Water play on Fridays and Pizza every Wednesday! My daughters LOVE summer here and so great because they are already comfortable with the school and teachers and it feel different than regular school. I can't say enough great things, truly :) I will be so sad when my littlest has to go to elementary school!