La Mesa Arts Academy

4200 Parks Ave.

La Mesa, CA 91942

School District

La Mesa-Spring Valley
Grade

4-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for La Mesa-Spring Valley 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 March 11, 2022

Both my kids attend LMAAC, and so far the experience has been good despite the effects of the pandemic. My daughter will be going to HS next year and has had the opportunity to be in two years of culinary which she's appreciated. My son is in choir which wasn't his first choice, but he's done well, and I think performing has been a good experience for him. I don't think that they have particularly rigorous academics, but I do feel like they're learning what they should. I wish they had the opportunity to learn a second language, but I feel great about all of the arts opportunities my kids have as they are both creative.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2020

Education is ok, staff is it not professional. They need to remember their teachers not parents
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2019

Our experience at this school has been horrible and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Send your children somewhere better.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2019

Great School. Staff very friendly and always willing to go the extra mile when helping students and parents.
Submitted by parent on December 30, 2018

My student enrolled in 7th grade after moving to the area. He was welcomed easily and completely among the student body, making the transition relatively painless. I have been impressed with the school's ability to provide a strong academic foundation, experience and opportunity in the arts, and a very inclusive social structure. Strong parent support and committed leadership make LMAAC a very good school. I look forward to my second child starting fourth grade at LMAAC when the time comes.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2018

One kid got through OK and is at Helix but she was lucky to have had some of the best instructors and she was a model student. My other kid in 7th grade gets bored when the teaching is poor and had a completely different experience with a few teachers that really had an attitude and were very poor communicators. Teachers seem to be able to conduct themselves in the classroom with impunity and no oversight. Grading can be unfair with an excused absence resulting in a F grade in PE? Can't wait for this to be over.
Submitted by other on December 22, 2017

I’d honestly rate the school as a 9/10
Submitted by other on September 17, 2017

It's been touch and go. Hoping to see some improvement
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2017

This school has been a big benefit for my children. I have two children attending and the school meets both of their needs. My older daughter has found "her tribe" here - I've seen her become closer with her group of friends than ever before, that's partially because the "artsy kids" are attracted to this school, so there's more kids like her here. But also, the kids are supported for where and who they are by the administration.It is a BIG school. That can feel overwhelming, especially at first. But both of my kids now feel comfortable navigating the space. Especially since they separate the age groups into different parts of the campus, creating a micro-campus spaces for grades 4-6 & 7-8. However, they still intermingle and have the benefits of that experience.I know the state test scores are questionable. Having said that, I have seen an increase in their results since coming to this school. So they are learning something! Also, I am so impressed with having a real, trained PE teacher for my kids.The one big issue is one front office staff - the point person that you speak with when you enter the main office - is difficult do deal with. If you happen to have a forgetful child (I do. Guess what? I'm also forgetful. It's an incurable 'condition'.), woe unto you. I happen to parent in a way where IF I have the time, I will go bring them their forgotten lunch or folder. IF I don't, then, nope, they gotta deal with the consequences. But I do try to demonstrate compassion and I do explain to them that I have gone out of my way to help them. This office person is snarky and rude the 4 times I dropped something off, assuming I'm a parent who over-indulges my kids. My kids don't want to talk to her, either. They will walk by the office window and if she's in there, keep on going. They had paperwork to turn in on the due date and had forgotten a photo to include at home. I was going to drop off the photo when I came to pick them up. She told them they couldn't. Another office lady said it was fine and kids turned it in all the time without the photo.I do understand that it must be tiring. However, that's the position. If she lost her compassion, then maybe she isn't the right person to be there.Having said that - she is the only issue I have had with this wonderful school.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2017

Both of my children grew tremendously during their time at LMAAC. Not only were they able to develop their skills in the arts (instrumental music, dance, theater, art), it was not at the expense of academics which were treated with the utmost importance. Their skills and knowledge were paired with leadership skills and character that LMAAC really works hard to develop in all their students. You can tell this is a staff that cares about the students and the kind of people they grow up to be.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2017

We had two children attend LMAAC, one with a mediocre experience and the other with a terrible one. Classroom teachers were fine, nothing stellar but nothing bad. (Too much homework.) The real problem with LMAAC is absolutely terrible leadership in need of a reboot from top to bottom. You'll be lucky to avoid their inconsistent, oftentimes counter-productive approach to discipline, which teeter-totters between allowing their favorites to do whatever they want then over-zealously punishing those they don't like in hopes they'll leave. This fosters a toxic environment where the students avoid the administration at all cost. Lastly, it's unclear what makes them consider themselves an "arts academy." It's just a traditional school.