Westside Neighborhood School
| Westside Neighborhood School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
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Los Angeles, California United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, Co-ed, Nonprofit |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Nonsectarian |
| Established | 1980 |
| Head of School | Brad Zacuto |
| Enrollment | 446[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12:1 elementary 17:1 middle in 2011–2012 |
| Website | http://www.wnsk8.com/ |
Coordinates: 33°58′39″N 118°25′21″W / 33.9775°N 118.4224°W Westside Neighborhood School is a private independent school serving preschool through eighth grade, located in the west side of Los Angeles, California. Since 1980, WNS has educated a diverse population of students and has built a lasting community of students, faculty, and parents.
WNS's experiential and discovery-driven curriculum is culturally diverse, academically challenging, and incorporates computer technology at all grade levels. A growth and maker-mindset permeates the entire preschool through eighth grade program. The preschool, opening fall 2017, will be a play-based, social-constructivist program.
WNS is notable for a program of "Family Groups," collections of students from all grades who meet several times a year during school hours to work as a team on projects such as dramatic programs, organizing school functions, and work on community service projects. These joint efforts unite the students into a community unlimited by age and grade levels. Students stay in the same Family Group as long as they attend WNS, eventually leading their groups in their graduation years. s3
Through the school year ending in 2005, WNS was Westchester Neighborhood School, located in south Westchester directly under the final approaches of aircraft landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), hence the "Jets" nickname used by the school's athletic teams. In September 2005 classes resumed in a vastly improved 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) facility in Playa Vista. WNS added a second building to its campus in 2010 featuring additional space for performing arts, spanish, and choral music. The school's third campus building with provide 26,000 additional will instructional space for the preschool, a full-sized gymnasium, and middle school STEAM Academic Complex.