2023 Best School Districts in Los Angeles

• Palos Verdes Estates, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  73 reviews

Senior: The School is great if you are motivated to take difficult classes with the best teachers. If you are not - the lower end teachers are not as good. There are a ton of extra curricular activities to meet just about anyone's interest - in fact it is almost too many. Everyone here is pretty accepting and they pretty much do their own thing There are enough Varsity Sports that just about anyone can join one. The Counselors are great too! And really help guide you through the College selection process - if you ask for help. The school is large and if you do not put yourself out there - you may get lost. The biggest downside are the facilities. The school is showing its age and is not as nice as other area schools such as Redondo Union. They are trying (the new SMERT building is nice and up to date) but they need to have a campuswide physical plant renovation.... Read 73 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 17

• Students 10,503

• South Pasadena, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  24 reviews

Alum: I had a wonderful experience at South Pasadena. I had numerous opportunities in building lasting healthy mentoring relationships with a handful of teachers. This school really did everything in their willpower to make sure there was a place for everyone. There was diversity everywhere, and the system supported and encouraged it. There were many different clubs started by students. This alone reflected the school's success in inspiring their students to become engaged in school and taking their time in high school to build up their personal identities. There was a great amount of school spirit and individualistic spirit in the students. I am grateful to have gone to school here even if I didn't realize it at the time...... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 4,718

• Santa Monica, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.32 out of 5  65 reviews

Parent: We had a great experience from Kinder through high school for both of our boys; one a third year college student and the other, currently a senior at SAMOHI. Our oldest son got into his top college choice and was well prepared thanks to the teachers, counselors, administrators and peers from SAMOHI. It is extremely important as a parent to stay involved and be able to help your students navigate the system as it can be overwhelming and at times, political. Even through the pandemic, kudos to all for making the best of it!... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 17

• Students 9,929

• El Segundo, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.41 out of 5  32 reviews

Senior: I first entered the El Segundo Unified School District as a freshman with very few people that I could associate myself with. I had nobody to rely on at the start of high school, until Link Crew leaders gave me guidance. I wanted to give back this year because I was grateful to the seniors who gave their time to serve and guide me when I was a freshman. I had one freshman who has special needs who still comes up to me and says, “Hi!”, no matter the time of day. I do not know what exactly resonated with him, but I like to think he sees me as a friend who can help him with any problems he is dealing with. That’s the kind of school culture El Segundo created where everyone is welcome and no one was left ostracized because they are new or different. This district and its schools which I have had the pleasure to attend have affected my life in a positive way with its opportunities, resources, and competent teachers.... Read 32 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 5

• Students 3,448

• Oak Park, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  57 reviews

Alum: As an alum from OPUSD elementary, middle, and high schools I can personally attest to the excellence of the OPUSD educational experience. Stemming from a heart of strong parent involvement, OPUSD offers a wealth of educational opportunities, a superb nurturing environment, and produces very well prepared and well educated graduates. This district is hard to beat!... Read 57 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 8

• Students 4,355

• Beverly Hills, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  21 reviews

Senior: I really liked that it functions just as a private high school, even though it is a public high school. There are a lot of academic opportunities. There are so many AP and honors classes that I wanted to take but did not have the time. There are also many student-led clubs, which allows the students to discover new interests outside of class. All of the teachers are well educated and are very qualified to teach their classes. However, I feel like I have to criticize the administration because of its decision to change grading platforms in the middle of the school-year. The process was very inconvenient, unreasonable, and costly for the school district and students. Furthermore, the food is terrible and is full of unhealthy fat. It really needs a change in my opinion. My overall high school experience was positive, considering that I got to meet great teachers and to take very challenging courses during my pathway towards college.... Read 21 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 6

• Students 3,313

• Santa Clarita, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  173 reviews

Senior: William S. Hart Union School District strives to educate at the highest caliber. The teachers work incredibly hard on a daily basis to go above and beyond to reach out to students of varying abilities. Additionally, they strive to put diversity at the forefront of their goals in their schools. Our schools have teachers, students, and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds to enrich the educational experience. Our students leave the district and the statistics prove in record numbers, that the vast majority of them "graduate" to higher education or vocational training. They have worked diligently to use their program called "Career Pathways" to help students prepare for their futures while they are still in high school. As a student who is in his fourth year of band, it has been an amazing experience. Band allows me to learn more musically as well as develop my leadership skills as the drum major.... Read 173 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 16

• Students 21,786

• Culver City, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.34 out of 5  47 reviews

Senior: What I like the most being in the Culver City Unified District is the diversity (teachers, clubs, etc) and I think that Culver High especially needs better and more bathrooms, re-consideration of dress codes, more funding towards other sports teams (not only football), more funding towards certain clubs, especially the Robotics team, more "life readiness" programs, classes, etc, and a bunch of other things that the District needs to work on.... Read 47 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 9

• Students 7,076

• Torrance, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.1 out of 5  167 reviews

Senior: In my honest opinion, Torrance Unified provides a great environment for the students. We get opportunities to learn really interesting concepts from well versed teachers. We also have access to various technologies which is a privilege. For example; computers in the library, or telescopes for science class. The chief complaint I have is the lack of enthusiasm from certain teachers. Many of my peers have teachers who quite simply teach and guide the class in a way that’s not helpful to them. I would wish that the school board made sure the teachers care about their job and are enthusiastic to enlighten to students.... Read 167 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 32

• Students 22,490

• Calabasas, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  29 reviews

Parent: LVUSD is an amazing district offering a wide variety of options for all students. The schools are the best! The teachers and staff care deeply for students, award winning academics, arts/music, and sports programs. Something for everyone! We moved to the area for the schools - a destination district of innovation and excellence. My family is thrilled to be part of the wonderful LVUSD family.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 16

• Students 10,248

• Burbank, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  139 reviews

Senior: Overall, Burbank Unified School District is fairly diverse and offers strong academic programs and opportunities for students interested in various fields. However, the district's administration can be difficult to work with, especially for school clubs, which often have to go through unnecessary bureaucracies when trying to access their finances, coordinate trips, etc. The majority of administrators within schools are also not interested in working to improve the school in any way. Administrators are often impatient, unresponsive, and difficult to coordinate with. Additionally, most teachers (especially those who teach high school) do not go above or beyond in their roles and simply do the bare minimum required, which impacts their students' performances in the classroom. There is also a shortage of well-trained teachers, which has left several classes in recent years saddled with substitute teachers who do not have adequate training to teach the grade levels they are assigned to.... Read 139 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 21

• Students 14,704

• El Segundo, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  44 reviews

Senior: The staff is fairly helpful, however the facilities and diversity are exceptional! There is an ample amount of clubs an activities to choose from, there is definitely something for everyone. The academics are held to a high standard, I have not found another school yet that teaches and applies knowledge like this yet.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 2,498

• Alhambra, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  208 reviews

Senior: Academic-wise, Alhambra High School does very well! Whether it be the course options or the teaching, it is fairly well. However, facilities could be a bit more improved along with school culture.... Read 208 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 18

• Students 15,747

• Glendale, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  125 reviews

Senior: My experience at Apollo Highschool has been filled with lots of memorable and fun activities, such as dances, sports, clubs, and assemblies . Throughout my journey, at Apollo high school I have made many friends some of which I can call family, I have always felt welcome and understood from teachers,classmates,and the administrators. A few ways Apollo could be more beneficial to their students is by providing more electives, allowing more student lead clubs , and lastly providing more student appreciation. with these additional factors to Apollo High School the students will be more involved, motivated and confident. With this change freshmen’s at Apollo High School will be well prepared for all changes and obstacles they’ll face throughout their four years of high school.I can speak for most of my class ,and say that four years of high school have flew by quickly, with the help of Apollo we the class of 2023 have a gained an abundance of knowledge and advice to help the long run.... Read 125 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 34

• Students 24,924

• Long Beach, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  641 reviews

Parent: We love Long Beach Unified School district for it's diversity in student population, motivated teachers, abundance of college-prep courses, top-ranked sports programs and The Long Beach College Promise! An exceptional way to prepare our students for their future in the world they live in! Our school district has done an impressive job in keeping our students/teachers safe during the COVID pandemic. It was not an easy task to keep the students motivated during online classes using the technologies available to them. We appreciated how the Long Beach School District kept an open line of communications with all of our families during COVID school closures. Community-minded -- that's how we think of our public school district. And proud of it!... Read 641 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 84

• Students 69,413

• Simi Valley, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  44 reviews

Senior: Simi Valley High school is located on the east part of town around safe and inviting neighborhoods. The teacher employed at this school are alumni of Simi High, or of school in the area. With the teachers being familiar with what learning styles worked for them and which didn't they area able to adapt their styles to help each student. Since Simi Valley is a small town located in southern California, it is more than likely that you know most of the people in your classes/ you are somehow connects to 1 in 5 individuals. Your teachers may be a family friend or a teacher that your sibling recently had. Due to the familiarity between student and teachers it helps to create a safe place for children to learn and the ability for teachers to be respected. Although Simi High does a decent job at hiring teachers, they tend to keep the teachers who cause the most harm at the school the longest. At the end of the day, I enjoyed my time at the school due to the warm and welcoming atmosphere.... Read 44 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 27

• Students 15,951

• Pasadena, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  130 reviews

Senior: It's a pretty average school district that has a lot of unused potential. They have some really good arts programs and academies, but not as many AP options as I'd like. One plus is dual enrollment through Pasadena City College! The admin are usually very good, very bad, or don't really care. There's a lot of student diversity and new ideas, but there are definitely people who can be stuck in their ways. The school environment can be very good if you get involved, and there are a plethora of programs to choose from at all grade levels! Most high schools are heavily focused on academics and sports. The district also has a lot of community partners that help prepare students for post-grad life as well as setting up job and internship connections.... Read 130 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 23

• Students 15,313

• Los Angeles, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.78 out of 5  2,242 reviews

Senior: At LAUSD I was blessed with an enriching experience that helped prepare me for real life and upper level learning. I attended Lomita Magnet ES which was filled with fun programs and experiences and amazing teachers. After which I attended Dodson MS in the gifted magnet program. The teachers and class load where a mix of challenging and creative and I began to mature as a student. It was here that I was truly prepared for the rigor ahead at San Pedro HS where I currently am a senior in the school for advanced studies programs. I Have appreciated each of my years in LAUSD and feel strong that my teachers have been the key to my success! As a class of 2023 student I can say I have had the best educational experience in public school and am truly proud of that!... Read 2,242 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 782

• Students 460,633

• Lawndale, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  98 reviews

Alum: This school district provided enough resources to help me with the college application process. I was assigned an academic advisor free of charge who helped me fill out my college applications and financial aid application. Additionally, the district did an excellent job at providing fee waivers for my college applications. I really liked that the district made sure that the schools had enough resources for student's mental health as the district was adjusting to the realities of our world that mental health is real especially for high school students trying to figure out what path to take.... Read 98 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 5

• Students 6,072

• Compton, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.38 out of 5  86 reviews

Junior: Compton Unified School District has welcomed me with open arms. This district hash downed me in opportunities. I believe if I was in any other school district, I would not be offered all of these amazing opportunities. Compton Unified School District cares about its students and is always discovering new ways to help their students succeed.... Read 86 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 37

• Students 19,179

• Inglewood, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 3.46 out of 5  50 reviews

Senior: Inglewood Unified district is a district that prepares its students for better higher education levels. From my point of view, I would say that Inglewood Unified district qualifications depend on the school a person is going to. For instance, I am a student at City Honors International Preparatory High school, and from what I have seen and experienced, the school and district are advancing and progressing in a way that I and the majority of my classmate as a senior are prepared for college. In my school, there are a lot of clubs like robotics, violin, black student union, CHIP gears and film/photograph. These clubs help prepare students for their future career goals/interests. The best part for me is that every teacher is ready to listen and help you with any topic or subject you have difficulty with. Inglewood Unified District might not be the best out their but they care for their students by making sure that school is comfortable for students.... Read 50 reviews

• grade C minus

• Total schools 17

• Students 7,950

• Valencia, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Niche User: I think the safety and the emphasis on learning is great, but I think it's a little overly competitive. Kids are supposed to be able to participate in school activities without having to worry if they're good enough.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 10

• Students 5,920

• Lennox, CA•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  12 reviews

Junior: I started School at the Lennox School District, ever since I was three years old. Lennox is know for being a city of gang crime in the past, but nonetheless, the Lennox School District always maintain and assure that every single one of his students felt as safe as possible. My early elementary years were in Moffett Elementary School were I experience a great education as I was the first generation of Dual Language Program. I then move on to Lennox Middle School were it did get more tuff. But I was still able to maintain an ok education.... Read 12 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 8

• Students 4,731