Colfax Charter Elementary School

4935 Colfax 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 October 08, 2024

My son have been attending this school for 4 years. The racism is real amongst students and staff.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2024

Horrible people work there! Starting from the guy who sits in the office and ending with the teacher. Total racism! I don't see this school! Hate that school!!!
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2024

Truly, the best of the best. This school has been the highlight of living in this neighborhood. It's the central hub of a very special community with wonderful families. The school itself just underwent a huge renovation with multiple brand new classrooms. There is a garden and a full blown mini farm with lots of animals that not only the students enjoy, but also the neighborhood kids who visit daily. The shining star of this school is the admin and teachers. Many who have been there for decades. The families fundraise all year to support the many extra curricular programs and additional staff that make this much more than a public school. Couldn't love it more!
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2021

A wonderful school with lots of enthusiastic teachers, parents and administration. Because of fundraising, is able to offer enrichment like music, art, science and farm club among others. Teachers are accessible and communicative. It's possibly the biggest reason for families to move into the neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2021

Colfax feels like a small private school in public school clothing. It's a district-affiliated charter school, which means parents guide much of the curriculum and programming. Our kids are thriving here. Aside from one soon-to-retire-yet-already-checked-out teacher in the first grade, we've felt that every teacher our kids have had has appreciated their individual strengths and weaknesses, and their report cards show it. Kids are encouraged to participate in the school farm and garden, they get hands-on instruction in science, and the arts are robust here. So why just a "4" rating?Well, there's no foreign language instruction of any kind. But mostly, It's the office ladies.Any support they give is handed out grudgingly. It's more likely they'll give you side-eye and a curled lip than any kind of help. And when they do you the honor of a favor, it comes with a hearty portion of judgment. Was the system backed up and you couldn't get your daily pass this morning? "Oh, it was working for ME -- sorry, no pass, no entrance." Subtext: "aren't YOU a sucky parent?" We've had two great principals in a row. Unfortunately, office staff seems eternal.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2020

My son began attending Colfax this year after we moved to the area. The difference between last year (1st grade) and this year for us is HUGE. Last year my son proclaimed he "hated school" and was constantly getting in trouble and didn't want to do any work. This year he is completely engaged and is proud of how successful he is academically. Our teacher said he may be gifted. I realize now he was really bored last year and his teacher was so overwhelmed she didn't have a chance to connect with her students. What a difference a year and a great school make!
Submitted by other on December 13, 2018

Very bad. They don't treat kids equally. If your child is smart then Colfax isn't for you. No knowledge for gifted kids, who later on become no gifted at all
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2018

There is a lot to like about Colfax: the parent community is amazing and filled with dedicated, hard-working volunteers. They really help tremendously in the school as well as with the fundraising efforts. However, those funds are mostly used for aides to assist kids that are lagging behind. If your child is high ability or gifted he mostly gets ignored. The focus in the classroom is to help the children with academic difficulties and lessons are repeated over and over until the smart kids are bored. There is no differentiated learning despite any claims made by administration. So it really depends on luck of the draw if your childs ends in a classroom with remedial kids how his year will be. Until Colfax decides to have a magnet, if your child is a gifted learner he would be better off in another school such as Wonderland or Balboa.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2018

My child is traumatized from attending a school where the Principal broke educational law and the teachers colluded.
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2018

My special needs kid was essentially thrown out, and I was told to go find a private school or "something" to put him in. The adults at this school then decided it was a good idea to tell his younger brother also at the school about how "difficult" his sibling was and to speculate how he might end up "just like him". Oh, and the staff saw fit to KEEP one of my kid's birth certificate then lose it. Probably had something to do with me not having the right income or being the right color.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2018

There are a few kind and effective teachers, but over all the problems there are indicative of LAUSD and a school that doesn't take the social emotional development of most kids into consideration. The principal refused to take my child's needs seriously, despite it being the law that they test kids who might need it. The principal did not want to spend the money to help make sure my kid got what they needed. PACE/PTA is super clique-ish. Children made to feel bad for being sick. My child was bullied by her own teacher who should have been retired already. Terrible school, unless you have a very average, run of the mill child. Not recommended.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2018

Colfax Charter is a wonderful school with a fantastic and close-knit community! All the parents and teachers work incredibly hard to build resources, community and communication. We have been so so lucky to attend this school for 6 years so far!
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2018

After eight lucky years and two kids at Colfax Charter Elementary I can unequivocally say that this is the best public school anyone could imagine. The faculty are amazing and highly qualified, the students happy and courteous, and the overall atmosphere on campus is very positive and inclusive. There is strong parent support and fundraising, which allows this school to afford many extras not included in the LAUSD budget, such as newest technology, extra P.E., teacher's aides, visual arts, music (violin, chorus, orchestra), ballroom dancing, vegetable garden, farm, state of the art science lab, etc.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2018

There are the lof of good teachers. Teahcers indicate a lot of studies.
Submitted by student on October 17, 2016

This is our fifth year at this school, and I can't imagine a better experience. The current principal, staff and faculty are exceptional, and I feel secure that my children are being well taken care of and educated. There's complete access to and collaboration with administrators and teachers, and we can discuss any and all issues or concerns as we need. In addition, one of our kids is special needs, and the resources he is provided are terrific, and the support he and we receive is giving him the tools to be successful now, but also setting him up for a better future! Thank you to all who are involved at Colfax, including the broad base of parent volunteers, for teaching my children that learning is awesome.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2016

This school is amazing. Great parents, parent/child involvement, super sweet kids. Just a lovely, friendly learning environment. I wish it went all the way through high school.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2016

We joined this school 4.5 years ago and it was a great school back then, with wonderful teachers and an amazing parent body who work tirelessly and for free, for the good of the school. The Principal then was not well liked and generated a number of disappointing reviews on this site. But times have changed! Last year we saw a wonderful new Principal join the school, and now in her second year she continues to develop and improve upon the fantastic base we had. She is approachable and fair in her decisions - sometimes these decisions are hard and unpopular, but ALWAYS for the best of the children at Colfax. Putting yourself in her shoes just for a moment, you could understand the hard job she has.People complain of too much homework... but this is school! The teachers work collaboratively within LAUSD guidelines to set appropriate homework which supports the learning from that day. Parents and students are encouraged to raise a concern if they are struggling to complete the work within the guideline minutes, so that is can be adjusted for that child. What more can you ask? Our Governance Committee (LSLC) and our PTA/PACE parent organisations are second to none! If you WANT to help the school, you are welcomed with open arms! There are opportunities for all parents to get involved wherever they can.... even full time working parents can help and support the school at a time that suits their schedule.The enrichment our children enjoy because of the fundraising generated by this phenomenal parent community, continues to amaze! We have our own Science Lab and Science teacher; Computer Lab and Technician; an Art program with our own Art Teacher; Chorus, Orchestra, Violin and Ballroom dancing!; we have our own volunteer psychomotor team keeping our children fit; we even have our own Colfax farm - Come meet our animal residents!!!Class sizes have even been reduced on the whole this year! New registration processes have ensured students are given places who are entitled to a place... and on top of that, every classroom enjoys some support from a Classroom aide!The community of Valley Village supports their wonderful Elementary school and with an upcoming building project set to expand our campus too - these are exciting times! You can't go wrong with Colfax! Looking forward to seeing you there soon!
Submitted by other on September 16, 2016

The teachers at our school are exceptional. There truly isn't a bad apple in the bunch! This popular sentiment is a luxury for those of us here at Colfax. The principal acts with integrity. The teachers are passionate and well qualified. The new writing programs, mindfulness education and on line math programs are exceptional.
Submitted by parent on June 07, 2016

I used to love this school. The past year it has taken a horrible turn. The "community" is extremely self-serving. The kids are increasingly disrespectful and it's clear that the apples are not falling far from the trees. Good luck to you if you're just starting out. It's survival of the fittest over there.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2016

I've been at Colfax for 7 years, and I am an extremely proud Colfax parent. The new principal is a tremendous asset, and the school and its students are thriving. I am on the parent board and volunteer extensively, and I can say with confidence that the overwhelming majority of the Colfax community (teachers, staff, and parents) are supportive, kind, helpful, and have the students' interests at heart. With three kids, we have had many teachers--all of them have been approachable, hardworking, and caring. Our overall experience at Colfax has been extremely positive! 5 more years to go...