Westerly School of Long Beach

Best School Ever! I have a great time evreyday and have many opportunities ahead of me because this school set me up for success. You have many activities and things to help you develop your personal opinion, and they do a great job ensuring that we have great learning experience. There is no one left behind at this school :) And the other people who say it is a bad school are salty :(

amazing school im exited to be going everyone is friendly and fun and they have great classes with guitars all over the walls of the music room to clay and glass making in art.

Fantastic school.

I graduated in 2011. I have many memories that I wish I could experience once again. Good times. Great School!

In Long Beach, there are basically two types of students....those who attend Westerly and those who wished they did. My wife and I stumbled on to Westerly for our son who at that time was entering kindergarten after touring our home public school which is considered one of the best in LBUSD. But given the budget cuts, we looked and found Westerly. Its approach to teaching the entire student academically, culturally, musically, artistically, physically, and linguistically, i.e. Spanish for kinders, blew us away. (You have to take a tour to truly appreciate what Westerly has to offer.) The small student to teach ratio allows for individual attention and development. There about about 20 or less students per class with a full time teacher and an aide. Moreover, the faculty is fantastic. They care and invest their energy and time to each student. There is an open door policy from the Head of the School down to the administration and teachers. There is clear communication with regards to what is being taught, how it is being taught, and what is going on campus. Further, the campus is clean, safe, and modern. Parents' involvement is high. Heck, even before school started, the parents got together for a summer bbq to meet and know each other and have continued to do so with holiday parties. Presently, both our children attend Westerly. Yes, the tuition is high but if you can afford it, it is worth every penny. The children will gain the confidence and skills that they'll need to be successful in high school, college, and eventually life outside of the academic world. Each year, each member of the 8th grade graduating class gives a speech at Graduation.The level of confidence, skills, maturity, honesty, and rawness of those speeches literally bring tears to parents and the audience. I am looking forward to the day when my children give that speech. That said, Westerly is not for everyone. There is a rigorous screening process during which the kids are assessed and the parents are interviewed.The school prizes itself on bringing in families who care about their children education and who will be actively involved. It is an independent school in which children with behavioral problems will be asked to leave. However, it is not an elitist school. The school offers generous scholarships to families who need assistance. Its student population is reflective of the diverse community of Long Beach. If you are considering Westerly, the best way to obtain information is simply visit the campus and talk to other Westerly parents.