Van Gogh Charter School

17160 Van Gogh St.

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
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 August 16, 2024

Van Gogh Charter is an amazing school . Best teachers loving, caring, knowledgeable and demanding! All that every single mom needs! Changed 4 elementary schools since in LA… can’t recommend enough!
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2023

The new principal is so welcoming and energetic. The kids love her and the school works to engage the community of parents. My child did have a bully, unfortunately (it happens everywhere), but it was dealt with in a kind and effective way. They use restorative justice techniques that avoid labeling children and focus on what went wrong and where the solution is. It worked in our case. The school seems secure, although I do wish there were gate covers around the perimeter so everyone driving by can't see right in. Sometimes after school, the back gate is open, but most of the time it's attended by an adult. The school is solid academically. I have seen more challenging curriculum, but there's a balance to be struck there. I especially love the integration of the arts (music, dance, and theater) which is not at every school, and I love the availability of the Beyond the Bell-Youth Service and YMCA programs onsite and after-school paid options like Spanish class and music. My child loves the library, the field trips, and the very special community events like the Halloween parade, Valentine's dance, and fall harvest party. The school and the PTA go above and beyond in this regard. We love the school and we're so grateful to be a part of it!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2018

Amazing school !!! Very nice teachers and staff !!!
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2018

My outgoing fifth grader was an outstanding student at the school. She had great teachers all the way through from kindergarten to fifth grade. This is the best community school and was a great choice. Her fifth-grade teacher was amazing, taught her heart out, and it reflected in the test Scores for all of her students. She kept projects at school and let the children collaborate. I believe this method of teaching helped her students succeed and take responsibility.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2018

My child was very sad to see his fifth grade teacher leave halfway into the school year. It's very sad that a teacher would do that to a graduating class and also sad that she was allowed to leave Van Gogh when she did. However, I'm very happy with the teacher he has now. I'm sure it wasn't easy for Mr. Elias to take over when he did, but he has gradually adjusted to the class and is doing a very fine job. He is teaching my child how to use computer programs that I'm sure will become very handy once he goes into middle school. Mr. Elias is very professional. He's available before and after school. I've had to contact him a few times, and he has always responded very quickly. He's even answered me during his off work hours, which he didn't have to do, but that speaks very highly of him. He has also opened a classroom-parent app to communicate with the parents (and for parents to communicate with him). Thank you, Mr. Elias. I'm sure it wasn't easy taking over the class in the middle of the school year.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2017

I am so happy with this school and I feel blessed that my child attends here!
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2017

We are very happy with the school and staff. We have seen our daughter grow so much academically. The school is a close knit community. It is amazing to see so many parents volunteer.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2017

It has been great!! I love the entire staff, Principle , teachers, office staff are simply wonderful, Parent involvement is excellent here as well! Couldn't be happier!
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2016

This school has been on cruise control for a few years. The previous advances came with a forward-thinking principal who retired two years ago, and the new principal simply goes through the motions. Overnight field trips, the standard in high performing schools, were cancelled without consulting parents--because they're inconvenient. The kids at this school are generally high performing, so the question is how much is the school adding to what they already come in with? New test scores will surely show a drop, and it no longer feels like a school-family partnership. The school is safe, and the families do support the school, but the lack of LAUSD funding limits options. Look under the hood because it's not all it seems.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2015

My son and I are new to Van Gogh Charter and I have to admit I love this school!! The parents are very active in the success of their children and this school truly feels like an amazing community. My son's teacher as well as the Principal and staff are exceptional. I have had a wonderful experience so far and look forward to the continued success of my son at Van Gogh Charter!!!!
Submitted by other on October 07, 2015

I am very happy with the principal, teachers, and the staff. I am very glad to have such a great school in my neighborhood where some of our students live very far but since our school is so great they don't mind it.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2015

10 is an honest grade for this school's past performance. From the age of glory, we have descended into the age of decline. As other parents said, we can especially feel this in the way that parents are not welcomed as peer contributors in the school-family partnership. This is an unforgivable mistake, since families are the most tenacious supporters of the school. Administration is in denial. The school could not rely on such high performing students and hefty donations without the constant parents' support. Once the school-families trust is broken, children cannot count on a thriving community that works to promote their goals. Besides, true learning does not come from studying to the tests, which is becoming a dismal practice. Innovation in education has not reached most classrooms on campus. Drilling test concepts on a daily basis and spending too much time on overly showy displays for Open House does not make for a good education and happy students. Shows do not impress parents who know what truly happens during a year of "learning". Caring and invested teachers would be much more impressive and respected. Silence has replaced the sound of joy.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2015

Schools are as good as their teachers and principals. Most parents are still missing previous principle. Current principle gave us a first decent year, then started offering less while more money was being raised. She does not know her students and is inflexible. The morale has taken a big dive. If you have heard that Van Gogh offered music and art, second grade must be the cut-off year. Otherwise, you have to pay for these, after school. There are a few great teachers who reach out to children by meeting their needs, and if you are lucky you will get them, but overall the teaching style is not creative or innovative. Inflexibility reigns. Third grade is an early trip to college for most students, who are suddenly required to grow many years beyond their age for no valid reason. Don't worry: kids are allowed to go back to childhood in the fourth grade. Third grade is a nightmare that nobody likes to talk about, and some of the teachers here seem more suited for different professions, where they won't be given the power to scar little kids for a long time. Children are overall polite. Last, watch out for the rotten air quality at our school: Landfill alert!
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2015

I would not recommend this school to anyone. The teachers here have always been mediocre, at best (while they are 10, their similar school rating is dismal). What made this school worthwhile years ago was the community environment. Currently, the environment is toxic, and it is getting worse every day. Avoid the misery-find another school for you and your children.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2014

It is obvious that the review from Nov. 5th is not a parent of a third, fourth, or fifth grader. Those of us who are can tell you that for an upper grade student, these overnight field trips are something they had been looking forward to for years. Let's not forget that starting in second grade (or maybe even 1st), fundraisers take place to help the students pay for these overnight trips. Even though it may not be "written" anywhere, that's what parents and students have been told all along. We understand that teachers cannot be forced to go on these trips, yet when these teachers sign up for these grade levels they know that these trips will be part of their assignment because that's what is done at Van Gogh. If the teachers were not happy with these trips, they should have spoken up long ago so that it could have been phased out little by little. What hurts me the most is that it is clear that for the teachers and administrators, the last thing on their minds is the student. They are playing with the students' emotions and that seems to be of no concern to them.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2014

It's unfortunate that the previous reviewer's personal agenda colored their review and led them to throw an entire school under the bus, teachers and administrators included. While there was a change to the fourth and fifth grade overnight field trips, the field trips are still going on. The only change is that they are no longer going to be overnight due to liability issues. The rest of the field trip has not changed. It is both unfair and inaccurate to imply that this is because the field trips are in any way inconvenient to the teachers. The teachers have valid concerns. How does removing only the overnight component change the school's test scores? It doesn't. It is simply that there has been a change and the only way some parents know how to deal with it is to lash out and be disrespectful.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2014

I agree with the last review. Although it is a decent school set in a lovely residential neighborhood, the school is definitely overrated. I have two children attending the school and they are content, but one of them is GATE and has been bored and there is no real GATE program for my child to thrive in. The other child is also very bright and was not challenged at all last year and spent the majority of the year bored. Their after school programs are mediocre and although they do have a school orchestra which children can enroll in for a hefty fee, without extra private lessons it isn't really worth it. Even with a new principal last year, I didn't see an improvement in the quality of the school with the exception of safety rules being enforced more regularly.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2014

I agree with the previous review. This school is completely over rated. The teachers are totally average. They don't provide challenges for above average students. They do however put on a spectacular show for open house. NOTHING BUT A SHOW. My two kids love this school. My daughter who is in second grade is totally bored, but she's happy I guess. Upper grade boy is content. They just wish they could actually LEARN something new. Overall I'm just happy they are in a safe environment. This is supposedly as good as it gets....
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2014

We love Van Gogh, teachers, new principle, everything is the best!!!! My children are so happy with this school as we are!!!! Thank you to all hard worker teachers, principle, and PTO as well to make the school BEST!!!!!!
Submitted by other on March 25, 2014

Overall, the school is over rated. The only reason Van Gogh thrives is because of the ongoing parental support, both at home and at school. The parents who run the PTO do a fantastic job; they are fair with all grade levels and extremely organized. The teachers are okay. They are not better than any other LAUSD teacher. There are a few teachers who provide a rigorous curriculum. The new principal seems approachable and genuine.