Francis Parkman Middle School first opened its doors as a junior high school in 1959. Situated on a beautiful twenty-four acre site, the school was named for an American historian, Francis Parkman (1823-1893). Mr. Parkman was primarily interested in the life of the American Indians and the ecology of the forest. He once lived with the Ogallalah Tribe. He overcame the handicap of poor health and made a real contribution to the understanding of our country's early history. We were known as the " The Parkman Pioneers", a tribute to that period of our country's history that Francis Parkman portrayed so well in his books, which are regarded by many as classics in historical writing.

In 2006, with the support of students, parents, community, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Los Angeles Board of Education, and the United Teachers of Los Angeles, the faculty embarked on a transformation in education, offering young students an opportunity to experience a curriculum unlike any offered in middle school. With the creation of the Woodland Hills Academy, students will experience the Humanities and the Arts, Medical and Health Sciences, and Law and Government classes.

Our mission is to provide a positive, student centered environment in which all students will develop academic, social, emotional, and practical skills and attitudes in order to enable them to be lifelong learners and productive, responsible citizens in a diverse society. We propose to allocate our financial and staffing resources to create a school where all students are actively engaged, instructional programs are supported, and parents are informed and involved in this learning environment of varying student abilities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.