Lanai Road Elementary School

4241 Lanai Rd.

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

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 April 06, 2019

It's our first year, so some may take issue with our overwhelming positivity, but we are thrilled to be a part of the Lanai family. From Ms Alas, Ms Manalos, Coach PJ to Robbie, Jane, Ms Elan and all of admins and the amount if parent involvement, the enrichment, it goes on and on... we are just so thankful.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2019

My children love this school! The teachers and staff always go above and beyond the call of duty. The parents are very supportive and help in any way they can.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2018

Our children love the school, their teachers and the principal. Most kids are wonderful and all in all it's a fantastic experience.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2015

Fantastic school with a great leader and teachers. My kids had a wonderful experience being new to the area, the school was very welcoming.
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2015

The teachers overall are great. The community is nice enough, the kids like the school, parents care, the academics are strong - it's a good school overall. But all schools have their challenges. Let's be honest - no school is perfect. Parking is pathetic. The PTA is like a sorority with lots of politics involved. Security after school is a joke (what security?) We cannot seem to get a decent nursing or library staff. There are a few teachers that have gone totally rogue (e.g. - one third grade teacher has been there so long and has a terribly bizarre grading system and says "I don't believe in giving 4's" without any justification at all...even though some children very much deserve 4's. This puts my child at a total disadvantage when applying to private middle schools against other children in other classes who got 4's. Nobody has questioned this behavior- even the principal will not stand up to the parental concerns around his unfair grading. Which begs the question - what else is the principal letting slide? This all said - all these things aside, for a public school - Lanai feels more like a private school. It's pretty awesome for many many reasons. I'll take all the bad to all of the good anyday.
Submitted by other on June 25, 2015

This was by far the best school I've ever attended. I would recommend this elementary school to every parent I know.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2015

This is an amazing school. The teachers really care. The parent support is unmatched. The principal and his staff are what makes this school so great. My student loves school because of the people she is surrounded with daily. The Seeds program is awesome. Professional, fun and enrichment. She never want to go home when we come to pick her up after school. Between the enrichment classes and the daycare portion it's the best of both worlds. The administrators are approachable and open to new ideas to make the program great for everyone. Lanai has everything a parent could want in one place. A great learning environment, people who care and a safe place where your kid can be a kid. 2 thumbs up...
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2014

The new principal, Mr. Hansen is simply amazing! I cannot say enough great things about him as a parent. He fits the school perfectly. The teachers are all dedicated and outstanding with great passion for their field and the children. This school has a lot of fundraising, but it is all worth it because through the booster we are able to have so many things no other public school has. I will pay my 700$ to the LOVE fund every year, anything to make my child have the best education possible. This is the best elementary school in the valley because of the new principal and dedicated parents and staff.
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2014

This is an amazing school! The leadership is outstanding and really cares about the students. Office staff is very friendly even with the sometimes overbearing parents. SEEDS is the after school program that really offers a diverse and enriching after school program that meets the needs of every child. It's a shame that someone with a grudge would take the time to post a negative review... most people can read between the lines.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2014

Lanai is an amazing school. My children child loves to learn and the faculty is the reason. The teachers care the new principal is an amazing encourager and has brought life back to this wonderful gem. The afterscool program is great. Seeds offers homework assistance, enrichment activities and supervise my child daily. The enrichment classes are top notch. My children child has participated in almost all the classes and registered by request to be in the basketball programy 3 times in a row. No school is perfect but Lanai does a great job at reaching for perfection. API scores are through the roof at 900. How many public charter or private schools can say that. Lanai has great family and alumni support. I am proud to be apart of the Lanai heritage.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

My kids have been at this school for one year now and I think it is outstanding. The wonderful, dedicated parents give so much of themselves to the kids that for a public school, this school has far more than some private schools in terms of additional class time programs. The office staff are very nice and I have never had an issue receiving information. What needs work is the Afterschool,or Seeds program, which is very patchy. Some are great (science, cooking). Some are not good (basketball, general homework seeds). The parking,AND as a result, the fact that they do not do any pickup is incomprehensible to me. The parking is so bad that its hard even to describe. From the few parent PTA meetings I have attended, the PTA seems very defensive about some things amongst which are security and afternoon pick-up suggestions. It would be nice to feel safe to discuss these things again, even if this has been done in past years. Thanks again to the dedicated staff and amazing parents who make this school so outstanding!
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2014

The school is wonderful. My children have been going there for years. The parking situation needs work.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2013

Hands down this has got to be one of the best run school's in LA. I have only been here a short time and I could not be more impressed. I feel a sense of gratitude and excitement to be a part of such an amazing community of parents and teachers. Lene L.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2013

Lanai is a great school with incredible parent involvement. The enrichments offered compare with the best private schools in the area.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2012

Amazing school with lots of extras! Lanai is such a wonderful community school with fantastic teachers who really care and a ton of parent involvement. Parents are asked to volunteer and contribute financially, and it is ALL worth it to have art docents, choir, orchestra, a PE coach, science and computer labs, a full-time nurse and more. Its like a private school but all your children's friends live nearby.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2012

My family has been at Lanai for many years with a few principals. It is a wonderful place and children are lucky to go there. We are been very very happy..
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2012

In the midst of LAUSD budget cuts and turmoil, Lanai is a shining gem of a school. The children get an excellent education because of the incredible teachers and parent volunteers. Lanai is truly a model school.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2012

I completely disagree with this parent. Our new principal at Lanai is amazing. She has been nothing but warm and welcoming to myself and my daughter, she is a great leader at a time when our school was seriously lacking the correct leadership. The principal should lead a school, not the parents. Our principal truly cares about her students and school, we are incredibly fortunate to have her as our principal.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2012

Lanai has so much to offer the Encino community. My son has had a great experience at Lanai and I adore the new principal. I don't know why other people would use a public forum like this to badmouth anyone at the school. So sad to see parents bring the school down. It is a happy fun place to be where real learning takes place.