Carpenter Community Charter School

3909 Carpenter Ave.

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 November 08, 2024

The school and its teachers are not very communicative with parents. Their approach isn’t parent-friendly, and they often disregard parents’ concerns. Additionally, they show little sensitivity toward the needs of low-income families.They are highly demanding without offering any solutions. The location is poorly chosen, and they don’t work with parents to prevent issues for the neighbors or the surrounding community.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2024

The school has an outstanding reputation in the valley because it has a dynamic, strong principal and an active parent community. The principal is a great leader and my son as well as other kids look up to him. The school welcomes parent participation and as a result many parents are very active -- fundraising for enrichment programs, volunteering for carnivals/special events, organizing assemblies/school activities. The child's experience in the classroom can vary greatly depending on the assigned teacher -- there are some teachers who are genuinely enthusiastic to be leaders in the classroom, but there are others who have lost that passion .... one of my son's teachers said to me privately that she needed to retire because she was "done with [teaching]." It was a very mediocre academic year with little support from that particular teacher. As much as I like the community at Carpenter, I believe that it teaches to the median as other reviewers have mentioned. They do not have GATE classes and rely on GATE clustering, which is dependent on the teacher assigning enriching projects/assignments for the GATE kids (unfortunately depending on the teacher, these assignments can feel like busy work). After being designated gifted or highly gifted, some parents decide to transfer their children to magnet programs which can provide a more challenging curriculum.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2024

Our son started Kindergarten in Carpenter. As a neurodiverse kid, he got all the support and attention he needed, and he is thriving in this school. All the teachers are very experienced, and their different personal styles help to make a suitable placement for each kid. The principal, Mr. Martinez's energy and decent attitude, make him very approachable, not just for the parents but the kids as well. Beyond academic achievements, kids learn to be kind and respectful to each other.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2023

We had two boys attend and graduate from Carpenter. The very best years of our lives. Joe Martinez is a high energy and effective leader dealing with a thousand issues (large student body, uber demanding parents, etc.). Mostly of the teachers are outstanding and committed to a positive learning environment but it all starts with Joe. Not only have our boys made lifelong friendships during their precious Carpenter years but we as parents have made just as good friends even though our older son is now in college. We wish we could do it all over again.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2022

This is our 4th year at this wonderful neighborhood elementary school. Our two kids are thriving academically and socially. The COVID pandemic has been challenging to say the least, but thanks to incredible teachers and a communicative, supportive administration, we've made it through ok. It's a big school, but for us, that has been a blessing as my kids have had more practice meeting new people, and there are more kids who share their interests (very different from my experience as a kid in a small private school). My kids love the enrichment program (dance, art, music, science, and media lab). There are so many great community events at this school and this fall's Halloween Carnival and Movie Night were the best ones yet! The principal is an incredible role model for the students and cares so much for the families. Above and beyond! Grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2022

My daughter had a wonderful experience at this fantastic school, she is now in 7th grade and still misses it terribly, especially the amazing Principal Joe Martinez and the rest of the staff and teachers. They all do an incredible job at keeping the kids safe and happy, I wish it went through to year 12!!
Submitted by other on December 01, 2021

Principal is a pure politician. He favors families who are big donors and kids that have IEPs are not treated well. Teachers are great but teach to the median student. The school is not open to ideas outside of what the far left and the principal wants. The school is all about the money and not about the community anymore. Also, where does all the donation money go to, the non profit doesn’t disclose when people ask.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2021

Worst school in LA. The administration ignores any and all problems. If your child ever gets bullied, they will never acknowledge it. This principal puts on a show for everyone, but is not genuine at all and those who have problems at the school get to witness his true character. All he cares about is a donation so he allows certain behaviors from kids/parents that are big donors to the school. He becomes very rude, defensive, and aggressive if you stand up for your child. It is so overcrowded and supervision is at a minimum. There are some good teachers, but definitely some that should have retired long ago. Overall, the school is such a disaster.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2020

We love Carpenter. My daughter is in third grade and she loves school. We've had amazing teachers every year. They are very available to the parents and the community is incredibly supportive.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2020

This school is overcrowded and has a huge bullying problem. The principal is put on a pedestal because he has charisma, but he does absolutely nothing about the bullying problem. Also, there are a few teachers that should not be teaching there anymore. Every year parents complain and the principal and he justifies her actions by saying "She is oldschool." Newsflash..."oldschool" ideas are no longer acceptable nor do they work for our education system today.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2020

The school is HUGE. Some teachers are amazing and some are absolutely horrible, so it really depends on the luck of the draw. Classes are too large and there are only a few floating aids for 1100 kids. There are seven classes per grade. Teachers do not go out with the kids at recess and lunch and the yard is loosely supervised by aids who don’t know the kids. Our child was kicked at recess and the aid didn’t see it happen until another student ran to get help. The principal is great, but the school and classes are just too big. They teach to the median so if you have an average child they will manage, but for any kid who is above or below I’d look elsewhere.
Submitted by other on November 27, 2017

My experience at this school was fantastic because they were super understanding and kind to me. they were always so supportive and the campus was very clean! i live everything about this school!
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2017

Incredible, makes me want to be a kid again. The school has given us a network, family and friends. The parents are very involved and the enrichment programme is AMAZING. What other public school has a dance teacher?
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2017

Fantastic! Wonderful principal and teachers. Very involved parents. Feels small town even though it's a big school. We love it.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2017

We absolutely love this school. My daughters say they are so happy in school and they will come home excited to tell me what they've learned. One of my daughter's class is split up into 4 different groups depending on their learning abilities and levels. They are given different work depending on their needs. They have started the mindfulness program where they teach the children to meditate. Twice everyday, after recess and lunch, they all spend a moment thinking about their breathing while listening to a chime. Their morals and ethics taught in forms or social studies is excellent also. The music program is wonderful! Learning about Mozart, and the Nutcracker Ballet, and their Christmas program is so well put together, I'm impressed every single year. Their science program is more than I ever expected! They have live animals, learn about the solar system in a hands on sort of way, that they never forget what they have learned. They even grow vegetables and harvest it and have a salad party! My daughters love their dance class, PE coaches, their computer class and art teacher. The teachers all promote positive encouragement and recognition. They will come home with coupons, certificates and prizes for good behavior or outstanding achievements. Basically, we are thrilled to be here and we can't ask for a better school!
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2016

We moved here for entering 2nd grade and our experience so far has been wonderful. Academically, our daughter is challenged and is thriving. She is happy going to school daily and the amount of homework in manageable. We had a solid 2nd grade teacher and have a super 3rd grade teacher this year who holds the kids accountable and is reinforcing responsibility. The school is large but I don't feel that it impedes the learning process or her experience there, at least she hasn't mentioned it at all. Her class size is 24-25 kids which is the norm from our experience. There is a true sense of community where you can be as involved as you want to be. The principal is the best and truly committed to the school and it's success. We are overall happy we made the move to Carpenter.
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2015

this schools is well rounded and my child benefitted greatly. The instructors were very professional and my son came home a very happy child most days. They instilled great values into my son.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2015

There are good and bad things about the school, but in my opinion it is largely overrated. I think the only good staff at the school are the principal and the science teacher. Both are impressive and exceptional. Nothing else about the school is notable. There are a lot of BAD teachers at the school who seem to run the show. The school year is predicated by the teacher and can be miserable. One child had abysmal teachers. Each year my child spent all day in a boring class getting screamed at by mean, uninteresting teachers who should have retired ten or 20 years ago. My older child is moving on to a highly gifted magnet, but not without totally turning off to school in the elementary years first. My child was not only not challenged whatsoever all the way through school, but was put into special ed at carpenter for a stretch, which was a joke. The second grade teacher even told me my child must be autistic because she had a hard time teaching to my kid because my child finished work so fast and seemed bored. The next year my child was identified as highly gifted. They have no resources whatsoever for anything that is outside the bell curve. They are incapable of challenging bright children with work that is not rote and the typical worksheet stuff. There is nothing outside the box going on here. They only seem to teach to the standardized tests. My other child had better teachers, but was bullied all of the way through. My main gripe though is the school is SO overcrowded the kids are packed in like sardines. They can't run at recess and lunch because there's not enough staff watching them. Both my kids have had serious issues with other kids and bullying at the school mainly during recess and lunch and in the star after school program. Some notable memories are one of my kids being chased around by a kid with scissors. Another time my other child was threatened by a child who was wielding a hammer around after school--also in the star after school program. There's so many people everywhere it's hard to breathe just walking the kids into school in the morning. It seems like there are so many people there they can't all be living in studio city because one doesn't see as many children out and about in studio city as at the school. My older child had 40 kids in class in fifth grade.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2015

Both my boys attended Carpenter. They graduated and left feeling well prepared for Jr High. Carpenter has great teachers and there is tons of involvement from your parents, which make the school so much more pleasant to visit. Ms. Parseghian and Mr Lapittus stood out for us as both my boys had these teachers in 4th and 5th grade. They really prepare these kids and check them when they need to be checked. They hold them accountable for what they are learning and make it stick. I moved to this area just so that I could bring my boys here. It was the best decision as they have solid friends with solid parents with a solid community of involvement.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2014

There once was a man that entered a village and asked the mayor what the people were like. The mayor asked the man about his experience in the last village "they were wonderful, kind people" the mayor then said you will find the same people in this village. Another man approached and asked the same question to the mayor and the mayor asked the man about his experience in the last village "they were rude and unfriendly" the mayor then said you will find the same people in this village. That "dirty play yard" and grass area is a haven for kids to run around and work out indifferences, issues with their friends or just dig in the dirt for bugs. Get involved and then make the right choice for your child. Leave the negative energy out the door. Good Luck.