St. Brendan

238 South Manhattan Place

Los Angeles, CA 90004

17 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 23, 2025

I have two kids at St. Brendan and we love this school! It has outstanding teachers who really put in a ton of effort to make learning engaging for the kids. The academic program is excellent but there is also such a sense of joy and fun here. Both of my children are in middle school but have been at SBS since Kinder. I love that they are is only one class per grade, so the boys and girls really grow up together. There is a sweetness and innocence to the kids that feels really old fashioned.It's an excellent school for sports., and the athletic director and PE coach are excellent I think the best thing about SBS though is the sense of community here. Everyone looks out for your kids and it really feels like a small town school in the heart of LA. I'm so glad we found St. Brendan!
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2025

Saint Brendan's is a little jewel of a school in the big city. I have two daughters who graduated from the school, and they felt loved, safe and challenged by the academics. Many of the teachers have been at the school for years, and their experience and dedication to the community is very apparent. Parents are encouraged to participate and the community is very close and supportive of every family. The test scores at the school are impressive. Last year the school was averaging in the 90th percentile in math and the 85th percentile in reading. The kids get into all of the competitive high schools in the area. So happy we found SBS!
Submitted by other on October 12, 2024

I am very disappointed with our experience at this private Catholic school. Despite its supposed mission to protect the children of God, its actions do not reflect those principles. My son got into trouble with other students, and the way the situation was handled left us very concerned and disheartened.A teacher treated him poorly, using hurtful words and abusing her authority, which made us question the ethics of the administration. We feel confused about how the school really operates, and it is clear that new students do not receive the same treatment as those who have been there since the lower grades.We do not recommend this school for children entering higher grades. Additionally, while they offer various sports on their website, when my son wanted to participate in one, he was excluded due to a lack of experience, which made him feel bad and unwelcome. The lack of support and understanding is very disappointing, and we expected far more from an institution that claims to uphold such important values.I
Submitted by other on November 20, 2023

Terrible school! Traumatizing experience! Horrible teachers! If I could sue them I would !
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2023

This is an incredible community. Accepting across the board. The teachers and administrators are all genuinely involved and excellent at their responsibilities. The kids day to day, including mine are actually having a great time learning, playing and becoming young stewards of the future.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2022

There are so many great schools in the same general area. We chose St. Brendan School mainly because we have been parishioners at the church for several years before our daughter started kindergarten, so it was a no-brainer for us. However, St. Brendan School met far and beyond our expectations. Our daughter who is now in 1st grade entered kindergarten last year (2021) when schools went back to in-class. She only had a few months of pre-school due to the pandemic, so we were concerned how she would adjust. The kindergarten teacher and teacher's aides are by far THE BEST. At the time I actually wasn't too concerned about our daughter's academia, but more her emotional and social well-being due to the pandemic. The kindergarten staff not only helped her grow academically, but also spiritually and socially which was more important for us. The entire school staff are warm, kind, and all understand the importance of community which is what St. Brendan School is known for. The parents I have met so far will go above and beyond not just for their own child(ren), but for ALL the students. It truly is a close-knit family environment. We also have two neighbors whose children transferred from other nearby schools to St. Brendan and are now all attending prestigious high schools. St Brendan not only is a great school academically, but they also guide the students to be respectful, have manners, to be responsible, and to support their fellow classmates. Lastly, we live across the street from a different elementary school and every day at drop-off and pick-up time, it is chaotic! St. Brendan has THE most organized drop-off and pick-up that makes it SAFE for the children and parents. We absolutely LOVE St. Brendan School. Go Bears!!
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2021

We live in a big city and oftentimes we barely know our neighbors so in looking for a school for my kids, I wanted a place where we can have a sense of community from the parents and faculty. We had a few options and visited a few schools during their open house. I knew in terms of academics, St. Brendan ranked highly. However, the warmth and energy we felt at St. Brendan School during their open house was telling and so the decision was easy at that point; we picked St. Brendan and continue to be pleased with our decision to have our kids (1st & 2nd grade) attend this school.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2021

We have two children at the school (3rd and kindergarten this year) and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. The teachers are wonderful - rigorous, experienced, and kind. The community is a terrific strength - both welcoming and active, with many opportunities for both kids and parents to connect with others, help out, and get support. The students are hard-working and nice! We couldn't be happier to be here.
Submitted by parent on February 14, 2021

I currently have three children enrolled at the school ranging from Kindergarten to 7th grade. The school has high expectations for all students but the environment is caring and encourages individual growth. I especially appreciate the fact that the emphasis isn't just on academics. My children are learning about things like community service and social justice. At this school, faculty, staff and parents have come together to form a wonderfully supportive environment. As parents, we watch out for each other's kids. And, at school, I know the teachers really care about the well being of our children.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2021

Saint Brendan School is the sweetest school! We have two kids and have been at the school for five years. Our oldest child started out at Third Street Elementary school for kinder and first and we transferred him to Saint Brendan starting in second grade. We were looking to make a change because we were looking for more of a family/community feel - something we didn't feel we were getting at Third Street. We looked at other private schools but ultimately, chose SBS for its diversity, for its reputation, and based on the feedback we received from a number of other families that attended the school. All of the Saint Brendan students we met were respectful and polite to everyone. We were nervous about joining SBS - we are not Catholic or remotely religious and were worried about how we would fit in. But the school has been incredibly welcoming and we have made some of our closest friends here. Our kids are now thriving and we know they are part of a community that supports and nurtures them, both academically and emotionally. The class sizes are a little bit big (30+ students per grade, one class per grade), but this has not been an issue at all for us as the teachers are engaging and the lower grades each have two teachers per class. Parents are actively involved and volunteering is required so there are always a lot of helping hands in the classroom.The school has transitioned to distance learning well. Our kids in school from 8am-2pm every day, and are being given the tools and skills to be independent learners. They do art, PE, computer lab, extracurriculars, and academics all on Zoom with minimal supervision or help from us. The school's guidance counselor is amazing and is providing much needed emotional support to kids during this crazy time, teaching our children about social justice, systemic racism, privilege, etc., in ways that are easy for them to understand and appropriate for their grade levels. Same with the fourth grade teacher - our daughter is learning about everything from the impeachment(s) to the importance of speaking up for what you believe in and how to believe in yourself. It's just amazing!Overall, we feel like we somehow stumbled into this school and made the best decision for our kids. We love it here!
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2021

St. Brendan is a an absolute gem: in the heart of urban Los Angeles, yet the community feels like a sweet suburban Catholic elementary school. My children are currently in 2nd and 4th grade and we are so happy here. From outstanding academic standards to a warm and welcoming community, the school does a stellar job of raising smart, kind, wonderful little human beings. One incredibly special program the school has built is the "buddy system" for both families and the children themselves. Each incoming family has a buddy family they can ask absolutely any question they have from common concerns like curriculum/staff questions to simple don't-be-afraid to ask questions like how to pronounce a teacher's name. Also, each kindergartener is paired with an 8th grade buddy (as well as 7th/1st and 6th/2nd) which gives the kids on both sides of each friendship such a special experience. I will never forget walking down Larchmont St. and watching an 8th grader instinctively high-five my kindergartener, giving him such happy confidence. We have talented, friendly faculty and staff, great sports and extracurricular programs, a fantastic hot lunch program, inspiring community outreach opportunities, impressive student council-led assemblies, and tons of social/community events that keep our kids and families excited to step onto campus. As the saying goes, "it takes a village" - and St. Brendan is a great one!
Submitted by other on January 28, 2021

I have two kids at St. Brendan and we love this school! It has outstanding teachers who really put in a ton of effort to make learning engaging for the kids, even during Covid. The academic program is excellent but there is also such a sense of joy and fun here. It's an excellent school for sports. I think the best thing about SBS though is the sense of community here. Everyone looks out for your kids and it really feels like a small town school in the heart of LA. I'm so glad we found St. Brendan!
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2014

I love this school from it's teachers to the the principal, from the campus to the community. But really, it's all about the community here. I know that my children are making lifelong friendships in addition to preparing for admission to the best high schools in LA (and the students do matriculate to the very best of the best schools). You can spend more elsewhere, and perhaps have a smaller class size, but I have seen no noticeable benefit in terms of where the kids end up after elementary school. Parental involvement is a key component of the school culture. The athletics program is top-notch and allows for students to participate in many sports, and at varying levels of skill. The "middle school" classes (6th/7th/8th) have particularly excellent teachers, but the Kindergarten teacher is a bit of a local legend. While it is a Catholic school, it is just the right level of sincerity and simplicity - not judgy or "holier than thou", we are a VERY accepting school and parish. I consider myself and my children truly fortunate to have landed in such a fantastic place.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2013

St. Brendans has an amazing community of involved parents wonderful children and a excellent staff. I love that we are right in the middle of a huge city and yet we feel totally embraced by this fantastic school with a close knit down to earth small town feeling.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2013

I had one, 5-minute conversation with the teacher before school and got better quality homework and reading that day forward.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2013

K5 this year. Comparing apples to apples, this is a great school. Catholic school is slow growth in early years. Go to Citizens if you want project based education that, at first, seems more "advanced." Pack extra pants for the long hike to the bathroom though, assuming teacher/escort's not too busy with the many mainstreamed special Ed kids. 3rd Street expects 6 kinder classes. HP Elem, Page, Weho, Larchmont, or math magnet lacks funding. My son's high level reading/math but, he does 10 mins of same letter book he did when he was in JK/Pre-K. Meh, whatever. Real conversations with the teacher and other parents helped me work through it. Kinder teacher is standoffish but, she and all the teachers I spoke with are kind, open-minded, fair and consistent. Finally, the afterschool offered Lego, Chess, Soccer, Taekwondo all year and T-Ball starting up now. Want Echo Horizon abacus math? Rock climbing at St. James? Well, go pay for it, then. "Malignant influence" and high sugar content rendering kids violent. Really? Maybe wake up a little earlier and pack a lunch. Lunch vendor has changed recently with organic offerings, btw.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2012

My child went to Saint Brendan for a year, and my general impression was that the level of academic rigor was poor. For homework, my child received the exact same type of worksheet everyday for the entire school year. There is no cafeteria, but occasionally lunches extremely high in sugar are catered to the children rendering the students violent and disobedient. I did not perceive the diversity that previous reviewers proclaimed, as the school is predominately white and middle class, accompanied with the according hypocrisy. The principal is genuine, however, she is incapable of controlling the malignant influence that some teachers are exercising.