Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary School

17020 Labrador St.

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

1-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:26
Type

public

School Map for Los Angeles Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 09, 2024

We love this school. From the principal to the supporting staff, including of course, all the teachers, everyone there is engaged and committed to providing a stellar learning environment. We’re so happy with our child’s growth and progress at the school and how much her teachers have supported and fostered her education.
Submitted by other on December 09, 2024

I can't say enough about the outstanding experience at this school. The education provided is top-notch, offering advanced learning with remarkable depth that truly challenges and engages students. The teachers and staff are not only knowledgeable but also highly professional, consistently going above and beyond to support and inspire each child.What truly sets this school apart is the exceptional level of parent engagement opportunities. From events to volunteer programs, there are countless ways for parents to stay involved and contribute to their child's education.This school is unparalleled to none other in terms of its dedication to academic excellence, community involvement, and holistic student development. I am grateful for the exceptional educational experience my child receives here.
Submitted by parent on December 08, 2024

Great experience! Great staff and support system. We are honored to attend this school and we highly recommend to apply here.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2024

My children attended Balboa Gifted and our experiences have been exceptional from administration, teachers, TA, and parent involvement.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2024

"An Extraordinary School Experience"I am truly blessed and deeply grateful for the wonderful experience at Balboa Gifted. This incredible school is filled with educators and staff who dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to nurturing the growth, development, and social-emotional well-being of each student, while offering love, patience, and unwavering support to families. The teachers go above and beyond, challenging students with rich depth and complexity, helping them to become not only skilled learners but also thoughtful and critical thinkers.The sense of community here is something truly special. From the exceptional Principal (Ms. Chun) to the amazing Magnet Coordinator (Mr. Lopez), who always makes time to listen to and support every parent, I am constantly amazed by the genuine care and attention we receive. And the office staff—so warm and welcoming—make you feel like you’re part of a close-knit family from the moment you step through the door.It is an absolute privilege to be a part of such a nurturing, inspiring, and compassionate environment, where every child and family is valued
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

We are so thankful and blessed to be able to be a part of Balboa Magnet ES family! This school is dedicated to our students, with knowledge and experienced teachers, outstanding staff and a great environment to learn and develop! My son was the first one to attend the school, and I still have two daughters currently here. They love it here, and the teachers know how to cultivate their talents, so they can successfully become gifted or highly gifted students. This is an amazing start, and will help your children attend more gifted schools all the way to colleges and universities. Highly recommend!Thank you educators and school staff!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary School is BY FAR, THE GREATEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in the San Fernando Valley! Between 2 kids, we've been at this school since 2018 and the teachers & staff are INCREDIBLE! And leading the way, is THE GREATEST PRINCIPAL IN THE HISTORY OF ALL PRINCIPALS, MS. CHUN! She exemplifies what a school Principal should be! She is supportive, she is friendly, she is inspirational, she is great with the Balboa scholars and most importantly, she is an outstanding leader! Ms. Chun's strong leadership is reenforced by the Magnet Coordinator, Mr. Lopez, who wins the award for PAYS MOST ATTENTION TO DETAIL! Mr. Lopez is AMAZING. He's constantly thinking ahead for new & exciting ways to keep the scholars interested in learning! These dynamic qualities from Ms. Chun & Mr. Lopez spread throughout the entire staff! Take a look at their website to find the school's pillars of character. Their motto is CHARACTER COUNTS; and the staff display those pillars of character on a daily basis.If I had to select an area where the school can improve, I'd say that it's with their carpool drop-off/pick-up. If families worked together more with the carpool procedure, that would solve most of the issues (but potentially ALL of the issues). In the meantime, I'm sure the school is using what resources they have to manage this element of the school day.Aside from the school's carpool, Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet Elementary really is the top of the line! If you care about your scholar's academic future, you will make a very wise decision to apply to this school. Certainly do your homework and compare with other schools in the area, but be sure to take a tour of Balboa with Ms. Chun and/or Mr. Lopez. Then you'll understand why BALBOA IS THE PREMIERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

Amazing school with incredible teachers, staff, students, and families. The school excels in communication and provides a challenging, engaging curriculum that truly supports student growth and learning. We couldn’t be happier!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

We just started at this school in the fall and we love it. The community is welcoming and they encourage classroom and grade level events with peers. The PTA is actively involved and engaged. The kids are learning and discovering the world around them at a rapid pace. Classroom size is reasonable (for LAUSD) and they even have a TA that helps. There is a school psychologist that works with the kids. The teacher is very accessible for questions. Plus sends pictures of in class activities, and sends assignments with plenty of notice so you can work with your child. Take a tour, see if this is the right place for your child.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2024

I truly love this school. The learning environment here is very creative and challenging for my child. My child enjoys going to school every day. Also, the after-school program is great. If your child is accepted to this school, there’s no need to hesitate.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2023

mid so bad i dislike it h hh h h h h h
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2022

My child has transferred to this school from another school. This school is amazing. The School helps children develop critical thinking and creativity. And I am so moved to see the principal is so kind, greeted parents and kids every morning and passionately about school work. I am very satisfied with this school.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2022

After two years at this school I have seen no evidence to support the bad reviews. This school is amazing! It is a wonderful place for students who enjoy learning. They call them Scholars, they foster inclusion and participation, and most important to me growth mindset and free thinking. I am so happy both my kids got into this school and I am confident the education they receive will set them up for later academic success.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2021

Great School Everything about it is nice the teachers teach their students with all the love. They have been great teachers for my son for the past 5 years. I would highly recommend your child to go to this school.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2020

Didn’t like the new principal. She hardly smiles and yells at the children too. This school is hyped. Nothing magical about it. If your child didn’t get accepted here don’t be disheartened , this school is just average.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2019

My son graduated from Balboa in 2018. We had a very good experience and liked all of the teachers. Our son was there since 1st grade. Our son struggled in 1st and 2nd grade socially and had trouble keeping up. We talked to Mrs. Davenport and she helped us tremendously. She helped us get a IEP and explained everything. Her with the special education counselor made the school an enjoyable experience.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2019

Very good. Our son was there during Mrs. Davenport and after. Our son had a learning problem and we went to the school to ask for help, they immediately got us all the help we needed. We were shocked at how incredibly helpful and supportive both the principal and the teachers were. They made so many accommodations, and we were in shot. Truly a special school.
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2019

It was awful! I won't send my son who is tested as gifted there for so many reasons
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2018

Arrogant principal, rude office staff & harsh teachers! Pulled out our son after 2 horrible years. He started hating school, resisted learning & begged us to go back to our home school. He was also bullied on the playground several times.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2018

This school was great for all three of my children, which all had different needs. All tested gifted in very different ways. Some times were more challenging, but I know it would have been worse elsewhere. Parents reading this need to understand this is a school for gifted children and the pace and methodology will reflect that. If your child hasn't been really accurately evaluated, and in turn, accurately recommended for this school, he/she will find it difficult. The pace is much faster and while there is less homework than other schools (speaking from experience), it is more challenging. If they are not up for it, it will feel like homework all the time with no free time. Having been at several schools, bullying here is by far the least and those seen as the smartest are more revered than shunned. The Boster/PTA is outstanding and second to none. PARTICIPATE and you will see why. The more we work together, the more richly rewarded the kids are. One PTA mtg attendance here is like 3 elsewhere. Much better participation. One thing to note, this school has the highest API score of any school because its entire student population is gifted, unlike other schools where its only partial. Having said that, there are more students at similar pace and understanding, leaving fewer kids behind and having them MORE than ready for junior high, even high school, as credited by my oldest, who is in high school.