Canyon Elementary School

421 Entrada Drive

School District

Los Angeles Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

charter

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 August 19, 2020

I spent 11 years with three kids at Canyon. One with an IEP, the issues were discovered by the teachers. The help was tremendous in his acedemics and school experience. I couldn't have asked for more involved teachers and supports. Very friendly.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2015

My daughter attended k through 3rd grade at Canyon. This school has a lovely campus, nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, and a small town feel, with the old schoolhouse serving as the library, but that were the warm and fuzzy feelings end. The school has a very wealthy, and minimally diverse demographic, and does not make students who get in on the lottery system (as opposed to those who live in the neighborhood) feel very welcome. The teachers do not diviate at all from the common core method, even if a child would benefit from a different teaching method. I was told by a teacher at Canyon that most parents get tutors if your child can't learn they way Canyon teaches. That shows the sort of expectation of wealth that is the norm at Canyon. The pressure put on students to perform well on standardized tests is not appropriate for grade school students, and the amount of homework given daily was huge cause for stress in my child. I do not recommend this school for creative children or parents who want their child to enjoy being a child.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2015

LOVE this school! My son is finishing up his first year there and we couldn't be happier. Amazing teachers, professional staff, truly caring community. Thank you Canyon!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2014

My son just graduated from Canyon (he went K-5) and have to say it was an amazing experience for our whole family. Great students, teachers, parents! The school is very well funded by the caring community. Community is the word here. Roll up your sleeves and get ready for bake sales and Fiesta volunteer work if you are planning to attend this very high ranking school.
Submitted by parent on November 10, 2014

A small, caring school community with excellent teachers, and a safe no-bullying environment. Our child thrived here in every way! We got in by lottery, and I understand how other lottery parents might feel on-the-outs from the perceived clique of those who live in the surrounding, upscale area. They're all neighbors, and have know each other for years folks! So if you're a lottery parent, here's what you do: Volunteer! Get to know your fellow parents, join committees, be a room mom or dad, volunteer at book fair, pumpkin patch, booster club - there are so many ways to get involved - be pro-active and very quickly you'll realize that you have a bunch of great new parent friends!
Submitted by parent on May 18, 2014

We love this school!! Our daughter started this school about 2 weeks late, we got in through the lottery system and cannot believe how lucky we are! She is so happy and completely thriving. Her k teacher is amazing and the parent involvement is beyond anything I have ever experienced.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2014

I have two kids at the school. We have had great teachers and the kids feel very comfortable with the teachers and the administration. The campus has a warm and comfortable feel to it and feels like a real community. Facilities are very well cared for and constantly being updated. Parents are very active in the school and particularly in the classroom. There are always extra parents helping and lots of opportunities to participate in the class, on field trips and for special school-wide events. It may not be a good fit for people who just need or want to drop their child off, as there is significant emphasis on financial and actual participation. However, if you want to be involved in your school, I cannot think of a better place to do it..
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2014

this is our first year at canyon. we couldn't be happier! we love my daughter's k teacher and the families are very nice. we're upset the principal is leaving because she is wonderful.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2014

Overall Canyon is a very good school with caring and involved teachers. I think the principal is excellent (although sadly leaving this year). Bullying is not tolerated at all. period. For the most part the kids are a great bunch and get along well with each other. There are many down-to-earth, fabulous parents as well. But the person who said many of them are money-aware and will only associate themselves with others in their own "set" was sadly correct. It's a very affluent neighborhood and if you don't live it in, you can feel like an outsider. It feels very clique-y that way. Like most other public schools Canyon is way to wedded to standardized test results and there is a lot of teaching to the test, to the detriment of the kids. The Booster Club (and the core group of parents who essentially make it a full time job) do a fantastic job raising extra funds for things the school district would not otherwise provide. Unfortunately the lion share of the money goes toward buying more computers. When infrastructure is lacking and the arts and music program isn't nearly as robust as it should be, I don't think every kid needs an iPad. Just sayin'!
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2013

I love, love, love this gem of an elementary school. I was a teacher in LAUSD, and before we moved to the neighborhood we were in SMMUSD, so I have experience with other schools. Canyon's Parent Leadership, Administration, Teachers, and support staff are TOP NOTCH!! We are so lucky to live in this neighborhood and able to walk to our fabulous school!
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2013

This is a small gem of a school. Part of LAUSD, Canyon has been able to hire and retain excellent teachers and a caring Principal. The kids certainly love it and the tests scores are through the roof. However, Canyon is still dependent on LAUSD and thus some of the infrastructure of the school is wanting. Repairs seem to take forever and key maintenance issues are delayed over and over again. Parents tend to step in when things get bad but it should not be necessary.
Submitted by other on August 28, 2013

This school has had its principal replaced from 2008 - it's me! There seems to be some incorrect information between comments from 5 years ago and now. Canyon school is a warm, welcoming school and I pride myself on the collaborative work we do at every level - and every person is welcome to be a part of the process and product. My door is always welcome. My staff is highly trained and always open to learn and improve. We are the best because we invest in our school and our students constantly and consistently! Come check us out! Canyoncharter.com joycedara.com
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2013

We love most everything about Canyon! This is our second year. We feel fortunate to be here. The school has strong teachers, fabulous fundraising efforts and parent involvement. I have had positive communication with the principal. There are some people with their noses in the air but arrogance masks fear so too bad for them! We simply choose to not be that way. We have met some very kind and down-to-earth people.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2013

Several of us agree fully with the parent who said that Canyon is a terrific school....in spite of....the immaturity (not by age) and poor judgments of the Principal. With such a strong parent involvement in this Charter School, and so many people displeased with the Principal, it's surprising that she's not been replaced. She's now been there enough years that any influence we have in changing her attitudes have taken whatever positive effect they could have achieved. She isn't changing....she 'knows it all'. But despite her, the school brings out the best in teachers and students and the parent who commented on it being in a really safe, even idyllic setting was ever so right. What a privilege to be a Canyon graduate!
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2013

There are great and mediocre things about the school. One great thing is zero tolerance for bullying which the school admin takes seriously. Some of the school buildings are kind of shabby - they're a series of trailer-ish things. Most of the kids are very sweet to each other but the parents are very very very "money aware" and only socialize with parents of similar or better financial standing in the little canyon community. The parent organization is very highschool clique-y but it does a fantastic job raising money for the school and the events are fun. We've had terrific and mediocre teachers who were equally enthusiastic. The classes are big and the focus is very much about performance on the standardized tests. Overall a good experience but the teachers and principal are definitely far more interested in the wealthiest of the wealthy families. So if you can overlook the snarky parents, the kids are mostly kind and it's a good school and a safe environment.