La Mesa Arts Academy

Posted: March 11, 2022

Both my kids attend LMAAC, and so far the experience has been good despite the effects of the pandemic. My daughter will be going to HS next year and has had the opportunity to be in two years of culinary which she's appreciated.
My son is in choir which wasn't his first choice, but he's done well, and I think performing has been a good experience for him.
I don't think that they have particularly rigorous academics, but I do feel like they're learning what they should.
I wish they had the opportunity to learn a second language, but I feel great about all of the arts opportunities my kids have as they are both creative.

Posted: March 11, 2022

Posted: March 11, 2022

Posted: March 11, 2022

Posted: March 11, 2022

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Posted: March 11, 2022

Posted: March 11, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2020

Education is ok, staff is it not professional. They need to remember their teachers not parents

Posted: March 4, 2020

Too much for each class . Students are out too late . Be realistic, having an extra class is not an opportunity for them per their words .

Posted: March 4, 2020

Not professional including principal and office staff

Posted: March 4, 2020

No when an issue arises they don’t know how to handle and talk down so students they don’t practice what they preach

Posted: March 4, 2020

They’re worried about other things not social skills

Posted: March 4, 2020

Posted: March 4, 2020

Seen it happen not handled by staff correctly

Posted: December 10, 2019

Our experience at this school has been horrible and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Send your children somewhere better.

Posted: December 10, 2019

The school punishes compassion and does not take bullying seriously. If a child is injured at the school the injured child will be punished by staff. Children learn not to trust the staff.

Posted: December 10, 2019

The school frequently punishes victims of bullying for reporting bullying. In extreme circumstances they might punish the bully, but they will give the victim the same exact punishment or worse regardless of the situation. They have zero compassion or ability to teach peaceful social skills.

Posted: July 28, 2019

Posted: July 28, 2019

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Posted: July 28, 2019

Posted: July 28, 2019

Posted: July 28, 2019

Great School. Staff very friendly and always willing to go the extra mile when helping students and parents.

Posted: December 30, 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

Posted: December 30, 2018

My student enrolled in 7th grade after moving to the area. He was welcomed easily and completely among the student body, making the transition relatively painless. I have been impressed with the school's ability to provide a strong academic foundation, experience and opportunity in the arts, and a very inclusive social structure. Strong parent support and committed leadership make LMAAC a very good school. I look forward to my second child starting fourth grade at LMAAC when the time comes.

Posted: November 27, 2018

If you're not a model student who listens rapturously to boring lectures you can end up standing outside the classroom door in a time out.

Posted: November 27, 2018

I've seen teachers bullying students, yelling, breaking things in class, using insulting language.

Posted: November 27, 2018

One kid got through OK and is at Helix but she was lucky to have had some of the best instructors and she was a model student. My other kid in 7th grade gets bored when the teaching is poor and had a completely different experience with a few teachers that really had an attitude and were very poor communicators. Teachers seem to be able to conduct themselves in the classroom with impunity and no oversight. Grading can be unfair with an excused absence resulting in a F grade in PE? Can't wait for this to be over.

Posted: November 27, 2018

Very poor follow up on questions related to homework with a number of teachers.

Posted: November 27, 2018

There are some good teachers but a number of the instructors are poor communicators, read lessons from the book, and have poor disciplinary practices that do not contribute to student success

Posted: November 27, 2018

Sometimes. They try at least on the surface. I know it isn't easy running a school managing parents, students, and faculty.

Posted: November 27, 2018

Poor faculty management, patronizing attitude. Principal seems out of her depth.

Posted: December 22, 2017

Posted: December 22, 2017

Posted: December 22, 2017

Posted: December 22, 2017

I’d honestly rate the school as a 9/10

Posted: December 22, 2017

Posted: December 22, 2017

Posted: December 22, 2017

Posted: September 17, 2017

It's been touch and go. Hoping to see some improvement

Posted: August 13, 2017

I like their philosophy of recognizing that kids can be mean, but that doesn't always equate to bullying. They deal with the spectrum of unkind behaviors appropriately.

Posted: August 13, 2017

Posted: August 13, 2017

Posted: August 13, 2017

Posted: August 13, 2017

Posted: August 13, 2017

In 7th & 8th grades, they offer multiple tracks for kids who learn best at different speeds. This has been great for my child who enjoys going at a faster pace and was frequently bored in school before.

Posted: August 13, 2017

This school has been a big benefit for my children. I have two children attending and the school meets both of their needs. My older daughter has found "her tribe" here - I've seen her become closer with her group of friends than ever before, that's partially because the "artsy kids" are attracted to this school, so there's more kids like her here. But also, the kids are supported for where and who they are by the administration.

It is a BIG school. That can feel overwhelming, especially at first. But both of my kids now feel comfortable navigating the space. Especially since they separate the age groups into different parts of the campus, creating a micro-campus spaces for grades 4-6 & 7-8. However, they still intermingle and have the benefits of that experience.

I know the state test scores are questionable. Having said that, I have seen an increase in their results since coming to this school. So they are learning something! Also, I am so impressed with having a real, trained PE teacher for my kids.

The one big issue is one front office staff - the point person that you speak with when you enter the main office - is difficult do deal with. If you happen to have a forgetful child (I do. Guess what? I'm also forgetful. It's an incurable 'condition'.), woe unto you. I happen to parent in a way where IF I have the time, I will go bring them their forgotten lunch or folder. IF I don't, then, nope, they gotta deal with the consequences. But I do try to demonstrate compassion and I do explain to them that I have gone out of my way to help them. This office person is snarky and rude the 4 times I dropped something off, assuming I'm a parent who over-indulges my kids. My kids don't want to talk to her, either. They will walk by the office window and if she's in there, keep on going. They had paperwork to turn in on the due date and had forgotten a photo to include at home. I was going to drop off the photo when I came to pick them up. She told them they couldn't. Another office lady said it was fine and kids turned it in all the time without the photo.

I do understand that it must be tiring. However, that's the position. If she lost her compassion, then maybe she isn't the right person to be there.

Having said that - she is the only issue I have had with this wonderful school.

Posted: August 1, 2017

Both of my children grew tremendously during their time at LMAAC. Not only were they able to develop their skills in the arts (instrumental music, dance, theater, art), it was not at the expense of academics which were treated with the utmost importance. Their skills and knowledge were paired with leadership skills and character that LMAAC really works hard to develop in all their students. You can tell this is a staff that cares about the students and the kind of people they grow up to be.

Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: August 1, 2017

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Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: August 1, 2017

Posted: August 1, 2017

We had two children attend LMAAC, one with a mediocre experience and the other with a terrible one.

Classroom teachers were fine, nothing stellar but nothing bad. (Too much homework.)

The real problem with LMAAC is absolutely terrible leadership in need of a reboot from top to bottom. You'll be lucky to avoid their inconsistent, oftentimes counter-productive approach to discipline, which teeter-totters between allowing their favorites to do whatever they want then over-zealously punishing those they don't like in hopes they'll leave. This fosters a toxic environment where the students avoid the administration at all cost.

Lastly, it's unclear what makes them consider themselves an "arts academy." It's just a traditional school.