Wesley School, The

4832 TUJUNGA AVE

Los Angeles, CA 91601

31 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 14, 2024

The teachers and administration are the best! They provide a safe and welcoming environment for children to learn and be happy doing so. It is a wonderful experience for the children to be in a place where they are truly seen as individuals and not just another body on campus. There are many opportunities throughout the school year for the community to connect with each other, and this really makes a difference as it takes a village. The student experience at Wesley is positive for us, as my child is being encouraged to be curious about learning while being taught values of respect for others, respect for differences in others and to be a strong advocate for self. Having this as a base for a K-8 child is amazing as they are ready for the next step on their journey in life.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2024

My son has been at The Wesley School since kinder and is now entering the middle school for 6th grade. He's had a remarkable experience. The smaller (vs public) class size and 7:1 teacher/student ratio and nurturing environment has allowed him to be seen and known as both a learner and an individual. 2 teachers per classroom has been influential in his educational journey as he has always felt supported. The revamped math, reading, and writing curriculums/programs have been a welcome update. The warm community has made it a wonderful experience for our entire family, we feel a real sense of belonging. In a town that often doesn't have its feet on the ground, Wesley attracts grounded families, looking for a more grounded experience. Is it a school that does more with less? Yes. But that's exactly why we're there.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2024

We decided to leave LAUSD after trying out the TK program and getting frustrated with closed campuses, a black hole with no communication from the teacher, and no support for differentiation or advancement for gifted kids in the early grades. With elementary school ratios as high as 35 kids to 1 teacher, we wanted a change even after attending a top rated school.We found Wesley and fell in love with the humility and authenticity of its community. Compared to other private schools, there was no flaunting of wealth, designer bags and fancy cars. The families are warm and down to earth. There’s no buses as most families come from Burbank and Sherman Oaks areas which really allows for more family connections. It’s a great mix of traditional academics and progressive values like the inclusion of a social justice class teaching about implicit bias and anti racism. 8th graders can still take algebra, unlike the initiatives in CA public schools to remove this opportunity.The students are confident public speakers and kind. The teachers are engaging using experiential learning tactics. The new head of school is wildly popular and beloved. Having just gone through the grueling kindergarten admissions process and touring over 20 schools, I’m so delighted to be sending our girls to Wesley.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2019

We love it here at Wesley. It starts with the faculty and they are just fantastic. Our kids have been here from kinder through 8th grade and it's been a great experience.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2018

Terrible school . They are claiming they are diverse but only to their agendas. If you are SJW that will be perfect school for you .
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2015

I love the whole school, but the middle school is the jewel in the crown. The English teacher is so talented and engaging he is the kind movies are made about. The math teacher is so advanced he has been written up for his formulas, and students find him so supportive that high school students getting ready for exams come back to his study hall at Wesley to regroup with him. That says a LOT about him. The community is warm and friendly, and as a parent you can be as involved as you would like, or if you can't be there is no pressure. Wesley is about ten grand less expensive than the majors surrounding it, but honestly I think it is a better environment at any price.
Submitted by teacher on October 26, 2014

The best school in the Valley, hands down. Administrations, faculty, parents, and kids - all top notch.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2014

We are beyond happy here. Our boys thrive and the teachers are so supportive and interested in their students. Class sizes are capped out at 20-something and their are normally 2 teachers per class, which is nice. Great place!! Friendly environment and parents are allowed to come on campus any time. Their not shunned at the door like some of the other private schools.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2014

Wesley is a great blend of traditional and progressive. It's small and quaint, but not oppressively small. My son has enjoyed Kinder through 2nd grade thus far. He is growing and evolving and I am kept up to speed and armed with information as we go. I have no regrets choosing this school over Campbell Hall, at least for elementary school. I feel a large school is not really an asset during this time.
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2014

Wesley is a wonderful environment, academically competitive and the staff is very supportive. The anti-bullying policy is strictly enforced. My kids are happy, happy kids and love going to school every day. The new head of school has made some excellent choices on recent hiring of teachers, replacing others that needed to go.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2014

We moved our two children to Wesley beginning this academic year from one of the top LAUSD elementary schools (which they both loved). I have to say they couldn't be happier!!! My oldest child would have slipped through the cracks at any other school and my younger child is given all the space he/she needs. Every single kid at the school gets the opportunity to speak at Chapel and everyone: upper, lower, staff, parents support each other in a way I haven't seen before. I am happy with the academics and sports -- and the character building is over and beyond what anyone could expect. No sign of bullying. No matter what I have to say I, as a parent, am listened to at the very least. More ethnic diversity than at most privates, I wish there was more understanding for families with same sex parents though -- my one struggle is the fact that quite a few families are conservative (from an LA point of view at least). A gem of a school that is still not that well known. I highly recommend it.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2014

My son is a freshman at an academically rigorous High School, and thanks to the middle school program at Wesley, he's incredibly well prepared. Wesley gave him the academic foundation, taught him the value of building relationships with his teachers, and prepared him to thrive in a challenging environment. Beyond academics, Wesley fostered the self confidence and drive that helped insure a smooth transition into High School.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2013

I grew up in a tight-knit community, so it s important to me as a parent that my kids feel loved, supported and encouraged the way I was as a child. My son is a bit shy and can struggle in social situations, but since he started at Wesley a year ago, his confidence has grown tenfold and he s really starting to blossom and come into his own. This past spring, he performed well at a district wide chess tournament and was recognized during chapel to a rousing applause. My son didn t stop smiling for days! He felt so loved and supported by his peers, his teachers and the entire Wesley family. He ll never forget that moment, nor will I. Sending him to Wesley was hands-down the best decision we could have made; we love everything about it, as does he. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and I couldn t have picked a better village to help mold, educate and prepare my son for his journey in life.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2013

I am a parent of a first grader at Wesley. I dropped in the other day to take my daughter her lunch. (which I forgot to give her) As I peeked into the classroom, I noticed my daughter raising her hand (along with most of the other children) to answer a math question. All of the kids were engaged, verbal, having fun and were happy. As I left her classroom I noticed some 7th or 8th graders gathered around on the grass with their teacher talking about poetry. They were all engaged and smiling and learning. As I kept walking through the campus, I noticed many kids talking to each other with smiles on their faces and just looked happy, confident and secure. My daughter tells me every day that she loves Wesley and going to school. I can't help but remember how hard it was for me growing up going to school everyday and not liking it. Even these days I notice how unhappy many kids are about school and learning. I am so impressed with Wesley and their staff. They are truly making a difference in my child's life both in academics and in life skills. Can't wait for my 2yr old to be old enough to start Wesley. Thank you John, Vereena, Teachers and Staff!!! -Michael Canepa
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2013

I m a parent of two 2nd graders and a 4th grader at this school. I remember first walking onto the Wesley campus after touring 3 other schools and it just felt like like a big hug for my whole family. The mission statement headline is Academic excellence and character development within the circle of family . What the circle of family means to me is that the whole lower school faculty knows my kids, even if they re not their current or past teachers. As for character development . . . go visit the school for a tour, guided by the middle school students. Two of the most impressive people, REGARDLESS of age, that I've met. And one of the open secrets of Wesley is that it s a great educational value, and with three kids enrolled that s important to us. All I know is when I talk to my kids teachers, I can tell they really care, I mean like are personally invested, in my kids well-being and education. That means everything to me.
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2013

Our two boys go to The Wesley School; one is in Third Grade, the other is in Kindergarten. They love it. They really look forward to going to school every day, and I know that because I drive them every morning and we talk about what they are going to do each day. The Wesley School was the one school we toured that we felt had the right combination of scale and program and mission for our family. We loved the campus immediately and felt right at home on our first visit, and everything we've experienced since then has proven our instincts were correct. The school values academic excellence and character development equally, and we believe very strongly that social and emotional learning is as important as academic learning. Wesley has a non-denominational chapel program that is really great - it's basically an all-school assembly in the church chapel three days a week. It's amazing to see. My wife and I are pretty heavily involved at the school because we want the best for our kids, and we think The Wesley School offers that, as well as being a great value. It's a school that takes care of our children the way we do - supportive, encouraging, nurturing and empowering.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2013

I never expected to find a perfect school. They don't exist for every child. But for our family and our needs, Wesley comes close. What do I pay for? Challenging teachers, thoughtful leadership, a socioeconomically diverse parent body, and a community who recognizes my children as individuals with different needs. You want a second family? Come to Wesley. The teachers get stronger every year (or recently, are replaced), the student population is growing (for all the right reasons), and the heart and soul of the school continues to be refined, building on the 'good' to achieve the 'great'. Wesley feels like one of the premier schools in the Valley, alongside Laurence, Buckley, and Oakwood, but at a better price.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2013

I never expected to find a perfect school. They don't exist for every child. But for our family and our needs, Wesley comes close. What do I pay for? Challenging teachers, thoughtful leadership, a socioeconomically diverse parent body, and a community who recognizes my children as individuals with different needs. You want a second family? Come to Wesley. The teachers get stronger every year (or recently, are replaced), the student population is growing (for all the right reasons), and the heart and soul of the school continues to be refined, building on the 'good' to achieve the 'great'. Wesley feels like one of the premier schools in the Valley, alongside Laurence, Buckley, and Oakwood, but at a better price.
Submitted by other on May 20, 2013

Wesley is a great school for kids who have social difficulties or are highly athletic. Unfortunately, the academics are horrible and when we left all of our "friends" began to ignore us completely. I had a horrible experience as a parent, but my child could not have loved it more.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2013

My second child is now leaving Wesley as an 8th grader and while the school is clearly having some growing pains I'd still recommend it for the right family. My eldest was very prepared for the academic challenges of the high school (s)he attended and my youngest is performing well too. The problem with any small school is that it's a small school. No one at Wesley will ever care about athletics, it's simply not a priority and that has to be okay with you as a family before you send your child there. The music program is singing only and I find it to be dreadful but there is talk of bringing in instruments. There's a good teacher for the lower school music program so if I were a parent coming in I'd feel good about that. Middle school spanish is horrible. Hopefully that will change. It's not particularly diverse and doesn't seem like it cares that much. It's just busy being small with mostly great academics. The school is young and new and the teachers that are coming in seem to be much better than those leaving. The kids are happy to go to school & learning a lot. They do well in competitive high schools. That's what matters.