Your essential roadmap for finding and evaluating the best private schools in Los Angeles based on your child’s unique academic, creative, and personal needs.
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Quick Answer for Busy Parents
Los Angeles has its fair share of elite private schools, but the right one depends on what matters most to your family. Maybe it’s strong academics, maybe it’s a place that sparks creativity, or maybe it’s somewhere that simply feels right. To make your search easier, we’ve rounded up a selection of our top standout schools and grouped them into clear, helpful categories. No fluff. No stress. Just the kind of guide you actually want to read. Here’s a summary:
| Category | Top LA Schools |
|---|---|
| College Prep | Harvard-Westlake, Polytechnic, Marlborough, Brentwood, Flintridge Prep, Chadwick, Buckley, Viewpoint |
| Arts, Creativity & Innovation | Crossroads, Windward, Wildwood, New Roads, Campbell Hall, The Willows |
| STEM-Focused | EF Academy, Vistamar, Pilgrim, Oaks Christian, Turning Point, WNS, Southwestern Academy |
| Faith-Based & Values-Driven | de Toledo, Marymount, St. Matthew’s, Berkeley Hall, Oaks Christian, Pilgrim, Campbell Hall |
| Specialized Learning | Westmark, Frostig, Mirman, Berkeley Hall |
Note: This ranking is based on Cardinal Education’s professional experience as educational consultants and feedback from hundreds of families we have worked with. It reflects our informed opinion and is intended to provide insight for families exploring private school options. This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially representative of any of the schools mentioned.
Top 8 College Prep Private Schools in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is packed with private schools that don’t just talk about college prep—they deliver. These schools are known for serious academics, standout programs, and a track record of sending grads to top universities. If you’re weighing your options or just getting to know the LA scene, this list highlights the schools that consistently rise to the top.
Regional clusters often define the LA school experience. For instance, families in the San Fernando Valley often gravitate toward the Studio City/Sherman Oaks corridor, while Westside families prioritize proximity to the I-405/I-10 interchange.
#1 Harvard-Westlake School | Studio City & Beverly Hills
Harvard-Westlake School Grades: 7–12 (Middle School to Upper School)
Harvard-Westlake is the school everyone whispers about—and for good reason. It’s tough, it’s polished, and it sends students to the Ivies like clockwork. With 30+ APs, powerhouse teams in debate and robotics, and college counselors who know their stuff, this place doesn’t just prep you for college—it practically fast-tracks you there.
#2 Polytechnic School | Pasadena
Polytechnic School Grades: K–12
Polytechnic School—known simply as “Poly” to those in the know—is where brains meet balance. It’s academically intense, sure, but the community is tight-knit, warm, and refreshingly down-to-earth. The STEM program is a standout, with labs and studios that make learning feel more Silicon Valley than high school hallway.
#3 Marlborough School | Hancock Park
Marlborough School Grades: 7–12 (All-Girls)
Marlborough isn’t just top-tier for an all-girls school—it’s top-tier, period. Known for sharp minds and bold ideas, this school puts girls front and center in fields like science and tech. The vibe? Academic grit with a side of leadership training and confidence that sticks.
#4 Brentwood School | West LA
Brentwood School Grades: K–12
Brentwood blends academics with intention. Yes, the classes are rigorous, but it’s the focus on character, life skills, and service that sets this place apart. Students don’t just graduate smart—they graduate grounded, self-aware, and ready to lead with purpose.
#5 Flintridge Preparatory School | La Cañada Flintridge
Flintridge Preparatory School Grades: 7–12
Flintridge Prep is the school where no one’s gunning for class rank, but everyone’s still excelling. With a “we over me” approach, students thrive in a culture of curiosity and kindness. Add in a state-of-the-art STEAM lab and a human development program that actually talks about real life, and you’ve got something special.
#6 Chadwick School | Palos Verdes Peninsula
Chadwick School Grades: K–12
If your kid is the adventurous, global-minded, ask-big-questions type, Chadwick is a great match. From outdoor expeditions to exchanges with its South Korean campus, this school puts exploration on the syllabus. It’s academic, yes, but never boxed in.
#7 The Buckley School | Sherman Oaks
The Buckley School Grades: K–12
Buckley’s known for its “4-Fold Plan,” which sounds serious but is really just their way of saying students get a full experience. Academics? Check. Arts and athletics? Absolutely. Personal growth? Built into every class. Bonus: if your kid lives for theater, they’ll feel right at home.
#8 Viewpoint School | Calabasas
Viewpoint School Grades: K–12
Viewpoint is where ambition gets a creative edge. Students here don’t just study—they pitch, produce, and prototype. Whether it’s filmmaking, coding, or building a brand from scratch, Viewpoint gives kids the space to lead, innovate, and get their ideas out into the world.
| Our Consultant’s Insight: While these schools offer robust curricula, our consultants have found that the defining factor for success is a student’s ability to demonstrate intellectual curiosity beyond the standard coursework. |
6 Best Private Schools in LA for the Arts, Creativity, and Innovation
Los Angeles runs on creativity, and its private schools don’t miss a beat. If you’re looking for a place where imagination gets as much airtime as algebra, you’re in the right city. These schools don’t just sprinkle in the arts because they also build programs that launch filmmakers, designers, and future changemakers. From hands-on innovation labs to boundary-pushing arts departments, this list highlights the schools where creativity leads, and students shine.
Here are the best private schools in Los Angeles for arts, creativity, and innovation, ranked and spotlighted for what makes each one stand out.
#1 Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | Santa Monica
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences Grades: K–12
If LA had a private school Walk of Fame, Crossroads would be front and center. Known for sending artists, actors, and entrepreneurs into the world stage-ready, it’s where creativity is taken seriously—and so is social change. From conservatory-style arts programs to a curriculum grounded in equity, this is the school where passion and purpose go hand in hand.
#2 Windward School | Mar Vista
Windward School Grades: 7–12
Windward is where engineers sketch storyboards and filmmakers code. It’s a true STEAM playground, with pro-level spaces for music, animation, and game design. Students don’t just consume media—they create it, remix it, and push it somewhere new. Innovation lives here, and it looks really good doing it.
#3 Wildwood School | West LA
Wildwood School Grades: K–12
At Wildwood, art isn’t confined to a class period. It’s infused into how students think, ask questions, and tackle real issues. From studio spaces to social justice projects, creativity is a tool for making sense of the world—and changing it. If your kid has a voice and something to say, Wildwood helps them say it well.
#4 New Roads School | Santa Monica
New Roads School Grades: K–12
New Roads is bold, diverse, and anything but traditional. Its arts programs lean into identity, storytelling, and social justice, encouraging students to use creativity as a lens for change. Whether it’s spoken word or short film, students don’t just make art—they make meaning.
#5 Campbell Hall | Studio City
Campbell Hall Grades: K–12
Campbell Hall strikes a rare balance: strong academics and strong arts, all wrapped in a values-based environment. Whether students are choreographing a dance or editing a short film, the school supports both heart and craft. It’s a place where faith, creativity, and intellect play nicely together.
#6 The Willows Community School | Culver City
The Willows Community School Grades: K–8
The Willows starts the creative spark early. Inspired by Reggio Emilia, their model lets students build, design, and express from the moment they walk through the door. From maker spaces to murals, every project is hands-on, minds-on, and totally student-driven.
| Our Consultants’ Insight: Admissions committees at these schools look for a ‘creative portfolio’—not just art, but evidence of how the student has used innovation to solve real-world problems. |
Innovative and STEM-Focused Private Schools in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is where forward-thinking education thrives. These schools don’t just prep students for college; they prep them for the world they’ll help shape. Think coding in 6th grade, labs that feel more Silicon Valley than science class, and projects that actually matter. If you’re looking for schools where students don’t just learn—they launch—this list is your blueprint.
We’ve highlighted programs across the San Gabriel Valley, South Bay, and Westside to help you avoid cross-town traffic when selecting the best fit for your budding engineer.
#1 EF Academy | Pasadena, CA
EF Academy Grades: 9-12
EF Academy is where global meets local meets future. With its Innovation & Impact Program, students design real projects that tackle real-world problems—think climate action, social equity, and tech for good. This isn’t your average STEM class. It’s hands-on, big-picture learning with a passport in one hand and a prototype in the other.
#2 Vistamar School | El Segundo, CA
Vistamar School Grades: 9-12
At Vistamar School, students aren’t just writing code, but they’re building apps, programming hardware, and solving real problems before lunchtime. This is where tech meets purpose, and where computer science actually feels like a gateway, not just a graduation requirement.
#3 Pilgrim School | Los Angeles (Mid-Wilshire), CA
Pilgrim School Grades: Preschool-12
Pilgrim School in Los Angeles keeps things real with classes in engineering, green design, and digital film. Students get their hands dirty (sometimes literally) with projects that are messy, meaningful, and full of learning that actually sticks.
#4 Oaks Christian School | Westlake Village, CA
Oaks Christian School Grades: K-12
Oaks Christian School has its own Institute of Engineering, and no, it’s not just a fancy name. Students explore everything from aerospace to software and build stuff that actually works. This is where curiosity meets a soldering iron.
#5 Turning Point School | Culver City
Turning Point School Grades: Preschool-8
Turning Point School gives younger students a creative playground to test out ideas. Want to build something? Paint something? Code something? The Foundations classes let kids try it all while figuring out what makes them tick.
#6 Westside Neighborhood School (WNS) | Playa Vista, CA
Westside Neighborhood School (WNS) Grades: Preschool–8
WNS runs on curiosity. With STEAM projects powered by a Reggio-inspired model, students explore, experiment, and occasionally invent something cooler than what’s in your kitchen drawer.
#7 Southwestern Academy | San Marino, CA
Southwestern Academy Grades: 6–12 (Day & Boarding)
Located in San Marino, Southwestern Academy makes lab goggles look good. Students dive into hands-on science while learning alongside peers from around the world. It’s part chemistry, part cultural exchange, and entirely unforgettable.
| Our Consultants’ Insight: When applying to these programs, prioritize projects where you’ve applied technical skills (coding, engineering, etc.) to tangible results; schools value application over theory. |
7 Best Faith-Based and Values-Driven Private Schools in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has no shortage of private schools with strong values—literally. Whether it’s rooted in a specific faith or built around universal principles like compassion and service, these schools do more than teach. They shape character, build community, and help students grow into people who care as much as they achieve. If you’re looking for a place where academics meet meaning, start here.
#1 de Toledo High School – Jewish | West Hills, CA
de Toledo High School Grades: 9–12
De Toledo High School offers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum infused with moral clarity. With a curriculum that weaves in Jewish values, students graduate ready to lead with purpose. Think global thinking, ethical decision-making, and service that actually shows up in the real world.
#2 Marymount High School – Catholic | Los Angeles, CA
Marymount High School Grades: 9–12 (All-Girls)
Marymount High School empowers young women to think deeply, lead boldly, and live with intention. Faith is part of the foundation, but so is critical thinking, service, and a strong push toward making the world better—one well-prepared graduate at a time.
#3 St. Matthew’s Parish School – Episcopal | Pacific Palisades, CA
St. Matthew’s Parish School Grades: Preschool–8
St. Matthew’s Parish School values like compassion and integrity aren’t posters on the wall—they’re part of daily life. With a focus on faith, community, and strong academics, students are raised to be thoughtful, grounded, and ready to give back.
#4 Berkeley Hall School – Non-denominational, Spiritual Philosophy | LA
Grades: Nursery–8
Berkeley Hall School leans into a spiritual approach that prioritizes character, mindfulness, and connection. It’s not about doctrine—it’s about helping kids grow into kind, confident, and centered humans who thrive in school and beyond.
#5 Oaks Christian School – Christian | Westlake Village, CA
Oaks Christian School Grades: K–12 (Elementary campus available)
Oaks Christian School blends faith with future-ready programs in arts, engineering, and leadership. Students dive deep into learning while staying grounded in Christian values, building skills with soul and purpose with passion.
#6 Pilgrim School – Progressive Christian | Los Angeles, CA
Pilgrim School Grades: Preschool–12
Pilgrim School redefines faith-based learning with a focus on mastery, inclusion, and global citizenship. It’s open-minded, mission-driven, and built for students who want to think critically while staying connected to core values.
#7 Campbell Hall – Episcopal | North Hollywood, CA
Campbell Hall Grades: K–12
Campbell Hall is where academic excellence meets spiritual reflection. Students are encouraged to explore their beliefs, speak their truths, and build a world that works for everyone. With a strong emphasis on DEI and justice, it’s a school that walks the walk.
| Our Consultants’ Insight: These schools value character and community contribution above all; when interviewing, prioritize sharing stories about how your personal values align with the school’s mission. |
Top 4 LA Private Schools for Gifted, Twice-Exceptional, and Differently-Wired Students
Los Angeles has exceptional private schools designed for students who learn differently. These schools celebrate individual strengths and provide tailored support for gifted students and those with learning differences like dyslexia, ADHD, and more. If your child needs an environment that understands how they think, this list is a great place to start.
#1 Westmark School | Encino, CA
Westmark School Grades: 2-12
Westmark School is built for students with language-based learning differences. With tools like multisensory instruction and individualized support, the school helps students gain confidence, close skill gaps, and rediscover the joy in learning.
#2 Frostig School | Pasadena & West Los Angeles, CA
Frostig School Grades: 1–12
Frostig School in Pasadena and West LA offers a full academic program alongside social-emotional and therapeutic support. It’s a community where students with ADHD, dyslexia, or autism learn at their own pace, with teachers who know how to guide them every step of the way.
#3 Mirman School | Los Angeles, CA
Mirman School Grades: K–8
Mirman School is made for highly gifted learners who need more than a standard curriculum. Small classes, advanced academics, and plenty of creative freedom make it a place where bright kids can stretch their minds and stay curious.
#4 Berkeley Hall School | Los Angeles, CA
Berkeley Hall School Grades: Nursery–8
Berkeley Hall School provides a nurturing setting for students with different learning styles. With small class sizes and a focus on character, the school supports growth both academically and personally.
| Our Consultants’ Insight: For these schools, admissions is less about testing and more about finding a ‘nurture-match.’ Be prepared to discuss how your child’s specific learning profile will be supported and celebrated. |
Top Tips to Get Into The Best Private Schools in LA
- Start your research at least 12–18 months in advance to ensure you have sufficient time for visits, tests, and applications.
- Prioritize schools that align with your child’s specific learning style rather than relying solely on brand reputation or rankings.
- Use the summer months to prepare for required standardized tests and draft your parent statements to reduce fall stress.
Best Practices for Private School Admissions in Los Angeles
- Attend open houses and schedule private tours to observe the student culture, faculty engagement, and campus environment firsthand.
- Communicate your child’s unique needs, interests, and strengths clearly during every interaction with the admissions committee.
- Review the specific admissions timeline and application portal for each school to manage deadlines effectively and avoid technical hurdles.
Common Questions About LA’s Private School Admissions
Q: When is the best time to start the search?
A: Begin researching schools in the spring or summer before the application year to ensure you are well-prepared for fall deadlines.
Q: Should we apply to a mix of reach, match, and safety schools?
A: Yes, balancing your list with a variety of schools that fit different criteria provides the best range of acceptance opportunities.
Q: How much weight do entrance exam scores carry?
A: While standardized tests are one component, most private schools use a holistic review process that evaluates character, essays, and fit equally.
Q: How can we show genuine interest?
A: Engaging with admissions officers during open houses and thoughtfully responding to any email communications are effective ways to demonstrate interest.
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Interested in One of These Schools? Let Cardinal Education Help You!
If you’re interested in one of these top private schools in Los Angeles, Cardinal Education is here to help you navigate the application process. With expert guidance and tailored strategies, we can assist you in showcasing your strengths, preparing for entrance exams, and presenting a compelling application. These schools provide outstanding academic opportunities, but getting in requires more than just good grades, because it’s also about aligning your passions, achievements, and aspirations with the unique culture of each school.
Let Cardinal Education be your partner in making your dream school a reality. Contact us today!
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best private schools in Los Angeles for college preparation?
For families prioritizing elite university admission, top-tier options include Harvard-Westlake, Polytechnic, Marlborough, Brentwood, and Flintridge Prep. These institutions are distinguished by rigorous academic curricula, extensive AP/honors offerings, and specialized college counseling. Beyond traditional coursework, they foster success through robust extracurriculars like robotics and competitive debate, ensuring students are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the demands of prestigious higher education institutions nationwide.
- Which private schools in Los Angeles focus on the arts and creativity?
Students with creative passions thrive in specialized environments like Crossroads, Windward, Wildwood, New Roads, and Campbell Hall. These schools integrate the arts—including performing, visual, and cinematic disciplines—directly into their core curricula. Featuring state-of-the-art studios, advanced technology labs, and frequent performance opportunities, these institutions encourage innovation and self-expression.
- Are there good private schools in Los Angeles for gifted or twice-exceptional students?
Los Angeles offers specialized support for neurodiverse and gifted learners through institutions like Mirman, Westmark, Frostig, and Berkeley Hall. These schools prioritize small class sizes, allowing for highly individualized learning plans tailored to specific cognitive strengths and challenges, such as ADHD, dyslexia, or autism. By focusing on both academic mastery and essential social-emotional development, these schools provide nurturing, inclusive environments where students receive the targeted instruction they need to build confidence and thrive.
- What are the top Christian and faith-based private schools in Los Angeles?
Families seeking a values-driven education have excellent options, including Catholic schools like Marymount, Jewish institutions such as De Toledo, and Episcopal schools like St. Matthew’s and Campbell Hall. These schools thoughtfully integrate religious traditions, character development, and service-oriented learning with rigorous academics. By fostering environments centered on compassion, integrity, and ethical decision-making, they guide students to grow into thoughtful, community-minded individuals while achieving their full academic and personal potential.