Steps for Public School Parents
Check your residence boundary through the LAUSD Resident School Finder.
Apply for permit or magnet through the Choices portal every spring (deadlines matter!).
Start early: TK and Kinder help you build a long-term edge in magnet points, permit eligibility, and program placement.
Read our Magnet Schools Guide for pro tips, hacks, and timeline reminders.
What Families Should Know
🎟️ Permit vs. Zoned Schools:
If your neighborhood school isn’t your vibe, you can apply for a “permit” to attend another LAUSD school. Permits offer great opportunities, but aren’t always guaranteed and need to be renewed every year (LAUSD Permit Guide).
🔄 Magnet Programs:
Interested in dual-language, STEM, arts, or other themed academies? Check out magnet options and start early - TK/elementary magnet points boost your odds for middle and high school choices (Magnet Points System).
⏳ Timing Matters:
Permit and magnet applications open every spring. Miss the window and it’s the long, sad wait until next year - set 12 reminders and tell your friends.
2025 Westside Elementary School Comparison Chart
School | Program Type | Campus Specialties | After-School Care | **Languages | Equity Access Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mar Vista Elementary | Neighborhood (TK-5) | Arts, music, STEM labs | Yes | English | High scores (82% math), diverse |
Westminster Ave Elementary (Magnet) | Math/Tech Magnet | Tech, math, environmental studies | Yes | English | Magnet status = lottery entry |
Grand View Blvd Elementary | Spanish Immersion | Spanish immersion, diverse | Yes | Spanish | 90:10 model, strong bilingual vibe |
Broadway Elementary | Dual Lang. Magnet | Mandarin & Spanish immersion | Yes | Mandarin/Sp | High-performing, creative/arts crowd |
Coeur d'Alene Ave Elementary | Neighborhood (TK-5) | STEM lab, gardening, music | Yes | English | Strong enrichment, rated highly |
Short Avenue Elementary | IB/STEAM Neighborhood | STEAM, IB curriculum, Latin, chess | Yes | English | IB = inquiry-based, small, community |
Beethoven Street Elementary | Neighborhood (TK-5) | Coding, arts, GATE, sports | Yes | English | Small TK-5, active parent group |
Citizens Of The World Charter (K-8) | Charter/Progressive | Diversity, arts, project-based | Yes | English | Lottery-based, strong access effort |
Sources: LAUSD, Public School Review, school links above
Elementary School Deep Dives
Mar Vista Elementary
Vibe check: Big, welcoming campus. Art shows, student chorus, engaged parent volunteers.
Equity note: High diversity; strong achievement. LAUSD offers after-school clubs via partners (U.S. News & LAUSD site).
Parent Insight (Reddit): "Teachers are kind and ambitious - lots of arts and STEM, easy to join PTA."
Scores: 82% math, 84% reading proficient.
Specials: Art, music, regular assemblies (Parent anecdote).
Westminster Avenue Magnet
Vibe check: Small school feel, but lots of science kits, outdoor gardens, hands-on math. Magnet status means diversity and busy parent rosters (LAUSD Magnet Guide).
Parent Insight (Facebook): "This school is so magical - the staff actually likes teaching"
Equity note: Lottery entry; many students bus from outside the zone.
Grand View Boulevard Elementary (Spanish Immersion)
Vibe check: Playgrounds in English and Spanish, multicultural festivals, immersive learning.
Parent Insight: "Half the families meet at Churros Calientes after drop-off for Spanish practice."
Specials: True 90:10 Spanish immersion, diverse mix (Reddit anecdote).
Equity note: Lottery access; preference for dual-immersion continuation.
Broadway Elementary
Vibe check: Bright murals, bilingual assemblies, high parent involvement. Mandarin and Spanish classes run deep (many kids are tri-lingual by 5th grade).
Parent Insight: "Teachers are high-energy, creative, always adding something new."
Specials: Only dual Mandarin/Spanish immersion option in LAUSD (Public School Review).
Equity note: Magnet lottery, sibling priority.
Coeur d'Alene Avenue Elementary
Vibe check: Well-rated, with GATE, arts, and hands-on gardening. Kids love the music program (year-round concerts).
Parent Insight: "The after-school program is a hidden gem, tons of activities, strong supervision" (Venice FB group).
Equity note: Neighborhood-based; GATE clusters inside.
Short Avenue Elementary
Vibe check: IB curriculum = global projects, chess, robotics. STEAM focus.
Parent Insight: "Small size means the principal knows every kid by name, good vibe."
Specials: IB, STEAM, Latin, chess, theater.
Equity note: Local and open enrollment, priority by lottery.
Beethoven Street Elementary
Vibe check: Smaller campus, lots of art and sports, GATE program, coding club.
Parent Insight (Reddit): "Lots of hands-on activities, active parent association."
Equity note: Zoned, community-focused; checks diversity boxes.
Citizens Of The World Charter (Mar Vista)
Vibe check: Project-based, diverse classrooms, strong arts and parent engagement.
Parent Insight: "Feels like a progressive private school but it's public and inclusive."
Equity note: Charter lottery - aims for diversity and academic rigor (Public School Review).
How Permits, Magnets, and Points Work
Permit: Lets your child attend a non-zoned school. Apply annually. Priority for sibling, employment, safety, special education, or ongoing enrollment (LAUSD Permit Info).
Magnet Points: Get more points for time on the waitlist, PHBAO status, overcrowding, and siblings enrolled (Magnet Points System).
Lottery: Magnets and charters run by lottery; some magnets have sibling and “continuation” priority.
Deadlines: Choices applications Feb-April. Don’t miss these!
Deadline (Choices)
The LAUSD Choices application opens every year from February to April—and missing it is the #1 way to lose your shot at magnets, dual language programs, and other special options for next fall. “Choices” is the unified LAUSD application portal for all district lotteries, including magnet programs, language immersion, specialized academies, and some popular permit schools. Parents log in, pick up to three choices per child, rank their favorites, and submit all paperwork online (no paper lost at the bottom of backpacks!).
TIPS:
Rank your absolute dream pick first, and don’t “game” the system - LAUSD considers each preference in order.
Put your attendance zone school on your form as a backup, just in case you don’t win a spot elsewhere.
Apply for every magnet or special program you’re remotely interested in for TK and K years - even if you’re not sure! Extra “waitlist” years earn magnet points, which supercharge your chances for middle & high school placements later.
Once your application is in, you’ll get lottery results a few months later: celebration, heartbreak, or a little bit of both. If you get waitlisted, mark your calendar to check your status again (sometimes spots open at the last minute). And if you miss the spring window? There is a late application period, but those spots are much harder to come by, so set every phone alarm possible and tell your co-parents, neighbors, and grandma to remind you!
Find the Choices portal here: choices.lausd.net
Equity Note
LAUSD serves an incredibly diverse population - some campuses get extra enrichment grants and equity support thanks to programs like the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) and Priority Schools (LAUSD Diversity Office). Achievement gaps persist in some areas, but the district is investing in new initiatives to close them.
Glossary (LAUSD Elementary Edition)
Affiliated Charter: LAUSD-run with extra flexibility
Independent Charter: Not managed by LAUSD, lottery-based, no neighborhood guarantee
Magnet: Theme-based, open to all LAUSD, lottery admission, magnet points matter
PHBAO: Program for Highly Bused, Affordably Overcrowded schools—affects point priority
SAS: School for Advanced Studies (gifted/advanced clusters in a regular campus)
GATE: Gifted And Talented Education program—clustered classes, not always a magnet
Dual Language Immersion: Academic instruction in two languages, continues into middle/high
Permit: Annual application to attend outside your home zone; priorities for special needs, sibling, childcare, etc.
Zone of Choice: Option to select from a list, not just your nearest school
Neighborhood School: Assigned based on your address, always available
Parent FAQ
How do I find enrichment programs? Check the school’s site, talk to the office, join the PTA/Booster Club (they have the scoop).
Is a spot in the magnet/charter guaranteed? Nope, always have a Plan B.
How do I get a real sense of school culture? TOUR!, talk to current parents, join a local Facebook or Reddit group.
Did we miss your school?
Send us a note at [email protected] - we’ll update it asap!
Sources for Added Info
Local parent forums: Reddit LAUSD, Venice Families Facebook Group
