Berkeley Hall School Admissions Consulting for Asian American Families
Guidance for Asian American and Pacific Islander families considering one of Los Angeles’ oldest coed independent K-8 schools.
Cardinal Education is an independent educational consulting company. We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any private or public school, including Berkeley Hall School.
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About the School
Berkeley Hall School: What Asian American Families Should Know
Asian American students make up roughly 14% of Berkeley Hall School’s enrollment, the second-largest identifiable group on campus after white students and multiracial students, according to the school’s own reported demographics. For families weighing Berkeley Hall against the Westside’s other K-8 independent schools, that figure matters less on its own than what surrounds it: a 66-acre Mulholland Drive campus, a 1911 founding that makes it the oldest coed independent school in Los Angeles, and an 8:1 student-teacher ratio that keeps class sizes at roughly 18 students. The school’s stated values — respect, responsibility, honesty, compassion — are secular. Despite a founding history connected to Christian Science, no religion is taught in the classroom, which matters for many Asian American families evaluating schools across a range of faith backgrounds.
Fast Facts
Location
16000 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Grades Served
Nursery through 8th grade
Total Enrollment
230 students
Asian American Enrollment
~14% of student body
Class Structure
Single section per grade Nursery–5th; two sections per grade 6th–8th
Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
Average Class Size
18
2026-27 Tuition
$36,500 (N-EK) to $49,500 (Grades 6-8)
2027-28 Cycle Opens
August 20, 2026
Decisions Released
March 12, 2027
Diversity at Berkeley Hall
Berkeley Hall reports that 59% of its families identify as BIPOC, and the school maintains a standing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging program that includes a dedicated cultural calendar spanning Lunar New Year, Diwali, Nowruz, and other traditions, alongside a recurring schoolwide assembly specifically centered on Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. This isn’t a once-a-year assembly bolted onto a general diversity initiative. It sits alongside similarly structured recognitions for other cultural groups on campus, which is a meaningfully different posture than a school that treats AAPI representation as an afterthought.
For families evaluating the depth of that commitment, it’s fair to ask admissions directly about current club offerings and whether any student-led affinity spaces exist at the middle-school level. Berkeley Hall’s public materials confirm the cultural programming above, but do not list a standing AAPI-specific student club the way some larger K-12 schools do.
See our main page for Berkeley Hall School for a full walkthrough of the application process, tuition assistance, and student life.
Navigating an Application Process Built Around Recommendations, Not Test Scores
One pattern Cardinal Education’s consultants see often with Asian American families coming from academically intensive elementary environments: an instinct to over-prepare for a standardized test that Berkeley Hall simply doesn’t give. There is no ISEE, SSAT, or academic exam at any grade level here. The application instead rests on teacher and administrator recommendations, the transcript, and (for 6th-8th grade applicants) an optional, non-academic Character Skills Snapshot that measures character traits, not content knowledge. Families used to a testing-heavy playing field sometimes under-invest in the piece that actually carries the most weight at Berkeley Hall: making sure the right teacher is recommending their child, and that the required Parent Interview reflects genuine fit rather than a rehearsed pitch.
Key Dates for the 2027-28 Admissions Cycle
Application Opens
August 20, 2026
Application Due
December 15, 2026
Supporting Documents Due
January 8, 2027
Tuition Assistance Application Due
January 20, 2027
Decisions Released
March 12, 2027, 5:00 PM
Decision Reply Due
March 19, 2027, 12:00 PM
Application Requirements at a Glance
To apply to Berkeley Hall, you will need to submit the following:
- 01By Grade
- Nursery/EK/Kindergarten: Birth certificate, preschool recommendation
- 1st–6th Grade: Birth certificate, teacher and administrator recommendations, Fall transcript
- 7th–8th Grade: Birth certificate, English and math teacher recommendations, Fall transcript
- 02No Standardized Testing
Berkeley Hall does not require the ISEE, SSAT, or any comparable exam. The optional Character Skills Snapshot ($60, fee-waived for financial aid applicants) is available for 6th–8th grade applicants only, and evaluates character and personal attitudes rather than academic performance.
- 03Interviews
Every family completes a Parent Interview (up to one hour, in person or via Zoom). 6th–8th grade applicants also complete a brief student interview; younger applicants complete a brief on-campus assessment instead.
How Cardinal Education Helps Asian American Families
A pattern our consultants see often in essays and interview prep from high-achieving families: a strong pull toward listing accomplishments — awards, instruments, tournament placements — rather than letting a child’s actual personality and interests come through.
At a school like Berkeley Hall, where the Parent Interview and campus visit carry real weight and there’s no test score to lean on, an achievement-heavy presentation can actually work against a family. Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consulting helps families reframe their story around who their child genuinely is, coach the Parent Interview conversation, and choose recommenders who can speak to character and classroom presence, not just performance.
“Cardinal Education made the Berkeley Hall admissions process smooth and stress-free. Our son is thriving, and we couldn’t be happier.”— Parents of a 5th Grader
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Berkeley Hall School students are Asian American?
Does Berkeley Hall School have Asian American or AAPI cultural programming?
Does Berkeley Hall School accept international students?
Is Berkeley Hall School affiliated with a religion?
Is the ISEE required to apply to Berkeley Hall School?
What high schools do Berkeley Hall graduates go on to attend?
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