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Our 10 Best Private High Schools in Los Angeles
July 19, 2024

Private high schools in Los Angeles offer a top-notch, high-quality education that can truly unlock your child’s full potential in preparation for college.

Secondary education is one of the most critical stages of your child’s educational journey. It’s a place where students can choose their own classes, engage in extracurricular activities, explore their interests, discover new skills, and reach their full potential. Enrolling their kids in the best private high schools in Los Angeles is paramount for parents.

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Los Angeles is home to a number of the best and most well-renowned private high schools. These schools offer a holistic educational environment, rigorous academic programs, and state-of-the-art facilities conducive to the overall development of the students. With smaller class sizes where students obtain individualized attention, these institutions strive to understand and meet the personal needs of your child.

Parents looking for a private high school in Los Angeles have an overwhelming number of choices. To identify the best private high school for your child, we reviewed rankings for all private schools from the 2024 Best Private High Schools in Los Angeles list released by school and neighborhood data clearinghouse Niche. The rankings below have been compiled based on several factors:

  • analysis of critical data from the U.S. Department of Education
  • average SAT and ACT scores
  • college enrollment
  • culture and diversity
  • student-teacher ratio
  • parent and student surveys
  • private school ratings collected from millions of Niche users

Before making your final decision, look at the list of top private high schools in Los Angeles below!

Our 10 Best Private High Schools in Los Angeles

Best private high schools in Los Angeles - Harvard-Westlake School

1. Harvard-Westlake School

3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604
Phone Number: (818) 980-6692

#1 in Best Private High Schools in California
Grade: A+
Students: 1,620 
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $46,900

Harvard-Westlake is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory school for grades 7-12. They strive to be a diverse and inclusive community united by the joyful pursuit of educational excellence, living and learning with integrity, and purpose beyond themselves. Harvard-Westlake’s mission statement highlights the four core values that define the Harvard-Westlake experience.

Their curriculum celebrates independent thinking and diversity, encouraging students to discover themselves and their world. Their deans are committed to helping students thrive academically and develop a sense of personal purpose. Just as students pursue a purpose beyond themselves, the school is committed to its own institutional public purpose.

2. Flintridge Preparatory School

4543 Crown Ave., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Phone Number: (818) 790-1178

#4 in Best Private High Schools in California
Grade: A
Students: 530
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $44,750

At Flintridge Preparatory School, they believe high school should be a time of healthy, joyful growth.  That’s why they approach every experience and relationship with curiosity and wonder. Here, you have the space to push to new heights. Learning purposefully in a diverse community, students thrive in adolescence and grow as curious scholars, creative thinkers, empathetic leaders, and global citizens.

When we truly connect with ourselves and others, we learn to lead with sensitivity and integrity, which is the best preparation possible for the road ahead. Their values are the essence of the community—the principles upon which they make our daily decisions. Along with their Honor Code (Kind, Honest, Generous, and Respectful), they are the heart and soul of Flintridge Prep.

3. Windward School

11350 Palms Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone Number: (310) 391-7127

#3 in Best Private High Schools in Los Angeles Area
Grade: A+
Students: 625
Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $51,233

Windward School is a dynamic college-preparatory school that challenges students to achieve excellence in a nurturing, inclusive community. Windward teachers, parents, and administrators work together to inspire students to be responsible, caring, well-informed, ethical, prepared, and well-balanced young adults.

At Windward, they strive to innovate and offer students educational opportunities that are unique, engaging, and relevant to life in the 21st century. Their students explore their multiple interests in a dynamic academic environment while growing within a nurturing community. They are at the forefront of educational models and practices that excite students about learning.

4. Polytechnic School

1030 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone Number: (626) 396-6300

#2 in Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Grade: A+
Students: 872
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $41,900

Polytechnic School’s name conveys a sense of its history and philosophical base. Poly has been a place where students become multi-talented, intellectually ambitious citizens of the world. On any given day, their community overflows with activities and ideas that challenge and inspire them—adults and students alike.

They envision a community of students, inspired by transformative teaching, who will contribute profoundly to the world as intellectual leaders. They develop each student’s unique intellect, talents, and character in a community dedicated to academic excellence, personal responsibility, and service to others.

5. Marlborough School

250 South Rossmore Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone Number: (323) 935-1147

#1 in Best All-Girls High Schools in Los Angeles Area
Grade: A+
Students: 533
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $49,950

Marlborough is a college preparatory, private middle and high school for girls located in the heart of Los Angeles. Their independent school prides itself on inspiring middle and high school-aged students to discover who they are, engage deeply in their studies, embrace their communities, and lead lives of purpose.

At Marlborough, students are encouraged and empowered to use their strong voices and leadership abilities to make a lasting difference in the world we all share. In an environment that identifies and resists gender bias, the capacity to question, learn, and lead is limitless. They imbue equity and inclusion as habits of mind into their community ethos.

Sierra Canyon School

6. Sierra Canyon School

20801 Rinaldi St., Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone Number: (818) 882-8121

#3 in Best Boarding High Schools in California
Grade: A+
Students: 1,173
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $42,800

Sierra Canyon School is a high school experience that equips students to rethink the familiar and embrace the unknown. It is where ingenious teachers, brave students, and forward-thinking leaders work together to shape an education on the adventurous edge.

Teachers create hands-on learning experiences in the classroom, on the stage, playing field and court, and on life-changing journeys. Graduates are primed to excel at the finest colleges and universities, forge purposeful careers, and employ their unshakable optimism to improve the wider world.

7. Westridge School

324 Madeline Dr., Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone Number: (626) 799-1153

#3 in Best All-Girls High Schools in California
Grade: A+
Students: 550
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $44,225

Learning is lively, ambitious, and adventurous at Westridge. From grades 4-12, girls’ voices are front and center, and learning is active and discussion-based. As a result, Westridge students know how to think, analyze, and make connections. They also develop the curiosity, thoughtfulness, and wonder they need to become self-motivated and passionate learners.

At Westridge, girls experience a curriculum based on research into how girls learn best and a program where girls lead every student initiative. They are encouraged to celebrate the individual in a community, prioritizing self-knowledge and reflection. Their curriculum accentuates the female perspective, giving girls the tools to consider their role.

8. Chadwick School

26800 South Academy Dr., Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, 90274
Phone Number: (310) 377-1543

#6 in Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Grade: A+
Students: 854
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $49,660

Chadwick School is a private, K-12 co-educational day school dedicated to developing global citizens with keen minds, exemplary character, self-knowledge, and the ability to lead. Its emphasis on the Core Values of honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness, and compassion prepares students to succeed throughout school, college, and life.

They bring out the best in their students through experiential learning, challenging academics, unparalleled global experiences, a nationally distinguished outdoor education program, outstanding athletics, and award-winning visual and performing arts programs.

9. Oakwood School

11600 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601
Phone Number: (818) 732-3000

#5 in Best High Schools for the Arts in California
Grade: A+
Students: 843
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $49,360

Oakwood students thrive in an environment where it is safe to ask questions and take risks, where diversity in culture, opinion, and learning style is valued. They believe the first step to knowledge is an open mind, so students are encouraged to ask questions, experiment, and share their ideas and excitement. Here, every child is known and valued.

Oakwood remains committed to the founders’ goals. They believe that a school environment should foster individual growth and active communal life, hold intellectual attainment in high regard, and encourage young people to exercise increasing autonomy and responsibility—for one another, the environment, and the larger world.

10. Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

1714 21st St., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone Number: (310) 829-7391

#36 in Best Private High Schools in California
Grade: A+
Students: 1,201
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Average Graduation Rate: 100%
Yearly Tuition: $50,092

Crossroads is a K-12 independent day school located in a vibrant urban area of Santa Monica. It is a vibrant, relationship-based school with a founding commitment to the “greater community.” Students engage in meaningful service learning and community service projects. Crossroads considers serving the greater community a cornerstone of its mission.

The school was built upon five basic commitments: academic excellence, the arts, the greater community, the development of a student population of social, economic, and racial diversity, and the development of each student’s physical well-being and full human potential.

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

Our 10 Best Private High Schools in Los Angeles

With so many options of private high schools available in Los Angeles, choosing the best one can be a tough job. But by breaking it down into major factors that will ultimately balance your child’s academic, emotional, and social needs, you can make the decision much easier. Whether religious, traditional, or progressive schools, they all offer a wealth of opportunities that will benefit every student in their future endeavors.

Los Angeles offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do in Los Angeles with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in Los Angeles? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended education blog posts.

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