Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) School in Burbank, California

“I love the way SMASH supports my grandson in his curiosity and drive, helps him organize his energy so it's useful to him, and helps him develop the tools he needs to connect with others and the world around him. It's always a delight to pick him up at school, to hear about his day and his projects, and what he does with his friends and in his classroom.”
This review was posted by a other.

“Easy going school, fun for kids and parents, but academically weak in many areas. Reading/writing is great, but very, very weak in math and there is barely any science there. Too bad, since the school has a lot to offer, it's small and intimate, teachers and staff are caring, families and kids feel part of a community, they treat kids with respect and teach them to act responsibly. All of that is fantastic, but for SMASH to be a great school, it needs to improve on actual education.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“It's a great school that teaches children to love learning. The kids get all the skills they'd get in any other school, but at SMASH they remain curious, active participants in their education. The school has a dedicated staff and administration, but could not do what they do without a strong PTSO. The parents take up where the state and city leave off. In these tough economic times, it is really what makes the difference.”
This review was posted by a other.

“Love the amazing community and the sensitivity and insight brought to each child. Very child centered approach to learning and my Kindergartner is on fire to do/learn more w/ engaging, experiential learning and well contained classroom. One query- why are the APIs so low when other 'alternative' type schools have good scores (such as OPEN Charter and Ocean Charter). I think the standardized testing can become a tyrant- informing all that goes on (much of it rote) in classrooms, but it's good for kids to be able to be strong thinkers and have some of hte traditional skills. What can SMASH learn from alternative schools whose students seem to have both skill sets?”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This an amazing school. There is a robust social curriculum as well as an amazing academic one! The children learn to love learning, to be independent critical thinkers and to be responsible, caring members of a community!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is so amazing - my son is learning so much and really loves going to school - the teachers are exciting and interesting and everyone is very involved in the day to day activities. Bravo SMASH!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We love SMASH. It is a smaller school and children get a lot of attention and room to explore their own interests while developing socially. The progressive eduction is surprisingly academic and the school has very high standards for education. In response to another review, I'm aware that one class had a large number of energetic challenging students that sometimes were rambunctious. This is the exception, not the rule. Generally SMASH has a high degree of parent participation in the classroom and is able to help a wide range of kids succeed. Much time is spent helping the students communicate with each other and work out issues. A wonderful school!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great, progressive curriculum but disruptive and harsh social environment. Kids are left to 'fend for themselves' and sort out social problems without help from the teachers, which leads to a gang-like atmousphere. We are VERY disappointed in the social curriculum and probably won't stay at this school. If you have a sensitive, highly intelligent child, there are better places to look.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“SMASH is a great school. My daughter has developed so much, not just academically but also as a person. SMASH offers a wonderful learning environment and has great teachers. What I like the most is that my daughter doesn't feel stressed about her work load but excited to learn more.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“its an exellent system my daughter goes there”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I don't go a day when I am not thankful that my daughter goes to SMASH. The teachers and staff are great, and the method of teaching creates an group of kids who are thinking for one's self, while respecting each other's ideas. I feel like the way they learn is preparing them for college - even when they are only in kindergarten or first grade!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“SMASH is a school of choice. Students are chosen from a lottery so most parents are like minded in their vision for progessive education. There isn't a one size fits all mentality. Students are encouraged to work at a pace that is comfortable and at the same time challenging for themselves. The student body is small (20-22 kids per grade) so the community is very tight. Middle school kids have reading buddies in the lower grades and there is an absence of bullying and peer pressure. Our experience so far has been fantastic.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Everyday we feel lucky to come to this school. And we feel that it's not only a school, it's a community. Students, parents and teachers are all involved. It's a smaller school with tighter focus per child than larger schools. By the way, SMASH has art, music and language programs that are funded by the SMASH PTSA. Speaking of the PTSA, there is an incredible amount of parent involvement at this school. Lots of fundraisers (though no more than other public school and possibly less than some private schools) which help to build that community feeling along with funds for special programs.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Great school. Loved it!”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“SMASH is a great school for parents who are seeking a developmental approach for their child's education. Positives attributes include: Small school (190 kids from K-8), high parent involvement, good sense of community and responsibility for kids, real world curriculum for all subjects, 2 year looping classrooms with same teachers. Negatives include: loose adademic standards, no measurable quantitative assessments to track child's progress, risk of kids with learning disabilities falling through the cracks, no dedicated special education classes,small school does not benefit from district wide programs that are offered at larger campuses, such as art and music classes, special ed/ gifted programs. Also, SMASH is occasionally threatened (more often than other schools with district) with funding cuts due to the small student population. Current (2005) Principal is a first time administrator, from a middle school teacher background at the school site. Has a reputation of tending to side with teachers over parent”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter had the privilege of attending SMASH this past year and I was overwhelmed with how well the school is run and supported. The Principal, Carrie, and the infamous Janice are the most wonderful women I have met. The school curriculum itself seems to be focused on helping the kids to be responsible for their own work as well as their behavior. The structure of the school is primarily based on parent involvement and altogether is run liberally. There are a wide variety of extracurricular activities the children can choose from. The after-school programs are also well structured and the have a great staff as well. All I can say is....I wish there were more schools like this around these days.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My best friend doughter has been atebding this scool and she has said to me that her doughtr academic performance was very high due to a high standarts at this school. SM elementary is a Catholic school where the children come first. Each child is encouraged to do their personal best without being labeled as the smart or dumb kids. The teachers are highly skilled and work hard to bring out the best in each child. The principal is kind and knows each child by name. My friend thanks Santa Monisa school for bringing out the best in her doughter and give her the encouragement and confidence she needed to go out into the world!”
This review was posted by a parent.