Schools > Public > Carthay Center Elementary

Carthay Center Elementary in Burbank, California

Carthay Center Elementary Detail

(323) 935-8173
6351 West Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Levels: K-5
District: Los Angeles Unified School District


Carthay Center Elementary Census Data

Census InfoValueYear
White, non-Hispanic:13.83% (2009)
Black, non-Hispanic:40.69% (2009)
Hispanic:32.18% (2009)
Asian:8.78% (2009)
Pacific Islander:0.53% (2009)
Native American or Native Alaskan:0.8% (2009)
Unspecified:0.53% (2009)
Filipino:2.66% (2009)
Percent Free and Reduced Price Lunch:66.94% (2008)
Student Teacher Ratio:14.7% (2008)

Carthay Center Elementary Ratings Summary

Average Quality Rating4
Average Principals Rating3
Average Teachers Rating4
Average Activities Rating4
Average Parents Rating4
Average Safety Rating4

Carthay Center Elementary Reviews

a great community school in the heart of los angeles!
This review was posted by a parent.

The new principal, Ms. Calhoun, is just what the doctor ordered for Carthay. She is sharp, committed, and not afraid to demand accountability from all. She is dedicated to the students and providing them with the best possible school experience. Bravo!
This review was posted by a parent.

Emma and Alex love the teachers and subjects and are willing to tell everyone about their wonderful school.
This review was posted by a parent.

They have the best teachers and very well behaved students...
This review was posted by a parent.

community spirit and terrific opportunities for parental involvement!and parents who actually do become involved.
This review was posted by a parent.

Upgrades, renovation greatly needed. Neglected. A philosophical liberal ethic pervades. Cliquish. Poor administration. New year, new principal - let's see what Carthay's focus will be.
This review was posted by a parent.

My Grandson is a student at Carthay and is reading and loving school because of the teachers and the librarian, Ms. Cruz
This review was posted by a parent.

Wonderful school - great parents, great teachers!!!
This review was posted by a other.

It's an attractive, cheerful, welcoming and happy place to be; and the students seem happy there. Ms Cruz and the Library are very good.
This review was posted by a parent.

Brilliant school, a little slice of heaven!
This review was posted by a other.

great school, supportive parents!
This review was posted by a parent.

it is the most amazing school I have ever seen! The energy between kids, parents, and the school is huge! There is a powerful flow and bonding between the school, the teachers, and the families
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay Center School is great because of some of its dedicated teachers. And also a well loved librarian, Mrs. Cruz, who has made a difference for many children.
This review was posted by a parent.

It has been My Daughters school since preschool. The Teachers are all dedicated to guiding our children toward excellence.
This review was posted by a parent.

I love Carthay Elem. School because the teachers care for their students.
This review was posted by a other.

I love Carthay because it has provided an environment for my daughters, son, and nephew to flourish intellectually and socially. Carthay's beautiful garden is one of it's best attribute.
This review was posted by a parent.

Love the parent participation. Great community participation, culturally diverse. Love our teacher Mr.Whalen this year.l...the new principal isamazing...
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay is an amazing neighborhood jewel where the administration, teachers and parents work together to create a wonderful learning environment for our children. Under the leadership of our new principal, Ms. Calhoun, we are on the precipice of greatness. It's palpable.
This review was posted by a parent.

Wonderful school, truly invested in the children.
This review was posted by a parent.

very committed parents and caring teachers; awesome K teacher Mrs. Cathern!
This review was posted by a parent.

great school...great teachers
This review was posted by a other.

Carthay has an amazing small school with bright future. It is all about the children and the parents are a true reflection of the community.
This review was posted by a parent.

Great Library & teachers
This review was posted by a other.

Besides the sheer beauty of the school and its buildings, Carthay Center Elementary has the feel of a mini United Nations. The teachers are wonderful, the students diverse and the parents deeply committed to their community. Smack dab in the center of Los Angeles, Carthay Center Elementary stands as a model for all urban schools.
This review was posted by a parent.

Lots of parent involvement.
This review was posted by a parent.

It's the place where kids learn to discover...Ms. Cruz makes it happen.
This review was posted by a other.

Great environment/teachers
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay is a small neighborhood school with truly incredible resources: an excellent library and a librarian, Ms. Cruz, who is the heart and soul of the school; art, music, dance, and drama classes funded through the Arts Prototype program; a great special education program; a Gifted and Talented program; a pull-out intervention program; student teachers from USC helping in some classrooms; book clubs; a teaching garden, and much more. My kids have had outstanding teachers: dedicated, enthusiastic, passionate about teaching, and warmly supportive of all their students. There is a terrific group of active parents and volunteers from the community, a strongly supportive administration, and, best of all, a warm and wonderful sense of community.
This review was posted by a parent.

They teachers care about the students and want the best for all of them
This review was posted by a other.

I love Carthay Elementary school because the education level is high and the children are very important to the school.
This review was posted by a parent.

As an outside obsever I don't ever remember seeing so much time and patience being offered to the students of Carthay by the teachers. Above and beyond they give of themselves their time and their wallet. These are teachers that look under ever rock to find a diamond in all of their students.
This review was posted by a other.

The children of friends attend this school and they think it is a terrific educational venue. Way to go, Carthay Center Elementary!
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay Center Elementary has everything, an emphasis on academics, arts and enrichment activities, and an environment that makes each child feel a part of a community.
This review was posted by a parent.

The teachers and staff at Carthay really care about their students. The parent involvement at the school is better than I have ever encountered at other public schools. Vote for Carthay!!!!
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay Elementary has an extraordinary combination of high quality teachers and highly motivated parents. A phenominal experience for any child.
This review was posted by a parent.

These parents and teachers care.
This review was posted by a parent.

Its a great school and the staff really cares for the kids.
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay is a super school -- dedicated teachers and staff within a diverse community of students and parents that work well together to build a caring, hard working, high achieving, environment.
This review was posted by a parent.

I have to say the thing that I love the most about Carthay is that we've got not only a an excellent and committed staff of administrators and teachers, but we've also got wonderful parents that really care about our school. Our teachers take the time to get to know their students and the best way to help each one advance. The parents get together and think and act on the best ways to help our school succeed. One of our largest success stories is the Carthay Center Garden. It is a focal point of the neighborhood and something our children love to work and learn in.
This review was posted by a parent.

We have teachers and a community of parents that believe our children can achieve anything and deserve everything.
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthey Center does a great job of making their kids happy to learn.
This review was posted by a other.

carthay is a great place to learn the whole staff and the parents are amaizing.
This review was posted by a other.

we love the teachers, the new principal, the pta, the community, perfect school for our children!
This review was posted by a parent.

Great parents who are involved in their children's future. They only want the best for them!
This review was posted by a other.

The only reason we aren't a five star school is due to budget cuts!
This review was posted by a teacher.

We love Carthay Center! Parents and teachers care about our childrens well being and education. Go Carthay!
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay has the most wonderful community of involved parents and teachers. Our school teaching garden is amazing. My kids love their school and the opportunities it provides them.
This review was posted by a parent.

We are creating a wonderful, caring, involved community of administrators, teachers, parents, and most importantly, children!
This review was posted by a teacher.

The school is a family of diversed and caring individuals. The teachers, staff and parents are united in providing a safe, caring and nurturing environment where the children and flourish and feel secure.
This review was posted by a parent.

My two grandkids love Carthay. Great environment. Wonderful, involved faculty and families! Very warm, caring environment.
This review was posted by a other.

Carthay Elementary School is awesome! Support your neighborhood school and make it a school you WANT your kids to attend!
This review was posted by a parent.

Great teachers, great kids, great parents, great community
This review was posted by a parent.

Great PTA, amazing principal, beautiful facility, vibrant student body, dedicated teachers, and growing community support!
This review was posted by a parent.

I love my school because it is truly a nieghborhhod school!
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay Center School has a fabulous garden and a fantasticly diverse group of involved parents!
This review was posted by a parent.

This school has a lot of wonderful students who's parents are very involved. The kids love going to school!!
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay is a fabulous school with the most dedicated staff and parents. There is a very strong sense of community and everyone at the school works together to ensure success for all students.
This review was posted by a teacher.

Loving, brilliant teachers; devoted, knowledgeable administration, and an organized, motivated group of parents. This is an amazing school!
This review was posted by a parent.

My son Sebi always looks forwards to attending and participating in class. Plus we've been fortunate to have some great individuals as his teachers. Last but not least there is an amazing group of parents that goes above and beyond to make sure our students get the supplies and tools they need to form a strong educational foundation and succeed.
This review was posted by a parent.

What a terrific new principal we have in Ms. Traci Calhoun. She is enthusiastic, energetic and obviously cares about the students. We all look forward to her stewardship this year and beyond.
This review was posted by a parent.

I absolutely love Carthay Center School. The school is very family and community oriented, the teachers and administrators are always available, and the curriculum is book and reality based. My third-grader has been at Carthay for a few weeks now, and she absolutely loves it. We've already had one PTA meeting, and the concern and support for the children and teacher's needs was overwhelming. I am so grateful to be a part of the Carthay family.
This review was posted by a parent.

Fantastic campus, lovely diverse students, exceptional staff and administration, and open, excited and diverse Faculty. Integration of the arts is outstanding, and the learning garden is an amazing and beautiful tool that all the students get to experience. My children thrive at Carthay Center
This review was posted by a parent.

What a wonderful learning environment! An historic campus, small classes, engaged parents, inspired teachers, an arts prototype school, a superior teaching garding, chess, science, dance, book clubs, and more, all in the heart of LA. My son loves to go to school every day. I cannot ask for more.
This review was posted by a parent.

This is an excellent example of what neighborhood schools can become. There is a true feeling of community, with parents who walk their children to school, work in the garden, volunteer in the classrooms and assist with an after shool reading program. There is an active community group, Friends of Carthay Center, which has increased local business support for the school. The principal participates in a monthly 'Coffee with the Principal,' giving parents a chance to speak directly to her about current concerns. Several initiatives developed out of the coffee meetings including an afterschool reading program. This is a strong emphasis on academics at Carthay. The children are also taught how academics and science work in their daily lives -as in the garden where nature and science are integrated into the teaching program. There is a real sense of a community here which gives its full support to learning.
This review was posted by a parent.

A Jewel of a school. Perhaps the loveliest setting in the LAUSD, with one of the finest Elementary School Gardens, public or private big or small. Active, involved, progressive Parents Group. Experienced, hard working teachers who run a 'tight ship.' The children are a delight; bright, inquisitive, well dressed, well mannered, and respectful. All obviously working hard to surmount the myriad of family languages. HM, Master Gardener UC Cooperative Extension
This review was posted by a parent.

My son attended 1st grade at Carthay. While the teachers and support staff were outstanding, the adminstration was very cold and uncaring. My son experienced a very serious situation and it was not dealt with in a caring or professional manner. The parent group is excellent and trying their best to improve things, but without a supportive and caring administration, they've go their work cut out for them. I pulled my son out of there and he is doing excellent at one the top rated schools in the district. We do miss Mrs. Finn, she was great!
This review was posted by a parent.

My sons had a great teacher Mrs. Chavez, unfortunately she will not return next year. The staff is very supportive and respectful, safe secure campus, great communication, and well behaved students. My sons just loved it there. Both my son are in special ed. and the staff is comitted to mainstreaming 100%.
This review was posted by a parent.

Staff is not good. School lacks funding. Bad attitude from office staff and many teachers who walk around arrogant, unhappy and lacking maners. Bad local district direction. Bad test scores and overall education. Lack of organization. Poor lunches. If you must send your child to this school, make sure you pour your attention into education at home. The kids are nice at this school though and my child misses them very much but her new school is so much better. She was way behind but has since caught up do to our switch of schools. And she was one of the smart ones in her classes at Carthay.
This review was posted by a parent.

Carthay has been great for my child! He is confident, comfortable and loves his many friends. Academically, my son has amazed us. Yes, he has homework in Kindergarten but he usually finishes it quickly and asks for more. He never cared for art in preschool but through Carthay s Arts Program, his interest and abilities have blossomed. Carthay Center has truly been a wonderful surprise.
This review was posted by a parent.

Disappointed in the preschool program. Lacks understanding of early childhood. Homework nightly. Not warm and cozy.
This review was posted by a parent.

While I am very pleased with the parental involvement, the diversity, the spanish in the preschool classroom and the FCC motivation, unfortunately this preschool is very much in the box. Creative thinking is not encouraged. Projects are precut, color in the lines, dittos; nothing left to the imagination. Homeowork is the same. Nightly coloring in the lines. Parenting classes are required.
This review was posted by a parent.

We love this school. Great community involvement. Teachers are outstanding. The school is small and there's a strong sense of community within it. A little involvement goes a long way here. Students are exposed to a wide range of experiences -- in the arts, field trips, computers, etc.
This review was posted by a parent.

There is an amazing group of parents, Friends of Carthay Center, who want nothing more than for Carthay Center to continue to excel. The FCC is highly committed to the school and has been striving and accomplishing great goals. The new field looks fantastic. Keep up the good work!
This review was posted by a parent.

School has good teachers that are very dedicated to the children. Not enough parent involvement in the PTA.
This review was posted by a parent.

I love the school. Great environment of a young child. Teachers are wonderful! Administration is very helpful.
This review was posted by a parent.

This review is for the pre-school program only. My daughter attended this school for about 4 months and we have found it to be an excellent school. She learnt something almost everyday and seemed excited about it. The teacher, Mrs.Ecker, who is in charge of the class is very dedicated and enthusiastic. She is very active and ensures that the students have something to do throughout the class. I would highly recommend the pre-school to anyone who is interested in having their children go to a place of learning, not some place where the only thing the children do is play on their own without supervision or watch television.
This review was posted by a parent.

I have been volunteering at Carthay Center over this past year. I have discovered that the school has much to offer in terms of an experienced and caring teaching staff, a welcoming principal, an energetic new assistant principal and many wonderful qualities too numerous to list. Carthay Center is one of the few schools to offer full-day kindergarten in the fall of 2004 and they will be incorporating the same blockwork program that Westwood Charter has used for years. Carthay Center is a small school which allows the teachers, students, and staff to develop a bond not found in larger schools. I look forward to entering my daughter in Kindergarten in the fall of 2005.
This review was posted by a parent.

I have been an active parent at Carthay for 8 years. My son graduated from Carthay and is now about to complete Emerson's Honors Program. My daughter is in 4th grade at Carthay. I serve as PTA President. While Carthay has faced many challenges, there have always been a core group of dedicated teachers, staff and parents who have worked to make it a better place for our children to learn, to achieve and to excel. A few years back, the state designated us an under-achieving school. The result was that a group of stakeholders, including teachers, parents, administrators and neighbors volunteered many hours to write a viable school plan. That plan has been implemented for the last few years and has resulted in increased test scores. Improvements will not be completed overnight but we expect continued success with the many wonderful plans we have put into place.
This review was posted by a parent.

My children went to this school many years ago. It was excellent. I now am a reading partner. The teachers have been very helpful and friendly. It would be great if there was a bit more of parent envolvement which seems to be coming.
This review was posted by a other.

There has been a high turnover of teachers this year and the quality of the teaching is very poor. My son has been in this school since first grade and the decline on all levels is painfully visible to myself, other parents (with the same history) and my son.
This review was posted by a parent.

There's is lots of involved parents. Most teachers supportive of the children and the goal is to motivate children to do thier best.
This review was posted by a parent.