What local charities and events has Southwestern Academy partnered with?

Southwestern Academy is basically the MVP of giving back. Their students have partnered with an impressive lineup of local and national organizations that make a real difference. We're talking the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Pasadena Humane Society, Children’s Hospital L.A., and the San Marino Rotary Club, just to name a few. Whether it’s helping build a Rose Parade float or ringing bells for the Salvation Army, Southwestern students show up ready to serve. They’ve even helped out at food and wine fundraisers, holiday card drives, and beach clean-ups. It's not just a résumé booster here—it’s woven into the fabric of school life. Think of it as extracurriculars with heart and a healthy splash of elbow grease.

What kinds of places do Southwestern Academy students volunteer at?

If there’s a place in need of extra hands, compassion, or a little sparkle of joy, chances are Southwestern Academy students have been there. You’ll find them everywhere from hospitals to libraries, beaches to senior centers, food banks to community parades. They clean up rivers, write to the elderly, sew pillows for shelter animals, and serve meals with genuine warmth. One day it’s helping with a charity run, the next it’s decorating floats or dishing out pancakes at a fire station breakfast. Their volunteer map is basically a tour of good deeds across Southern California. They don’t just dip their toes in service—they cannonball right in, with a smile and maybe a glue gun.

Is Community Service at Southwestern required?

No one’s twisting arms here, but at Southwestern Academy, community service is so baked into the culture that most students jump in willingly. It’s not a requirement in the rulebook sense, but it’s definitely a big part of student life. Once you see your classmates spending weekends helping others, it becomes kind of contagious. Service is treated less like homework and more like a badge of honor—something you want to do. The school encourages it, celebrates it, and makes it super easy to get involved. So while it’s not technically required, let’s just say opting out is about as rare as spotting a student who hasn’t volunteered at least once.

Do Southwestern Academy students help at animal shelters?

Absolutely—and the animals are probably writing thank-you notes with their paws. Southwestern Academy students regularly volunteer at the Pasadena Humane Society, where they help make life a little more comfortable for our furry friends. They’ve even been known to sew tiny pillows for shelter animals. Yes, pillows. For animals. It’s like a spa day, but with more fur. These students take pet pampering seriously, whether it’s cleaning, crafting, or just giving a lonely pup some company. It’s not only adorable, it teaches empathy, patience, and maybe a little bit of lint-rolling technique too. So if you’re an animal lover, you’ll find your people—and your paws—at Southwestern.

From Classroom to Career: How Archer School for Girls Empowers Future Trailblazers

What do future CEOs, climate scientists, Oscar-winning directors, and social justice warriors have in common? Many of them got their start not in a corner office or research lab, but in classrooms where their voices were heard, their ideas taken seriously, and their curiosity met with a resounding yes, you can.

Welcome to The Archer Advantage—a bridge for lifelong success, where young women don’t just learn about change-making, they practice it.

A School Built to Empower Girls

At Archer, empowerment isn’t a buzzword—it’s the blueprint. From the moment a student steps onto campus, she enters an environment intentionally designed to challenge norms, dismantle stereotypes, and champion the idea that smart is powerful.

Archer’s all-girls setting is more than just a classroom without boys. It’s a space where girls take every leadership role, every speaking part, every robotics captain seat—and they do it all with confidence. The mission is clear: nurture ambitious thinkers and compassionate leaders. Through inquiry-based learning, interdisciplinary projects, and a curriculum that doesn’t just keep pace with the world but often outruns it, Archer ensures that girls graduate not just college-ready, but world-ready.

More Than Academics: Cultivating Leaders and Creators

Sure, Archer teaches the quadratic formula—but it also teaches negotiation, ethical decision-making, and how to confidently pitch a startup idea before you can legally vote.

Leadership isn’t just taught; it’s lived. Students run clubs, lead town halls, organize social justice campaigns, and even design aspects of school policy. Experiential learning is a cornerstone, from internships with industry leaders to global exchange programs that expand students’ worldviews (and maybe their LinkedIn connections, too).

Creativity is equally non-negotiable. Whether it’s through digital media production, original research, or community-based projects, Archer girls learn to build, question, innovate—and yes, occasionally break things in the name of learning.

Notable Archer Alumni Making Waves in the Real World

The proof is in the powerhouse graduates. Archer doesn’t just imagine a world led by women—it sends them out to build it. Here are just a few trailblazers who took the Archer spirit and ran with it (straight into recording studios, writers’ rooms, courtrooms, and beyond).

Gracie Abrams: From Archer Student to Grammy-Nominated Singer

Before she was opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour and racking up Grammy nods, Gracie Abrams was a student at Archer—fine-tuning not just her vocals, but her voice. At Archer, self-expression was encouraged, creativity was cultivated, and that rare mix of vulnerability and strength that defines her music? It found early roots in the supportive, dynamic classrooms of Brentwood.

Kate Berlant: A Comedian with Depth and Edge

Witty, weird, and wildly original, Kate Berlant is redefining comedy with an art-school edge and an Archer-bred boldness. The Emmy-nominated performer credits the school’s robust arts program for giving her a space to experiment, take risks, and explore performance as a serious craft—long before the rest of the world caught on to her brilliance.

Samy Burch: Writing Hollywood Stories with Purpose

Screenwriter Samy Burch doesn’t just tell stories—she starts cultural conversations. Her work on May December earned Golden Globe recognition and critical acclaim, but her roots in storytelling go back to Archer, where she learned that nuance matters, character is everything, and writing with intention can shape the world off-screen, too.

Helen Vera: Advocating for Civil Rights on the National Stage

As a DOJ attorney, Helen Vera is fighting for justice at the federal level—but her passion for equity was sparked years ago at Archer. In classrooms that championed diverse perspectives and empowered students to speak up, Helen found her voice—and she’s been using it for good ever since.

Aaron Gensler: Designing Spaces That Inspire

Architecture is both art and impact, and Aaron Gensler is making waves in both. Whether she’s designing transformative spaces or teaching the next generation of architects, Aaron credits Archer with instilling a fearless sense of curiosity and a belief that good design can change lives.

The Common Thread?

Each of these women left Archer with more than just a diploma. They left with direction, drive, and the kind of confidence that doesn’t wait for permission. That’s the Archer difference: it doesn’t just graduate students. It launches changemakers.

A Culture That Cultivates Confidence and Purpose

You don’t wake up one day ready to lead a movement, pitch a startup, or publish research at 17. That kind of confidence is built over time—class by class, challenge by challenge, mentor by mentor. And at Archer, that foundation begins early and runs deep.

The Role of Mentorship and Community

Archer’s small class sizes aren’t just about better teacher-student ratios. They’re about creating a close-knit ecosystem where every student is seen, heard, and challenged to grow. Faculty become mentors. Mentors become advocates. And the classroom becomes a space where curiosity is celebrated, risks are safe, and ideas are taken seriously, no matter how big.

The result? Girls who aren’t just prepared to take on the world—they’re eager to.

Real-World Readiness Begins in Middle School

At Archer, independence isn’t something students “get” when they hit senior year. It starts in middle school, where students begin managing projects, advocating for themselves, and speaking with confidence in front of real audiences. They’re not just learning about the world—they’re already participating in it.

By the time graduation rolls around, Archer students have already led initiatives, collaborated across disciplines, and tested their skills in real-world settings. College is the next step—not the first leap.

Archer’s Legacy: Where the Next Leaders Begin

When you graduate from Archer, you don’t walk away—you level up. The alumni network is a thriving sisterhood of artists, entrepreneurs, academics, lawyers, and innovators who stay connected, share opportunities, and open doors for the next wave. It’s mentorship in motion—and a real-world demonstration of what happens when women support women.

Why Families Choose Archer for the Long Run

Ask any Archer parent or alum and you’ll hear the same thing: this isn’t just a school. It’s an investment in a young woman’s future—intellectually, emotionally, and ethically.

The value of an Archer education goes far beyond grades or college lists. It’s in the courage to speak up in a boardroom, the empathy to lead with heart, and the lifelong belief that your voice matters.

Apply to Archer School for Girls with expert help from Cardinal Education

The success stories of its alumni prove that an Archer education is more than preparation—it’s transformation. If you can see your child growing, creating, and belonging at Archer, contact us today. Cardinal Education can help you navigate the admissions process with confidence—from interviews and parent statements to supplemental materials.

Reach out today, and let’s make your child’s next school day the first step in something extraordinary.

How to Get Into Archer School for Girls: Your Complete Guide to Getting In

Clubs and Student Life at The Archer School for Girls: A Hub of Leadership, Creativity, and Community

Frequently Asked Questions

What local charities and events has Southwestern Academy partnered with?
Southwestern Academy is basically the MVP of giving back. Their students have partnered with an impressive lineup of local and national organizations that make a real difference. We’re talking the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Pasadena Humane Society, Children’s Hospital L.A., and the San Marino Rotary Club, just to name a few. Whether it’s helping build a Rose Parade float or ringing bells for the Salvation Army, Southwestern students show up ready to serve. They’ve even helped out at food and wine fundraisers, holiday card drives, and beach clean-ups. It’s not just a résumé booster here—it’s woven into the fabric of school life. Think of it as extracurriculars with heart and a healthy splash of elbow grease.
What kinds of places do Southwestern Academy students volunteer at?
If there’s a place in need of extra hands, compassion, or a little sparkle of joy, chances are Southwestern Academy students have been there. You’ll find them everywhere from hospitals to libraries, beaches to senior centers, food banks to community parades. They clean up rivers, write to the elderly, sew pillows for shelter animals, and serve meals with genuine warmth. One day it’s helping with a charity run, the next it’s decorating floats or dishing out pancakes at a fire station breakfast. Their volunteer map is basically a tour of good deeds across Southern California. They don’t just dip their toes in service—they cannonball right in, with a smile and maybe a glue gun.
Is Community Service at Southwestern required?
No one’s twisting arms here, but at Southwestern Academy, community service is so baked into the culture that most students jump in willingly. It’s not a requirement in the rulebook sense, but it’s definitely a big part of student life. Once you see your classmates spending weekends helping others, it becomes kind of contagious. Service is treated less like homework and more like a badge of honor—something you want to do. The school encourages it, celebrates it, and makes it super easy to get involved. So while it’s not technically required, let’s just say opting out is about as rare as spotting a student who hasn’t volunteered at least once.
Do Southwestern Academy students help at animal shelters?
Absolutely—and the animals are probably writing thank-you notes with their paws. Southwestern Academy students regularly volunteer at the Pasadena Humane Society, where they help make life a little more comfortable for our furry friends. They’ve even been known to sew tiny pillows for shelter animals. Yes, pillows. For animals. It’s like a spa day, but with more fur. These students take pet pampering seriously, whether it’s cleaning, crafting, or just giving a lonely pup some company. It’s not only adorable, it teaches empathy, patience, and maybe a little bit of lint-rolling technique too. So if you’re an animal lover, you’ll find your people—and your paws—at Southwestern.