Topanga Elementary School

They’ll tell you you’e getting a private school education for a public school price but if you’ve been to private school you know this is not true. The only good thing it has going for it is the location. It is beautiful but the school needs fixing up. Do not even consider the TK program unless your child is comfortable with a teacher who yells, calls them names, has obvious favorites and has a class room so stacked up with junk and stuff that there is barely any room to move. The program does not teach age appropriate things and makes the kids feel bad about not being smarter. Horrible experience.

True the setting is spectacular and the community rich. The teachers, some above average, most average. I would love to give this school 5 stars but I must say after spending 5 years at this school the over all feeling from an administration level is a disappointment.
It is a charter school so there is much parent involvement… you will be constantly expected to participate in all the fundraising activities, and there are many, as well as be encouraged to pay an annual donation that raises a 100.00 every year. (I think they are up to 800.00 haven’t got the request yet)
On the outside it seems as though you get the best of both worlds a public school ran like a private school without the expensive tuition, but after five years I must say I was fooled, I thought I was involved in fine dining but it turns out that I was only eating fast food. You get what you pay for as they say.
The school is all about numbers and test scores like any public school. They worry more about attendance records for funding then they do the individual student. The body of parents who have the most money and time run the place like a mafia, and rule the administration and many of the decisions made.
The academics is average, not exceptional, class sizes are small but expect to have your child in a split class (2 grades put together) if they need to, to keep class size down.
On the positive your child will love the community… it is small and intimate so makes for a very family affair for the kids, who are free to be themselves.
Just not the high quality education it might want to present it’s self to be… and if you don’t have a high income bracket (we do) you may feel intimidated by those forcing their will. We choose not to but are aware of the presence.

I can’t comment on the current teachers or curriculum, but this is simply a spectacular location to go to school. Enjoy the clean air, woodsy setting, and all the rest of Topanga’s glories.