2019 Best Private K-12 Schools in the Los Angeles Area

Best Schools

962 results

Polytechnic School
Private School
Pasadena, CA
K-12
91
1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Senior: My experience at Poly has been unforgettable. I entered as a freshman and immediately became involved in the sports and clubs they offered. The school offers several ways for students to follow their passions including student-run clubs, classroom projects, and service opportunities. The school also ensures students grow outside the classroom through international trips and outdoor education trips. I traveled to Nicaragua for a week with peers and teachers to teach the students there English, and it was an eye opening experience. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to go on the trip, and I'm thankful Poly made it financially possible for me to go too! The teachers are also incredibly supportive and make it their priority to help students reach their full potential. My chemistry teacher met with me before school at 7:30 in the morning just to go over topics that I was struggling with. Overall, Poly is a great place, and I could not imagine high school anywhere else!
Read 91 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
859 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Chadwick School
Private School
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
K-12
72
2 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: What an amazing place Chadwick is! Academically, the small class sizes allow the teachers time to adapt to the needs of the kids. In my own experience at the school I was amazed when I went to college and found classes almost universally to be a breeze thanks to Chadwick. The school entirely subscribes to a whole child philosophy, where you can load up your schedule with as many challenging classes as you like with a talented group of students, but they strongly encourage going beyond traditional academics: Outdoor ed – Each year your child will embark upon an outdoor education trip as a class where they form friendships and lifelong bonds and challenging themselves mentally and physically in ways you just can’t in the classroom. Performing and visual arts – Your child will be strongly encouraged to get outside of their comfort zone and participate in a rigorous, well-developed arts curriculum. I can confidently say Chadwick is a very special place.
Read 72 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
830 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences
Private School
Santa Monica, CA
K-12
42
3 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Alum: At Crossroads School, students thrive as learners, artists, and people. Rigorous coursework, paired with high level discussions of society's major problems, push students to become active global citizens dedicated to making a change in the world. The teachers' commitment to the students is unparalleled; the learning style often asks students to connect curriculum and their own lives, providing for deep personal and intellectual refection. The campus is vibrant and lively: at lunchtime, some students play music and dance on tables while others can be found rehearsing student theatre, playing in the annual ping pong tournament, engaged in one of the school's 30+ community service and social justice clubs, and more. Crossroads is a place where students can explore themselves and their passions in a safe, warm environment, all while applying their newfound knowledge to real world problems. Crossroads students prove that even high schoolers can make a difference!
Read 42 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,174 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
Private School
San Jose, CA
5-12
35
Freshman: Niche allows reviews to only be less than 1000 characters, so I'll try to summarize everything.

Academics/Teachers/Resource: MWAH! The teachers are all qualified and passionate about their respective subjects (many also have PhD's). There are many resources within the school that assist students' academic performance if they wish, such as the peer tutoring program, office hours, or simply having a classmate help you out.

Clubs: A surprisingly wide variety of clubs. The largest (and arguably best) clubs consist of Speech & Debate, Mock Trial, and DECA.

Sports: PE only offers the mainstream sports, such as soccer, basketball, and football.

Diversity: Nonexistent. All Asians.

Food: Most of the students hate it.

School Culture: Many of the students are talented and smart, but many of them at the same time are also conceited and condescending, which degrades the school environment by a considerable amount.

Administration: Slow
Read 35 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
800 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Brentwood School
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
K-12
76
4 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Middle School Student: Brentwood school has supported me from the beginning. I have always felt happy and welcomed. The teachers all genuinely care about you, and not just your academic performance, but also you as a person. Yes, there are wealthy people at Brentwood School, but they are very low key and down- to- earth. Overall, I love Brentwood!
Read 76 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
996 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Viewpoint School
Private School
Calabasas, CA
K-12
87
5 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: We love Viewpoint School, it is beyond our expectations. The school is beautifully cited on an enormous campus with state of the art facilities. The athletics and art facilities are impressive. Academics are rigorous and the school is dedicated to developing well rounded students. We are impressed that studio art, violin, French and team sports are all included before 3 pm and part of a standard schedule. Better yet, the school carefully crafts schedules to make managing all of these activities possible and not overwhelming. Teachers and the administration are intelligent and responsive. The school has a sophisticated system (MyViewpoint) for communicating with teachers and for managing schedules, assignments and time. The student body is welcoming, inclusive and motivated. Parent involvement is impressive - parents make an effort to be involved.
Read 87 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,215 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Oakwood School
Private School
North Hollywood, CA
K-12
23
6 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: Can't say enough great things about Oakwood. Our daughter is a junior there and we're thrilled with the support the administration and faculty give all the students. She's blossomed academically but also found her passion in their exceptional STEAM department. This is a school that nurtures not just well rounded students, but exceptional kids. It has a rep as an arty school (which it is) but my kid is math/science/tech focused and it's been amazing for her.
Read 23 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
780 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Buckley School
Private School
Sherman Oaks, CA
K-12
23
7 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Junior: Buckley’s teachers changed my life. Many are Ivy League educated PhDs, and most are passionate about teaching. Several teachers took extra time to both challenge me intellectually, but also to help me through difficult transitions.
Read 23 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
830 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Sierra Canyon School
Private School
Chatsworth, CA
PK, K-12
44
8 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Sophomore: Sierra Canyon High School is a relatively challenging school, offering many AP, honors, and elective courses that can make your schedule meet your individual needs. You can choose up to 8 classes every year, which compared to most schools is considerably more, which means there are more opportunities for one to thrive. Although there is an emphasis on athletics when it comes to extracurriculars, overall there are options for everyone to feel interested and included.
Read 44 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
986 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School
Private School
Irvine, CA
PK, K-12
126
9 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: Amazing all around! My son on the autistic spectrum needed a full time aid in 1st grade, struggled through middle school elsewhere. We brought him back to TVT for high school after 3 years away worried as to whether he could successfully make it through high school. The learning center support was unbelievably great as were the teachers helping my son. He was recently accepted to a top 25 US University and 4 other schools with large merit packages. We are so proud of what he has accomplished with the help of everyone at the school. He was a 2 sport 4 year varsity athlete, a club leader and has become a confident, polite young man with a heart of gold. The school community is really a family and we are blessed to have Dr Davis, Ms Quigley and other very capable admin and staff at the school. The Film, Math and Engineering programs are truly one of a kind in OC if not the nationally.
Read 126 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
522 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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St. Margaret's Episcopal School
Private School
San Juan Capistrano, CA
PK, K-12
33
10 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Senior: Although people may think of us as "The rich white kid" school, it really isn't the case. There's an abundance of diversity, and many students in the school come from lower class backgrounds. It's humbling to see how close our class has gotten over the years, which I think is one of the strongest points of St. Margarets. The community is extremely tight-knit. You can be yourself, and the friends you make here will stay with you forever. There's also everything you would ever need resource/technology wise, so there's never a moment where we haven't had what we needed to learn. Safety is top notch as well, for the concerned parents. In fact, I would even go so far to say they go overboard on the safety, to the point where it gets a bit annoying for students, hence why I'm giving a 4 star instead of 5 star. It's a great school, but it's extremely expensive and is definitely not for kids who don't like adult supervision.
Read 33 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,250 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Campbell Hall School
Private School
North Hollywood, CA
K-12
108
11 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: Campbell Hall is the whole package! They care about their students, families, parents, and employees. They recognize areas needed for improvement and try to improve even when the road ahead can be long. My two children attend the elementary school and have had wonderful experiences. They are happy almost every day (they are kids after all!) and have gained valuable friendships with their peers, as well as wonderful relationships with teachers! They are safe and nurtured every single day. You get what you pay for!
Read 108 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,085 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Pilgrim School
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
PK, K-12
29
12 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Alum: Pilgrim School is not like other pretentious Los Angeles private schools. As a recent alumni of Pilgrim, I can confidently say that Pilgrim helped me love what I was learning and helped me love learning in general. With teachers and administrators who treated students with a sense of equity and respect, school felt less like a job and more a community that works symbiotically. With an amazing STEM program, especially engineering, Pilgrim school helped me thrive and formulate and idea what I would like to major in during college. Cafeteria food is not good but thats about the biggest negative!
Read 29 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
432 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Wildwood School
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
K-12
32
13 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Freshman: I love the overall experience of being at the school. I am very involved in the theater program, which is excellent and loved the Into the Wild program that happens in eighth grade. I also think that many of the teachers are excellent and really make an effort to help students. The opportunities that students have in the range of clubs and electives are vast and great however the two places I feel that Wildwood is lacking in are sports and academic opportunities. I that the opportunities within each subject are somewhat limited. Overall Wildwood is a great school!
Read 32 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
733 Students
5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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New Roads School
Private School
Santa Monica, CA
K-12
95
14 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Alum: New Roads School is a magical place. I went here from 4th to senior year all the way to college, and I am happy I did so.

My experience was very much a unique one though, for I went through the school as it was constantly changing. Heads of schools were constantly changing, but the magic was still there.

For one, it's diverse. Very. The only thing not really represented here are conservatives; if you're conservative, don't come here. The school is very liberal and social justice based, and the views can be a little extreme sometimes.

Facilities; So I left just before the elementary school joined. Classes are small, we don't have a cafeteria, nor a library, we didn't have much, but you have your friends and teachers that make up for it.

Teachers; some of the most inspiring, smart, caring people I've ever met in my life.

And side note; Math is an amazing department. Meeyun and Myra are phenomenal teachers. And the tours are NOT STAGED. They always caught us off guard in class.
Read 95 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
564 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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New Covenant Academy
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
K-12
16
15 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: I really love NCA because all teachers include principal (Dr. Song) are very passionate and dedicated to students. My son is attending 1st grade now and he loves to go school. It feels like family.. As a Christian, this school is best Christian school.
Read 16 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
170 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Ribet Academy
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
PK, K-12
22
16 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Alum: It is a small school which allows many of the students to really get to know each other, the teachers, and the administration - everyone begins to feel like family. However, there are few teachers, and usually only 1 teacher teaching a subject and usually teaching quite a few different classes. This can make it hard on the school and students if that teacher quits. In my case, there was quite a bit of turnover in some of my classes, making it hard to learn much in those classes as we had new/different expectations with each new teacher as well as needed to help the new teachers learn a bit of where we were already at in our studies with the respective classes. Overall though, the teachers and administration really recognize students as individual people and seek to be involved in not just the furthering of their education but all that makes them a well-rounded person. The art program is also spectacular and truly something to rave about.
Read 22 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
385 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Southlands Christian Schools
Private School
Rowland Heights, CA
PK, K-12
13
17 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: I have 2 children in the elementary school and they love it at Southlands because they feel loved and safe here. The small class sizes allow each child to get plenty of attention from their teachers. I love how extracurricular subjects (PE, Spanish, computer, art, music, and library time) are included in the daily curriculum. At Southlands, my children are getting quality education with Jesus' presence and guidance.
Read 13 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
687 Students
12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Linfield Christian School
Private School
Temecula, CA
PK, K-12
81
18 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Senior: Linfield Christian is an amazing place. The school has three core values: Christ-Centered, Community, and College Prep. Everyone from the Head of School down to the teachers do everything in their power to make sure those three values are represented in everything that happens which is awesome because there aren't many schools around that are as invested in the students and the mission of the school, than the teachers at Linfield Christian. From a school standpoint, there are rigorous academics with many AP offerings. In the HS there is an engineering track and a biomedicine track. You are also able to take a tour of the campus with someone from the admissions office year-round. Definitely take a look!
Read 81 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
852 Students
16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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International School of Los Angeles - Los Feliz
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
PK, K-12
12
19 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Junior: LILA offers a bilingual French-International education, with the choice of taking the French Baccalaureate or the International Baccalaureate, creating a very rigorous, demanding, and global curriculum. It is a very small school, with a little over 300 students. As a current IB student myself, I think this school does a lot to prepare you for the globalized society we're living in today. However, you should note that this school only offers AP EXAMS, not COURSES. The education is very Eurocentric. If you don't speak French at home, take the IB. Otherwise, if you're a French citizen, you might as well take the FB
Read 12 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
348 Students
14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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St. Monica Academy
Private School
Montrose, CA
1-12
18
20 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Alum: St. Monica Academy is an excellent Catholic grade school, middle school, and high school. I should know, I spent all 12 years there. It was founded by Catholic families who wanted a truly Catholic education for their children, and let me tell you, their standards hold up. Not only does the standard of Faith hold up at this school, the academic standard is quite top notch as well. You WILL come out of this school as an excellent writer, transitioning into the university setting with ease. You will also have a great understanding of the Latin language, which surprisingly, comes in handy especially if you are in the medical field deciphering difficult words which most often stem from Latin! There is so much goodness in this school and I am blessed to call myself an alumnus.
Read 18 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
240 Students
13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Faith Baptist Schools
Private School
Canoga Park, CA
PK, K-12
27
21 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Middle School Student: Fun, but busy! Must be good with projects and can handle speeches ! The environment is beautiful and calm, and the people are very kind. If your teacher is experienced, the lessons will be explained thoroughly, and if not the lessons will be difficult, and you will most likely need to study harder, or get a tutor. Most everything is done with technology. (Research Papers, Science Projects, Maps.) You should definitely get here young-the younger the better, the older the harder. They have a high curriculum, so even if you were the top student, you have to study. Homework is usually a page. I recommend going to summer school before, because english and math can be a real challenge. (Memorizing The 50 states, etc). As long as you find the right group, take time to study, do homework, and relax, the year will be easy. Find your study method, whether it be flashcards, reading repeatedly, saying it outloud, flashcards, it must be found before school starts.
Read 27 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
1,234 Students
18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Trinity Classical Academy
Private School
Valencia, CA
PK, K-12
12
22 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Alum: Classical education provides students with the cultural capital that will give them some authority and confidence in college and will connect them to a rich legacy of study. By studying things that other students their age do not, they will be set apart in a way that will make them more appealing to colleges. However, it is also limited to western tradition and often in that perspective, the focus on the issues that concern us today and an understanding of multiple diverse experiences are missing. Through this education, I have learned a unique way of thinking that is different from the majority of my college peers and has provided me with an older but uncommon way of approaching at thinking, arguing and reading. The science and math education does not match the quality of the humanities, as may be expected of a classical school. I do think that, though I received a very interesting and engaging education, I missed out on a decent understanding of science an math.
Read 12 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
569 Students
11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Capistrano Valley Christian Schools
Private School
San Juan Capistrano, CA
PK, K-12
43
23 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Parent: We are just are just now completing our first year at CVCS and we can honestly say that we truly feel blessed that we found and chose this school for daughter. We love the sense of community and the family atmosphere as well as the phenomenal group of teachers, coaches and supporting staff who truly love our children and embrace the Christian Faith. We are grateful for our Head of Schools, Chris Rutz as well as our elementary principal, Tessa Samuelsen as they lead us on this prosperous journey. We are also looking forward this year to the significant enhancements and expansion of the campus as the school has already been such a blessing to our family. Without a doubt, this is truly an National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence!
Read 43 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
429 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Acaciawood School
Private School
Anaheim, CA
1-12
8
24 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Senior: In the beginning, I really did not like my school but now that I am heading into my senior year, I really appreciate my mom enrolling me into this school. It is a great school!
Read 8 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
119 Students
5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Waverly School
Private School
Pasadena, CA
PK, K-12
36
25 Best Private K-12 Schools in Los Angeles Area
Sophomore: I have been at waverly for two years now and I love it! Everyone is very welcoming and kind, the teachers truly care about you and your wellbeing, and there's no social hierarchy. Everyone can be who they are without fear of judgment.
Read 36 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
321 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Saklan School
Private School
Moraga, CA
PK, K-8
7
Parent: Our family ADORES the Saklan School!

It is a hidden gem just minutes from our home in Lafayette. Every day our 5th grade son can't wait to go to school. Because of the small class size, amazing faculty and project-based curriculum, he has a true love for learning.

The school manages to balance strong academics with a culture of empathy and community service. A typical Saklan student is confident, curious and incredibly compassionate.

We have wonderful public schools in Lafayette, but chose Saklan to provide a more nurturing, academically stimulating and creative environment for our son.
Read 7 Reviews
NG
Overall Niche Grade
120 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Futures Academy - Westlake Village
Private School
Westlake Village, CA
6-12
NG
Overall Niche Grade
134 Students
— Student-Teacher Ratio
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1 of 39

Polytechnic School

Chadwick School

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley

Brentwood School

Viewpoint School

Oakwood School

The Buckley School

Sierra Canyon School

Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School

St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Campbell Hall School

Pilgrim School

Wildwood School

New Roads School

New Covenant Academy

Ribet Academy

Southlands Christian Schools

Linfield Christian School

International School of Los Angeles - Los Feliz

St. Monica Academy

Faith Baptist Schools

Trinity Classical Academy

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

Acaciawood School

The Waverly School

The Saklan School

Futures Academy - Westlake Village