Encino Charter Elementary School

16941 Addison St.

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
Type

charter

School Map for Los Angeles Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 06, 2021

I am current parent at Encino Charter Elementary. I also have a child who culminated fifth grade last year. This school is a gem. The ETEAM and parents at this school work hard to provide teachers and programs the district can’t provide. We have our own PE, computer lab, science, and art teachers. Encino provides plenty of community nights such a as Dance Party and Movie nights. The general education teachers are spectacular. They truly care for their students. Differentiation of gifted leaners is a focus at this school. Students are academically challenged. I know this because my middle school daughter, who is in a honors accelerated program, comments on how much Encino prepared her for success. By comparison the curriculum at Encino was far more rigorous and challenging then the honors gifted program at a middle school. If you want your child to succeed, take your kid to this school. But a word of advice to the parents who leave negative remarks. This is a fabulous school but a fabulous school will never be a substitute for a responsible and accountable parent. Every school has its share of hurdles to overcome. Every school has students that need training to not behave in a certain way. However, again, the school isn’t a substitute for a good, stable home. The school does what it can to make sure every child is safe and is getting a strong academic education.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2021

A classmate told my son yesterday grave antisemitic statements that I won’t dare to repeat in a public forum. It was an egregious display of intolerance. After 11 phone calls, 5 emails, and in-person attempts to address the matter with the principal, she still hasn’t bothered to pay this matter any attention. So much for inclusivity. This after a long, long series of incidents hallmark of blatant disregard and mistreatment towards a child with a disability. Don’t take all comments at face value. There are two Encino Charter. One for the VIPs, one for rest to pick up the crumbs. There’s a couple of outstanding teachers. That’s about it
Submitted by other on October 19, 2020

I actually attended this school 1962-1968. It was pretty much great then, and I remember every teachers' name: Haag (K), Cusanovitch/Weiss (1), Holloway (2), Reese (3), Cain (4), Hawkins (5), Palmer (6 - -it was K-6 back then), Farnam (P). And sure, this review is ridiculously out of date. But wait long enough and the others will be as well.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2020

I have 4 kids and they all had wonderful experiences attending Encino Elementary School, academically and personally.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2019

ECES is great not just because of its teachers and kids, it's great because the parent volunteer time and money to ensure the best public education possible.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2019

I'm been very happy with our time at Encino Charter Elementary. I"m one of those parents who has been very involved and although I've heard there is a perception that volunteers and their kids get preferential treatment...I can say from personal experience, that has not happened. I've had multiple years that we didn't get the teacher "everyone wanted" but in the end...my kids ended up where they were supposed to be and thrived because of it. I'd say about 30% of the parents are truly involved someway and the work they do for the school keeps the overall feeling of community going. The programs supported by the parents are phenomenal and a gift for our kids. The teachers and staff are all supportive and passionate. But the proof isn't in my review but it IS in our students. Ask any parent whose kid has graduated from ECES how they are doing and I bet you will hear "very good". My eldest is confident, prepared and doing well in her older grades and that is because of the foundation built at ECES. The tagline for the school is true - it's where the students journey begins and it's a a GREAT BEGINNING!!
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2019

Extremely happy and fortunate to have my daughter attend.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2018

Overall a great experience. Teachers all mostly all great, but what makes it such a great school is truly the community! The parents really care for all the kids and put in a lot of time and effort to make it what it is today. Couldn't be happier!
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2018

I have been very happy with my 3 children attending ECES. No school is perfect and public schools have a lot of hoops to jump through. But my experience here over the last 5 years has been overall fantastic. There is drama at any school, with any parent organization if you want to find it and choose to involve yourself in it. Overall though, I have felt that the community has been warm and friendly. The school has increased activities to bring the community together like Back to School Movie Night, Dance Party Yeah, Restaurant Nights, STEAM Night and the Parent Gala. They provide programs to our kids like a full time science teacher, computer lab, art teacher, bringing authors to the school to talk to the kids, raising money as a school for other communities in need (i.e. Hurricane victims or building fresh water wells in other countries). The principal, Mrs. Chun has been open to listening to parents about their concerns and has shown a genuine interest in the students. My daughter told me that she even pulled her out of class one day to talk to her and check in on her because she knew she was having a really hard time with something. She also made sure for student placement, that classrooms were evenly distributed, something the previous principal did not necessarily do. The most important thing to me though, is that my kids tell me they are happy, they feel safe, and they like their school. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it's important to know that although some families may have had a negative experience (as is true for any school), there are a lot of really happy families at ECES. I would highly recommend (and HAVE!) this school to any parent.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2018

Excellent! I feel so lucky my kids were able to go to this school. The got a fantastic eduction, made some wonderful friends, and I've loved being a part of the larger community at the school. It's been a wonderful experience. I wish every kid to go to a school like this.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2018

Our time at ECES has been exceptional. In Los Angeles, with so many school options and kids traveling from all over the city, this school is truly as neighborhood school. As a small school made of kids from the neighborhood, we have become apart of an incredible community of parents who support each other, are involved in the school, and truly love our kids. We moved into the neighborhood days before my child began school, and I cannot say enough about what a joy it was to meet this community. Any child has excelled, has an excellent group of friends, and we have become members of the most amazing community.
Submitted by other on September 30, 2018

Terrible ! Don't go here they only take care of the more popular kids . Bullying is a huge problem at this school! Almost everybody at this school is rude and unkind . Not just the students , but the teachers and the rest of the staff too!
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2018

mixed feelings. good academic program with inqeuitable access to the programs.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2018

The school is above average academically. There aren't that many spaces really offered to new students through lottery because the school allows students in that no longer live in the area. I know about a dozen families that still have children there although they do not live in the area. The classroom sizes are ridiculous and teachers often do not have enough help.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2018

Excellent school, top academic program allowing kids to develop and stay ahead of the curve.
Submitted by parent on July 06, 2017

The long-time principal Ms. Koff is retiring. She has been instrumental in turning Encino Charter into one of the top schools in the entire LAUSD. She will be missed, but the staff, faculty, and new principal are well equipped to continue her legacy.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2017

This principal and some teachers do not actually care about kids' mental health. We do not helicopter our kid. We only go to administrators when something is of grave concern. The first time I actually go to the principal, Ms Koff told me she wanted to teach my kid a lesson about life, and I quote: "even though you work hard and play by all the rules (set by the principal), you still don't get your way in real life; best learn that lesson now." Really? Elementary school? For a family that asks for nothing? The principal bold face lied to the kid directly and forced the kid to continue to write essays and jump through hoops for weeks regarding the issue; what a power trip. Wow. That was Sept 2016. I made the school pay for school counseling due to this issue. We took my kid to LAUSD counseling to let her know this life lesson instead: that even the principal, a person of authority, is not by default a good person. Fast forward to Feb 2017: just this week, we learned another incident involving yet more teachers. Another mom just told me her daughter 'doesn't believe in herself anymore' due to a school activity. And my kid agrees that the whole thing was political. Again, not healthy life lessons for elementary school kids whose parents aren't involved. Sorry I didn't donate thousands to win the political game there. Sorry I have a job and can't donate time. It's a public school. The leadership should provide a public service to all kids, not just the popular ones.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2017

Fantastic school and teachers. Would highly recommend.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2016

It is very hard for us to leave Encino Charter Elementary. It is such a wonderful school and everyone there is kind, warm, welcoming and passionate about teaching. My son attended Encino Charter Elementary for first grade and his teacher, Ms. Bunchiyan, was patient, caring, considerate and wonderful. He was lucky to have her as a teacher. He was also lucky to have Ms. Diane who tutored him and was incredibly dedicated to helping him. I have never met a teacher of her caliber before. The principal, Mrs. Koff, is a also amazing. She is a great leader, experienced, dedicated and thoughtful. She knows every child in the school by name. The best coaches I have ever met are also here. They are professional, young and energetic.We are going to miss the community at Encino Charter Elementary very, very much. Thank you for everything and we wish you all the best!Yanina & Georgii Poliakov
Submitted by other on April 03, 2016

My granddaughter is receiving an excellent education. Great library run by a talented and caring librarian. The school has an excellent mix of cultures and some very responsible parents.