The Whitney Guide

The Gooden School

The Gooden School has such a quaint, small-town feeling to it that you'd swear you were on a movie set. This is an Episcopal school with regular chapel services for the children held in a beautiful, old stone church across the street.

Head of School Jack Towner, a soft-spoken and personable man, showed me around the school with pride. This is not a place where you'll find huge group tours alongside parents wielding cellular phones; it is more personal and applicant-specific than the larger schools. The staff was warm, friendly and a little bit curious about what a parent from Hollywood was doing wandering around their quiet little village (a southern California version of "Mayberry RFD").

The curriculum is traditional: reading, writing, math and social studies. The teacher to student ratio is 1:18 in elementary and 1:14 in grades 6-8. Teachers are described as having college degrees with related experiences.

Here is the Gooden Philosophy taken from the school literature:

"The educational program is built on high standards of academic excellence in a caring, Christian environment. Classes are small, which allows each child to receive individual attention. This warm, supportive atmosphere fosters a special relationship between student and teacher.

Gooden is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and our principles and standards of behavior reflect a Christian outlook. While participation in chapel services is required, membership in the Episcopal Church is not expected. Children of many faiths and backgrounds attend the school."

For complete review, up-to-date tuition, registration, and application dates, purchase the private school guide.