Echo Horizon School

3430 McManus Ave

Culver City, CA 90232

65 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-6
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on May 31, 2023

Our child (K) has flourished during their time at Echo and we could not be happier with the school! The environment and culture are top-notch, and the team members consistently and enthusiastically support the students as they reach for new goals. Teachers and school leadership are accessible and are fully engaged. The community is warm, authentic, and fun!
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2022

The lives of our children and our entire family are enriched as members of the Echo Horizon community. We value the tireless work of the faculty and leadership. Their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion fosters a learning culture where students are valued, empowered and inspired to learn and achieve. Echo educators are deeply invested in all their students and maintain a healthy and productive line of communication with parents to cultivate an environment where all children can explore their endless possibilities.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2022

Our experience at Echo Horizon feels almost magical. Our daughter has absolutely fallen in love with learning and with school in general as a result of her teachers, classmates and her time spent at Echo Horizon. The school's emphasis on kindness, individuality and academics is equal parts heartwarming and inspiring and it feels like our daughter is building a foundation at Echo that she will utilize for the rest of her life. The Echo Horizon community is also incredible, with special events, volunteer opportunities and regular enrichment programs that bring together parents, faculty and the kids. Not only is Echo an amazing first step on our kid's educational journey, it's brought incredible friends, wonderful experiences and a true sense of community to our entire family.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2022

Echo Horizon is a great big hug of a school. We love Echo Horizon! Their social emotional learning and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity) curriculum are incredible. The faculty and staff are engaged, dynamic, and attuned. My kids love learning and they adore their school. Echo Horizon is a truly special place.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2022

We are parents of an Echo Horizon first grader and are strong advocates for the school and its mission. When we went through the selection process for a school, we were most impressed with Echo across a few dimensions: Cultivating kindness is in its DNA - in watching the students interact, speaking with alums and hearing from people who were familiar with the school it was clear that Echo kids tend to grow up to be kind individuals. We believe that this in large part has to do with the fact that 15% of the student body is deaf or hard of hearing. As a result, students are taught to celebrate others in spite of their differences from the very start. Other schools try to instill similar values in their students, but at Echo, it's intrinsic to the school.A mix of Progressive and Traditional learning approaches - we liked the fact that, while the school is very progressive, they emphasize maintaining continuity with traditional pedagogy as well; they don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We like that.Not too elitist - we feel extremely fortunate to be able to consider private school options for our kids, but have never never been completely comfortable with the elitism and wealth that accompanies private schools. Many schools on the Westside in LA are pretty extreme in this regard. We liked the fact that Echo was much more down to earth relative to many of its peers.Great matriculation - Echo kids go on to a lot of the best secondary schools in LAPeggy Procter is a force of nature - we love the school's principal Peggy and how she interacts with the kids. It's awesome to see, and it positively affects the vibe of the whole school.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2022

Echo is a small, kind community where kids can focus on learning and becoming their best selves. The academics are excellent and we really like the teachers particularly Mr. Willens, Mr. Young, Ms. Brooks and Ms. Rehor.The school has wonderful specialist teachers. The librarian, Ms. Brown, really gets kids to love reading. I highly recommend visiting - it’s a beautiful community!
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2022

I doubt there is enough space or time to thoroughly convey our experience with and gratitude for Echo Horizon School. In 2016, we were trying to decide what kind of school would be best for our spirited and creative 5 year old daughter. At Echo, we found a thoughtful mix between progressive and traditional ideas that might give her the level of support she needed to learn & express herself and navigate social and developmental challenges. The diverse parent community and student body was another deciding factor for us. The Echo Center, with its focus on students with hearing impairments, enriches the community experience in a way that is unrivaled by other independent schools in Los Angeles. Since the change of leadership in 2017, the faculty has only gotten better at what they already did well. So in 2019, we decided that it was also the best place for our son. Covid struck mid-way through his kindergarten year and we were impressed with how well and how quickly the school adapted. The administration and teachers stayed very positive and kept the community together as much as possible. Communication was consistent and their responses to the situation struck us as very well-grounded and reasonable. As we have watched our children struggle with the impact of Covid since, we have wholeheartedly felt in partnership with the school. They make a point to share the good news and also take great care to inform us about their challenges. The time has gone quickly, but we are confident that our daughter is now entirely ready to take on the middle school application process and thrive wherever she goes. We are indebted to Echo’s energetic and competent administrators, and our children's enthusiastic and dedicated teachers for everything they have done and continue to do for us.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2022

When looking for an elementary school, my husband and I wanted a place that was gentle and developmentally appropriate in its social/emotional expectations but would also provide structure and preparation for an academically rigorous upper school. We didn’t think such a place existed until we found Echo Horizon. Our older son is now in 6th grade and we could not be happier with how well prepared he is for middle school. While our younger son, who is a completely different learner, is also thriving despite the difficulties of beginning kindergarten during COVID. EHS has not only fostered their love of learning, it has also reinforced the importance of being a kind, responsible community member. As parents, we feel lucky to have found a down-to-earth community that strives to raise level-headed, kind and happy kids. We also appreciate that every facet of our campus reflects a level of diversity that is rare in a Westside private school. In short - EHS is an absolute gem of a school!
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

Our eldest daughter graduated in 2021 and we have another child graduating from the school this year. Our two children could not be more different and yet the school was a perfect fit for them both. It was academic enough for our studious child and progressive enough for our more artsy/active child. The smaller size of the school means the kids are incredibly well monitored and met where they are, encouraged to flourish instead of being shoved into pre-existing molds. The head of school is energetic and always challenging to move the school's vision into the future. The community is tight-knit and very low key for a Los Angeles private school. What really makes the school unique is the Echo Center, the program within the school to mainstream deaf and hard of hearing kids. The life lessons taught in empathy, diversity and overcoming challenges are even more meaningful for the typically hearing kids than the hearing impaired ones. Kids graduate the school with kindness in their hearts, but also with the academic foundation to gain acceptance to the top independent schools, like our eldest did. Check it out yourself, you won't be disappointed.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

This is my third year as a parent at Echo Horizon and I am so impressed with how well every adult in the school building knows my child. The most progressive aspect of the pedagogy lies in its commitment to social-emotional learning and DHH inclusion. My child was born severely deaf and from the moment she walked into this school and saw other kids like her she became (and always will be) a "hawk". The more traditional side of the school is the academic rigor, but my child has never felt overwhelmed by the curriculum because she is fully supported in the classroom. The amazing teachers are very successful at differentiating for each child's needs. I highly recommend Echo Horizon to thoughtful parents who want an empathetic, academically and socially rich, community-driven elementary experience that is second to none.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

In a sea of independent elementary schools in Los Angeles, Echo Horizon is a unicorn. Being a product of the private school system in Los Angeles, I was extremely worried about the privilege and sociodemographic homogeneity that comes with choosing an independent school. Echo Horizon has managed to fly in the face of this assumption and truly represents the diversity of Los Angeles including geography, economics, race, occupations and religion. On top of this, 15% of students are deaf or hard of hearing through the Echo Center presenting a truly inclusive model of learning that has only enhanced by hearing children's experience. The education is top notch with kids enrolling in top choice middle and high schools with an unparalleled head of school that truly knows your child and their best fit. Faculty and staff go above and beyond to help kids maintain their sense of joy and wonder in learning and every morning my kids are exited to go to school and still get to be kids without the pressure that the Los Angeles environment can bring. Most importantly, Echo Horizon is truly a community that bring all types of people together and I am constantly learning from the kids and other parents. I can't recommend this school enough!
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2022

I am giving Echo Horizon 5 stars! This school has the best teachers and an incredible principal. It has been a great fit for both of our children. Strong academics and new strategies of learning makes this school a perfect balance. Echo Horizon brings out the best in every child by tapping into their individual strengths, while creating an environment of kindness, responsibility, and leadership. It’s an incredible school with an amazing community that support each other in every way.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2022

I am a proud parent/member of the EHS community. The school environment is warm, welcoming and always joyful. My daughter loves all her teachers so much that she continues to visit her previous teachers regularly. I am grateful to have found a school program that offers the perfect balance of academics and social emotional learning…a true whole child approach which a lot of schools tout but EHS truly delivers!
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2022

Every year, I have new reasons to feel grateful that we found Echo Horizon for our children. From day 1, the Echo team has met my children where they are, celebrated their strengths and achievements and supported their areas needing growth. The curriculum is appropriately challenging, with enough room for differentiation where a child needs extra support or extra challenges (we've needed both at various points). I also have been so impressed by the flexibility of the teachers to accommodate child interests into lessons and recognize that different people learn in different ways. The latter is something that the children really take in stride as they learn to work together with peers of all differing abilities. The group and project-based work has been especially rewarding for my daughter, as she sees how she and her peers can each bring their strengths to a project and use them to help lift up the entire group. The social-emotional learning and support has been amazing. Every kid has their rough patches, and the school has consistently approached them as learning opportunities. Their approach made an enormous difference navigating the challenges of covid. The entire team was focused on supporting our children and getting students back in class as soon as circumstances allowed. They showed enormous flexibility in meeting the unique needs of all students--and recognizing that the impacts of covid on child development and learning would take some time to come to light and address.I noted the Echo team at the start of this review, which extends from the administration to the teachers and staff to the parent community. The administration makes clear every year their expectations of parents and what we can expect from them, and it has always felt very much like a partnership with the children at the center. With the relatively small size of the school, it has been easy to build relationships with other families. I have numerous examples of being able to reach out directly to a parent when there is an issue with our children and figure out a collaborative approach, without judgment, to help our kids through a learning experience. It really does take a village, and that's what we've found at Echo.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2022

What a life saver this school was for us! Our daughter transferred into Echo mid-year of 1st great after several very disappointing experiences at her previous school. She is thriving more than we ever could have imagined and we are thrilled!
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2022

Echo Horizon is a hidden gem in Los Angeles. We were amazed at how our family was embraced by the community and we were just blown away to see both our daughters thrive. From the top down, the head of school, administrators, and faculty have created a culture of inclusion, joy and kindness. The school is EXTREMELY well run, friendly and purpose driven. The head of school was very receptive to our 9 year old who wanted to organize a cultural event at the school. It was just incredible to see how my daughter was encouraged and supported along the way. Our older daughter felt immediately connected to and welcomed by the other students in her class, even though she was the new kid in 6th grade. The students that graduate from this school matriculate to the best private middle/ high schools in the city with exceptional support from the head of school. And the students are all known to be the “kindest and most respectful “ kids at their new schools. We are truly blessed to have found this magical place.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2021

I'm not sure when some of the negative reviews were written for this school. Our experience at Echo under the leadership of Ms. Proctor has been nothing short of incredible. Homework and schoolwork are given in fair amounts, feedback given, and encouragement as well as room for progress doled out in spades. This is a community that truly cares about the well-being of ENTIRE families. Workshops are offered to parents on DEI, they "walk the walk," the teachers and staff embody genuine empathy. They are so low-key and low-pressure about their fundraising efforts, focusing on what the additional funds can offer our kids, and never shaming anyone. In the end, the regard that top secondary schools in the area have for this school is clear - they trust the word of Echo. If your kid can handle the rigors of the most competitive academic secondary schools in the area, they will be given the offers to go, and from what I've heard from previous graduates' parents, thrive in their new environments. If these kinds of schools are not the right fit for your child, they will be honest (in the most empathetic, kindest way possible) and guide your family to the best place where you child can develop into the best version of themselves they can be. The teachers are incredible. This year's 6th grade teachers have been EXCEPTIONAL - Mr. Willens, Ms. Ingistov, and Mr. Young have displayed an infectious love of learning. They're our kids' biggest cheerleaders. This is school is the best kept secret on the Westside. We have been told by countless families that we will never find another Echo, no matter we go. It's that special.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2019

We have only been here one year but Echo has exceeded are expectations in every way. My kids are always eager to go to school. They are engaged in learning and love their friends and teachers. My kids also go to the recreation (after school) program and never want to leave. They are nurtured in all aspects of their lives -- academics, arts, recreation, and so on. To top it off, we have met so many kind, down to earth parents. This school is a gem.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2019

We have been at this school for two years and we love it as much as our child does. The community is wonderful. The staff and leadership team is inspiring and diverse. The kids at this school are kind, engaged learners and we feel so lucky to have found this gem.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2018

I have two kids at Echo Horizon school and they have both thrived there. In addition to strong academics, the school emphasizes social and emotional development -- they help make good people, not just good students. And the school leadership is always available to listen and talk if an issue arises. There is a new Head of School who started in July, 2017 and her energy, leadership and vision have taken a school that we already liked and elevated it to a new level. The other families at the school are also really wonderful -- thoughtful, smart, diverse. If you're in the hunt for a school for your children, I highly recommend checking out Echo Horizon. After talking with the leadership, faculty and other families, you'll quickly get the sense of what makes this an amazing educational community.