Carthay Center Elementary

6351 West Olympic Boulevard

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:23
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 February 22, 2024

I would look elsewhere. There are a couple great teachers and the PTA really put a lot into the school but its not enough to carry the whole student body. Security is not good. Administration is lackluster and sometimes very insensitive and seem exhausted. If you ask any questions they kind of just stare at you... they seem bothered. When issues arise the school has no interest in collaboration with parents whatsoever. Communication between the school and parents is on existent, al communication comes from the PTA. There is no ficus on social emotional learning.Parents have been verbally assaulted by other parents on school property and the principal makes excuses and tolerates bullying between students which trickles into the parent community. The energy gets hostile. The community is not welcoming past the first two months and fails to practice inclusion. They claim to have all these amazing gardening classes and arts opportunities but the kids go in the garden maybe once every three months and they failed to even light up the stage during the winter program duo that everyone could be seen. Carthay is an unorganized mess and almost feels like its haunted because the energy is so dark. kids deserve better!
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2024

It can be a good school. They have a few brilliant and amazing teachers. A lot of parents are really involved in helping the school. Unfortunately, the leadership is terrible, it's tired and uninspired. The principal is rude and very difficult to work with. She's just going through the motions of satisfying the district's minimum requirements rather than really caring about the children and providing excellent education. It's a sub mediocre school. If you are looking for a school that cares about your child, this is not the one.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2023

Fall 2023: This is my kid's last year at Carthay. My kid's been at Carthay from K to 5 through a lot of turmoil! Teachers strike, pandemic closures and Zoom learning, and another strike last year, yet Carthay kids survived and thrived with our amazing teachers, staff, principal and families. I know my kid did great - no learning loss! Our test scores actually went up A LOT after the pandemic. Every single one of my kid's teachers have been awesome. Teachers are available to talk through instant messaging, email and in person. Parent volunteers are welcomed into the classroom to help with hands-on activities, planning parties, and field trips. Super active PTA group with parents who work really hard to raise money through fun community events to pay for extra enrichment programs LAUSD won't pay for like garden science, PE, California Dance Institute and our expansive kids edible garden & chicken care. Our principal is insanely hardworking and is literally at the school from dawn to dusk. You'll see her everywhere. She's even helped us weed the garden on a weekend and clean up and take out the trash during events. The wonderful staff are welcoming and helpful. Overall our experience has been very positive and we will miss Carthay!
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2022

FALL 2022:Think twice before you choose this place. Horrible admin, lack of communication among all. Safety issues, observed young children walk out the gates as they look for their parents and staff in lala land unaware kids walked out the gates. Observed staff belittling children. School does not deserve to be open. Children need to speak up and parents need to communicate better with their children
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2022

The current data shows that students made the highest academic growth in 3rd -5th grade on the SBAC for the 2022 school year. Teachers focus on small group instruction which addresses the needs of each students. It is a school that teaches beyond the 4 walls in a classroom. Project based learning is done outside in the gardens and the outdoor classrooms. Children understand the impact they have on the environment and what is needed to save our planet. Great place to learn! Parents are very supportive and participate in many activities. Parents are vested in the school.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2022

We are very happy with our choice to send our children to Carthay! The PTA is incredibly involved and works tirelessly to support and improve the offerings at the school. There is art, dance, music, science, library, garden science (have you seen the garden?!), California Dance Institute, gifted and talented education, Young Storytellers, Got Game PE, and more! The teachers are dedication and full of compassion, which says a lot during this especially trying time. It's a wonderful option close to home and a Magnet School which allows you to matriculate with the full allotment of magnet points to help you get into the middle school of your choice. So many wonderful things are happening here, come be a part of our community!
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2022

My children have been at this school since Kinder and are now in 5th grade. It has been a lovely community school to be a part of pre-pandemic, during pandemic and now navigating the new normal. The teachers and staff have been very supportive, welcoming and, very approachable both from a student's standpoint as from a parent. The PTA has a history of strong presence on campus and has a lot to do with the activities/third party organizations brought in for students' enrichment. I would highly recommend this school. The campus is beautiful as well.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2022

We love Carthay ESM, our amazing neighborhood school! Our oldest culminated from 5th grade after 6 wonderful years, including kinder. We now have a second grader who is thriving and loves school, despite the challenges that the pandemic has caused. Every teacher our girls have had has been talented and devoted. The unique environmental science features, like the gardens, outdoor classroom, hens and aquaponics are so fun and enriching for the students. We feel so fortunate to have such an amazing neighborhood elementary school - and only a 10 minute walk from home!
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2021

Great school. Great teachers. Lovely environment. Our youngest is currently in 5th grade, with a superb teacher, Mr. Garrison. Our oldest also studied here K - 5, and had a good experience.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2019

We love Carthay and our experience here. I'll try to see if I can capture what makes Carthay so special. It's really kind of hard to explain because it is so much more than just the test scores (which are going up by the way). The fact is that Carthay is a little bit of an underdog and completely underrated. Although Carthay is not a highly coveted elementary school like Melrose Elementary or Community Charter, I think it has much more to offer. There is an incredible sense of community and camaraderie among the parents, kids, teachers, staff and principal. Every day you can find parents in the Parent Center working on the next school event or just chit-chatting. We have gotten to know each other and our kids. I know that I can speak to the principal or teachers anytime if I have a question or a concern. The office staff are super efficient, warm and welcoming. Carthay just feels like a happy school and it is.The school is incredibly diverse - so many families from all over the world and LA - different races, ethnicities, cultures, languages and class. There are many motivated parents who travel far to come to Carthay. After we had some negative experiences at our child's South LA school, we slog through LA traffic from South LA to come to Carthay and so do many other Carthay parents who don't live in the area.The school offers project based and hands-on learning through their garden science program and outdoor classroom, and science experiments in the classroom. There's also music and PE, too. With lots of other extras like California Dance Institute and Young Storytellers. A beautiful garden with chickens! Not to mention big playgrounds and open green space with large old trees providing lots of shade.
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2019

This school had rave reviews and we looked forward to sending my sister here, but unfortunately this school fails to protect the students both mentally and physically, and how can a child learn if they are not in a safe environment?
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2018

We have been so pleased with this little gem of a school. A great diverse student body, a committed community of parents and teachers and administrators, a dreamy garden with chickens and shade trees, all make for a really great school experience. We have 3 kids there and it adds to our quality of life daily. The teachers we've had each year have been home runs. I would recommend Carthay to any parent.
Submitted by principal on May 28, 2018

I would recommend this school to any parent. I have had a great experience at the school.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2018

My son transferred to Carthay from a private school and we all have been very happy with the decision to attend a public school. Do NOT be deterred by the score of the school. It only recently converted into a Magnet Program. The school diversity is a huge plus for exposing your kids to a global community. This exposure cannot be measured by a score. The teaching style and curriculum is dynamic and the PTA is also dedicated to the philosophy of the school and supports programs such as GATE (Gifted and Talented), Girls on the Run, Star Physical Education, Garden Science Program (amazing!) and the Dance Institute Program. The scores of a school do not make the school, they are the students, parents, teachers and community make up the quality of the school.
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2018

We support Carthay Elementary Magnet for Environmental Studies. I have twin boys finishing 1st grade. These 2 school years have been great.The teachers and staff are very supportive and involved. The parents and the PTA are engaged and create a great sense of community.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2017

I have no idea why the rating for the school are so low. The school is a blessing to the community with strong parent evolvement- and wonderful/dedicated teachers. My daughter is in TK and we could not be happier. Take a tour!! One is coming up tomorrow on Oct 13th and another on Oct 20th at 8:30am. Just go to the main door and staff will escort you to the auditorium.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2017

This is more than a school, it's a community. My kids love going to school, have wonderful friends, and school events have become an important part of our family's social like. Plus our kids are thriving academically, socially, artistically, athletically, all around.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2015

This school is wonderful it is more then just a school it is a family. I always feel welcomed by the staff and my 5th grader and kindergarder loves it along with my 3rd grades nieces and 1st grade niece. The teachers are great.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2015

My son is a 5th grader at Carthay currently. He went for kinder as well but we pulled him out because at the time we were learning that he had some learning challenges so we sent him to a charter in Hollywood for 1st-4th. Well, long story short we are back and he's having a great year! I'm so impressed at the many wonderful improvements, parent involvement and the new environmental studies magnet. One of the best things about Carthay is the beautiful garden! Check it out!
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2015

Simply put: I love this school. Great administration. And I'm thoroughly impressed with how my child's teacher goes that extra step to reach all her students (no matter what level they are on).