<p>Mom60 is totally right about weather being a contender in the question of where to live. I love Pasadena and had we started there I would have stayed. But the heat and the air quality is awful. We lived in the valley and it was also hot and bad air quality.</p>
<p>As for the schools…you’re right. No one knows what will happen next year for public k through 12 and the UC system as well.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more. Having lived in LA before, I definitely want to stay near the coast if possible. Beverly Hills is about as far east as I’m willing to go. I know it’s hot out in the valley, but I hear Newbury Park is a bit cooler. The heat doesn’t really bother me though as I grew up in Phoenix. I’m much more concerned with the air quality.</p>
<p>Has anyone ever heard of the Laurel Springs homeschool program based in Ojai? In high school, they offer AP courses, so I’m thinking this might be a good supplement if there are serious cutbacks. From what I can tell, it seems like a high-quality, accredited program.</p>
<p>I know a few kids who have done courses through Laurel Springs to supplement. I am not sure exactly how they did it but I think in both cases they were also working with a tutor who works with kids doing independent study.</p>
<p>I never thought my little all-girls high school would come up in a discussion here. My daughter graduated from there last year and it is very different than it was 25-30+ years ago (when I attended). The liberal nuns that ran it then are mostly gone (or not in charge) and it is a much more stifling environment. It does still provide an excellent education for much less money than secular private schools, and most girls do thrive in a single sex environment.</p>
<p>Parents that I know who have kids at Malibu are happy with the school. Calabasas is also a strong school, but much larger. Many families in Calabasas choose Agoura for their kids; it’s considered less snobby.</p>
<p>I know about Laurel Springs. It is an online school that is used by lots of athletes and actors. There are live teachers available. It is not expensive. Lots of discipline is needed by parent and child to complete course work. Many, if not most, public (and private) schools will not accept their courses as supplementary to the regular school. I am not sure how universities view their programs, but I recall seeing that their courses were “UC approved.” We wanted our daughter to take some supplementary courses there and our public school wouldn’t accept them, although at first they said they did, then not. I imagine that it is a case by case thing. And since most schools run summer school where they make a profit I imagine that they are less likely to accept Laurel Springs credit. I have been to Ojai numerous times, but never went to see their offices. They do have an aggressive (but professional) sales force.</p>
<p>UC approved does NOT mean however that the UCs will look at them favorably. Or not. I imagine that if a kid scores a 5 on the AP test all is well. I would imagine that, unless there are other reasons to admittance (like the star of a television show, or number 10 in the nation in tennis) some schools might look askance at the school. I think that it would be case by case.</p>
<p>I do know of young actors who scored SAT (out of 1600) 1100 plus a little. Their gpa was all As. I know some athletes who are attending major universities who graduated and are doing well.</p>
<p>Regarding the high school accepting Laurel Springs courses-The two I know of did get credit from their public high schools. One is in presently in college so I am assuming the colleges were willing to take the Laurel Springs courses.
Also in Ca you can supplement through the community colleges. At least in our area two of the public high schools strongly recommend community college courses. Summer school in our district is remedial only. I wish they had a paid option.</p>
<p>When my youngest was at Beverly we wanted to do the supplement thing. At first Beverly said yes, than no. The community college idea is an excellent one. I also imagine that this year all bets could be off. A friend who went to LAUSD said that all classes in chemistry, physics, and nonremedial, were called Honors or AP. (Taft HS) Were they? I don’t know, but it is certainly a way around a difficult problem. And some high schools (private) like Crossroads have summer school that USED to be accepted at Beverly…again, minute by minute things could change.</p>
<p>My SIL said the Torrance high schools might warrant a look.
Also regarding supplementing with CC courses. From my kids and their friends there are two approaches to CC classes. Some want the classes to take the place of classes at the high school to cover high school graduation requirements. Others tend to want to expand their knowledge in areas that the high school doesn’t cover. College applications have a place for college courses taken. The applicant can send a separate transcript from the CC to each college. Also in our district many of the AP classes have switched over from being listed as AP but being a dual enrollment course with the CC. The classes take place at the high school but the student also enrolls in the CC. CC credit is given. For example- when my oldest took the course that had previously been called AP Stats it was now called Math 117 dual enrolled.
I noticed when I went to enroll my youngest in her high school that the high school is now trying to not list anything as AP or Honors or Gate if the UC’s don’t give them the extra point in GPA. Sounds like the opposite of Taft.
Also be sure to ask how many classes the school is willing to allow your son to take. At one point in my older D’s high school only freshmen were guaranteed a full day of classes. My friend who is a teacher said that there will probably be a push in cash strapped districts to limit the number of classes each student can enroll in. Also make sure they will allow doubling up in any areas that might interest your son. For example she said with the next round of cuts you might see a restriction on only taking 1 language or 1 science each term.
Also out there for discussion in our district is eliminating Frosh-Soph sports to save money.</p>
<p>La Canada district has a lot of academically driven families; many parents work at Caltech or at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. There is very little rental housing, and house prices in the area are high, so there is money but not the same vibe as in Beverly Hills. The district also has openings if parents work in the district, which includes JPL.</p>
<p>I’d be very cautious about betting on being able to enroll in community college courses in years to come. Between fewer openings and higher prices at UC and CSU, less aid from the state, more adults interested in retraining at CCs, and the statewide budget crisis, some CCs may have to do ugly things with enrollment.</p>
<p>I am an almost life-long resident of Calabasas. I attended LVUSD, but sent my child to private school with the exception of a few years in elementary school. As I understand it, although funding has been cut to some degree, the high schools in the district are holding their own, and both Calabasas and Agoura High Schools continue to offer several AP classes. Be aware that parents are looked to for supplemental funding, and there’s no shortage of fundraisers.</p>
<p>You might also consider that at least in Calabasas, there are not many rental homes, though there are some condos, and the housing costs remain relatively high. On the upside, it’s illegal to smoke in most parts of the City!</p>
<p>I’ve been busy packing – the movers are coming on Monday – but I’ve already set up meetings/tours at about six schools over a 3-day period. Thanks so much for all the great info; it’s nice to get an insider’s perspective from parents who are familiar with the area. Even though I lived there years ago, a lot has changed.</p>
<p>I’ll report back once we’ve selected a school.</p>
<p>pcaz, I was thinking of you this morning. There was a little squib in the LA Times about how the area’s community colleges will only be offering one summer session this summer term rather than the usual two. Perhaps of interest for some of your planning.</p>
<p>Best of luck with the tours and visits!</p>
<p>Wow… what an education moving back to LA has been. We toured about five schools and looked at several others. I have to say I was quite impressed with both Newbury Park High and Westlake High. They seemed very organized and responsive.</p>
<p>The biggest disappointment was Palisades Charter High. This was my second encounter with them and I found the administrative staff to be among the most unhelpful I’ve ever come across. Several of the staff were almost downright rude in response to my questions. That combined with the fact they’re looking for yet another principal and the school appeared to be very disorganized ruled out the school pretty quickly.</p>
<p>My son was partial to Newbury Park High before we started our visits. But after we visited Beverly Hills High, he was blown away and the school skyrocketed to the top of our list. The winner? Beverly Hills High. I was very impressed with the school as well. In my mind, it favors quite favorable to the private schools in the area. Plus, they seemed the best positioned to weather the current crisis with the least impact to students.</p>
<p>Now the challenge is to find a house we can afford. </p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone who helped.</p>
<p>GO NORMANS!!!</p>
<p>(If you have questions about certain streets or whatever pm me. I am NOT a realtor, nor is anyone in my family. I just know the area.)</p>
<p>I will also add the BH has wonderful attributes like the ability to walk, lots of shopping closeby (not only the clothing kind), easy access to entertainment, health care, and it is safe. </p>
<p>…although I will add that my husband rues the day that we moved so close to Saks, Neimans and Barney’s that I could just drop by whenever…</p>