Lycee International de los Angeles in Burbank, California

“I cannot imagine a better school experience for my two kids who have been in LILA since they were in preK. My daughter is graduating this year and has already been informed that she will receive a year's worth of credit with the credentials she has from the school. She has her pick of the most elite schools in the world, yes, read world - LILA students are not limited to any one country. My 6th grader son just presented his report to us in a student-led conference where he took responsibility for his own school career and goals. Both my children are completely bilingual, and their reading lists in English alone are 2 years above grade level. Their math and science levels are way above their American monolingual peers. Believe me, with results like that, I'm happy to pay the very reasonable tuition!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“An outstanding school with dedicated and talented teachers. Our kids have been here since kindergarten, and we are finding that secondary school is beyond our expectations! Complaints come from elementary parents who don't understand the system of following a bilingual program through its entire course. They want the typical American private school experience and that is not what they are going to get here! Families who stay the course will be delighted. The end results speak for themselves - 100% acceptance into the best colleges here and abroad, with a year's worth of credit for the graduating seniors. Parents we know who panicked and pulled their daughter out are now regretting their decision after seeing how well our kids have progressed.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a parent of two children who attended the Pasadena campus and moved on to Los Feliz. I am extremely impressed with how well prepared they were to tackle the transition- socially and academically. LILA offers a unique cultural experience- a true international melting pot made up of of students (families), teachers and staff. It is a safe environment for students to learn tolerance and acceptance of others. The academic program is challenging and varied. Students are taught on the first day of sixth grade to be responsible for 11 different subjects. The teachers are knowledgeable, dynamic and responsive, the students warm and accepting.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I have had my kids at LILA since preschool and they are now in secondary with one ready to graduate... that is many years. I have always loved the lila family culture but have been particularly impressed with the progress the school has made in the last few years. The school has grown a lot and I know that the education my children receive there will not only get them into college but that they will be ready for the challenges both university and life have in store for them. I have read reviews posted here and I agree with one other review, those who are negative did not do the research they needed about the program. The school has done everything it promised and I have two kids who are completely bilingual and can handle sophisticated academic content in TWO languages. How cool is that!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My oldest son graduated from LILA having gone from 1st through 12th grade in their program. He is now a happy and succeeding college student. The best review I can give is his: 'LILA allowed me to explore my passions, but I also learned to write a good essay and hold my own in any debate.' My 9th grader, who started at LILA in pre-school, was recently asked who his favorite teacher was. After reciting his entire roster of teachers out loud, he said, 'I can't pick one, they're all great!' Let's just say I am a happy mom!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I Love my campus. this is the second house of my kids. they are so happy. thank you”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter is in 8th grade junior high and she has been at this school since 3rd grade she really enjoying it. Parents are really involve in the school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The problem with many parents who are dissatisfied with the school is that they are looking for the American private school experience. If that is the case, this is not the school for you. However, if you want a school that gives your child a bilingual, international education of great quality, this is it. Many elementary school parents panic and try to turn the school into their idea of a typical American school - LILA is anything but typical. Secondary school parents who have kept their children in the program from the beginning understand this and know that the end results speak for themselves. LILA kids are accepted into the best universities year after year, because with their international credentials ( International Bac or French Bac, sometimes both!), they are highly sought after by admissions counselors. LILA seniors typically receive credit for freshman year and an extra major.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“LILA Los Feliz has a beautiful campus, international student body, warm teachers and wonderful, close knit families. Perhaps best of all, there is very little of the 'LA vibe' going on here -- even though many parents work in the film industry.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Just read all the other reviews. LILA has an international program which is well thought out academically but occassionally falls flat in practice. The administration seem to be working on ironing out these wrinkles for which it should be commended. On the other hand, it is baffling why there is such a large administrative staff and yet certain parts of the program are compromised by a lack of academic staff (a proper art, music or sports curriculum for example). This is not to say those subjects are not taught, they are but the school still has a ways to go to prove that these subjects are being taught to the standard they are in other LA schools. The teachers are dedicated and the classes are small. The families are friendly and it is a very small yet very cosmopolitan environment. The campus is simple but airy.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We have two daughters that have been at LILA for their entire education. Both girls are bilingual, excited by their education, motivated and inspired by their teachers, and eager to continue their formative education at LILA. If bilingualism for your children is important to you, and you want your child to be exposed to other cultures and curriculuums, then LILA is the place. The administration is responsive and serious about the education and welfare of its students. A great experience!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The contention that this school is 'not for everyone' due to its high academics is not true. The school teaches to the slowest student, an average kid will be bored to death because there's nothing to learn. A smart student has no place in this alleged school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Ask admissions and the head of the school how tuition dollars are spent. And if any money from current students is being saved for a new campus. Ask who is in charge of translating 'French' grades into American equivilants. Ask how many textbooks are issued per student. Do a thorough tour of the school before enrolling your child. Do conduct independent research. Call IB International to find out what the real pass rate is. Call the College Board to find out what the real average SAT score is for LILA students. Ask the French consulate and The California Department of Education about ongoing problems at this school. Do a comparison of LILA's curriculum to other dual-language immersion programs.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a rising high school senior at LILA, having started in Kindergarten. My experience has been GREAT. I have friends who attend other L.A. private schools and who either feel no loyalty at all to their schools, or who absolutely hate them and cannot wait to leave. I can truthfully say that I love going to my school and am grateful that my parents chose to enroll me here. While sometimes I feel the stress of a heavy workload and resent when teachers expect so much from us students, overall, I look forward to every school day and definitely feel that the education I receive is worth my parents' investment. Teachers really care and make time for us individually. The majority of my classmates are serious students and thanks to LILA, we look forward to a successful future in college and beyond.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I have 2 children who have gone through the entire LILA experience from Kindergarten through high school. It has been my experience that misunderstanding drives parents to panic. The demanding bilingual program is not for every child, and some parents resent this. The academics are definitely there: this year, my older son's 12th grade graduating class, the majority of whom went through the entire LILA system, had outstanding results ( many with distinction and/or 'mention' in the French Bac) and was accepted to schools like Stanford, Vassar, Carnegie-Mellon, Boston U. SAT scores for many students were nearly perfect. The highly qualified secondary and elementary academic directors are both French from France, familiar with both the French Bac and International Bac programs. The French Consulate and the French Ministry of Education have close ties with the school which is WASC accredited. The Head of School is bilingual 1st generation French-American.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The students don't have enough books or content in any other form. Quality of instruction is poor, administration isn't responsive, and the basic amenities are seriously lacking. The 'academic experience' is sorely lacking and this is definately not a French or European school in curricula or approach. It is a poor looking school in Los Feliz run by Americans.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The 'academic experience' at LILA is incoherent. The facilities are very poor and the quality of instruction is below par in French and English. The coursework is flimsy. Do thorough research, call all the organizations they are accountable to and ask serious questions before enrolling your child here.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our child is in his fifth year at LILA and we continue to be absolutely delighted with his progress in an impressive bilingual program. Many of the parents we have met at school are educators themselves who have chosen this school because of the unique academically challenging coursework. The facilities may not be the most fancy but for parents who value academics above appearance, the education is top notch. We are friends with families whose children are in the secondary school, and are constantly impressed by the quality of students the school produces.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We are an educated French and American family familiar with both models. LILA fails miserably at both. Before you enroll your child in this school speak to as many parents as you can. Ask to look inside the classrooms. The classrooms look very poor, no books, no materials. Email the California Department of Education and speak to the French consulate about this school before you pay tuition!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Please do appropriate research through every avenue before enrolling your child at this school. Our family has been with the french system for all 3 kids, and this was the most disappointing school I know of. We left for an American school, and we are very happy with our decision. Poor administrative support, and nearly no teacher support or communication. Kids also would sometimes be absent with no call from school, which can be extremely dangerous (what if something happened on the way?).”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school follows the best of the highly prized French education system. Highly academic with a taxing but rewarding bilingual dual program system. Not for every child, and parents unfamiliar with European education may not understand teaching styles, but if the program is followed through, the end results put students in the top ratio in the nation.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The academic experience that my children have had from elementary through high school at LILA has been excellent. Students follow both the French and the American program throughout elementary and secondary school, ending with a choice of the highly regarded International or French Baccalaureates where all subjects are considered Advanced Placement level. Parents who do not understand the way the French program works tend to panic and severely underestimate the school's academic worth. The integrated French system puts the children at varying levels in comparison with other students, but the end result is that graduating students are a full two years ahead of their peers. Teachers are impressively qualified, especially in secondary ( one high school teacher comes from teaching at the Sorbonne). Tuition is extremely reasonable for a private school in Los Angeles, and you certainly get more than your money's worth.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter attended LILA from kindergarten to 5th grade. She always got excellent grades and many of her teachers thought she was highly gifted. The work at LILA was too easy for her in both English and French. When she transferred to a good public school she was surprised to learn that LILA was far behind public school level standards!!!!! She got straight A's and A+'s at her new school, because she was able to catch up very fast. But she is still finding new things that LILA didn't teach her. She never got 4th grade science at LILA!!!! And the math at LILA was several years behind grade levle!!! The head of the school always says French math is harder than U.S. math. It's not true. LILA 6th graders don't even know their fractions, ratios, percentages! They've never even touched a compass or protractor! LILA is backwards!!!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Do not be swayed by the lovely campus, great location, and the snotty 'international' attitude of the front office personnel. The teachers come and go, parents' involvement is restricted to constant fund raising events, you get bombarded with daily emails about everything except what one would consider school issues.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The quality of teachers at this school is erratic at best. Some of the teachers are highly qualified and passionate about their profession. Others are underqualified on paper (lacking degrees and proper credentials) and in practice (they lack the desire to teach and mold young minds in a nurturing environment). The administration is comprised of the founder's children, they are complacent and non-responsive. The cycle system promised on the school's website is never implemented and they keep gifted children back to maintain a rather dissappointing status quo.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Sadly this school used to have high academic standards but the new administration advocates teaching to the slowest learners -- a problem if you have a bright child or high academic expectations. Many parents complain that the school's new administrator does not listen to or address their concerns and that they do not feel welcome on campus. Perhaps this is cultural -- the teachers, newly imported from France -- expect parents to behave as parents apparently do in France: to drop their kids off at the gate, leave the teaching to the professionals and stay out of the way. American children may have difficulty thriving in a classroom where teachers consider name-calling and humiliation appropriate teaching techniques. Expect very low student attrition rates and high teacher turnover.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Unfortunately, leadership is lacking at this school and the teaching that our children have received has been very uneven. Personal experience with some teaching staff was unproductive and at times unpleasant. A small school like this doesn't afford one much choice when teachers aren't meeting your childrens' education needs. The principal does little to weed out those teachers and heed the legitimate concerns of the parents; in fact, the general attitude of the school administration is unresponsive, unyielding and often belligerent and intimidating to those who offer constructive criticism.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Amazing school - Great activities - quality program...simply marvelous!”
This review was posted by a other.

“The bicultural curriculum means the children get the least of both worlds. The cycle system is never implemented. Teachers come and go, staff changes are common. Administration never communicates transparently. The head of the school refuses to accept any accountability.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Simply can not imagine a better situation for my 8 and 6 year old daughters. The elementary experience is par excellence.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Very good for academic children, for whom the format is designed. Simple. Lovely campus with good sports.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We found the school to be extremely rigid (zero room for creativity), the teachers not nurturing (at times insensitive and mean and completely inconsistent with discipline) and the communication at the school (btwn admin/families) to be terrible. New principal seems sincere/good. However, the school has a lot of problems that I think would require many teachers and admin to be fired and new teachers to be hired to improve. I would never recommend the school to anyone.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great school for a traditional european education, and cultural experience. There is a closeness which all families feel toward the school - students are more like a family and grow up together because the families are pretty tight and they are all focused on thier child feeling comfortable in an international community. Options are endless and parents are very critical. The downside is that there is sponsorship by the French Government, which puts restrictions on parent association and teacher/parent relations as well as after school activities. What this means, is that for a private school, there are limits as to what you can do for the school and what the teachers can do for the school. The up side is that the cost is reasonable and you get a fine education.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is dissapointing. The school does not deliver what it promises on any level. The bicultural curriculum delivers the least of each. The much touted cycle system is never implemented. Instead gifted students flounder while waiting for their less advanced peers to catch up. This can take years! The administration is non-responsive. Many of the teachers are underqualified, many do have credentials or degrees. Parental involvement is wholly unwelcomed.”
This review was posted by a parent.