1) Yo, Magnet Yentas!
We are a small but dedicated group of parents/families at smallish (45) Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary (just off Hollywood Way & Verdugo). Our booster club is Families for Stevenson, in its fourth year and coming along fine. We also have a solid PTA, separate but equal to FFS. We are (slowly) evolving, as they say, and would love to have contact with more/other booster clubs, etc.
Feel free to contact Burbank public school superdad:
Felix Chamberlain
601-2829 in area code 818 cell
843-6213 in area code 818 home
2) Special kudos always go to pro-local-public school L.A. realtors (see her comment under “MARTINIS AND MAGNETS”) like. . .
Judy Graff
Ask A Magnet Yenta 
My husband work in Burbank. I am interested in some information on how to obtain a permit, allowing our son to attend school in Burbank.
Thank you
Stephanie
Stephanie:
Go here and read about InterDistrict Permits at Burbank. I did it for my kids and it was very easy on their end, fill out paperwork including proof of local work/employment.
http://www.burbank.k12.ca.us/index.aspx?page=1093
I believe you also must get a permit from LAUSD to leave the district and attend Burbank. I know rules for that have tightened recently but don’t know details. Check here for information:
http://notebook.lausd.net/portal/page?_pageid=33,1213045&_dad=ptl&_schema=PTL_EP
Hello there,
The first link no longer works… any idea how to get the kids into a Burbank District School if I work in Burbank?
Thanks,
Sharina
I’d contact the district directly. Contact info is here: http://www.burbankusd.org/
Thanks for the quick reply. That is what I ended up doing and I was given the following information.
http://www.burbankusd.org/District/Department/15-Student-Services/10153-Untitled.html
Go to Interdistrict Applications for information and look at the Interdistrict Flyer for requirements. Call student services if you have more questions. (818) 729-4467
Thanks again!
Beautiful! I went to the original link and tried to find the obvious ‘permits’ page from the main page to no avail. Glad you found where they hid it!
Our home school is Stevenson and we are planning on enrolling my daughter in Kindergarten there in the fall. However, I am a bit concerned about the large class sizes. Would so appreciate any insight (good or bad) on the school.
We also applied to the lottery for Franklin’s language immersion magnet in Glendale as well as the fine arts program at Keppel. Not sure our chances are great, though, since we are out of the district. Anyone have any experience with those schools as well?
Thanks so much!
Michele
Hi Michele – by now I’m sure you know what your lottery result is for both Franklin and Keppel. I also applied my daughters to Keppel and Edison and I’m hoping for a spot in the Edison Technology magnet – I’m too far down on the list for either of the Keppel programs I applied to (I’m also from outside the district).
I don’t know what you thought of the tour of the facility that was required of the magnet applicants, but I loved the philosophy behind the program. I’ve heard little other than positive feedback for these programs. I know someone who’s enrolled 2 of her children in the Italian FLAG at Franklin and she loved it.
If you’re ok with a Spanish FLAG and didn’t wind up with a high spot on the lottery list, you may want to try the FLAG at Muir – I believe it’s not restricted to the Magnet program and they may still be accepting applications.
I’m also very concerned about the large class sizes at our home school (Emerson Elementary in Burbank). I can’t speak to Stevenson, but BUSD in general is good, especially for children in the middle of the learning curve (aka the average student). My son is in GATE and we supplement his schooling with academically challenging summer programs. Math Field Day has also been a good experience for him this year (he’s in 5th grade and getting ready for Muir in the fall, which I’m looking forward to).
Good luck regardless of where you decide to enroll!
Yes, our chances with the magnets are not good. We really loved the Franklin language immersion programs and were hoping for some kind of miracle, but oh well! We are pretty happy with our choice to send our daughter to Stevenson, though. The more we visit the school and speak with the principal and teachers, the more impressed I am with their enthusiasm and commitment to the students. Plus they have two great parent groups which are very involved and seem to do a lot of extra fundraising for programs that would otherwise be cut. So we’re pretty happy. I’m glad to hear you’re looking forward to sending your son to a Burbank middle school and that your experience at Emerson was pretty good. Class size is definitely an issue for me, but we’re hoping for the best! Good luck getting a spot in the Edison technology magnet! All the best to you!
We toured Stevenson and were thrilled with the principal, Ms. Ginnetti. She is realistic about the challenges, while being extremely positive and focused on solutions. Parent involvement seems to be overcoming some of the lost funding from the state. The kindergarten classrooms are bright and cheerful, and students were enthusiastic and engaged.
We live near the school, in North Hollywood. I got a permit through Parent Employment in Burbank. I think it’s valuable to send my daughter to a school near where we live, so she can develop friendships with kids in the neighborhood.
I found the Burbank USD to be very responsive and helpful so far. The small district makes things simpler than dealing with LAUSD, in some ways.
We’ve toured many schools (private, charter and magnet), and are excited to be enrolling at Stevenson.
Liz
Thanks so much for your response! I does look like we are sending our daughter to Stevenson in the fall. We also had a great impression of Ms Ginnetti when we toured the school and were pretty impressed with the parent involvement. I’m not gonna lie, I’m still unhappy about the class sizes, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I will say I have not found one person who could say a negative thing about Stevenson, or most of the Burbank schools for that matter! All in all, we feel very fortunate that Stevenson is our home school and we have this great option for our daughter. So will your daughter be starting Stevenson as well? We should set up a playdate 🙂
Hi Michele- we are attending the Stevenson Rocks! fundraiser on May 4. My daughter is very excited!! http://stevensonpirates.net/ for more info.
And we’d absolutely be into play-dates. Email me: elizabethkeener at hotmail dot com. I’d love for the girls to start the school year with a friend.
Yes, not thrilled about the large class sizes, but we’re hoping to get in there and volunteer, jobs permitting, and see first-hand how it’s going.
Liz
I am looking to transfer my Daughter into Burbank HS from Walter Reed. She is identified as gifted in LAUSD, would she have to test in Burbank District to be identified as gifted/honors or does it transfer over?
We are concerned she will now have to test when in LAUSD she is identified in “High Achievers” and that makes her gifted under LAUSD rules.
Does she need to retest?
Robert
I’m hoping you work in Burbank. It’s been pretty much a challenge to get an outgoing permit unless state law mandates it. My suggestion would be to contact the Burbank school district and get their info first. I’m not in Burbank, so it’s hard to be of much help. Good luck.
Thank you. I would be moving into the district, I have turned in the paperwork and was given the testing dates. However, they were not clear on what is being tested and how her transcripts from LAUSD apply to Burbank.
Perhaps I should reconsider moving into Burbank and stay in N. Hollywood.
We are not satisfied with what we are finding as options in LAUSD for HS for N. Hollywood, Grant or East Valley. Any suggestions in the area?
Robert
Hi Robert – I have a GATE student too for whom high school is further away, but I’m actually looking at options *other* than Burbank High, which is our home high school. I know one mom who sends her son there on a permit due to her husband’s office located in Burbank, but that’s so he can participate on a sports team. This is mostly hear-say, but I wouldn’t describe BHS as having a strong academic program, esp for gifted students.
Does your daughter qualify for the highly gifted magnet at North Hollywood High? I know some parents hesitate to send their kids there due to the overcrowding and local conditions, but I know others that rave about the HGM program there. Are private schools an option? If not, or if I wanted a public school option that was an improvement over LAUSD and BUSD, was willing to move and wanted to keep my housing costs at a similar level, I’d move to La Crescenta, try for Clark Magnet and “settle” for Crescenta Valley – either school is, IMHO, an improvement over the high schools in LAUSD and BUSD.
Couldn’t disagree more regarding the Burbank High Schools, Robert. I, too, have a kid in the IHP at Reed and will be attending Burroughs High in the fall. 24 AP classes available, incredible music program, etc. Certainly worth you checking out. All I hear from my fellow Reed families is how lucky we are to be zoned for Burbank. Several from Reed are looking at the IHP at Taft and the humanities program at Cleveland. Lots matriculating to the HGM at N. Hollywood but just got an e mail saying the district has shut the doors on new applicants and that 20 are waitlisted. Hope this helps!
Does anyone have experience with getting an inter district permit out of Burbank? We are starting to consider the language magnets in neighbor Glendale. Burbank is lacking in dual-language immersion programs. Any thoughts?
It’s relatively easy to permit out of BUSD; harder maybe to get into the GUSD programs unless you’re very lucky and draw a high lottery number. Out of district applicants are dead last priority, and there’s no point system to enhance your chances. The GUSD programs have longer wait lists each year, so try to get in at a common entry point (K if possible). We applied for the second time this year, hoping for a higher number in the lottery this time. Good luck!
Thanks Trina! I am definitely thinking K. Which grade are you applying? Yes, we are open to moving to Glendale or at least renting there.
Hi Sara – K would be your best chance at getting in until 6/7. Last year I believe there were about 90 spots available in K at Keppel (and my number was something like 95 as an out-of-district permittee). Since most students stay with their class year after year, there are far fewer spots available in the grades after that – sometimes none at at. I’m trying for 1st grade this year and hoping for a higher lottery number. If I don’t get in for 13-14, I will keep trying until I do – that’s how positively I feel about the GUSD magnet and FLAG programs. And yes, it’s a fabulous opportunity for kids to learn another language (all the more reason to enroll as early as possible – the 90/10 immersion programs typically stop accepting non-speakers after the middle of 1st grade).
Fingers crossed! I know 2/21 is the lottery day. Good luck!
And good luck! It would be fantastic to give kids the opportunity to immerse in another language.
Hi Sara – I hope you had better luck with the lottery than we did – we’re on three different wait-lists with GUSD – AGAIN! And we moved into the district hoping to get a better shot this time. I’m so upset about this that I’m not sure I have the willpower to keep trying. Fingers crossed for you!
Does anyone know the chance of getting in FLAG’s French program at grade 1 or 2 if the kid is fluent in French?
(reposting because I think I originally posted in the wrong spot): Hi Tara – my experience is with the Spanish FLAG, but if French is similar (I’m assuming you’re referring to the programs at GUSD), a child’s chances should be very good if he or she is already fluent in the target language. My daughters entered Grade 1 with maybe 30 words of Spanish; even non-fluent kids are generally admitted through the end of the first semester in Grade 1 assuming they’re good students at their current program. To get into Grade 2 (or above), a child will need to take an oral and written test at GUSD headquarters to confirm their language level. All of this assumes you’re reachable in the lottery for the program. If you’re interested for 2015-16, be sure to apply to the magnet programs through GUSD’s website by the deadline (I think it’s January 30).
Hi Tara – my experience is with the Spanish FLAG, but if French is similar (I’m assuming you’re referring to the programs at GUSD), a child’s chances should be very good if he or she is already fluent in the target language. My daughters entered Grade 1 with maybe 30 words of Spanish; even non-fluent kids are generally admitted through the end of the first semester in Grade 1 assuming they’re good students at their current program. To get into Grade 2 (or above), a child will need to take an oral and written test at GUSD headquarters to confirm their language level. All of this assumes you’re reachable in the lottery for the program. If you’re interested for 2015-16, be sure to apply to the magnet programs through GUSD’s website by the deadline (I think it’s January 30).
Thanks Trina! Yes, I meant GUSD. When you said “reachable in lottery”, did it mean high enough in the lottery? Would fluency improve ranking in the lottery? Many thanks!
Tara – I knew that GUSD tries to balance students who are fluent vs non-fluent in the target language, but I wasn’t sure how. I found this in GUSD’s Administrative Code; presumably, this still describes how the lottery is done:
“In order to balance the participation of English-dominant and target language dominant
students in the dual language programs, a lottery will be held separately
for these programs. Pools of English-dominant applicants and a pool of target language
applicants will be created after existing students and siblings have been
placed into the dual immersion program. All remaining spots for these programs
will be chosen according to a random student selection process from the relevant
applicant list. Should the applicant pool for the dual language programs exceed
the capacity of the program in any given year, other applicants will be invited to
participate in the student selection system for the magnet program at that site.”
Super helpful! Thank you!
Hi I wanted to get additional information on what I can do to keep my son at John Burroughs HighSchool in Burbank. He’s currently attending JBHS because of a work permit I’ve received from my previous employer. My son has been a student in the Burbank District for the past 6 years. Due to the company I worked for going out of business I will no longer have the opportunity to obtain a work permit for my son. I’m very concerned because my son is top ranked in his class with exceptional grades. He has became very involved in school programs and he has grown up in this community. This school has provided him with many opportunities I would not like him to loose. Is there any alternative recommendation I can consider to keep my son in this school.