Foshay Learning Center in Burbank, California

“I give the teachers in this school a 10 for effort but I am not satisfied with the direction the school is headed. Tension is visible between ethnic groups! Instead of ignoring this behavior, there should be programs implemented that would allow people to work closely together, and therefore get past their differences.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Whoever wrote that review must have had an agenda, because they left out some very important facts. According to Foshay s website, the high school has 650 students. The elementary school has even less. Out of 3,300 students, over 2000 are in grades 6, 7 or 8. Foshay is a middle school! Notice the last reviewer did not say anything about the middle school. So how is the middle school? It s a little better than some in South Los Angeles. If your children are high achievers they can get a good education in the middle school. If your middle school child is low, or even average, Foshay is just a typical South L.A. middle school. It is located in one of the 11 gang reduction zones. Low or average middle school students will be placed in classes where very little learning is going to happen. That is reflected in the middle school test scores. Check those out. They tell the real story. They are just slightly better than the worst middle schools in South L.A. Don t confuse the high school and elementary school with the middle school. They are not the same. Also the recent scandals should point out the obvious. The administration is not in control of the school as they were in years past. 3,300 students is too big for a middle school and too big for the current administration to handle.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I read some of the reviews and I am shocked! Foshay is still the best school around! They have one of the highest graduation rates in the District and one of the lowest dropout rates. Kids like my grandchildren, still get accepted into the top colleges. Foshay is always in that Newsweek Magazine that features the best high schools every year. The old principal, Mr. Lappin turned the school around. The new principal, Ms.Wills has made it more positive if you ask me. Kids travel to other countries now, they have this great Robotics Team (very few in the District), the elementary test scores and a lot of the high school's are better than the state's. I just wish it weren't so crowded. And, I like that the principal and other people greet the students at the door in the morning and the kids seem calmer.”
This review was posted by a other.

“This used to be better school many years ago, however, currently is on probation. The best teachers eventually leave, parents are shunned from true involvement, bad teachers and administrators are welcomed. The problem of this schoo is the same problem that affects all south central and poor neigborhoods run by the LAUSD. The teacher's union, lack of parent involvement, as well as political leaders who are afraid of confronting these simple realities, and are unwilling to act and take the hard descisions. In the end we had to leave, to a better school disctrict, unfortunatelly for most of the thousands of kids left that is not an option. It hurst to see so much money being wasted, and squandered, and even more sad to see continous student's generations without a deserving true education.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The school's administration seems to be in a state of crisis; they canceled homeroom, so nobody really knows what's going on until they INTERRUPT ACADEMIC TIME to talk about the after school dance or some Jr Hi only activity. Next they canceled the 'tolerate no tardies' program which helped turn the school around 15 years ago. So now hundreds of kids are late to school everyday in a neighborhood where education doesn't seem to come first anyway! Help!!”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“Principal is unresponsive and does not make decisions. The school will not OT students, because it will make the the school look bad. Many classes are out of control with no administration support of teacher discipline. More emphasis should be placed on helping the teachers with enhancing student exam skills, instead of punishing them for making too many copies.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“All of my kids have gone to Foshay. Even since the last principal left, Mr. Lappin, the school has not changed. They still get kids into the best colleges, it's still relatively safe, the staff is very caring, the elementary test scores are awesome, the middle school's are getting better! Ms. Wills, the new principal is very caring and supportive of the teachers and parents. I heard they just got their Accreditation renewed and again are in Newsweek Magazine's Top American High Schools (2001, 2003, 2005, 2006.)”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great school. I was able to go to mit thanks to foshay and the teachers”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Excellent academic program and a great environment in which to learn. The program is designed to inspire and challenge the student, should be a model for all inner city schools.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“THe quality of the academic program is better than the other local high schools, but it is still no where as good as it should be. There are great teachers there, but about 25% of them are terrible and are only out for themselves. The adminsitration is terribly unresponsive to the needs of parents. I wish Mr. Lapping would come back. This is a totally different school since he's been gone.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son has been at Fosay for 1yr. I feel the teachers are not as supportive. I total disagree with the grading system,because when there is a problem with your childs grades after you recieve there report card no ones seems to have any answers. Although my son is content with the program as a parent Fosay needs to find a better system when it comes to concerned parents that care about there childs education.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Surrounding area leaves a lot to be desired, but the teachers are highly qualified and seem to care about student progress and success.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“I think it is an okay school. Most of the teachers seem to care [for] their students.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Horrible administration - unresponsive to parents.”
This review was posted by a administrator.

“Foshay is an inner-city school with many challenges, (low-income area, overcrowding, English as a Second Language students) that affect many similary schools but with all of its challenges Foshay has seemingly overcome them and provided a place where over 90% of its graduates are accepted into colleges and universities.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a former student of Foshay, who has siblings still attending. I am saddened to say that the quality of this school has slowly been decaying. They changed themselves to an 8 period school for the 04-05 school year only to change back to the 6 period block. I am saddened to say that this school did not really prepare me for college life, they do not offer enough AP or honor courses. -Bertha Class of '04”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Its a very academically strong school.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I think that since Howard Lappin left this school has been in great need of better leadership. The teachers are trying as hard as they can to help our children but they often times lack support from the administration. I think that as long as someone with more experience takes over the school should be fine.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Foshay has a wonderful 'Beyond The Bell' program. Not only are the students afforded tutoring and help in English and Math [even Calculus], they and their parents are also offered an array of family resources including the 'Familyhood Map' training enforcing communication, appreciation, and life skllls. It makes such a difference. All parents or students have to do is contact Assistant Principal Regina Boutte whose heart and purpose is to provide students and their families with best resources.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I had my son attend 2yrs at foshay special ed. Program. He had no progress the whole time there. Now I have a daughter there who is failing all her classes the tract system is failing our children the teachers fail to keep parents current on childs progress.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I have been watching the activities of this school for numerous reasons. If you re claiming to be one of the best schools in the Los Angeles District; why are numerous activities happening? The safety of the students is questionable. Ms.Wills administration should be in question. On several occasions I have tried to contact Ms. Wills to no avail. Ms.Wills refusal to return calls; she had her secretary call back. It took Mr. Howard Lappin nearly 10 years to change the way the school operated. Mr. Lappin had established a strong reputation in the community an authentication to the efforts of a several administrators and educators whose mission was to set the school back on track. Obviously, this is not the case for Ms. Wills or the current administration. The gangs and drugs are back.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Excellent school! Students, parents and teachers work very hard to create a safe and wonderful learning environment.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Teachers take a long time returning parent phone call. Teachers wait too long to tell the parent that their child is not performing up to his/her ability. Report cards take a long time to reach the home, by the time it is received it is well into the middle of the next semester.”
This review was posted by a parent.