Turning Point School

8780 National Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90232

54 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by teacher on February 08, 2025

Send help. This place is broken. Parents writing positive reviews are clueless. Find any staff member here, they’ll tell you what’s happening.
Submitted by parent on December 19, 2024

Our first year at Turning Point has been a great experience, all thanks to the staff and everyone that helps the school go round. One of the most important aspects to us is seeing how much our children love their teachers and even go as far as saying they miss school. They both had previously had tough transitions at their old school, but TP made a great point of easing new children in and by the time school started, it was like they had been there for months, so that good start set the tone for their year so far. Could not be happier with communication and involvement opportunities they present the parents, which we appreciate because we like being involved. Facilities are always tidy and clean and they are very organized. I do wish there was even more diversity, but in comparison to other similar schools, it was one of the best.
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2024

Turning Point has proven to be a great fit for my child. The school has truly small class sizes. At the elementary level, there is a teacher and dedicated full-time teaching aid for a class of 12-15 students. The teachers really got to know my child's learning style and made accommodations and changes as needed to meet my child's needs. The personal attention combined with the personal learning plan for each child creates a one-of-a-kind experience. If your child does better in a smaller class setting with personal attention, this is the school for you. Kids have access to spanish, art, science, P.E., and technology instruction at least 2 times a week from specialist. The school has taken early reading very seriously and my child developed strong reading, comprehension and writing skills in the early grades. Math starts a bit slow in kindergarten but picks up quickly in 1st and second grade. There are a wide array of afterschool enrichment activities for elementary students, and athletic activities for middle grade. I do wish there were strong athletic team opportunity for young elementary students but the P.E. program and enrichment offer great opportunities. The school community is pretty welcoming and open. Parents are invested in supporting the school, teachers and their children and it shows.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2024

I have been a Turning Point parent for four years and have two of my children here. I would recommend this school enthusiastically to anybody!A sweet story illuminating the Turning Point community and experience: my youngest is 4 years old and in preschool, while my eldest is 9 years old and in 3rd grade. My youngest is celebrating this weekend with a birthday party. Of course, many of her preschool classmates are attending. However, two of my 3rd grader's best friends gave my preschooler thoughtful gifts this week, and two more of my 3rd grader's friends are making time to come to the party. When the older girls see my preschooler, their eyes light up and they always run over to each other for hugs and games of tag.My husband and I were marveling at how lucky both our daughters are that our 3rd grader has such kind friends, but we were also talking about how grateful we are to be at a school where our preschooler can have friends so much older than her, who love her and who she loves right back. It's really a testament to Turning Point and to what an incredible close-knit and supportive community it is - such awesome kids of all ages. A truly magical and special place.All this to say, we count ourselves very lucky!
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2023

Unfortunately, this school has gone downhill. The elementary program is great with enthusiastic and supportive teachers. However they made the decision a few years ago to make 5th grade middle school with a $5k tuition hike. There is not a return on that extra tuition as 5th graders are subject to unchecked bullying by older middle schoolers, have very few opportunities to participate in middle school activities such as sports and the school play. The only benefit of making 5th middle school is they get to walk to classes without a teacher and they have advisory. Hardly worth $5000 a year more. And as the kids matriculate thru middle school there is so much attrition, kids leave in droves. So if your child has a bully, or doesn’t connect with the other kids, they don’t have many options for social connection. The schools commitment to DEI is important and admirable but has been to the exclusion of all else and has created unintended consequences of racial and religious bullying. It’s sad what has happened to this once lovely community school.
Submitted by teacher on June 06, 2023

I taught here for four years and never have I experienced more performative "education". They seem interested exclusively in their appearance, spending millions on a remodel when their teachers are literally begging to be given annual raises that at least keep up with inflation. Tuition has gone up the past three years, with the line that it's "going to our teachers". However teacher pay is not keeping up with inflation, positions are being eliminated and colleagues are expected to pick up the slack without extra pay, and our admission department gets larger every year. Why would you spend so much money on your child's education, if the money isn't even going to the people educating your child? If you consider this school, when you meet the teachers (NOT the admissions tour guides), ask them if they are happy, supported, and make enough to feel incentivized to do their best for your kids. Otherwise spend your money at a place that actually values the people spending time with your children. Better yet, Culver City Unified and LA Public both guarantee their teachers more money than Turning Point. Spend $50,000 annually on tutors or nannies or private lessons before spending it here- you'll get actual value for your money that way.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2021

We are so happy to be part of Turning Point. Our children grade 5 and grade 7 are thriving in the midst this challenging time. TP is a true partner communicating. navigating and collaborating every step of the way.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2021

My older daughter attended and my younger daughter is currently attending. My older daughter now goes to Marlborough. She loved every day at Turning Point. Every day, she was excited to go to school. My younger daughter loves it too. Everyone knows a Turning Point child. They will look you in the eye confidently. They are kind and supporting to their peers. The school does an exceptional job inculcating the children to the school's culture. The parents are interesting and diverse. Also, the school nailed remote learning during the pandemic.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2021

We have been at TPS for over 10 years now between our two daughters. The investment has been worth every penny. Our daughters have thrived and have always looked forward to school. We have been grateful for a wonderful, caring community of faculty and families, and the administration has been very responsive to any concerns we have brought to their attention over the years. Most notably, however, we were incredibly impressed with TPS' response to COVID, both via remote learning and protocols once the children returned to in-person learning. It was truly impressive and exactly why we have trusted them without or daughters. TPS has been a perfect fit for our family.
Submitted by other on July 15, 2021

We were sold on a dream that honestly didn't exist. I think we started our daughter there too early, and it would've been a better fit maybe once she has started in middle school. We were there for two years of pre-k and honestly, I daughter stayed behind our other friend's kids. I also noticed that families who helped sell us on the dream, left the school too. For the price we paid, it should've been more than a glorified day-care center. . .but it wasn't. I even experienced a second hand account of how they handled bullying at the elementary level, and it became even clearer that the school was not for us. Do your research, ask to speak with some families who left. . .there are plenty of us.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2020

Our family has been at Turning Point School starting in preschool and now going on 9 years. Both my daughter and son have absolutely thrived and grown into incredible little people, while surrounded by probably one of THE most idyllic learning environments anywhere in Los Angeles, much less California. In the hustle and bustle and glitz and glamour typical of LA, Turning Point truly is a rare gem in its graceful, nurturing, honest, thoughtfully academic, culturally aware, keeping kids "kids" longer approach. Every aspect of how a child develops is incredibly considered and thought out and seamlessly integrated into their daily learning. They become aware not only of themselves, but others and the broader world around them, becoming confident learners, critical thinkers and kind kids. And we need as many of those in this world as we can get!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2020

We have been thrilled with our experience at Turning Point. Our son and daughter are thriving (even during remote learning). We have been at the school for 7 years (preschool through fourth grade so far). The faculty, curriculum and vision of the school create an environment that fosters independence, confidence, community, collaboration and a love of learning. Our kids absolutely love Turning Point and it has exceeded our expectations.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2020

This community is truly magical. The parents, teachers and students are all connected and engaged with the process of social, emotional and academic growth and excellence. We feel SO lucky to call this school our family.
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2020

Both of my kids are thriving at Turning Point School.
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2020

A breath of fresh air in a city full of status-oriented schools!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2018

Turning Point is experiencing an attrition rate crisis, because they refuse to dissolve their middle school despite generations of TP families imploring them to do so. The administration will argue that pedagogical research supports the importance of a through middle school experience, but it's really done because they think it makes them more money.When the current 7th grade finished the 4th grade there were 43 kids in the class. 80% of those students have left including 100% of those girls. This is a perennial problem for the school not unique to this class. So many leave because even though offering 8th grade may be a superior teaching method, it simply does not work well within the LA private school system. In LA, the private schools have their biggest openings in the 7th grade. By the 9th grade, most of the spots at the top schools are gone. Any LA middle private school administrator, school placement advisor, or even the LA tutors, will confirm this. So a huge amount of TP kids apply out in the 6th grade and TP tells them, "We won't stand in your way, but we will not campaign for your child, because we believe it is in their best interest to complete our 8th grade program." The school argues that the majority of their graduates are accepted to their first choice school. But all that means is TP managed the students' expectations and convinced them to have their first choice not be a top school. Clearly, even the board parents know this, because while they may preach one thing in the hallways, most get their own kids out by 7th.The sharpest TP students, whose parents have the most resources, are able to get their kids out for 7th grade, along with their younger siblings, despite the blatant lack of help from TP. This leaves a bunch of openings that the school scrambles to fill, but they are filled with kids graduating from public schools after 5th grade who didn't get into a school that would take them through high school.This discontent in the upper grades creates a ripple affect of negativity throughout the school causing younger kids to leave, and the school allowing anyone in to replace them. I have never heard of anyone being rejected from TP. Occasionally I hear of a waitlist, but everyone was accepted in the end. Even kids thrown out of other private schools for reckless and disrespectful behavior.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2018

I stand corrected, I recently found out my child was properly represented by the head of the school and admissions director. My previous information was wrong, and the administration did stand by my child. The accusations were not what I thought they were, and were minor. As for going to public school over an independent school, that's where we are headed since my child didn't get in to where he applied for high school. But he is prepared for that route, and is looking forward to going to a big "rah rah" high school. In the case public school doesn't work out, I am hopeful that the administration will still be involved if we need to apply elsewhere, being that we have been at the school for many years.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2017

We could not be happier at Turning Point! The curriculum, the community, teachers and administrators are incredible. Kids are confident, curious, and love learning here!
Submitted by other on September 21, 2016

We have been at TP for 8 years. At parties or events around LA, I am constantly told how kind and well behaved the children are. Not just mine, but the students overall. TP kids ARE kind. They also develop confidence and the ability to go out into the world knowing who they are. I have seen it in the graduating classes and I see it in my own children who are blossoming there. We could not be happier.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2015

I have two kids at this school and we've been here since Preschool (Primary). Truthfully, I don't know from where the bad reviews are coming. Probably people who didn't get in or had some "issue" with the school or just cant be happy anywhere. Because this is a great school. I'm not saying it's perfect, every school has its negatives, but for me, the positives FAR outweigh the negatives. Very little bullying IMO--especially compared to what I hear from friends in other private schools. Great teachers who really love what they're doing and care about the kids. An administration who has always made time to listen when I had a problem. Because of this environment, the kids at Turning Point are also able to stay "kids" a LOT longer than what I've seen/heard at other schools. It's not that they're more innocent, they still see the same movies and video games. But they're just not as jaded as kids I've seen at other schools. They're just...kids. Really glad we found this place.