Phoenix Ranch West

18034 VENTURA BLVD #462

Los Angeles, CA 91316

30 Reviews

School District
Grade

5-8
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 26, 2015

Great school if you have the right teacher. Classroom sizes are smaller than public which can be a wonderful thing if your child is receiving positive attention and not so great if your child is receiving negative attention. There are several public elementary schools in simi valley that are quite wonderful and provide a comparable academic education without the hefty price tag.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2014

My child has gone to Pinecrest for several years. My child has enjoyed activities like sports, dance, and taekwondo, that are located on campus. She can utilize the study hall to get a head start on homework. We have had some motivating teachers throughout the years many of them have been there over 10 years. We have also made many life-long friendships and we shared in many of the family event days like Olympic Day picnic and McTeacher Night and Spooky Spaghetti dinner. When I think of all the time and effort that goes into this campus I really have to commend Pinecrest Simi staff for doing such a nice job. My daughter goes to a separate teacher for Spanish, Music, Art, and Computers, a couple times a week in addition to P.E. everyday. The artwork is awesome and I use it as family gifts. The music program is amazing student perform in a couple of shows, a glee club, and chorus. I would highly recommend this school. The stories I hear about class sizes in public school make me thankful I am in a place where the teacher has time to meet my child's needs. I look forward to several more years at Pinecrest.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2014

Very unorganized, teachers always coming and going , they never remind parents to cancel their 6$ plus lunches they paid for when they are having a class lunch or special day lunch. I do like that sports are on site , but their are barely any students so the teams are always short players Good thing is that my child never complains about school. He never says he doesn't want to go. I wish I didn't have to pay but unfortunately our public schools are filled with herein so I will continue to struggle and pay the monthly fee plus $300 registration fees and $600 book fees and all the other expensive fees
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2014

Sounds like jealousy and sour grapes. I am so glad you moved on and took that negativity somewhere else.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2014

All I need to say is if your the principals daughter you get to do what you want, when you want and how you want!! This is not okay with many parents i know. This school has no leadership and kids are not treated fairly.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2014

My boy loves this school, we are happy that his social skill is improving within 3 months The only concern is that the school is getting so old and the playgound has concrete that is so dangerous for kids.
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2013

This will be our last year at this school for both of my children. I was hoping things would improve but, almost the whole middle school staff has been replaced. Some of the teachers don't even know what is going on. We now have to buy books this year and we were giving the wrong numbers to even order them and now have to return them.The organization is a mess!!! We have been here for years and while the after school sports are good and some of the elementary teachers are good,it's not worth it to keep your kids here for middle school. Look around at the other private schools. My kids will be going to the one where the teachers have their California credentials.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2013

This school has made a great change for the better since they have a new director. You can tell a Pinecrest kid from other private school kids just by how the kids behave. They are very respectful and polite. My daughter's been here since preschool and I could not thank the staff and the school for the best education she's received here. I don't know why the negative reviews here are so heartless. The teachers work hard to help kids that are struggling so they can catch up. My daughter always looks forward in going to school. They have an after school activities that they can join in for a fee in campus such as Tae Kwon Do, Dance, Science, and Arts and Crafts. Overall, I am very happy with this school and I see how my daughter is thriving and that's all that matters.
Submitted by other on August 09, 2013

This school has provided so many opportunities and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested. The children love it and I loved it when I went there, as did my family.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2013

My child loves this school. This school provides an opportunity for my daughter to participate in so many different activities that would not be available to her at a public school (dance, music, sports, art, theater). I've read some of the other reviews....While there may be other schools that have more modern facilities, this school has youthful, energetic teachers that have inspired my daughter and she is thriving. The school's Olympic day and winter and spring musicals are outstanding. I've met the new director and believe that she has the school headed in a great direction.
Submitted by parent on December 28, 2012

My 2 children are now at the private school near by. Better education, better sports program, nicer people!! Look elsewhere and don't settle for average!
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2012

Shame on the parent that posted the negative comment about the recent Thanksgiving Play. The play was amazing and my child loved being part of the experience. We keep our children at Pinecrest because of these types of activities. I don't believe my child missed out on any classwork in preparation for this performance and I appreciate all of the teacher s dedication, love, and hard work she puts towards her students. I wish that more of our parents would share the positive things that go on at this school. I am very pleased with the new director on campus. She seems to really be making some positive changes for the school. I met with her last week and discussed the new technology that the school with be getting this year. If you are thinking about this school, go check it out and meet the teachers and director and decide for yourself. We are happy with the school and our children love coming to school every day!
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2012

Wow you sound like a very bitter and angry person, to take your own fustrations out on a caring and extremely professional educator is a disgrace. Shame on you children learn what they live. I'm so gratefull that I appreciate a teacher that truly cares about my child.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2012

I agree the Thanksgiving play was amazing! The teacher is incredible and has taught both of my kids hard work and discipline are the key success - she is a major reason why we send our kids to the school. The play is a fun, entertaining way to for the kids to learn about Thanksgiving, confidence and cooperation. Too bad the parent that wrote the bad review did not have that experience. I thought all the kids all did a great job!
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2012

My child was so excited to be in the play mentioned below, all of the kids did an amazing job memorizing their parts, it was great for them to have something to look forward to and to be proud of, Kudos to all of the children and staff for their dedication and hard work, especially the amazing Mrs. Baker. Mrs Baker is the best teacher we have met by far, so caring, dedicated and resourceful, an absolute asset to pinecrest school and my child's well being and education. The new director is very involved and caring and we have never had an issue contacting her by phone or email, always a quick response. Thank You Pinecrest Simi Valley for a wonderful experience, my child loves it here.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2012

Yes they may have new teachers and a new director. But the change has been amazing. The staff seems to be a lot happier and the school has never looked as good. The new director is great something the school needed. I'm very happy to have my kids there and can't wait to see what the following years bring.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2012

My toddler has only been here for a few months, though it sounds like my toddler is just adjusting to the new environment, but he's actually not. The first few weeks, he started doing great and happy until he got sick. Took him to the pediatrician and had a little cold, no biggie. From that point on, he would get sick at least every other week. My wife and i would get a call from the school to pick him up and our pediatrician is really confuse why the kids are being sent home for a minor fever 98 degree....I even check his temperature when i picked him up and he was actually just 96-97 degrees, the teacher was speechless. Teachers and staff thinks that my toddler has a weak immune system but he barely gets sick from the old daycare we use to take him. We spend a lot of money to this so-called private school, and my toddler gets sick almost every week. My wife and i would literally take at least 3 days off every 1-2 weeks. Theres some concern about the cleanliness of the toys and the classroom, not how often they are being clean but the question of the quality on how they sanitize and clean the classroom and everything that's in it. I don't recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2012

What a disappointment this year! Waste of hard earned money. When the good people are gone there is always a reason! Inexperienced teachers who don't know what they are doing, high cost for below average education, people in office are not friendly and my kids are miserable!! Children do not come first at this school. No yard supervision and kids are told to work it out themselves. Coaching staff plays favorites and administration does not want to be bothered. This is our last year! Better schools in Simi for the money!
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2012

4 out of 5 stars?!? This school is a joke! I started my child in the toddler program and was surpirised by the all new faces I constantly saw. My child had really severe stranger anxiey, which I was very concerned about as it was my child's first school experience, but it was ultimately resolved by my child seeing to many new people coming and going. So, I suppose in that respect it worked in our favor. The snacks given during snack time were not healthy by any means...pop chips and cookies. What happend to prezels, graham crackers, fruit, or fish crackers? The school/teachers never told me when my toddler had any scrapes, cuts or accidents and inform me of any instances. I understand toddlers do fall a lot and get hurt, it's just part of the learning process, but as a parent, I do believe I have a right to know what my child does all day. I would often have to ask several teachers or assistants what my child ate or what my child did that day. Nobody really ever knew and when my child did have an accident, I got 3 different stories. The principal did not seem to care about anything and would walk right by me in the hallways without ever saying hello. Your child deserves better!
Submitted by other on March 07, 2012

I go to this school now. Yes, the lunches here are not that great and are a rip off. But you don't judge a school based on their lunches! If your students are not learning, that is not the teacher's fault. This school actually teaches ahead a year than public schools. It is a small school but there is a great learning enviroment. I am not giving this school a good rating for no reason. You say there are bullies. That is not true, I am in the last grade and my class is really small. All of middle school knows eachother, and we know that no one is doing anything worse than what happens at public schools. If you saw bullying, you probably mistook it for some game between friends. And public schools have much worse conditions. We have opportunities at this school that other schools don't, like the extra-curricular classes. There are a few rules and systems that are pointless, but nothing makes this school as bad as anyone has said. All the past reviews have been over-dramatic.