School History

WNS opened its doors in September of 1980 as Westchester Neighborhood School. The idea, however, of starting a high quality private independent school that embraced socio-economic diversity had been considered by a group of local parents for some time. The mission at that time was a quality education for children from diverse backgrounds within the neighborhood and nearby areas, but the experience of founding such a school would forge a sense of connectedness and celebration that would endure over the years. Public meetings, held in various settings, were well attended. Even residents who did not have school-age children were supportive. It was clear that the Westchester community recognized the importance of quality education.

The organizers formed committees and telephone trees, and then the real work began. They found rental space in a local synagogue and interviewed teachers, looking for educators with a sense of vision and a collaborative spirit. They formed a five-member board of trustees comprised of the founding members. Bylaws were written and WNS became incorporated as a non-profit educational institution. The resources and generosity of the community and retailers were powerfully affirming. Used desks and books came from the local Lutheran school, and TRW donated teacher desks. A local sports store and stationery store donated supplies for one year. Parents helped with cleaning, painting, and gardening. Grandparents and neighbors gave of their time and energies. On September 22, 1980, sixty-eight students in first through sixth grades and five teachers stood in the small courtyard that would also serve as a playground and began what, at that time, seemed a risky but grand adventure.

In 1987, seven years after opening the school doors, WNS moved to a new campus on Arbor Vitae, eventually purchasing the property from Northrop University in 1991. Significant improvements were necessary to occupy the space, and again the community pitched in to help.

Several years after occupying the new building, Jeri Shoemaker, the founding principal, stepped down and was replaced by Tony Cooper. He left shortly after WNS received its first accreditation from the California Association of Independent Schools in the spring of 1995, and was replaced by Brenda A. Parker.

Under Mrs. Parker’s leadership and “can do” attitude, the school facility was sold to Los Angeles World Airports in 1999 in a leaseback arrangement. In September 2005, WNS relocated to its new campus, adjacent to Playa Vista, and changed its name to Westside Neighborhood School.

In this location, students are able to take advantage of the same exemplary educational programs in a setting that is more conducive to learning.

In June of 2008, Bradley J. Zacuto, the current Head of School, was hired by the Board of Trustees. WNS now serves approximately 380 students and employs over seventy staff members. As the school grew in population, the number of Trustees grew as well. Presently, the Board of Trustees has twenty members.

Students outside the ArborVitae location

The larger campus has allowed WNS to increase its enrollment by adding a second class at each grade level and doubling the size of the middle school and to develop an even richer, more vibrant child-centered curriculum. Mr. Zacuto brought in a vision of an expanded middle school program, co-teachers in all K-5 classrooms and maximizing the school’s physical design to support an educational model that embraced the best practices from the progressive, developmental and traditional philosophies. Through all of this exciting growth and change, WNS has maintained its mission of providing an outstanding education to a broader socio-economic spectrum of families than is typically found in independent schools. Through the financial stewardship of the Board of Trustees and administration, and with the continued outpouring of resources and generosity by the community through the outreach of our Director of Advancement, Cathy Gemgnani, WNS is able to provide an excellent mission-driven educational opportunity while maintaining a tuition set well below the median of other independent schools.

As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2010, WNS remains committed to providing a diverse community with a high-quality education built on the foundation of creativity, character development, integrity and a strong sense of collaboration. As the school sets its sights on the road ahead, WNS continues to measure its progress by its ability to help students successfully meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world while maintaining the founding vision of providing K-8 children with a safe and inspiring place to learn.