The Canyon School, Inc.

Unfortunately I have to give it a bad rating. Maybe not the school per se. We went there and my daughter, my husband and I loved it. Everybody seemed really nice. So I filled out the application with the check I sent it in and waited and hoped to hear from them soon. They said that my daughter will get onto the waiting list until she turns 2. She was 23 month when I sent it in. They cashed the application fee check, but I never heard from them again. No letter, phone call or email. Right after her 2^nd birthday I called to check in. Until today no one ever called me back or tried to contact me in any form. How can you leave someone in their care if simple administration tasks cannot be handled in a courteous and polite manner. We as a family are very disappointed, we had really high hopes for this place.

I’ve been at the Canyon school for over 3 ½ years and we have 3 kids attending there. I can not fully express the gratitude and love I have for the school. It is my sanctuary and home away from home.
We have healthy delicious lunches that the parents prepare themselves, projects that enhance the lesson plan for the week, dance, music and sports!
It is a play base school and therefore the kids organically learn how to negotiate, apologize, and stand up for themselves. There is «share day» once a week so the kids practice how to articulate and story tell in front of their peers.
The director has tremendous wisdom and insight to raising resilient and loving kids. She is extremely hands on, firm and FULL of heart! The school has a small intimate feel so you really get to know the parents and kids on a daily bases. My favorite part of the coop is all the information exchange and support you get when being at the school. It is a struggle and a joy to raise these miraculous creatures and to do it with a group of like-​minded parents is such a blessing! It takes a whole village to raise a child and I couldn’t imagine doing it without the Canyon school tribe!

My oldest and dearest friends are the ones I made at Canyon School back in the 80s. I loved my experience there so much that we decided to enroll our kids. It’s a wonderful hands-​on learning environment full of joy. And the fact that it’s a co-​op means that parents get to take part in the fun, too!

With so many choices for the parents of a pre-​school age child the mind boggles. We came to Canyon School originally drawn because we not only heard great things (one of the oldest and most respected co-​ops in Los Angeles) but also because the cost of tuition was significantly lower than the other schools we visited because it is a co-​op.
They say it takes a village and Canyon School will become an extension of your family. Due to the hands-​on involvement of all the parents everyone knows every child there. Let’s see a conventional pre-​school boast that! We all share in not only helping (with our wonderful teachers Miss Celia and Miss Nikkia) to nurture the children but also to watch generations of Canyon School kids develop and grow into well-​adjusted and school-​ready young people. Make sure to come see the school ASAP because enrollment fills up quickly every year.

Canyon Co-​op is amazing! It is a gem hidden in the middle of Hollywood My 4 year old daughter started at Canyon a year ago and my son loved being there so much he began attending the minute he turned 2. We have found a wonderful family at Canyon School and could not dream of being anywhere else.
The emphasis at Canyon (which is a play based school) is on the emotional and social growth of a child. The teachers are wonderful and, as it is a co op, there are always several parents working so I know that my children are being well cared for. There are constant opportunities for play through art, music, dance, sports, books, nature (the kids are out in the play yard 90% of the day) and the children have the freedom to discover what inspires them.
While I love the fun and freedom of this fantastic little place, seeing the confidence, empathy and curiosity it has inspired in my children has me convinced there is no better preschool.

I love this school! Being in a co-​op has been great in so many ways, but for me, the best part has been being able to see what my child is doing at school. (You know, because it’s hard to let go!) It’s full of fun, music, dance, sports, and there are art projects all the time. Loving teachers, cool parents and great kids. My son started in the toddler program and has been flourishing. If you have the time to give to a co-​op, I highly recommend this school. If you have a 2 year old and want to check it out and get them around other kids, I recommend joining the toddler program!

My son LOVES Canyon co-​op. He has become so much more social and looks forward to going to school. The teachers are amazing and the parents become your best friends. If you’re looking for a co-​op, this is the place to be and it is so affordable!

Canyon Co-​op has been such a God send for me and my family!!! I have a 3 year old son who was previously enrolled at a pre-​school for a short term which wasn’t a good fit for him, so we removed him from the pre-​school very shortly afterward. In our quest to find the right fit and environment for our son, especially a school that was based more on art/​play, my husband and I started researching more and talking to our friends and acquaintances about other schools and programs and Canyon Co-​Op repeatedly keep coming up in these conversations!!! Naturally, my husband and I set-​up an appointment to check out Canyon Co-​Op and we are soo glad we did!!!
When we arrived at the Co-​Op with our child to take a look around, the anxiety, which our son had displayed while at the pre-​school he attended prior to Canyon Co-​Op was instantly gone. Our son made himself very comfortable immediately, almost as if he were at home, which put us at ease as very protective parents. Seriously, it was like magic!!! The parents and staff who were at the Co-​Op that day all greeted us and welcomed us as if we were family and that’s exactly what Canyon Co-​Op is! One big happy family and a village that truly takes care of one another. Our son absolutely loves going to Canyon Co-​Op, and we are so happy we found the perfect match for our little guy!!! THANKS CANYON CO-​OP!!!

What an amazing school! With twin daughters we were looking for something affordable, and this certainly is.
Never having been part of a co-​op before, I was amazed at the devotion, team-​spirit and self-​lessness of the staff and all the parents involved. I found that devoting my time to the school, our Canyon School community, has been invaluable to not only my children but myself as well. We’ve made wonderful friendships and my girls have an environment that is welcoming, nurturing, loving — one that invites social and developmental growth that I’ve personally seen in my own kids and their classmates.
Both the director and teacher are kind, warm, loving and truly devoted to the children. I trust them fully and I know my girls are getting the optimal guidance and support that that they need. And I’m proud to be a member of this wonderful community.

Trust me, finding a preschool for your little one is no easy feat. I checked out many many many preschools. Some instilled fear in my heart — I literally thought someone was going to put my child in a dark room. Other preschools were filled with the kind of parents I loathe (i.e., Uhm, you don’t spend at least $ 5k on your toddlers b-​day party??).
And my husband and I had our differences. He was pretty set on sending our girls to the kind of preschool that costs more than grad school and the kids leave preschool ready to hit Wall Street. But my very non-​coop husband fell in love with Canyon (I knew my Berkeley guy would pull through).
Canyon Co-​Op is magical. I’ve found a community of intelligent, thoughtful, caring, and fabulously fun people. Children learn how to be responsible, polite, and behave in a school setting. This means that I am fully confident that my girls won’t have melt downs when they enter kindergarten because they are learning and gaining confidence through play.
Building community! This is a coop, the members (aka families) are deeply involved in making the school thrive. Everyone works together. For example, the parents got together before school started to clean everything (I mean every single toy). Most parents must work one day per week (cleaning, monitoring kids, leading a project). Working at the school is a blast, partly because the other parents are wonderful. I love being involved in my children’s school, especially at such a tender age. It’s so rare to get the opportunity to work with teachers in order to make the school as best as it can be for our collective children.
Child-​centered! Your kid doesn’t have to be potty trained. Canyon respects each child at the level they are at. You can visit your kid anytime! One of my girls had a rough day today. She just didn’t want to be alone. So I was able to pop in and out to provide her comfort. No separation anxiety!!!
Activities galore! The school offers dance, music and sports every week! Tuition for the morning program includes music (e.g., drum circle) on Mondays, dance on Tuesdays and sports on Fridays. The school brings in qualified people for these activities. The school also offers tons of field trips.
Academically sharp! While the kids learn through play, there is a structured circle time every morning and projects. I taught my girls (3 years old) their ABCs, days of the week, months, numbers before school started. I definitely feel as if all that I taught them gets reinforced at preschool (just not quite as Tiger mom as I rock it at home… a good thing).
Flexibility! You have the freedom to choose morning, afternoon or all day.
Tuition is Amazeballs! It’s basically free when you consider the price of preschools in Los Angeles. I seriously can’t get over the price.
My newest baby will be attending Canyon in a few years. Canyon preschool helps create good human beings. Mad love.

Canyon School is an amazing oasis in the heart of Hollywood. My children have been able to explore, develop their sense of self, and develop lifelong social skills in this nurturing community of hard working parents and teachers. The Director has been committed to this school for over 20 years and it shows.

My first kid attended this school for about 3 years and my second one just started. It is absolutely an excellent school. I was not a co-​op parent type of personality, but I think my kids have really benefited from the deep parental involvement. I have also met many wonderful parents here.
The teachers have been first-​rate and the school director has always been there for us.
This school is an absolute gem.

I LOVE THIS PRESCHOOL! i’d looked at 20 preschools before choosing canyon school. as a single mom i was reluctant to do a co-​op because of time commitments but fell so in love with this school. (a friend had highly recommended them) from the moment we walked in it had such a happy feel to it. joyful. artistic. the parents were so welcoming (loved the ratio of adults to children!!). my daughter didn’t want to leave! miss celia and miss nikkia are terrific teachers. there is time commitment (work day once a week, craft once a month, etc) but you get the rare opportunity to be a part of your child’s school and working with families and teachers who are committed to the best for their children (and yours!). included in the tuition is drumming, dance and sports (they each come once a week). terrific field trips about once a month. and as your child approaches kindergarden miss celia prepares them for that. you cannot beat the price! and for what you get– this is the best thing in town. a gem. my daughter loves it here and i am happy we found canyon school.

Canyon School has been a great experience for our family. Being a Co-​Op, it does require a bit of your time, but the rewards of getting to know your children’s friends and their families are great. The space is cozy and the teachers take care to include and encourage everyone. The price doesn’t hurt either. It’s about half as much as the less expensive preschools. We have had two girls there and they both have learned through playtime and experience.

My child has attended this school since she was three (for about a year now) and I LOVE it! The teachers are great and really wonderful with the kids. I’ve also really enjoyed being part of a co-​op preschool, since I have gotten to really know the families and become a part of my child’s school environment. I’d highly recommend this school!