Harvard-Westlake School Reviews

180 reviews

My overall experience at Harvard Westlake has been over the top. I am currently a 9th grade student, about to go into 10th, the faculty, teachers, and staff are super frinedly and provides help when needed. The kids here at Harvard Westlake are kind, smart, and inspiring, many of which are very talented. Overall, HW is an amazing place to send your kids.

My experience At HW has undoubtedly changed me. The community at Harvard Westlake is very inclusive. Many people say that the work load is immense, but with some good time-management you will get through; another thing is that HW has a lot of breaks sprinkled throughout the year. We get Rest and Relax Weekends one every quarter, Flex days every quarter, and even more Holidays and breaks in the school year. Overall, I would say that my experience there was amazing

A hard school in general, the counts of suicide rates represent the school. Most can already guess why these suicide rates even exist. The education is tough for those who aren't "naturally gifted." Teachers are pretty good, kids have meltdowns in class. Not only is the education tough but also the environment, "Everyone for themselves!" is basically plastered all over the students. Overall, everything is pretty easy and carefree except the education level and the community.

Review Harvard-Westlake School

The workload isn't even that hard if you are a smart kid. The school culture is like nothing I've ever seen. That's the real problem. It's like a business, not a school. No one has any sense of community, of "we." It's every man for themself. I'm in middle school and kids are already having mental breakdowns in class over grades. The social hierarchy might be worse. I mean, most of these kids are raised by people who care a lot about status, and that shows. I mean, that might just be LA private schools in general.

Look, many kids do well here. I know kids that love it, but I've also seen this school really break some people.

Great school, lots of opportunities and resources available to students. Great teachers, always make themselves available to students. Great prep for college, great for networking.

LOVE THIS SCHOOL AND I'M SO GLAD MY MOM SENT ME HERE. Amazing environment which gets you ready for college. Academics here are outstanding. Teachers and staff are willing to help. Overall, the tuition fee may be a bit expensive, but if you have enough money to go here, i recommend this school.

At Harvard-Westlake School, the campus exudes academic excellence and a vibrant community spirit. Students engage in rigorous coursework, propelled by passionate and accomplished faculty. The emphasis on critical thinking and intellectual curiosity fosters a stimulating academic environment.Beyond academics, the school offers an array of extracurricular activities, from competitive sports teams to award-winning arts programs. The tight-knit community supports personal growth and fosters lifelong friendships. Harvard-Westlake's commitment to community service encourages students to make a positive impact beyond the campus walls. The school's prestigious reputation opens doors for unique opportunities, including guest speakers, workshops, and access to top-tier colleges.

My journey at Harvard-Westlake, from grades 7 to 11, has been a rollercoaster of growth, self-discovery, and meaningful connections. The academic challenges pushed me to explore my interests, and the diverse array of subjects expanded my horizons. The teachers, with their passion for teaching, made learning more than just a task; it became a journey of intellectual curiosity. Beyond the classroom, the multitude of extracurricular activities allowed me to explore my talents and develop a more well-rounded identity, for example, starting on both the varsity football and volleyball team. The sense of community at Harvard-Westlake, especially in my senior year, has solidified the place as a second home. As I stand on the cusp of graduation, I reflect on the friendships, lessons, and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. Harvard-Westlake has not just been a school; it's been a transformative chapter preparing me for the exciting journey that lies ahead.

Harvard-Westlake School has prepared me for college and opened so many doors for me as a first generation college student. With amazing mentorship and guidance from faculty and students, anything is possible when you attend this school.

I loved it so much and met such amazing people here. The staff is so supportive and there are so many resources that students can take advantage of!

Academically, the school is stellar. Teachers (often PhDs) care about teaching and get to know students well in 8:1 ratio class.

The social atmosphere can be daunting, as there are many ambitious kids here who fill their schedules to the brim (as my student does) and run short on the downtime needed to form new friendships. It is high school, after all, where discovering one’s self & one’s place in the social order is a big part of the mission. This can be tough at HW: in a school with so many stand-outs, kids who are used to being big fish in little ponds can feel, initially, intimidated and insignificant. This can be a humbling experience.

But this is also the value of a school like HW: learning how to be inspired by the excellence around you, rather than feeling diminished by it. Students come to know themselves and evaluate their strengths and gifts more closely and soberly. By doing so they are better able to pitch their efforts and fine-tune their future contributions.

Excellent school. Very satisfied with this Institution. The academics are superior. I will definitely recommend this School.
Very nice campus and the families are great.

Harvard-Westlake is very competitive and demanding. Every day I was pushed, and it was very difficult. I took great classes with cool teachers and driven peers. One thing that helped me was the clubs and athletics. My track team gave me a terrific community off the track and an outlet for my energy. I liked how they gave responsibility during my time there. Freedom to do things my own way really helped me learn and get ready for college. It was hard to excel in academics and athletics at Harvard Westlake because there never seemed to be a break. I wish there was more relaxation and less worry in the atmosphere. Being average, I experienced social and academic isolation at times. The school's students aren't the friendliest or most welcoming, making it cliquey. There was a lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity at the institution too. Since HW attracts white, wealthy families who make up the majority of HW's student body, I would like to see the school focus more diversity overall.

I wish the environment was less stressful and felt more relaxing, but I do feel that the school overall prepares us for college in an efficient way. I never truly understood what it feels like to actually understand history and why certain behaviors repeated themselves before going to Harvard Westlake. Instead, history used to be all about memorizing the current topic before forgetting it by the time the next unit rolls around.

Harvard-Westlake is a diverse, opportunistic school where you can strive for the best. My favorite parts of the school are the library and the dance studio. I would love to see growth in Middle Eastern studies and Culture.

I've had a great personal and academic experience at HW. I entered in seventh grade so I'll have been here for a total of six years. I think the academics were very challenging and great prep for the beyond. I think most people here would agree with me in saying that it was pretty tough. Some may take the side that it was too tough, but I think most kids knew that coming in.

I've had some really great teachers who have made learning fun. The school environment and other kids + some teachers + other parents and administrators have created this environment that really will destroy a kid. The workload isn't even that bad but the pressure put on kids is horrible. I always wanted to do Journalism and writing but felt pushed to do business or science because that's what made money or was successful. There are amazing opportunities here, don't get me wrong I am so lucky, but I felt like middle school is a time for trying new things, and I felt like I should have already been good at things when I got here and there wasn't room to fail. Even if your kid is #1 in their class, if they have any sort of anxiety I would think about going somewhere else. This school is not for everyone, and it sure wasn't for me. I know people who have had a wonderful time here, so keep that in mind as well.

Review Harvard-Westlake School

Pros: great teachers, great facility, very high level education and freedom when choosing classes, academically challenging and interesting courses, nice and friendly teachers
Cons: extremely cutthroat academic competition, everyone is crazy about college, cliquey

Fantastic and our matriculation is great! We are by far the best in the country!!!! Love Harvard-Westlake, incredibly with their sports, academics and more.

Harvard Westlake is challenging, but I am 100% confident that it will prepare me for college. I've asked students who graduated from HW, if college is harder and many have said that it is equivalent or easier. Overall, though the school is very hard, I think that it is a great place to go if you want your child to attend a prestigious college

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