Laurel Springs School
- OJAI, CA
Online School
Laurel Springs School Reviews
Rating 4.34 out of 5 222 reviews
All Categories
Filters Applied: 5
Incredible flexibility with students needs, and very understanding that those needs vary between students!! For a completely online schooling experience, I have rarely been unable to get immediate contact to an instructor or advisor! The personal attention is important, especially being so far away from the schooling environment! Its not for everyone, as you are entirely responsible for keeping up with your own schedule, but if you are focused and motivated it’s perfect!
Laurel Springs offers a high level of flexibility, allowing students to easily balance their education with other commitments. The teachers are highly qualified and dedicated to providing a positive online learning experience for their students. The coursework is well-structured and challenging, providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. This program is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a quality education that is tailored to their needs.
Really great communication from both teachers and school administrators. I still talk to some of my teachers! The academics were good and I got into several prestigious institutions. The only potential downside for some people is the lack of group work since it is a mostly asynchronous school. However, there are dual-enrolment programs that allow students to take synchronous classes over Zoom. My guidance counselor and teachers were super supportive throughout my time here, while I was applying for college, and after I had been accepted and graduated!
Laurel Springs School allows me to manage my academics and extracurriculars well, and provides me with many opportunities for college.
Laurel Springs is all online, but teachers are very engaged and accommodating. There are many unique course options and opportunities for honors and AP level courses. The curriculum is very self-paced but it is also possible to get help with creating a personalized course plan.
As a college counselor and educational consultant who is often asked for online solutions from clients, I always recommend Laurel Springs first. But beyond the excellent course offerings and impressive college placements, it’s the administrative advocacy that most impresses me. Specifically, Jack Dempsey is the best advocate for students I have ever worked with. He makes my job easy because he makes students and parents experiences fulfilling and meaningful.
I've been a proud member of the Laurel Springs community for the past 4 years and in all that time, I don't have one negative thing to say about my experience. The teachers/staff of Laurel Springs have been incredibly helpful and kind throughout my learning experience and were always there for me when I needed them. My favorite thing about this school is the wide variety of courses they offer (grades 9-12) to choose from when developing your class schedule for the year.
At first, I struggled with the asynchronous structure. It didn't take me long to start to develop the skills I would need to work at this school. It would teach me self-discipline, accountability, and perseverance. I will advocate and promote this school for a long time.
I love Laurel Springs School! They have helped me majorly as I transitioned from regular school to online school! When I first began at Laurel Springs, they had so much to offer! I had been overwhelmed by the course catalog! They also offer many clubs for students! I come in a little later into my junior year of high school, and I have nothing but good to say about the administration. The teachers are down-to-earth and caring and will always push you to be your best academically. The academics are challenging and push you to work hard for your grades. As someone apart of the academy, the teacher has also given students great resources and prepared students well for exams. They also make it very easy for you to connect online with students, so you don’t feel as lonely online! The only thing I would say about Laurel Springs is they don’t offer sports like a regular school but expect that with online school for sure!
Laurel Springs has been a great school. It has allowed me to be flexible in my schooling and schedules.
I've gone to Laurel Springs for 5 years, and I've loved every minute of it. Thanks to the guidance of my excellent counselor and teachers, I'm graduating early with over 30 credits, most earned in honors, AP, or dual enrollment classes. The teachers are always available to help and will even teach a lesson to you if you're struggling.
It's incredibly easy to get involved in the social activities, and both students and advisors are friendly and approachable. The school takes care to provide the students plenty of social opportunities. There are over 30 clubs, plus events and virtual fields, that occur every month. There's a wide variety of students - not only are the students spread out across the US, there are many international students!
I would most definitely recommend this school. This online school teaches self-motivation, a love for learning, and frees up plenty of time for other activities such as athletics or (pre)professional work.
It's incredibly easy to get involved in the social activities, and both students and advisors are friendly and approachable. The school takes care to provide the students plenty of social opportunities. There are over 30 clubs, plus events and virtual fields, that occur every month. There's a wide variety of students - not only are the students spread out across the US, there are many international students!
I would most definitely recommend this school. This online school teaches self-motivation, a love for learning, and frees up plenty of time for other activities such as athletics or (pre)professional work.
This school has been a great experience for me. If you are disciplined, have good time-management skills, and are motivated to learn and work hard, you will do well here. It's not for everyone though; if you are the type of student that needs a lot of help to get things done, it will be challenging. I have gotten a great education and will be well-prepared for college next year, with the many AP and dual-enrollment classes that LSS offers.
Teachers are always willing to help. I have been challenged academically. There are so many AP classes, honor classes, and interesting electives. The school community is awesome. There are students from all over!
Laurel Springs School was great. The teachers were always knowledgeable and helpful. I had a lot of options for courses to choose from, including AP courses that helped me get college credit. I feel like Laurel Springs prepared me for college very well, and I am really grateful to have attended this school.
LSS is arguably one of the best if not the best online school out there. If you enjoy lessons that go deeper than just the surface of a given topic, then you will absolutely love the academics here. On that note, the academics are pretty intense, especially in the last 3 years of high school, so that is one thing to keep in mind. However, I would also argue that the intensity helps to prepare you for the workloads you will face in college, which is very valuable experience to have. This school is also a rare example of an online school that still has social activities available - it isn't difficult to meet other students your age who go to the school as well. The resources you are given in both your coursework and just to help you through your journey in general are nearly endless, meaning you will likely always have a ready solution to any problems you face. Finally, some of the clubs are better than others, and the same goes for teachers, but they are both very good overall.
This is a wonderful school but it is definitely not for everyone. There are a lot of course resources, live classes on specific topics, and teachers on standby 24/7 (except on weekends and holidays). I am in my second year and I'm a senior. I definitely recommend for students who prefer working by themselves or student who feel like regular school is too slow-paced. It would be a good idea stay in touch with friends outside of school because it gets pretty lonely, even for introverts. There's also socials and they have a whole social network for those who are looking to make new friends. Personally never used it but it's there! You learn independence, self-reliance but also teamwork because you realize you can't do it all on your own. You're by yourself a lot so you learn about yourself as well. And it really prepares you for college apps. Good luck!
Amazing school. Very caring teachers. It is a perfect fit for my son who loves to travel and has other interests. The self based mastery program allows him to learn the material well before moving on which is what all educational institutions should emphasize.
The best part is Laurel Springs School met me at my level and challenged me at 4 different grade levels when I started 10 years ago. Over the years I brought all my classes to the same level and the school staff has been extremely supportive the entire time. I feel lucky to have attended Laurel Springs. The flexibility of making my own schedule has allowed me to pursue other interests while getting a quality education.
I was in a top notch (always top 10 ranked US Public high school) and made a switch to LS during my sophomore year. I never considered online school since I love STEM, live classes and the energy of school. However, I discovered a new passion along the way during the pandemic that I can pursue while doing school and Laurel Springs has afforded me this opportunity. I still interact with real people in real life and virtually at LS. My teachers are always there, checking in and on us to do our best! It’s a lot of work (my little brother is a fifth grader and he’s doing work at LS in fifth grade that I did in the seventh grade). It’s a great model for education because you can focus on the subject areas and I just nailed the SAT thanks to the math program at this school - thanks for not letting up on the steps. I am waiting my acceptance at my dream schools and will follow up here to let you know how it goes! My friends all got into their top three choices (like MIT, Harvard, UCLA)
This is our two middle schoolers first year and the entire family loves Laurel Springs! The classes are interesting and fun, but also challenging and the teachers generally provide good feedback (some better than others). We have hired a tutor who goes through the material with the kids 4 hours per day. This is not a school where the kids get much interaction with the teachers, so don’t expect much face-to-face time. This is mostly self-teaching by going through the material. So, for younger kids, I would definitely recommend a parent or a tutor learn with the student. Great for older kids to learn what they will be facing in college. We couldn’t be happier with the school and the girls are definitely excelling .