2023 Best Schools with Gifted and Talented Programs in Los Angeles County

• Chatsworth, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.56 out of 5  102 reviews

Parent: We have had an amazing experience at Sierra Canyon. Our son is a student-athlete. Academics are very important to him. He finished his senior year with a 4.4 GPA while playing on one of the top football programs in the country with some of the best coaches. That is not possible without the support of amazing teachers that keep the kids engaged. Sierra Canyon's college counseling is phenomenal as well. We have two older sons that graduated from one of the best Catholic schools in the area, but the counseling is virtually non-existent. We now know the difference. Sierra Canyon was a great fit for our youngest. My only regret is not moving him there sooner. He is now playing football for Texas Christian University and in their Neeley School of Business. I credit Sierra Canyon for that!... Read 102 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,154

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Long Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  486 reviews

Parent: After sending our son for a year, we are happy to tell that the school is filled with wonderful people. CAMS students are kind, friendly, supporting each other across grades, and caring younger students very well. Parents are very nice and supportive, too. Most teachers have decent backgrounds/careers. It's easy to communicate with teachers and school staffs. Minimal donation/volunteer requests. The school is for students like Engineering, Computer Science, or Bio-technology. Required courses include manufacturing with CNC machines & industrial 3D printers, computer programming, CAD designing, and college level Bio-tech curriculum. Located on CSUDH campus, junior/senior students may take the college classes at reasonable cost. More than 50 clubs to choose from. 1/5 students join FRC or VEX Robotics teams. While sports teams are limited, good players compete at tournaments. Dancing teams actively perform at various school events. A lot of fun and exciting opportunities at CAMS!... Read 486 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 669

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• La Canada Unified School District, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  350 reviews

Junior: I'll start off with the bullying: There is none. Everyone is nice and helpful to each other. The homework is a bit much but with some encouragement from parents, it's not all that bad. The teachers are extraordinary at explaining the class material and subjects and are always willing to help a student in need. But the school is not all work. La Canada High School also offers a plethora of sports teams and clubs, most of which are run by the community or students. As a student with ADD (ADHD Innatentive), staying focused has been a bit difficult. Luckily, the teachers are nice and give me extra time to complete assignments or tests. Now onto the food! The cafeteria offers a variety of food, usually with different menus each day. There's also a wide variety of drinks and snacks in the Cafe.... Read 350 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,058

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  656 reviews

Sophomore: PVPHS is a great choice for kids who are willing to challenge themselves and prepare for college. Most of the teachers are excellent and well-qualified, and I’ve had amazing experiences with many of them. The majority of students are also very kind, vibrant, and accepting, compared to my last school in LA—they put extra effort into making you feel welcome. Along with that, the school spirit is fun and contagious, and kids here feel a lot of pride to be Peninsula students. However, the student culture here sometimes gets overwhelming—many feel pressure to get perfect grades and be involved in extracurriculars. While kids here are really polite, there’s always an underlying message: you need to do well and maintain your grades, or else. The pros outnumber the cons significantly: supportive people everywhere you look, some of the best academics in the state, and endless valuable experiences and opportunities. Final tip: Just be sure to find good friends and a decent work-life balance!... Read 656 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,359

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• ABC Unified School District, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  392 reviews

Alum: Academics are definitely rigorous and challenging, but they have great teachers that genuinely care about their students (in addition to the SIA James--shoutout to him!). The school is small so it's easier to make connections with your peers and teachers. It only really feels competitive once you get to senior year applying to colleges; otherwise, I'd say it's a collaborative environment where students are willing to team up and share resources or help each other out. Make sure to keep your mental health in check; while you obviously want to do good in school, getting enough sleep and taking care of yourself is key. Take advantage of the great college and career center, especially their weekly newsletter.... Read 392 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,019

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• San Marino Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  281 reviews

Parent: My kids have thrived in SMUSD schools. Most importantly, the caliber of their peers and classmates positively contribute to my children' attitude and enthusiasm for learning. The community's collective focus is aligned to excellence. The people and schools in SMUSD are true gems in California!... Read 281 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 949

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-11

• •
  Rating 4.53 out of 5  15 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 15 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 386

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Granada Hills, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,476 reviews

Freshman: Granada Hills Charter has been a rather pleasant experience. I feel very safe, and the school culture is very friendly. Some teachers are pretty alright, but some aren't good at teaching or too strict. There's a lot of different clubs that you can join, and the school sports teams are really good. The school food is probably one of the best, and the school programs are quality as well. The CP and Honors classes aren't difficult, and there's a broad selection of AP classes! There's a lot of webinars and parental involvement in this school. There's a lot of bathrooms since it's such a big campus, but most of them are closed due to vaping.... Read 1,476 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 5,462

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  280 reviews

Senior: Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy has drastically changed my educational life. From the start, I was excited and ready for the challenge. This highschool can be tough academically but will definitely expand your capacity of knowledge. Rigorous AP classes, Challenging honors classes, mid college student at lahc and constantly studying for sat and test, Can all be DONE with the right time management. Good Time management, dedication And commitment is what I have obtained from my school. With the most involved teachers, dedicated counselors and staff, my high school couldn’t have gotten any better! Definitely a high enrichment school, where so many life opportunities are open...... Read 280 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 458

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Redondo Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  683 reviews

Senior: Redondo Union High School has served as a great place for me to learn more about myself, explore my passions, and become prepared for facing the scary yet exciting world out there. I love this school and will not stop praising it. Specifically, I want to shout out the AP history department. I went into high school with a focus on English. I didn't love history. But then, I enrolled in AP European History and my world was blown open. I now love history and am considering minoring in some sort of it! That class taught me so much about our world, global politics, and how seemingly minuscule actions and protests can impact the world stage—all things I find quite fascinating. My Euro teacher also happened to be my Model United Nations advisor, which is another opportunity RUHS supplied me with which has made my high school years fulfilling and educational. In MUN, I've learned how to discuss important facets of our world politely, and in doing so, have found myself. All thanks to RUHS!... Read 683 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,117

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  443 reviews

Freshman: Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is an extremely resourceful and student-friendly school. The system is set up to allow for the highest success rate for students. All A-G requirements for all colleges are met as standard classes at LACES. The school has an extremely kind and caring mental health expert who listens to students' issues on a daily basis. She has helped students deal with their problems. Furthermore, each grade level is assigned a counselor who regularly meets with the students to discuss their well-thought-out plan for college. I have personally found the school to be extremely helpful for students of all types. Additionally, the teachers are outstanding. They are kind and use creative methods of teaching to help engage with the students. Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies is a resourceful and student-friendly school that offers support in every area.... Read 443 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,635

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  795 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 795 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,863

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Manhattan Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  580 reviews

Junior: For a California public school, Costa is probably one of the best you'll find. It's a public school and faces the same challenges most public schools do, but all-around it's a good school. There is a culture among students of being high-achieving, and the academics here are good. Sports are also a plus- there are a lot of really impressive sports teams here, and there's something for everyone. I'm pretty slow and unathletic, but I've still had a great time on the XC team. Manhattan is an affluent area and that has it's ups and downs. Cons- there are plenty of entitled rich kids. Pros- a lot of often-ignored programs are better funded and stuff like prom can be really fun!... Read 580 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,463

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Glendale Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  639 reviews

Senior: I've enjoyed attending this school! There is a lot of diversity within the student population and the teachers are very kind. Everyone is very nice and the administrative staff works hard to offer the best education possible. The school and district has been working hard to make the transition from COVID, quarantining, and online school to in-person school again by offering plenty of mental health related services. There is a Well Nest Center focused on bringing students to a more easy state of mind and offering a place for students to destress and focus on improving their mental health. The Well Nest Center has two therapy dogs that come in twice a week to help students destress. The efforts coming from Crescenta Valley High School to improve their school and boost the moral and passion of the students attending the school has been impressive. Additionally, the staff has been very active in pointing out errors and problems that the school is facing and making sure to address them.... Read 639 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,569

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• La Canada Unified School District, CA•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: We have two kids that attend this school. One of which went to a charter school prior, which had some strengths, but can't come close to what this school does. There is a reason this school always places at the top of Los Angeles County. Not Los Angeles "Area".... county. The teachers are fully engaged, experienced, smart and care. The schools runs incredibly well. The level of detail to educate each child on an individual basis is incredible. We wake up everyday feeling blessed to be a part of Palm Crest and it's community. Lastly, the parent involvement is a huge part of it's success too.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 620

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• El Segundo Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  553 reviews

Senior: The teachers and staff at my school provide a wonderful experience for all students. They are always there to answer any questions you may have and to help you with anything you may need. They never let any student go unattended when it comes to needing help. They provide a lot of opportunities for students when it comes to volunteering, internships, etc. The campus is absolutely amazing! We are free to do most of what we want with some restrictions. Even the students at the high school are amazing. It is easy to make friends and everyone mostly knows everybody at the school.... Read 553 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,270

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Beverly Hills Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  326 reviews

Alum: Amazing School! I really enjoyed my experience at BHHS as I had other high schools to compare it with (I transferred junior year). Top notch academics and your kids will be in good hands and super prepared for the college transition. The most important thing is to take advantage of the AP courses, which is where you will find the best teachers, opportunities and develop life long skills as a scholar.... Read 326 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,248

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• La Canada Unified School District, CA•

• K-6

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: The teachers were kind and understanding and they are managing the pandemic well. The food was definitely not the best but it was adequate.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 622

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• La Canada Unified School District, CA•

• K-6

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Long Beach Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  30 reviews

Sophomore: To start off, the teachers are always super involved, and give you the time to think for yourself. I really loved the fact that all the students were so close together, you always knew everyone, even if you rarely talked. The cafeteria is a bit small, but there is a lot of outdoor seating which is great to catch a little bit of sun. There are so many opportunities in clubs for both engineers and biomedical students! In regards to sports, there is a volleyball club, basketball team, and soccer team. One super important thing that SATO has is A LOT of spirit. There are always spirit weeks were everyone dresses up, and there are so many dances to attend. Everyone is really involved and super academic, I think the teachers, staff, and students all really care about the school. Though, in the mornings it is a bit crowded in the College Career Center, because everyone is usually studying there, or connecting with their friends. Overall, SATO is a great school academically and socially.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 421

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Torrance Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  462 reviews

Niche User: West high school has many teachers that are there to help the students! The classes offer a mental challenge and are successful in preparing students for college-level material. Last, but not least, the campus is very large and contains many resources and clubs that will enhance the experience of any student attending this school.... Read 462 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,903

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Antelope Valley Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  782 reviews

Senior: I had a fairly good experience with this school! The teachers were always helpful and was full of a welcoming people, making it a very great community. It was pretty challenging, because it was an early college high school, but we had the resources available to us that supported and motivated us to always do our best.... Read 782 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 475

• Student-teacher ratio 32:1

• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 4.88 out of 5  8 reviews

Niche User: Going to Point Vicnete was very well. I started in 1st grade and had the amazing principal Becky Cash. Although she unfortunately left in 3rd grade, our new principal Beth Hadley wasn't all bad. Although she will never be as good as Ms Cash. 4th grade will most likely be the worst year because Mrs Soto is very rude. I do not know about Mrs Wang because she recently got the job. 1st 2nd and 3rd grade was AMAZING with some of the best teachers I have seen (I'm a sophomore at Peninsula) 5th grade was okay, as Outdoor Science School was amazing. Hope I helped make up your mind on a elementary school :)... Read 8 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 296

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• South Pasadena Unified School District, CA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: School is excellent and teachers really care about their students. The work load may seem a bit much at times, but kids hardly ever complain about it.... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 749

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Los Angeles Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  370 reviews

Junior: My experience at Downtown Business Magnet High School has been very transformative. I learned a lot about myself and accomplished things I thought I never would have. There were many times where I was bewildered in my classes but my teachers would always find ways to help me understand the work better. The school is remarkable in every way, but there are some things I would change about it. I think I can speak for everyone when I say they would be happier to be in a much bigger campus/building. More windows, less clutter in hallways, more tables and places to eat outside, a field for sports, and just overall vitamin D from natural sunlight! We are now starting to go back to school in a few weeks but there's still a virus going around in the world. The fact that there are no windows in the building is a high risk to students because there is no ventilation circling around so the germs are all contained in the small building. I would overall rate my High School a solid 8.... Read 370 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,043

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1