Westside Neighborhood School

Our family became aware of Westside Neighborhood School by word of mouth and from an organization created to assist families of color with navigating how to find a school suited to meet our son's needs, academically, emotionally, and socially. While we eventually parted ways with this organization, our curiosity and interest about WNS remained. In 2019, we attended a tour of the school and participated in a meet and greet with other families led by the head of the school, Brad Zacuto. During the meet and greet, WNS was described as a "community that embraces diversity and inclusivity" amongst staff, faculty, and students. A community that prepares children to be entrepreneurs and thinkers aware of social injustices and environmental issues that they can provide solutions for. A community where kindness and working collaboratively and creatively are encouraged and demonstrated. A community where making mistakes is welcomed as opportunities for growth intellectually, developmentally, and socially. A community where slowing things down and preserving the innocence of our children is held in high regard. Limited access to social media and excessive screen time are often recommended. A community where an emphasis on social and emotional learning is not just preached but practiced. The tour of the school provided an opportunity to view the layout of the classrooms, not your typical typical classroom with rows of desks and chairs with the teacher's desk at the head of the class. The classes are beautifully decorated with assignments, projects, and pictures completed by students. Students have the flexibility to move around in their classes, working independently and in groups. The student-teacher ratio is small, and the curriculum is vast. My husband and I left the tour convinced this was the school for our son, who would be entering kindergarten. However, when faced with the cost of the tuition, we felt defeated and did not apply. For kindergarten, our son attended another school. Throughout his kindergarten school year, WNS remained on our minds, heavy. Additionally, we were encouraged by another parent whose children attended WNS to not let the cost factor deter us as financial aid is awarded to families in need. So, in 2020, we applied, were accepted, and were granted financial aid. We accepted! Our son is in the 4th grade and continues to have an amazing, rewarding, and all-around positive experience. He is thriving. He loves WNS and has communicated how much fun he has learning!! There has not been one day that he has complained about or communicated discomfort or dissatisfaction. As parents, we have peace of mind knowing our son is safe and all of his needs are met.

Our family couldn't be more thrilled with our decision to enroll our son in the first grade at WNS. As a Jamaican and Black American family, finding a school where our child would feel safe, valued, and encouraged to thrive was a top priority. From the very first day, WNS has exceeded our expectations in every way.The 4 Pillars of Academic Excellence: Character, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice (DEIJ), and Community are not just ideals at WNS-they are lived values that we see reflected daily in the experiences of our son and family. The school's commitment to academic rigor has been impressive, especially through its use of project-based learning and differentiated instruction. The innovative and exciting curriculum keeps our son engaged and inspired, making every day an adventure in learning. His teachers ensure that lessons meet him where he is while challenging him to grow, which has helped him develop confidence in his abilities and a love for discovery.What truly sets WNS apart is how they nurture the whole child. The thoughtful integration of social-emotional learning has made all the difference in helping our son transition smoothly. After just three months, he has developed genuine friendships and looks forward to coming to school each day with a smile.The diversity of the student body and staff was one of the main reasons we chose WNS, and it continues to stand out as a strength. Our son sees himself represented in his school community, and as parents, we feel welcomed and embraced. This inclusive environment has made us feel confident in knowing that our son is growing up in a space where he is celebrated for who he is.The teachers at WNS have been incredible-supportive, intentional, and deeply invested in our child's success. Their warmth and expertise foster a classroom environment where creativity and collaboration flourish. The K-8 model also gives us great peace of mind, knowing that this is a community where he can grow academically, socially, and emotionally for years to come.WNS has quickly become a second home for our family. We are deeply grateful for the school's commitment to providing a dynamic, inclusive, and nurturing environment where our son can thrive. We couldn't have asked for a better start to his educational journey, and we're excited to see him continue to grow at WNS.

WNS is the world as it should be. It is a place where everyone is seen and valued. The diversity is unmatched. Children and grown ups are respected alike. Their approach creates free thinkers, courageous leaders, and kind humans. The students value is based on showing up as their authentic self, and not simply on what they can produce. There is a strong academic rigor that integrates learning themes in both in and out of class learning. One of the best parts of WNS is its strong commitment to the community. This school takes the village approach, and it makes parenting just a little easier knowing you can count on the people around you to support you and your children. I have had the privilege of being a parent there for the last 5 years. My children have thrived, but there is also this common thread of kindness that you see amongst all WNS children that is so beautiful to see. If you are searching for a school that values the whole child, you have found it. Welcome to WNS!!!

We have had an outstanding experience at WNS from their early childhood center to middle school. One of the standout features of WNS is its commitment to providing individualized attention to each student. With small class sizes, teachers are able to tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of every learner. Whether it's through personalized tutoring, extra help sessions, or advanced enrichment opportunities, students receive the support they need to thrive academically. We also love that WNS prides itself on its tight-knit community, where students, parents, faculty, and staff come together to create a supportive and inclusive environment. With a range of community-building activities, such as school-wide events, parent-teacher associations, and alumni networks, Elite Academy fosters lifelong connections that extend beyond graduation.

I can't say enough good things about WNS. Seriously. My daughter, now in 4th grade, started in 3rd and has absolutely thrived. Her teachers are incredible; warm, caring, and always accessible. They know and teach to the individual child. It is evident that a tremendous amount of thought is put into it their programs and creating a true learning environment. As a parent, I'm learning and evolving as I watch my daughter being taught tolerance, kindness, and curiosity. The curriculum goes well beyond the core subjects to include language, art, music, and STEM. I feel extremely fortunate that we found WNS and got to be part of this awesome community. If every school in our country were run like WNS, we would live in a much better world. Truly.

We couldn't be happier at WNS. We have 2 children who attend, grades 2 and 4. We started 6 years ago in the ECC. Both of our kids are thriving and are so excited to go to school every day. In fact, they don't want us to pick them up a minute before, 5:30 when aftercare is over. The community and environment are intentional, caring, and thoughtful. We have seen a big leap academically in 4th grade with homework and higher expectations as the grades progress. The school communicates with the parents very well, we always know what's going on, and if there's an issue it's handled swiftly. All the kids at WNS are really kind kids and we believe it has everything to do with how WNS partners with us to help raise our kids when they're at school. Class sizes are small, we have less than 25 kids in each class with 2 lead teachers and an assistant. For math and reading, the kids are put into small groups for their level so they can be challenged or go slower according to their individual needs. The kids get two specialist classes a day for art, Spanish, design/make/code, PE, and music. The administration cares about each family and wants to see them succeed. If a family is having a tough time, they will help in a number of ways. They have a mental health support staff the kids know they can go to at any time. The teachers are amazing, and our kids feel safe and supported. It's a really wonderful school and we couldn't be happier at WNS.

Finding a great school in a big city can be difficult and overwhelming. I must have applied to a dozen elementary schools of all different types public, charter, magnet, dual language, SAS. Private had not even been on my radar, since I went to public school and had always assumed that my children would as well. I had heard about WNS from a few families in my neighborhood, and once I saw it and started learning more about it, it really stood out to me as a place that would be worth sending my daughter to. We're now in our second year my daughter is in 1st grade and my son just joined the preschool and I am completely WOWed by the school, the staff, the program, the community, etc. I love the diversity of the school (both the student body and the staff), the low student-to-teacher ratios, the work-around growth mindset, and the focus on social-emotional learning and character development. I'm frequently amazed by the kinds of phrases my kids come home with and the skills they are developing at such a young age they even work on "conflict resolution" in preschool! I also can't say enough good things about the after-school program not only is a spot always guaranteed for your child, but the enrichment classes offered right at the school are unbelievably convenient for busy parents. My kids have gotten to experience yoga, tennis, soccer, ceramics, science, music, performing arts, cooking, and more. Beyond the school, the efforts to build a strong community right from the start both within a class and across grades make you feel like you are part of a family. It was a really big decision to send my kids to WNS, but I feel so good every day knowing that they're there in such a warm, nurturing, and safe environment.

We have three kids at WNS ranging from 2-8 years old and can't say strongly enough how much we love it. The community at WNS is empathetic, thoughtful, and dedicated to children's growth in every way imaginable. It's an environment that values inclusivity, academic excellence, a growth mindset, and imaginative thinking. We know our kids are as safe and loved at school as they are at home. WNS is a place that values children and parents needs. If you are looking for a school who is innovating with our changing world, paying attention to what works and what can be better, and is one step ahead of the needs of its students, this is it.

We're new to WNS and my family and I absolutely love the school. I didn't know what to expect seeing that my son was coming from a school that wasn't independent. However, the students and staff were all so welcoming that my son fit right in. Really...every single kid and staff member has been so incredibly nice. To say my son loves WNS is an understatement and as a parent, it makes me so happy to know he enjoys going to school. The resources at WNS are amazing and the hands-on learning really plays a part in the development of the children. The Diversity at the school is unlike any other school I've seen in LA and the students learn so much from each other. I really do feel like my son can be himself and be free. We feel so fortunate to have our son attend such a great school.