Carthay Center Elementary

We love Carthay and our experience here. I'll try to see if I can capture what makes Carthay so special. It's really kind of hard to explain because it is so much more than just the test scores (which are going up by the way). The fact is that Carthay is a little bit of an underdog and completely underrated. Although Carthay is not a highly coveted elementary school like Melrose Elementary or Community Charter, I think it has much more to offer. There is an incredible sense of community and camaraderie among the parents, kids, teachers, staff and principal. Every day you can find parents in the Parent Center working on the next school event or just chit-chatting. We have gotten to know each other and our kids. I know that I can speak to the principal or teachers anytime if I have a question or a concern. The office staff are super efficient, warm and welcoming. Carthay just feels like a happy school and it is.The school is incredibly diverse - so many families from all over the world and LA - different races, ethnicities, cultures, languages and class. There are many motivated parents who travel far to come to Carthay. After we had some negative experiences at our child's South LA school, we slog through LA traffic from South LA to come to Carthay and so do many other Carthay parents who don't live in the area.The school offers project based and hands-on learning through their garden science program and outdoor classroom, and science experiments in the classroom. There's also music and PE, too. With lots of other extras like California Dance Institute and Young Storytellers. A beautiful garden with chickens! Not to mention big playgrounds and open green space with large old trees providing lots of shade.

This school had rave reviews and we looked forward to sending my sister here, but unfortunately this school fails to protect the students both mentally and physically, and how can a child learn if they are not in a safe environment?

We have been so pleased with this little gem of a school. A great diverse student body, a committed community of parents and teachers and administrators, a dreamy garden with chickens and shade trees, all make for a really great school experience. We have 3 kids there and it adds to our quality of life daily. The teachers we've had each year have been home runs. I would recommend Carthay to any parent.

I would recommend this school to any parent. I have had a great experience at the school.