Hancock Park Elementary School

408 South Fairfax Avenue

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
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 08, 2025

Hancock Park Elementary school is a very special place. We truly represent diversity in all aspects -race, culture, religion, and socioeconomic range.The teachers are very dialed into the individual needs of students and we have amazing programs to support, challenge, and excite all. Reading the reviews below I will say that class sizes were larger at the beginning of the year but new staff was hired to accommodate the growth as soon as possible! The student population has been increasing following COVID and HPE is working hard to keep up.The Principal Ms. Robin has a great heart and is super active on campus and making things happen behind the scenes.Communication with her is not always easy but that is because she is in constant perpetual motion for the good of the school. When you do get to connect with her you can see and feel how committed she is to her job and the kids/families who attend.I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2025

Hancock Park has provided for my child and our entire family in ways I never could anticipate. The teachers are personable and so invested in their individual students. The administration has ushered in new programming that I never thought my child would have the chance to experience. The campus is adorable, full of native plants that are also used for education. In particular, science and community. The orchestra brings much joy and is taught by a knowledgeable teachers. The afterschool programs, including ukulele and fun and taught by teachers that love what they do. My family and I are so lucky that Hancock Park is our school.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2025

I had my kids attended this school. This school used to be a good school when Mrs. Parker was a principal. Current principal is careless, and always yells at students and parents. Some teachers are good, but other teachers are not qualified to be a teacher. They are very strict and give hard times to school with the name of disciplinary actions. Teachers do not respect students as an individual person. Terrible school. You would not know until you leave and attend another good school. It is sad.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2024

My son attended this school for Kinder for 2 months. It was extremely chaotic. It feels understaffed and overcrowded which i think fosters a fear based punitive environment. I was disappointed this was our children first elementary school experience. We were hopeful it would get better with time but it didn't and we pulled him out. I don't recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2024

As a former parent of this school (kids were in TK and 2 grade) I ll give you pros and cons.Pros: 1. School is very diverse, which I think is good for social emotional development 2. They know how to work with kids with international backgrounds who are English learners as there are a lot of such kids. 3. We had amazing TK teachers who loved kids and my child went to school with joy. 4. If you are new to the US this school will be good. Cons: 1. Office admins are not helpful and never ever friendly 2. There is lack of financial support/donations and what is important, lack of parent involvement (compare to school where we are now) 3. Not all teachers in 1-5gr give homework. So, if your teacher gives it, you are lucky. I think homework is essential for proper learning process and influences the overall result. (We moved to residential area of LA with few English learners, like 95% natives and all teachers give homework, even for TK and K)
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2024

It saddens me to write this review - but as a parent, like you who is reading this to make the most important decision about what school your child will attend - I am compelled to. During COVID when the PRIOR principal was managing the school, we had a positive experience for my older child and only left as a magnet was a better fit for my child's academic inclinations. But I regret sending my younger child there for TK this year and have already withdrawn him. Classes are huge, the principal is cold and rigid and communication is terrible. Office Staff are also unhelpful/uncaring and the principal's poorly thought out attempt at "reorganizing" all the TK and Kinder classes 3 weeks into school was a nightmare - my child had already been crying each morning about "hating school" (Which was heartbreaking as he is an inquisitive and outgoing kid who has always been passionate and engaged in learning in preschool) - and then the abrupt 'reorganization' occurred without any consideration for the child's experience. That morning there were crying children, clinging to parents milling around the campus trying to figure out where to go, and school staff didn't even know the name or classroom of new teaching staff they had brought on..and then the principal used a megaphone to seemingly yell at kids/families about how to line up to go to their new classroom..and no, parents were not allowed to go into the new classrooms to aide the messy transition and try to reinforce safety for their 4 and 5 year olds. As I peeked into what was to be our son's new class - I was shocked to see just white walls and desks..no color, no toys, no play stations. It was an unending nightmare and the principal was uncommunicative and ridgid.Young children need consistency, opportunities to learn through play and to be surrounded by adults with the capacity and desire to know them as individuals - this was not our experience here. Now that our child is at another school he is happy and begun returning to his prior self. If you are a parent considering this school for early childhood education, please ensure they have stepped up their training, processes and procedures in this area - just because a school offers it, doesn't mean it's high quality.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2024

The office administration are horrible and completely unresponsive. This school seems to just care about your child as a number, not a person. And after touring the school and enrolling my son, it was obvious this was not the place for him. A LOT of students in a class. Because there are so many, they were all just on ipads with the teacher just talking to three of them. The students on the ipads were not even looking at them and just staring. Which I get because they are too young to be able to manage that without guidance. They don't have the focus . This school needs to add more teachers and change out the administration if it wants to succeed. I now know of nine families in the district that have opted out. It's very sad because it has great potential.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2024

I don't recommend this school if your child is passive or shy. My 5-year-old son was bullied by his friend for a year. But the principal and Tk teacher said they couldn't help us because our child didn't ask for help himself. Eventually my child had to move to another class. My child was not protected at all at school.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2024

my two children study in this school. we have something to compare with, and this school is the limit of my dreams as a mother. special love and respect to the principal Mrs. Robin. she is so sensitive and attentive to each individual parent and to each individual problem and question. also I want to note the professionalism of Mr. from the office, and the rest of the school staff! I am in love with this school!
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2024

I am a father of two daughters, and both of my daughters are studying in this school. I am sure the principle Ms. Robin is a responsible, passionate and capable leader.
Submitted by parent on June 07, 2024

I'm sure it's become the worst elementary school since the principal changed.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2024

My child is in Kindergarten this year, we started at another near by school- it was not a good match for our child. I thought we could ride out the year, until 6 months in and we pulled him out and enrolled at Hancock ES. I heard Hancock was a great school, but being new to the area & the school year was beginning that week- we were happy to be enrolled at another great neighborhood school. It was very unsettling for our whole family to switch schools mid-year but Mrs. Robin (principal) was very helpful. She took her time with me & listened very carefully to my concerns, also relating as a Mother herself to the situation we were in. She chose to add our son to Mrs. Rivera’s classroom. It is now almost the end of the school year and my child is engaged in learning again. The main reason I left the other school is because I watched my son’s curiosity & excitement to learn fade away completely- result of the toxic learning environment I witnessed. I am so happy and grateful for the experience we’ve had since changing schools. Our child was “falling behind” and at Hancock he is excelling past requirements for Kindergarten. It is a result of a healthy learning environment lead by a fantastic teacher and school leadership. The immense stress I was feeling about schooling has slowly lifted each day we got more settled at HC. I’m surprised regularly at the skills my kid is being exposed to and learning. The projects given to the kids, the communication from teacher-parent, theater-arts & tutoring programs are top notch. It’s also great that the kids are friendly & kind- they have been very welcoming to our kid from the very first day. Thank you for a great neighborhood school!! We are all looking forward to next year.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2023

Hancock Park was a great school for many years when Mrs. Parker was the principal. However, the new principal is HORRIBLE. This has caused a HUGE decline in the quality of the school in just one year. There is also a HUGE issue with the PTA "Friends of Hancock Park", which include politicks, passive aggressive bullying parents as well as exclusion. Most of the teachers are great, have been there for many years and try to provide quality instruction in spite of the chaos. I also noticed some of the best teachers are less motivated. Which shows that the Principal is not leading by example. It is impossible for a school to be great when the Principal is UNPROFESSIONAL and not committing to growth and improvement of the school. Please do not let the scores mislead you. There is more to a school than high scores.
Submitted by teacher on April 23, 2023

As a current teacher at HP, I feel compelled to address some concerns brought up in recent negative reviews from a few parents. Firstly, I want to strongly disagree with the suggestion that "teachers clearly feel worn out and unsupported". Although teaching can be a challenging profession, our principal has implemented crucial teacher training programs that have allowed us to develop our skills and improve our teaching methods. I'm grateful for all that our principal has done to enhance our teaching experience, and I feel that she has been incredibly supportive of the teachers at our school. It's important to note that the stress on teachers is not caused by our new principal, but rather by the district itself.In addition, I want to clarify that programs have not been cut from grades at our school. On the contrary, our principal has added many programs this year that have greatly enhanced our students' educational experiences, including visual arts, music, chess, drama, dance, gardening, and more. She even went above and beyond her work hours to write several grants that secured funding for these programs. I strongly believe that the changes our principal is implementing are necessary and will ultimately benefit our students in the long run. Her dedication to enhancing our teaching experience has been remarkable, and our school is fortunate to have such a supportive and committed principal.Lastly, I want to emphasize that our school is still a caring and loving environment. I've never witnessed our principal yelling at students or parents. Any requests for children to speak louder during an assembly are solely for the sake of ensuring everyone can hear. Additionally, if any parent or teacher feels the need for more conferences or support, they can always reach out to our teachers. Although it's impossible to make everyone happy, our principal is always willing to listen and work towards finding a solution that benefits everyone involved. Let's continue to work together to make our school the best it can be.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2023

We have loved our time at Hancock Park Elementary. The teachers are absolutely incredible and care so much about our students. We have a new principal this year who has brought so many amazing programs and changes to benefit our school and our students -Inner City Arts, Astro Camp for the 5th Grade, Cognitively Guided Math, to name a few. I expect she will only grow and get better as she goes, as I'm sure the first year is the hardest to acclimate and find your ground. Yes, the booster club asks for money, as does the parent group at every underfunded public school in LA. They are open and transparent about what they spend the money on, all of it going to make the kids' lives better with things like PE, arts, music, beautification and field trips. Having been involved in the parents group in the past, my biggest complaint is how many people have big opinions how it's run but don't actually join the group to help out around the school or make their voices heard, when the group is open to all members of the school community. We are really going to miss this school next year so much!
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2023

My son is about to complete 1st grade at Hancock School so after nearly two full years, I think this school is somewhere between good and great - and I say that with the acknowledgement that I may not know the difference. I've read the mixed reviews here and yes, they do ask for a lot of money from parents in regards to fundraising but after initially being annoyed and/or frustrated, I understand that that is simply life in LAUSD. I appreciate the engaged nature of the PTA/Booster Club that has the understanding that if we don't raise enough money (and this year we didn't) we will lose some important programs. As I see it, the alternative is a private school that is ten times the cost - if not more. It's a community school and it feels like most of the kids are from the neighborhood - which is pretty special. I am not present enough to have seen the new Principal yell or touch a student like it's been alleged here, but I know it's a tough job so as long as we're giving her feedback that that sort of thing better be rare, I'll give her a break for now.As for the two teachers we've had - they couldn't have been better people and my wife and I are both quite pleased with the feedback we get from our son about his day. I don't want to take away from other parents who have had less than stellar experience. I just know that's not been our experience.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2023

From my personal experience, I have noticed a decline in the quality of the school over the years. The last principal, while it seemed like she cared, was on her way out, and the new one is running the school with an authoritarian approach which does not resonate well with anyone and has teachers extremely stressed. I do miss the caring environment that the school used to have. I have witnessed the new principal yelling at both parents and students on multiple occasions. While I will say she seems to be trying to have a nicer demeanor it is clearly a struggle. During Monday morning mindfulness she is still harsh with students and physically grabs them, which is not okay and goes against the school's own principles. Teachers clearly feel worn out and unsupported, which is not surprising considering how the principal treats children and parents.The fundraising efforts are also poorly run. The school asks for a lot of money from families, but there's no clear explanation of what the money is being used for. I have asked on multiple occasions and never received a clear response. Programs have been cut from grades, and I see other public schools in the area that still offer programs this school has eliminated or greatly reduced. If there is such an active parent involvement as they claim this wouldn't be the case. The school recently switched to a new fundraising vendor that takes a minimum of 30% of all donations. Why? They had a successful walk-a-thon that raised more money, and at the least, they should continue to include the walk-a-thon.I strongly advise against enrolling your child in this school. The declining quality, poor leadership, and ineffective fundraising efforts make it an unattractive option. Our child will no longer be attending this school next year, which is a shame. We really had hope for more.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2023

I have 2 kids who attend Hancock Park Elementary. Both kids have been there since kindergarten and both absolutely love their teachers and their school. As a parent, I find the teachers and administration are accessible, engaged, passionate and just great educators. I continue to be astounded watching my children learn and grow every day. I also firmly believe that so much of the learning at this age is beyond the classroom. This school is diverse, inclusive, and has a culture of kindness, empathy and respect for all. My children love learning (both in and outside of the class) and that's a special kind of magic not every school can create. The school is safe, clean, well run and encourages parent engagement. Homework at each grade level has seemed age appropriate and not overwhelming. As a public school, only the very basics are funded by the state. However, with an extremely resourceful principal and a very engaged parent group, a variety of amazing programs are offered here. This year, for my children's grades, programs included Art, Dance, CGI Math instruction, movie making, Farm to Table Gardening, Field trips, and more. If you are looking for a community school that feels as much like a community as it does a school, this is the school for you.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2023

Great neighborhood school. Also a destination school for a diverse class of students from around the city that come for the good teachers and safe campus.Yes, like virtually every other similarly situated public elementary school there's a parents group fundraising as some grouse about below. Don't contribute if you cannot afford to or don't want to, that's always been clear. Good thing is there is a strong group of generous parents and community members like restaurants and businesses that do support which provides additional arts music field trips teachers assistants etc.I have two children in attendance, one having made it from K to 5th and the other younger. I like having both kids see each other during the day and be part of a warm community. It's nice to see long time teachers and staff that know my children and care about them. There's always an open door with the teachers and staff for when inevitable issues do arise and I've found them to be caring and helpful. I'm also impressed with the new principal that is developing a program of respect, kindness and learning and finding innovative ways to fund raise and staff bonus programming.I recommend HPE and it is a fine place to learn and be happy.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2023

I graduated from this school in 1991. My mother started the Booster club. I now have 2 children that attend Hancock Park. My son is in 4th grade and my daughter is in 2nd grade. I have been a parent here now for 5 years and have cycled through many teachers. When I tell you this school is a special place and a magical place I am speaking direclty from personal experience as a former student (who is still friends with people I met here and many of us have kids that go here now) and also as a parent. The truth speaks for itself. We have teachers who have been here for 30+ years. One of our teachers was a student here as well. This is the same with our aides. Our TK aide was an active booster club parent here and her kids are now both in their twenties. Many teachers have sent their children to this school or have children currently at the school. Even AFTER teachers retire their love of this community keeps them here. For example, our TK/K music teacher is a former TK teacher who taught here for almost 40 years. Retired teachers come to help current teachers. It truly is amazing. Our new principal Robin Wynne-Davis has brought the most amazing programs for the upcoming years. Inner City Arts program, field trips, Astro Camp, movie making, gardening program, drama program (puppetry, musicals and Shakespeare) and so much more. The parent group, which I have been a part of in some capacity since I started in 2018 is very welcoming and active. I started out observing a meeting and from there I started volunteering and got more involved as the years progressed. Its wonderful to see our school community out in the neighborhood which happens a lot because of the nature of a community elementary school. PLEASE come see it for yourself. Take a tour. You will NOT be disappointed!