Venice Luthern School

815 Venice Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90291

35 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 11, 2018

Venice Lutheran is lacking in so many areas. The academics are similar to a public school, the administration is not open to new ideas and they do not address bullying. The school is so bad st teaching math, the local tutor gets most of his income from struggling Venice Lutheran students.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2017

Amazing School with wonderful teachers and staff. My children thrived here and have become strong, confident students
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2016

This is a wonderful school!! The teachers and staff are so supportive. It's a small school where each child gets a lot of personal attention. The teacher's push the children to excel in every subject. Most importantly my child is incredibly safe. It's not just a school it's a family and everyone looks after each other and supports one another. The band is excellent.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2016

As a former public school teacher, for 6 years, to say I took the school search for my child seriously, is an understatement. We live in an excellent public school district, in the South Bay. Yet, we make the 45 miniute commute to Venice Luteran School (VLS), by choice. Venice Lutheran School is a wonderful environment for my child. The stable and knowledgable teaching base, individualized attention, small class room environment (Kinder is capped at 15 kids, with at least two teachers), adherence to instilling the values of kindness, service, and community, vibrant administrator, and the commitment to keeping learning fun is part of what makes the commute worth it for our family. There is no standardized testing involved in the curriculum until the second grade. This has been a saving grace as a parent, of a child with anxiety. She gets to spend her time playing, learning, and learning through play as is age appropriate for a 5 year old. The most refreshing thing about VLS, is that all kids get to be themselves, and develop the love of learning, in a supportive environment. Each morning. my kid loves going to school. That lets me know that we found the right fit!
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2016

Venice Lutheran has been our school home, since my children were in Kindergarten. They are currently in 6th & 7th grade, respectively. Both of my children have thrived at VLS! The teachers are superb! All school staff members truly care about the students on campus. Due to the small class size, faculty members are able to give the kids individualized attention and assistance as needed. True, the school is Lutheran in nature. Yet, the program, and all involved, practice and teach a genuine love and respect for all around. Although we aren't a religious family, we have been warmly welcomed by the VLS community. My children have been nurtured and loved by everyone here. They have never been pressured in any way, or made to feel uncomfortable, during school events, due to our nonreligious stance. In fact, the majority of students on campus are not religious. This tight knit VLS community has been a great fit for my family! I absolutely recommend this school for anyone who is looking for a campus that balances high academic, developmentally appropriate, standards for the learning environment within a loving, caring, child centered community.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2016

Subpar teachers and curriculum. An evangelical based school. The kids are taught that those who are not believers will burn in hell. Nice thing to teach 5 year olds. No thank you.
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2015

Venice Lutheran School has been our community for the past several years. We are transplants to L.A. and have no family here. When I drop my daughter off at school, I know she is cared for and thriving. Her standardized test scores have been great and she loves every minute of being at school. I was also very surprised at how affordable a private school in Venice, CA could be. The staff is incredible. Your child receives so much personal attention and they develop the whole person there - academics and character building. Down to how to make proper eye contact and a good hand shake :) I can't say enough good things.
Submitted by student on August 06, 2015

Favoritism was not hidden from the non-glory children (parents who worked there/were very involved), those kids never were touched and got away with murder. While I made a couple of amazing friends here, I do regret staying through graduation. VLS changed math programs so it is "go at your own pace" which left me (as well as others who did not shine brightly in math) beginning high school without even completing pre-algebra. Luckily my current math teachers have caught me up and I am now a straight-A math student. Cell phone policies were ridiculous. Mine fell out of my pocket AFTER school and was kept overnight. Very irritating and inconvenient. The plays/performances put on were a joke, so don't listen to their spiel about how they have all different activities, because they don't. I enjoyed meeting 2 of my best friends here; however, if you want your child to be in a closed-minded very sheltered environment, this is it. I wish things would've been more diverse for the 8 years I spent there
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2014

Nothing but amazing things to say about our experience at VLS. The teachers and staff make the school. Its a caring enviroment that allows children to prosper.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2014

Best school my kid has attended - and we've tried a few from Santa Monica to Manhattan beach! Thank you VLS for a great first class education!!!
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2014

My 2 kids have been going to First Lutheran since Kindergarten. They are now in 5th and 6th grades. As a parent you always wonder if you are doing the right thing with the kids. As a Yale Graduate and product of the Manhattan Beach school district I will say that this is the best thing I have ever done for my little guys. The other schools in town are okay but quite frankly way overpopulated and most of the the teachers who can never be fired at the public schools are just there for the paycheck...total b team. There are about ten kids a grade a FLV and have an incredible soccer culture. If you are not in the school band you are in the school play...etc etc...think going to school in a very small town in America. If you freak out about religion or homework then dont send your kid there as they teach religion and you will have homework every night. Funny thing is that one of my kids is a believer and the other is on the fence...ha. Bottom line...great school ...amazing families...and the kids are always doing something fun and learning values instead of rap.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2014

Change is hard for many people. Our principle is retiring after 30 years of dedicated service to this wonderful school and our board of Education has decided not to renew our 5th/6th grade teacher contract for next year. Naturally, some people are upset about these changes. Though the 5th/6th grade teacher was loved by many, there have also been complaints about her teaching methods. My child has been at this school since Kindergarten, is currently in 7th grade and we are very happy here. We personally love that teacher and are not happy that she isn't coming back but that's not our decision to make and I trust our board of Ed to find a good replacement. I've also met the new principle and I believe she will be a perfect fit. This is an excellent school with top notch curriculum, a caring, loving staff, and very involved parents. Take the time to visit and talk to parents and staff members and you'll see for yourself. Gossip is not the best way to find a school for your child.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2014

Before considering this school ask the following questions: How many families have left in the past few years and why? Why is the principal leaving? Was this his choice? Are the teachers accredited? Is the school accredited? With the dramatic declining enrollment what is the likelihood the school will be able to remain open. Ask to speak to members of this school's board of education to get the real answers.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2014

Our child, who was one of those "leg holding / I don't want to go to school kids at first", loves Venice Lutheran, and is growing intellectually, emotionally and spiritually each day. I can't recommend a better school for anyone looking for a christian / family centered school for their child.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2014

Moving from Europe to the US was a big step. But deciding for a school for our daughter was maybe even more difficult. We visited a couple of scholls but no school felt so friendly, safe and in a way familiar than Venice Lutheran. The way they teach and guide at VLS is with a real personal approach . the small sizes of the classes helps with that ofcourse but the teachers at VLS are super involved and take so much care in teaching the kids. Our daughter is currently in 8th grade and it will be an emotional farewell....
Submitted by other on January 13, 2014

As a retired public school teacher, I have been doing substitute teaching at Los Angeles Westside independent schools for the past 14 years. I look forward to and am excited to substitute at Venice Lutheran School. I am welcomed warmly by the faculty, staff, students, and parents. With high academic standards, Venice Lutheran School provides a quality education in a caring, kind, supportive, structured environment. It is impressive how academically prepared the students are compared to students at other independent schools. The small class sizes allow the experienced teachers to concentrate on individual students making sure that each student has mastered essential skills. Students build genuine self-esteem by striving for and achieving academic excellence. Unlike most elementary and middle schools, Venice Lutheran incorporates a foreign language, Spanish, into their curriculum. With an emphasis on good moral values, students are respectful, cooperative, well-behaved, well- adjusted, and happy. Venice Lutheran turns out academically strong, well-mannered learners who are prepared to succeed in secondary schools. This teacher has the highest regard for Venice Lutheran School.
Submitted by other on September 19, 2013

I currently teach Soccer at this School with eurosoccerusa.com and have found the Teachers, Staff and Children to be nothing less than brilliant. It seems to be a family environment and never have I seen any drama tears or mischief. The kids are super smart, well dressed and parents well to do people. Principle Mr Rusch loves the kids like their his own and I wouldn't hesitate bringing my own kids here when they are older. Long may their hard work pay off as thse kids are definetely going places.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2013

I do not know what I would do without Venice Lutheran School. They have been instrumental in my child's development on every level: intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual. The children at this school learn how to be wonderful contributing members to our community. My child loves her school. She hates missing a day for anything. She has so much fun and they have really fostered a love of learning in her.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2013

A wonderful, caring school with less than 90 students. Small class sizes, teachers who have master's degrees, and a postive environment. Must see to believe!
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2013

Everyone hears reports about petulant parents who shelter their spoiled children from any sort of accountability in school, sports, or life. They give the world to their children on a silver platter and wonder why those same children struggle at the first sign of difficulty in their lives. The negative posts here demonstrate this exact attitude from a small clique in this school. The teachers, especially those in middle school, require excellence from children and will settle for nothing less. The parents who are posting negative reviews here (and I doubt that there are more than one or two parents who are posting under multiple email addresses) would rather that the teachers reinforce their children s behavior, regardless of whether that behavior is constructive or positive, instead of genuinely work with those student to develop a positive character, strong work habits, and intellectual curiosity. I m proud that we send our child to a school with only 80-90 students where they are taught by a faculty (most of whom have advanced degrees) which has a proven record of caring support for growing young minds. If that's what you want for your kids, this is the place for you.