5 Tips for Choosing the Right School 🌱
A Parent’s Guide to Elementary Education
Finding the Right Fit for Your Child
Choosing the right elementary school is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent. It shapes your child’s academic journey and influences their confidence, friendships, and ability to face challenges—both in and beyond the classroom. In a city like Los Angeles, where educational options are abundant, the process can understandably feel overwhelming.
Private and independent schools offer distinct advantages that can make a lasting impact. Smaller class sizes, more highly trained teachers, and a personalized approach to learning help build a stronger academic foundation. At WHPS, we also emphasize dynamic, experiential learning—not just worksheets and test prep. Our well-rounded curriculum includes foreign language, visual and performing arts, STEM, and team sports, all within a secure, open campus where parents have meaningful access to teachers and the broader school community.
5 Questions Every Family Should Ask
To find a school that truly aligns with your child’s needs and your family’s values, consider these key questions:
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We believes every child is unique (not just as a platitude on our website), and their education should reflect that.
How WHPS Approaches This:
Individualized Learning Plans
We use research-based Developmental Learning Progressions to support continuous growth. Each child’s learning path is customized to meet them where they are—and stretch them beyond grade-level expectations when they’re ready.Co-Teaching Model
Every classroom has two fully qualified teachers, allowing for meaningful differentiation and ensuring every child receives the attention they deserve.Flexible Choices: Students have opportunities to choose how or where they learn best, encouraging independence and self-awareness. Much of this is reflected in how we teach with our workshop instructional model, over textbooks and worksheets for everything.
Responsive Teaching
Through ongoing observation and formative assessments, teachers adapt instruction in real time to create a classroom environment that is both supportive and challenging.
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Academic success is only part of the picture. At WHPS, we believe that developing emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience is essential to helping children thrive—in school and in life.
How WHPS Approaches This:
Integrated SEL from Preschool–5th Grade
Social-emotional learning is woven into daily life. Students build self-awareness, empathy, and regulation through developmentally appropriate lessons and conversations at every age.Tools from Positive Psychology
Frameworks like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People help students learn to focus on what they can control, set goals, and develop lifelong strategies for success.Explicit Conflict Resolution
We don’t just hope children will get along—we teach them how. Students learn and practice respectful ways to navigate disagreements, problem-solve, and restore relationships.Brave Conversations & Accountable Talk
Using our Accountable Talk framework, students develop the confidence to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and engage with kindness and courage—even when perspectives differ.
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The best learning happens when it’s meaningful, joyful, and connected to the world around us. At WHPS, we design learning experiences that ignite curiosity, build confidence, and foster a deep love of discovery.
How WHPS Approaches This:
Project-Based Learning
Students apply academic concepts to real-world challenges through collaborative projects that promote creativity, inquiry, and critical thinking.Workshop Model for Literacy
Our reading and writing instruction emphasizes choice, voice, and authentic work—empowering students to grow as confident, independent thinkers.Movement-Based Learning
Physical activity is intentionally integrated into the day to support brain development, focus, and memory—because movement fuels learning.Outdoor & Nature-Based Learning
Students regularly engage with our outdoor spaces, gardens, and Science & Nature Center. Learning in nature supports both cognitive growth and emotional well-being.
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Not every child is extroverted—and not every leader stands at the front of the room. But in today’s world, we’re not raising children to be passive. At WHPS, we help students discover how they can lead in ways that feel authentic to them—through empathy, initiative, creativity, and collaboration.
How WHPS Approaches This:
Peer Mentorship
Older students mentor younger peers, developing responsibility and compassion while learning how to lead through connection, not just authority.Collaborative Learning
Leadership doesn’t always mean being in charge. Group projects teach students to lead by listening, contributing ideas, resolving conflict, and helping a team succeed.Student-Led Initiatives
Students take ownership of projects that matter to them—from writing a class Bill of Rights to organizing community events—learning that leadership starts with action and purpose.Public Speaking & Self-Expression
Whether speaking in front of a group, performing, or presenting ideas in class, students build the confidence to share their voice in a way that feels meaningful to them.
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The goal isn’t just to get children ready for middle school—it’s to help them grow into adaptable, thoughtful, and resilient individuals who feel confident facing what’s next. At WHPS, we guide students through transitions with intention, so they’re ready for new environments, expectations, and opportunities.
How WHPS Approaches This:
Building Resilience
Students learn to navigate challenges, manage setbacks, and take healthy risks—developing the confidence to face the unknown with optimism and grit.Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
From inquiry-based projects to reflective discussions, students practice thinking deeply, questioning assumptions, and solving complex problems—skills essential for middle school and life.Embracing Diverse Perspectives
Through anti-bias education and cross-cultural learning, students develop empathy and a global mindset—preparing them to engage thoughtfully with others in any setting.Thoughtful, Developmentally Aligned Transitions
Our Upper Elementary program is designed to gradually expand peer groups, interests, and responsibilities—mirroring the structure and expectations of middle school (and life) in a way that’s safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate. Students leave WHPS with the confidence, independence, and self-awareness to thrive wherever they go next.Experiential Learning & Overnight Trips
As students progress through Upper Elementary, they take part in thoughtfully designed overnight trips that build independence, strengthen peer connections, and offer real-world learning in new environments. These shared experiences are powerful stepping stones toward the confidence and adaptability needed for middle school and beyond.
These questions help you look “under the hood” and understand how a school supports the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. The goal isn’t just strong test scores, but a strong sense of self.
Finding the Right Fit
Great education is about more than academics—it’s about curiosity, confidence, and character. At WHPS, we treat every child as a unique individual, balancing challenge with support and structure with joy. Our students set goals, navigate emotions, collaborate, and lead with empathy—skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
We use a personalized, research-informed approach rooted in positive psychology and human development. As you get to know our school—through our website, parent reviews, a campus visit, and conversations with students, teachers, and families—you’ll see how much we value helping children become active, meaningful participants in their learning journey. We’re not here to simply fill students with facts; we’re helping them build the foundation for a purposeful and empowered future.
As you visit schools, ask not just about curriculum. Ask how values come to life in the classroom. How do teachers ensure children feel seen, challenged, and supported?
A Warm Invitation
We believe deeply in the power of our program—but we also know that finding the right school is a personal journey. We take great pride in helping guide families toward a program that truly aligns with their child’s needs and their family’s values. Whether or not your path ultimately leads to WHPS, we’re here to be a resource and a partner along the way.
We invite you to visit our campus, experience our classrooms, and see how we help children grow into curious, confident leaders.
Thank you for considering WHPS. We hope this guide is a helpful resource as you navigate this important decision for your child and family.
