Willard Elementary School

If you are a parent in the greater Pasadena area looking for an excellent public school, look no further than Willard Elementary! My daughter attended Willard from Kindergarten through 5th Grade and had a great experience. Willard offers the following:1. Safety. Willard places top priority on the safety and well-being of all students. There is a zero tolerance policy for bullying. School entrances are secure and carefully monitored at all times, and there is a trained security guard on staff.2. Diversity. A multitude of cultures are reflected in Willard’s student and staff population. School events reflecting Willard’s commitment to diversity include cultural assemblies, an international fashion show, and international dance show.3. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program encourages, among other things: critical thinking, student inquiry, curiosity, independence, open-mindedness, risk-taking and self-reflection. Students are groomed to think, speak and act as global citizens long after they leave school. Willard is the only IB elementary school in the Pasadena area.4. Excellent arts, music and STEM programs. Willard students have displayed their artwork at local civic events. Music highlights include a student show choir called the Rising Stars, a student orchestra (both of which have given command performances at civic events), a student rock band and ukelele band. STEM programs are represented by an annual science fair and Math Field Day team.5. Great physical education program. In addition to weekly PE, Willard features a competition cheer squad and student running club.6. Fun, well-organized and supervised educational field trips. Past destinations have included The L.A. Museum of Natural History, San Juan Capistrano Mission and The Gamble House. Fifth-graders are invited to participate in Astrocamp, an overnight stay at a safe, well-supervised educational facility in the San Jacinto Mountains, where they learn about astrophysics and space science via fun, hands-on experiments.7. Well-supervised afterschool programs (LEARNS, Boys & Girls Club, Afterschool Adventures).8. Community events, open to all Willard students, staff and their families and friends. These include movie nights, a fall festival and an annual Willard campout.Willard’s teaching staff also did a fantastic job during the past school year despite the challenges of online and hybrid learning.Willard is truly a Great School!

I have a teenager who entered Willard in second grade from.another school. Willard was welcoming and worked to help her fit in. I now have a second grader, soon to be third grader. The teachers approach to online was detailed and thorough. Willard made a difficult year ( the pandemic) easy. Ms Penny, Ms Kaiteris and Ms Wood are wonderful teachers.

We were new to Pasadena, CA when we began searching for a good public school for our child to attend. We began talking to other parents in our area and received many recommendations. Since PUSD has an open enrollment policy (we can attend a school outside of our neighborhood if we choose), we toured all of the schools that others recommended. We also toured Willard International Baccalaureate School and as luck would have it, this turned out to be our neighborhood school.After our tour at Willard IB School, we just had "that feeling" in our guts that this was going to be a great place for our child to learn and grow.The school's focus on the International Baccalaureate PYP Program is really the key that makes this school community so special. The teachers and staff have received training that really helps them see the whole child and teach in a way that allows for inquiry and exploration. Students are constantly encouraged to ask questions, do research, find new ways to solve problems, and to expand their understanding of the world around them. The IB program also teaches students to be empathetic, open minded, encouraging, enthusiastic, courageous, independent, and principled. The staff models these behaviors and it is just engrained in the school culture. Willard IB School is the only elementary level International Baccalaureate school in Pasadena. This is a special program that makes Willard a stand out among other public elementary schools in the area.My child has become so aware of the world around her and how her actions affect others as a result of attending Willard IB School. She questions everything and looks for alternative ways to solve problems. She does very well academically and is challenged by her teachers to think outside the box. My daughter has had the opportunity to participate in student council, Rising Stars show choir, orchestra, Mariachi band, international fashion show, talent show, math field day, science fair, multiple field trips, Astro Camp, International dance festival among many other enriching activities. We are so happy to have found Willard International Baccalaureate School and are proud to be a part of this fantastic community of lifelong learners!

10/10. Honestly, in quarantine and virtual learning we considered moving our kids to a private school but we couldn't find one with the resources, community, or leadership that Willard has. Our students are receiving an excellent education and the IB curriculum on top of that is unmatched in Los Angeles. Our students are learning instruments, 2 languages, art, science, public speaking, etc etc etc all set in a diverse environment that is enriching the experience even more.

This school has been an amazing place for our family. The diversity of the students AND the faculty have created a safe, joyful and happy place for our two multiracial kids. Both are kids are thriving here, both academically and socially. We are so impressed with the principle, Dr. Baxter, and with the unique International Baccalaureate "IB" curriculum. The kids attend a weekly Spanish and Mandarin class, have a music class, and learn about being green. They regularly do school performances (singing, playing music, dancing). There are a lot of school events, after school programs, and ways for parents to get involved. We love the sense of community here.