Topanga Mountain School

5920 SHOUP AVE

Los Angeles, CA 91367

30 Reviews

School District
Grade

6-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 11, 2024

TMS is the most magical and supportive middle school experience. I have two daughters currently attending and they are honestly eager to get to school every day. They have loved the creative curriculum and amazingly invested teachers who truly care for them as individuals. The kids go hiking weekly, go camping thru out the year. Each year the kids put on an art show, music show and a theatrical performance. These kids get to know who they are and feelConfident about all parts of themselves. the parents also are very engaged and part of the school experience ;)
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2022

Topanga Mountain School is pure magic! My daughter is currently in her second year of middle school at TMS and is having the most incredible experience. TMS offers appropriately challenging academics, along with instilling a strong sense of self. TMS emphasizes individuality, kindness, acceptance, confidence and grit.They take 4 camping trips each year, sleeping under the stars and fending for themselves in their own “families” shopping with a budget, cooking all meals and sharing chores… with out help from teachers! The teaching staff is stellar… creating a curriculum that is current and engaging. Joy Taylor, the Director is amazing! She has created a sacred place for children to learn, have a strong sense of self and instill a love of nature and community… The school really is a hidden gem.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2022

TMS has been a gift to our son and our family! Middle school can be difficult and distressing for many kids, but every morning my son wakes up excited to go to school. I’ve talked to other parents, and the sentiment is the same: kids love TMS! TMS is a mixture of appropriately challenging academics (with some room for individualization because the school is small), social-emotional development, the arts, and outdoor education. The school goes on four trips a year, and I love how the curriculum is integrated into the trips. For example, last year, they read a book that took place at a Japanese internment camp during WWII, and then they visited the actual camp during one of their trips. Also, there is a focus on making the learning applicable to the “real world.” For some of the trips, kids are divided into groups, given a food budget, and work together to plan their meals and buy food. The school also works hard to create a close community among the parents and there are a lot of activities in which to participate. There is also a culture of kindness and acceptance at TMS. All-in-all, I am confident that my son will emerge from his middle school experience self-confident, ready for high school, and equipped to make the world a better place!
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2020

Both my daughter and son attended TMS. At the time, the student body totaled somewhere between 30-36 kids, with a teacher:student ratio of 1:6. The care, attention and generosity offered by every teacher and Joy Taylor created a true sense of not only community, but family. Joy is committed to excellence, creativity and whole being development of each child. I am deeply grateful for the lifelong memories that not only my kids but our whole family are blessed to enjoy.
Submitted by teacher on January 14, 2019

I used to teach at TMS. I stayed in touch with many of my students, who are now in or finished with university. A few things stand out to me: I don't have the exact numbers, but it seems like a higher-than-average portion of alumni go on to prestigious programs. Also, many still credit TMS with changing how they see the word and helping establish a value system. This was not my experience in middle school, and seems noteworthy.Some reviews are critical of the school not using textbooks enough, the teachers not having gone through enough certification, and other things along those lines. If you are worried about school not being rigid enough, or having enough textbooks... yeah, public school is probably a good choice for you. However, if you are worried about students being prepared for high school, AP classes, and university, I can tell you that plenty of TMS alumni go on to be very successful at these things. Not all TMS alumni, but that speaks more to the neurodiversity of TMS students than anything else, IMO.I recommend this school to family and friends, and will send my own kids here when they are old enough, so I recommend it strongly.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2019

Those of you who are undervaluing the TMS experience by calling it a camp are missing the big picture. First of all, if I thought my school was like a camp, I'd learn a heck of a lot more than if I was forced to sit at a desk, do my worksheets and stifle my individuality. Second, These kids are not being taught to be followers and standardized test takers, but to be thinkers and innovators by means of their own strengths, not what some "standard" is calling a strength. I teach at the college level and have students that don't have a clue how to think for themselves. Our current general system of education is failing to produce individuals who can think beyond what is written in front of them. If we continue to be a nation of followers, will always follow. Lets start using our individual strengths to bolster innovation and discovery. Take a different path, think globally and with open minds, and encourage our kids to speak their minds in a respectful and meaningful way. The majority of our current education models stifle childhood and creative thinking in kids this age, and turn them into drones.If you value quality over quantity. If you want your child to be able to think for themselves and articulate those thoughts, if value learning how to learn rather than how to memorize a bunch of facts for standardized testing, then come check out TMS.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2018

My daughter loved her time at TMS. I think it has a nice balance of academics, arts and social/environmental studies. Lots of outdoor experiences: camping, hikes, field trips. And a great selection of art programs, that are often tailored to the interests of the students. A small school with extremely dedicated staff, that really takes the time to get to know the students, and can accommodate individual needs (to some extent).
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2016

would have to agree with last post. Some parents are drinking the kool aid of this school. the lack of academics is quite astonishing. Kids are very ill prepared for the next step of their lives (high school), which happens to be a very important step. Plus the kids complain about the daily chaos and disorganization. Although small class size would seem to benefit each individual child, the children still get lost within the system. there is no accountability for homework, tests, assignments, etc. Although intent is good, it just doesn't meet any sort of community standard. We agree, it is like a camp.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2015

It is interesting how radically different parents viewpoints can be. Yes, the pros are; greater freedom, extracurricular activities, small classes, and nice teachers. Yet in my opinion the cons significantly outweigh the pros. Biggest con is the faculty, some do NOT have credentials to teach the subjects they are teaching. They are not certified as teachers, have NEVER taught anywhere else except in the TMS bubble. No fixed curriculum for many of the subjects, no way to refer to books or handouts in order to know what your child is actually learning. NO BOOKS in History, Science, English. Students are not held accountable if they turn their homework in late or not at all. Technology is almost non-existent. The director is nice, but does not run the school in an organized manner. When she gets frustrated there can be fallout on the students and staff. This school will NOT prepare you child for the academic challenges of high school, let alone for the honors or AP classes in more intellectually challenging subjects. TMS is sort of like permanent summer camp with some random academic stuff thrown in. You choose...
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2014

My son has been so happy at TMS. When people ask him, "How's school?", he says "Awesome!". How many middle schoolers say that? He is learning real-life skills, as well as getting a wonderful education from young, enthusiastic teachers. We are very grateful for the years we have spent with this great school.
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2014

T.M.S offers an unique, inspiring education for adolescents that includes academic challenges and physical adventures where kids can learn about the environment, their roles in the world and most importantly, themselves! I am so grateful to the TMS staff because they invest themselves in each child enrolled. Truly a miracle in today's society!
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

Topanga Mountain School is one of those special places where kids are respected and where they have the opportunity to discover and be who they are. The curriculum is interesting and appropriately challenging. The outdoor education program is amazing - hiking almost every week and three week-long camping trips where the kids are in charge of their own camping families. There are field trips almost every Friday to enhance what the kids are learning. Art, music and drama trimesters include all the kids in the creative process. The TMS experience has been amazing for my son and he will be so sad to leave when he graduates in June!
Submitted by other on April 29, 2014

As a grandparent of an alumnus and a current student I have seen firsthand what an amazing educational experience my granddaughters have been blessed to have. The staff is nurturing and creative, the program is innovative and intellectually rigorous and the parent body is very involved. I would love for all my grandchildren to be able to have this experience.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

Topanga Mountain School's most striking feature is that it's size, and very high teaching standards mean that its students are all getting a very high level of individual attention. It's wonderful to see how each new set of students come in to this unique enviroment, and are immediately given an insight in to what it means to be a part of an emotionally self-suporting, and self-nurturing community. The values that these kids are taught brings the virtues of respect into perfect focus. Respect of oneself and each other, respect of one's enviroment and respect for the school and it's curriculum. The fact that this is all driven by a strong sense of love means that it provides the perfect blue print for what it means to be a smart and inquisitive well adjusted adult.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

My daughter has spent the last three years at Topanga Mountain School. There are 36 kids in the school overall. Instructors are super passionate about their subjects and work to connect and inspire each student. The school puts a lot of emphasis on spending time in nature and do weekly hikes, and field trips all while not missing an educational beat. There are three trimesters that are a focus of Art, Music, and Drama. Each culminates in an a show/performance that make you feel that anyone of these was worth the price of tuition (which by the way is very modest for an LA private school). The kids also learn social graces like dancing together, shopping together for camping food (they camp 3-4 times a year), and learn how to communicate their thoughts and feeling at council circle, and sit spots (where they journal). Kids have the option to work at a food bank, do aerial silks, Jiu Jitsu, learn the arts of being in a recording studio (recording or editing), automotive class, and/or pottery. I cannot sing the praises enough for Joy Taylor who is a legend among students and parents and will hold the torch for high morals, values, and community togetherness.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

Topanga Mountain School is an amazing alternative, small private middle school in the west San Fernando Valley. This school is a breath of fresh air where the education focuses on the whole child and prepares the students wonderfully for success post middle school. The entire faculty is passionate not only about their core subjects but also about each student and the larger school community. The faculty work very closely together to create an exciting and engaging integrated curriculum rather than rely on boring text books that usually don't have a lasting impact. This is a school where children can be who they are and not try to be someone they are not. The faculty really knows each student well and the learning groups are shifted from time to time in order to create the right balance between student needs and curricular needs. We have one daughter who has graduated and one currently there and we would never do middle school differently than TMS!
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

I read through the reviews posted by the other TMS parents and believe that all of the key points have been covered. I imagine that any prospective parents/students would be skeptical that a school can truly be so great. Those who have found their way into this small, dynamic, creative community of learning and living are truly a fortunate bunch. Thank you to Joy, Liz, Tressa, Sam, Andrew and Katie for all you do to build worlds of meaning for our children - and for us.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

Topanga mountain school,is everything you've always heard it was: a miraculous support system for delivering your child into young adult hood. I cried when I first went to the open house because I had never dared to believe there was a school as in line with my hopes and dreams. Three years later, I can honestly say that my daughter's experience there has been everything I hoped it would be. My deepest gratitude goes to Joy Taylor and her teamof inspired and inspiring staff for three years of awesome education and guidance.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

In short, my daughter woke up at 6am the day after spring break and couldn't wait to be taken to school.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

My daughter has been attending this school for two years and she absolutely loves every aspect of the school. She is advanced placement and the teachers tailor a curriculum for her. The class sizes are averaging about 10 kids. The teachers are truly enthusiastic inspired educators. The kids do a lot of outdoor education including aerial silks, car mechanics, go-kart building, ceramics, hiking, kayaking, outdoor science, camping. The arts program is unsurpassed including: music production, band, drama performance, choir, photography, fine art, drawing. It's incredible. And the Principal is a caring, personal, inspired leader that cares for the kids like they're her own. Seriously, this is the best middle school in Southern California. The kids are happy!