2024 Best Public Schools in Los Angeles

• Duarte, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.72 out of 5  156 reviews

Parent: I absolutely love CSArts! I couldn't imagine sending my children to any other high school. The teachers and staff are amazing, and the students are the icing on the cake! This is such a diverse, accepting, supportive student body. I feel very comfortable sending my children to school here, knowing they will be safe and cared for. The education is top-notch and the conservatory classes, I can't say enough incredible things about them. I HIGHLY recommend this high school!... Read 156 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 962

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  18 reviews

Senior: The Science Academy STEM Magnet is a perfect school for students interested in STEM. With a rigorous curriculum filled with college, AP, and honors level classes, attending this school will give students one of the best STEM-focused educations they could possibly receive. Unfortunately, the school lacks in the arts and humanities department, with little opportunity for electives and a lack of freedom in choosing courses. As someone who has realized they don’t want to go into a STEM field, and instead want to pursue film, this makes me wonder if attending this school was the right decision. Especially, because the social life is nothing like “the typical high school experience” that incoming students have seen in films and may desire to have. There is also not much school spirit or participation in sports, though I’ve been working to reverse that this year holding the new position of Commissioner of Athletics. With state-of-the-art technology and facilities, STEM kids will love it here... Read 18 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 443

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  62 reviews

Sophomore: Academics are truly great! Many teachers are excellent, but some are definitely not great. Some school spirit is lacking in high school due the widespread consensus among GALA high school students and parents that more resources and energy are put towards middle school students. Great counselors and college counselors! Many opportunities for AP classes! Students' opinions are not always considered in certain imported decisions.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 735

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Lake Balboa, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  182 reviews

Senior: My school is extremely small and technology-based. While they offer all subjects and a myriad of student-led clubs, the main focus of the school is STEM, hence the technological focus. The Robotics team is considered the equivalent of the varsity football team, which segues into the fact that my school also lacks sports teams, other than the highly-ranked running team. This proposes some issues, as it's difficult to experience traditional high school events such as football games, large school dances, and more. However, the tight-knit community I've found while attending this school has allowed for close friendships and lasting memories, even if they differ from those of large, populated high schools. Though there have been downsides, I remain grateful for the unique high school experience I've gained in the meantime.... Read 182 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 372

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Granada Hills, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,528 reviews

Sophomore: Granada Hills Charter High School has an intellectually enhancing curriculum that is unique to any other LAUSD or charter school that allows students to succeed further in life. From things such as the STEM program (which I am in) allowing opportunities for AP Physics and Honors Chemistry in freshman year, to increased amounts of extracurriculars from service hour opportunities to endless amounts of successful sports!... Read 1,528 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 5,675

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  283 reviews

Sophomore: Since I am a student at the school, I get to see the everyday events that occur. I enjoyed the teachers who knew that we were more than just teenagers and would push us to think about our future. They were actually worried for us and would help us achieve more than we thought we could! Overall, this school is amazing and I would recommend it.... Read 283 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 443

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• El Segundo, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  309 reviews

Alum: The school community is what made the school years very enjoyable. The environment this school created is beyond great. They make sure you’re on the right track to college, making sure you’re taking all classes needed to graduate while helping seniors with applications and the whole process of it. Even though the work may seem a lot it prepared me for college. I found the workload to be the same in college which help make the transitions much easier than expected. Additionally, the school prepares students with their public speaking skills without them even knowing. Having multiple presentations, speaking in front of a panel of teachers, speaking in front of people in the medical field such as doctors and more! The school has a very big emphasis in the STEM field holding activities in which their own students help expose the different careers STEM offers to the younger kids. Lastly the hands on experience the teachers provide are what makes each class enjoyable.... Read 309 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 566

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  451 reviews

Senior: It's not as big as other LA high schools, so it's a tight-knit community. Everybody knows everybody, so it's nice to always have people to talk to in my classes. With most of the teachers, it's easy to tell they care about their subject, but sometimes you might end up with a few that don't so much. Our sports programs have been colossally improving over the past few years, and it's so easy to join any team that interests you. LACES is diverse and inclusive, and dozens of student-led clubs dominate. The campus is small and easy to navigate. There are color coded buildings for different subjects! There's also a quaint garden where we're starting to grow vegetables and herbs. A big loss at LACES is school spirit. It's hard to come across with no football team, so cheerleaders step in on basketball games and tennis matches. The leadership team does a great job of organizing fun events for the whole student body to participate in.... Read 451 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,463

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  379 reviews

Senior: As a student of Downtown Magnets High School some of the best parts of my experience have been with the friendly community that is fostered at this campus. It was way different from all my previous schools allowing for flexibility and prioritizing the students. Here many of our students are concerned with pursuing further education after high school and as a student it allows for a welcoming community where learning is encouraged. My favorite memories are usually made during lunch when I get to play volleyball with my friends and we laugh hysterically when something random occurs. However it does come with caveats, being the intense amount of work you receive if you are taking various AP's. As a student who has taken 9 AP classes so far I've had some difficulty in maintaining a balance between my academic responsibilities and extracurriculars. Something I would like to see change is just giving more feedback to students because sometimes students struggle to identify their weaknesses.... Read 379 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 903

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  810 reviews

Alum: Teachers were always engaging and helpful. Lots of clubs and activities to join. Very large and diverse school with people from all backgrounds. I would love to see more counsellors who encourage students to challenge themselves, rather than telling a student not to take an honours or AP class because the counsellor personally does not think the student will do well. I had an experience with a counsellor like that who did not think I would do well in an AP Psychology class in my junior year, and told me to take regular Psych first and then AP in my senior year, only for my psych teacher in my junior year to ask why I was not taking AP Psych because I was so good at it! Other than that, a majority of the staff is very kind and helpful, and even go out of their way to learn new things about their students.... Read 810 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,806

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  92 reviews

Parent: Our child has been at Larchmont since kinder and has thrived. He went to the elementary Fairfax campus, a smaller campus with spacious classrooms, and he has loved the bigger Selma campus too. The leadership works hard to create an accessible and friendly atmosphere for the students and parents so there is a strong sense of community. The admin is collaborative and value parent input. The teachers are nurturing and attentive and know when to give students more help or more of a challenge. There are many enrichment classes (art, music, gardening, sports teams, band), a social-emotional curriculum and clubs. Most kids eat the (optional) lunch prepared in the Fairfax kitchen and is SO good. At Selma, our child has delved deeper into academics and developed new interests like government and digital media in clubs. We have seen his intellectual curiosity and independence grow and we look forward to the La Fayette Campus!... Read 92 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,609

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Pacific Palisades, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  702 reviews

Junior: What I love about Palisades Charter High School is how they academically prepare you for college admissions as the offer only honors, college prep and AP classes. I also admire the variety in class from Clothing and Textiles to Hiking class. There is also a student body, ambassadors and link crew that helps new and current students settle into school. Every staff member there is more than willing to help you succeed in school and life. I also love how the staff members are open to new ways to improve the school, overall I rate the school a 5 out of 5!... Read 702 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,988

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A+

• Students 589

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  43 reviews

Parent: Such an incredible school! The admin is incredibly supportive & has always made themselves available (along with advisors from every subject) to meet with me & my children to discuss their progress & any challenges they may be having. Everyone who works at this school wears multiple hats & because of this they really get to know the kids. You’ll see the humanities teacher out at Swift drop off waving cars along! I’ve always had the sense that my children’s teachers have cared deeply not just for their academic progress, but also for their emotional well-being. The math/science program in particular is quite challenging but because they teach in a manner that promotes group discussions & collaboration, my children are not intimidated with the material & have developed a real confidence & love of learning. These students are held to a high standard but instead of just memorizing facts for tests & stressing over grades, they are actually learning the material.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 505

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  422 reviews

Sophomore: The best part about SOCES is that it is very diverse. There are many chances for you to start new friendships. I have built many relationships with teachers as well. There are also many chances for you to participate in school activities, like starting or joining clubs, doing a sport, or being involved in places like the robotics team, Academic Decathlon, or Speech and Debate. Something I think should change is giving students the preparation of choosing courses, especially for high school. As someone who just finished freshman year, I feel like if I had learned the requirements for high school earlier on, then I would have been more prepared. For example, counselors should talk about AP classes, summer courses, and electives.... Read 422 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,901

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  694 reviews

Alum: It's a good school that has many different opportunities for everyone. There's multiple academies/magnets that you can join and there's even more clubs that you can join (you can make your own clubs too! Clubs are a great way to make new friends who have things in common with you too). I was in the SAS academy (School for Advanced Studies) which would hold a lot of social school events and the teachers associated with that academy were amazing. Also, they're fully renovating the entire school as I'm writing this. One of the biggest renovations they're doing is re-building a completely new auditorium with a show choir room and a backstage area. As someone who was heavily involved in the performing arts at Noho and wished there was more, I'm really excited to see what's to come with that and I hope that more aspiring performing artists will consider Noho. Nonetheless, the school itself was great and if you're friends with the right people, it's a great school to join.... Read 694 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,555

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  139 reviews

Senior: During my stay at Rise Kohyang, I saw many great things within the students and faculty. Many teachers built great relationships with all of the students, which encouraged growth, work ethic, and enthusiastic attitude. I was able to make great friends and build long lasting relationships with my peers as well. Rise offers a variety of clubs for students to choose from, such as anime, book, guitar, soccer, student government, gaming and many more! Personally for me, being in student government helped me build cool friendships, learn about organizing events for our school, and obtain skills that will be of benefit for my future. Rise also provided so much valuable support during my college application process, which I am very grateful for. I am truly thankful for everything Rise Kohyang has provided me with, and all of the things I learned during my time there will greatly benefit me in the future. Go Tritons!... Read 139 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 505

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

High School Freshman: At Miraleste Intermediate School there are some wonderful aspects and others are not so wonderful. We have a very supportive staff and student body, however our teachers lack the passion in their profession. I believe that if a teacher loves to teach, a student would love to learn. Unfortunately, most teachers at Miraleste lack interest in their subject, therefore creating a negative learning environment. Our school, on the other hand, also has many clubs and ways to get involved, which I believe is very important. Overall our school could use some improvement, but it does have many pluses as well.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 799

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  44 reviews

Senior: As a current student who has attended Lake Balboa College Prep since 6th grade, I can say that this school is different from a typical high school. Starting off, the school starts from kindergarten and follows up to twelfth grade. I’ve attended this school since middle school, and now graduating from here next year. Lake Balboa has provided me with great opportunities. They offer college courses, Ap classes, clubs, and sports! Sure it’s a small school, therefore everyone knows each other which I love because it makes us feel like family. The community itself is welcoming and the staff is friendly. Teachers definitely care about their students and are in communication with their parents. Overall, some may argue that this school doesn’t offer much, but I disagree as I feel like this school has prepared me well enough to move on to the next chapter of my life which is college.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A

• Students 587

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Los Angeles County Office of Education, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  209 reviews

Senior: The LA County High School for the Arts has helped me grow immensely as an artist/dancer, and helped me make various connections within the dance world that I wouldn't have made otherwise. The academic classes are hit or miss, with some teachers that taught me loads of helpful information, and others that hardly taught at all. Also, it is very easy to become unmotivated at Lachsa because everyone is busy, tired, and forced to do their art every day, which leads many students to feel burnt out. Overall, though, I think my experience at Lachsa is far more enjoyable than at any other high school I know of. The fact that students can eat lunch on the Cal State LA campus is one of my favorite aspects, because there are so many seating areas and places to get food! I hope that Lachsa can find a way to hire some better teachers, and provide heavy arts training without causing excessive burnout among students.... Read 209 reviews

• grade A

• Students 527

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Nothing but great things to say about MiraCat! My child feels safe, engaged, challenged, and is thriving. Parent involvement is high but not oppressive. Children are able to develop themselves and grow in a positive and safe environment.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 362

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Wiseburn Unified School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  8 reviews

High School Sophomore: Successful of hooking students into topic.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A

• Students 956

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.74 out of 5  43 reviews

Parent: We have found this to be a truly wonderful school with outstanding teachers, devoted administrators and a diverse community. We love the project based learning and critical thinking skills that our son is gaining through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program provided at the school. We also really value the opportunity that he has to learn TWO new languages, through German immersion and then Spanish beginning in third grade. Moreover, the school community really is international and very diverse. We love how different cultures and traditions are highlighted throughout the curriculum and school activities. Additionally, we have been really thrilled by the individualized attention that our son receives. The teachers and staff all really take the time to get to know individual students and their families, and are there to provide support and encouragement to all of us!... Read 43 reviews

• grade A

• Students 391

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  988 reviews

Senior: I would say that the specific humanities program that I am in within my high school has been fantastic. I feel very prepared for college from my experiences with the program. The teachers are all incredibly communicative and supportive of me and fellow students. I feel very welcome within this community. I think the overall school itself could improve in many ways. Facilities are not great. I think the teachers are overall really good at their jobs and what they do, however the adminsitration is not great with communication. I have struggled with communciation with my college counselor frequently and deans have been known to be rather harsh with enforcing small things like shirts showing too much shoulder or shorts not going down to your knees. However, I feel the overall experience I have had and environment I have been in has been positivie.... Read 988 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,785

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Los Angeles, CA•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  49 reviews

Junior: As I prepare for the upcoming school year and reflect on my sophomore year experiences, my heart can't help but feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. After completing my first year of high school in Honduras, thoughts regarding how welcoming the new environment I would encounter clouded my mind. As a first-generation student entering a traditional US high school, my hopes were that teachers and staff would aim to support me despite obvious academic differences between me and my classmates, the students whom I had difficulty connecting with at first. Nonetheless, my original expectations were completely surpassed once I began having meaningful interactions with the teachers and staff. Not only did they help me realize having a different background is an advantage when it comes to acquiring a unique perspective, but they also helped me embrace and show pride in it. New west has encouraged me to build a strong and empowering character, one where my differences stand out proudly.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,041

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1