We've lived in Tujunga since 1993 and raised four boys. The last boy will graduate this year. However, one sacrifice we did make was to get involved in the Magnet program with LAUSD and we drove all over the nation (not quite) as the boys went through elementary, middle school and high school.
Elementary was Canterbury in Pacoima--excellent school during those years has declined somewhat. Pacoima middle school, Porter and Sepulveda were the middle schools they attended and they all graduated from Van Nuys High. We have been so fortunate for them to have received an excellent education through all those schools. They all did very well on the ACT and SAT exams and were accepted into Brigham Young University which can be very competitive to get in because of the large LDS population of students wanting to attend the school.
We are now in a quandry. We have two eight year old kids left. One daughter and one son. Yes, a second family. We are still in Tujunga, but they are attending Apperson Elementary which we have liked. They are in third grade. But we don't know if we want to go with all the driving again. At times we're hoping that the local schools might improve with good educational opportunities. Could our boys have received the same quality education had they stayed local? The truth of the answer is really 'I don't know.' I do know one thing. They would not have had the same musical opportunities that they've enjoyed at Van Nuys performing arts. They all loved to sing and they had wonderful instruction at Van Nuys High.
We have loved the community of Tujunga. The people are great. We have always felt safe. But now we're wondering if we want to be in a community with good schools. Mt. Gleason and Verdugo just might work for these last two kids we'll have to see. They love music also. At Van Nuys our kids were always able to have good friends that took school seriously.
If anybody can reply as to the status of the local schools that would be great--specifically Mt. Gleason and Verdugo High. Our kids have had friends that have attended these schools and they have not pursued college--interesting? However, we do know kids that have attended the schools and have recieved good grades and got into college also. We understand that a lot has to do with parent involvement and with good parents kids can achieve anywhere they are places. I guess it's deciding on how many obstacles you want to choose to overcome.
