At Playa Del Rey Elementary "each child is valued as an individual and is given the opportunity to spread his or her wings in a safe, loving, and academically challenging environment." Students of Playa Del Rey will have their choice of a variety of programs designed to enhance their academic coursework, including visual arts, choral music, theatre arts, dance and orchestra. In addition to the fun stuff, Playa Del Rey students have access to free after-school programs, daily homework assistance, a computer lab, and the ability to work with an organic learning garden that will create an appreciation for the environment. Students also perform community service on and off-campus, learning to become great members of Culver City.
Part of the Culver City Unified School District, Farragut Elementary School educates children from kindergarten through 5th grade. The school's academic program focuses on problem solving and critical thinking, using tools like cooperative learning, team teaching, individualized instruction, peer tutoring and technology. Principal Eileen Carroll strongly encourages parental involvement in the school and in the children's educations at home. Parents are encouraged to volunteer for various activities and to participate in the PTA.
La Playa Cooperative Nursery School is a preschool with a safe outdoor play area for children ages 2 1/2 to 5. The school is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Parents interested in enrolling their children can take a tour of the school; visit La Playa's website to find out the tour schedule times.
Turning Point School provides a Montessori education for students from pre-school through 8th grade. The curriculum for all levels is divided into academic studies, creative development, physical education, social development and character-building activities, while special programs include Community Service Learning, Human Development, a family program, a mentor program and the school's own K-1 Model. Child care, after-school programs and summer camp are also offered.
The school was established in 1970 in Bel Air, and has been at its current location since 1989. With the acquisition of a neighboring building, the school is currently undergoing an expansion to accommodate more students and facilities.
Pacifica Montessori School provides Montessori-style education for children in pre-school through 5th grade. This unique location is housed in the Heather Village Condominiums, a complex originally designed with a school. Students here are given the opportunity to grow and learn at their own pace, following their own interests within the curriculum. Classrooms have mixed ages and multiple teachers to guide students on an individual level. Pacifica Montessori was established in 1982, and has a West Los Angeles campus as well.
El Marino Language School houses the Culver City Unified School District's two elementary school Language Immersion programs, the Spanish Immersion Program [SIP] and the Japanese Immersion Program [JIP]. The goal of both programs is for students to master their academic content while learning to speak, understand, read and write in both English and the target language – Spanish or Japanese. Students also have the opportunity to participate in many activities that will increase the experience of learning their target language, including Art Odyssey instruction, artists-in-residency, Japanese Taiko drumming and Spanish Flamenco dancing. Because of its unique curriculum, El Marino received the 2008 California Distinguished School honor.
Home to the Braddock Bobcats, this K-5 elementary school utilizes a well-rounded approach called Healthy Start to make sure all of its students not only learn but also have a stable home environment that fosters greater scholastic aptitude. Braddock Drive Elementary has partnered with more than 30 local community-based organizations, clinics and government agencies in this initiative, positioning itself as a school that is well-connected with Culver City. The innovative elementary school also has a Gifted Magnet program that serves a maximum of 90 students in grades 2 - 5. Uniforms are not mandated, but the school encourages parents to dress their children in navy blue and white clothing.
