Welp. You lasted six years (if you’re lucky), but now your kid is in 6th grade. Which means unless you’re in one of the few K-12 schools, you’re back in the admissions loop. A loop that feels familiar, because you did it before. Or, if you went public for elementary and are now gambling your savings for your kids to have a better chance at an Ivy, a loop that will cost your sanity for the next few months. That’s right. Admissions season is here. If you’re in this: welcome. This is everything I know about getting your kid into private middle and high school in Los Angeles, in one place. The deadlines, the money, the testing situation (spoiler: it's a mess), and what parents actually say when the admissions officer leaves the room.
Part 1: The Cheat Sheet
Print it. Tape it to your fridge. Burn it with Palo Santo.
Part 2: The Deets
Tuition. Dates. Deadlines.
Archer School for Girls (6–12)
All-girls school built on the premise that girls learn and lead best in a space designed around them — research-driven pedagogy, strong social-issue programming. Best for an engaged girl who wants to find her voice; standout English, History, languages, arts. Not for families wanting a coed scene.
Address: 11725 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Application Deadline: Dec 10, 2026 (interview guarantee Nov 12)
Key dates: Discover Archer Oct 18 & Nov 1 (flagship open house — applicant mini-classes, parent TED-style talks); Campus Previews Sept 16, Oct 7, 20; Neighborhood Coffees Sept 18–Nov 5; Day Visits after applying.
Testing: Not required, not accepted — take-home writing + math worksheet instead
Tuition cost: $59,600 total (official)
Brentwood School — Upper (6–12)
Warm, values-based big-tent school — scholars, athletes, artists, activists all claim a home, on a genuine K–12 runway. Best for kids who want belonging plus breadth. Not for families allergic to wealth-signaling. Note: 9th grade takes only ~15–20 new students, and admissions screens for first-choice signal.
Address: 100 S Barrington Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (East Campus)
Application Deadline: Jan 8, 2027
Key dates: Open Houses Sat Nov 7 (middle & upper); all registration via admissions portal.
Testing: Not required — ISEE welcomed if submitted
Tuition cost: $58,207, grades 6–12 (official)
Campbell Hall (7–12)
Episcopal ‘spiritually integrated inquiry’ — academic excellence plus ‘decent, loving, and responsible human beings.’ Both progressive and traditional: innovative scheduling, uniforms, weekly chapel. Best for a well-rounded, kind kid who wants rigor without cutthroat. Not for pure pressure-cooker or pure unschool families.
Address: 4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Studio City, CA 91607
Application Deadline: Dec 16, 2026 (interview guarantee Nov 16)
Key dates: Open House (7–12) Nov 7; Parent to Parent Panels, performances, Fireside Chats in fall; family interviews Sept–Jan.
Testing: REQUIRED (ISEE/SSAT/HSPT/CTP) — new this cycle
Tuition cost: $57,080, grades 7–12 (official)
Chaminade College Prep (6–12)
Catholic Marianist college-prep — a traditional seven-year runway built on reasoning over rote, family spirit, moral formation. Best for kids who want structure, school spirit, and a big community (28 APs); the rare Westside private that doesn’t feel like a boutique. Not for progressive seekers; Catholic identity is woven through, not decorative.
Address: MS: 10210 Oakdale Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311; HS: 7500 Chaminade Ave, West Hills, CA 91304
Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2027
Key dates: MS Open House Sun Nov 8 (9:30am–12pm); HS Open House Sun Nov 8 (1–3:30pm); MS Virtual Preview Night Dec 9; Eagle for a Day shadow program; prospective families invited to a varsity football game.
Testing: No entrance exam
Tuition cost: $26,995 (+ $385 tech fee; official)
Crossroads School — Upper (6–12)
Progressive ‘education in balance’ — rigorous academics with the arts treated as equally serious. Best for curious, arty, free-spirited kids who want to explore widely. Not for kids who need tight structure and guardrails — the classic knock is a permissive party culture.
Address: 1714 21st St, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (21st Street Campus)
Application Deadline: Dec 16, 2026
Key dates: Tours, open houses, parent chats via admissions portal (no public dates); small-group collaborative interviews.
Testing: REQUIRED for 9th grade (ISEE/SSAT); optional for 10–12
Tuition cost: $58,541, grades 6–12 (official)
de Toledo High School (9–12)
Pluralistic Jewish community school with a dual curriculum — forming ‘A+ human beings,’ kindness as curriculum. Best for Jewish families across the observance spectrum who want rigorous-but-kind academics and values-forward STEM. Not for ultra-high-pressure seekers or secular environments.
Address: 22622 Vanowen St, West Hills, CA 91307
Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2027 (priority)
Key dates: Open House Sun Nov 8, 2pm (tour the Medical Science & Engineering/Robotics academies); parent tours select Tue mornings; student visits select Fridays.
Testing: Not published
Tuition cost: $50,700 base (+ $2,000 new-family fee, $1,500 security, grade fees $2,075–$4,645; official)
Geffen Academy at UCLA (6–12)
UCLA-affiliated, research-backed adolescence — 9am–4pm days, project-based deep thinking, a dedicated Wellness class. Best for curious, self-directed kids who’d use a university campus as a resource. Not for big-school sports spectacle or highly traditional classical curriculum.
Address: 11000 Kinross Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Application Deadline: Dec 18, 2026, 5pm
Key dates: Program Spotlight Oct 28; Open House Nov 14; Geffen Game Day Dec 1 (basketball at Collins Court); Evening with the Arts Dec 8; interviews include the campus tour (tours only inside interviews).
Testing: Optional — encouraged, no penalty either way
Tuition cost: $42,675 all-in (official)
Harvard-Westlake (7–12)
The most academically intense college-prep in LA. Best for self-driven, competitive kids lit up by hard work and smart peers. Not for kids who need a gentle pace or lots of hand-holding — the pressure-cooker reputation is earned.
Address: MS (7–9): 700 N Faring Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077; US (10–12): 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2027, 11:59pm PT
Key dates: No traditional open house — prospective families attend athletic events Oct 18–28 and ‘HW and the Arts’ pre-show conversations (Oct 14–Feb 27); interview-guarantee deadline Nov 13.
Testing: Optional
Tuition cost: $54,900 (per NY Post/Wikipedia — not published by the school)
Louisville High School (9–12)
Girl-centered Catholic where confidence-building isn’t brochure language — calm, non-stressful culture, the value play in the girls’ tier. Best for girls who’d flourish with individualized attention in a warm, low-drama environment. Not for high-octane competitive scenes or co-ed seekers.
Address: 22300 Mulholland Dr, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2027 (priority)
Key dates: 8th Grade Visit Day Nov 6; shadow days Nov–Apr; Open House Sun Dec 6 (11:30am–2pm). Note: Jan 19–21 exams are course placement, not entrance exams.
Testing: Not required — Jan exams optional, Honors placement only
Tuition cost: $26,700 sticker; real all-in ~$29,225 with fees (official fee schedule)
Loyola High School (9–12, boys)
Jesuit college-prep for boys — the “brotherhood” school, Niche’s #1 Catholic high school in the LA area. Rigorous academics, powerhouse athletics, and a genuine service culture. Best for boys who thrive on structure and tradition. Not for families allergic to homework volume.
Address: 1901 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2027 (firm deadline for Step 2 materials; applications open Oct 21, 2026)
Key dates: Open house Sun Nov 8, 1–4pm; Fall Shadow Day Oct 12; Step 3 materials due Feb 7, 2027
Tuition cost: $32,822 (freshman, 2026–27)
Marlborough School (7–12, girls)
The girls’ school LA power families whisper about — preparing young women for leadership since 1889, with a 7:1 student-teacher ratio and a robotics/debate/entrepreneurship engine. Best for ambitious girls who want to be pushed. Not for kids who need a gentle on-ramp; the rigor is real.
Address: 250 S Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Application Deadline: Jan 8, 2027
Key dates: Open house Oct 17; info session Dec 9
Tuition cost: $57,850 (2026–27)
Marymount High School (9–12)
Independent Catholic girls’ school that runs like a small liberal arts college — 9:1 ratio, heavy math/science/humanities depth. Best for girls who want genuine rigor in a serene, known-by-name community. Not for big-school energy or co-ed social life.
Address: 10643 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90077
Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2027
Key dates: Open House Sun Nov 8 (12–3:30pm); small-group tours; Shadow Days; interviews Oct–Feb (Saturday options Jan 9/23/30 — book early).
Testing: Flexible: ISEE/HSPT or the school’s own 25-min writing assessment
Tuition cost: 9th–11th $45,750; 12th $46,750 — transportation & lunch included (official)
Milken Community School (7–12)
Pluralistic Jewish college-prep — ‘sharp minds, generous hearts, kind souls’ — built around signature institutes (architecture/design, science & tech). Best for kids who want a values-rooted community with a wide elective menu. Not for secular or low-social-intensity families.
Address: 15800 Zeldins Way, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Application Deadline: Dec 11, 2026 (new families)
Key dates: Parent Coffee & Conversation Oct 21 (upper) & Dec 3; Student & Parent Open House Sun Nov 8 (9:30am–12:30pm).
Testing: Flexible — most recent standardized results (ERB/CTP4/ISEE/CAASPP/MAP)
Tuition cost: $57,450 (+ $2,500 one-time new-student fee; official)
New Roads School (6–12)
Progressive without the fluff — no APs, no rankings, but an Honors track and 100+ electives; diversity is the founding mission. Best for intellectually curious, self-directed kids who want to design their own path. Not for traditional markers (APs, rankings, competitive athletics).
Address: 3131 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Application Deadline: Dec 14, 2026
Key dates: MS/Upper Open House Sun Nov 15, 2pm; student panel Oct 27; SPARK (learning support) night Oct 19; virtual info sessions Thursdays. Events explicitly not required and won’t affect decisions.
Testing: Not required — school does not review test scores
Tuition cost: $55,014, grades 6–12 (official)
Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks (9–12)
Co-ed Catholic high school in the Valley — welcoming, family-feeling, strong on teachers who actually know your kid. A sleeper pick for families priced out of the $50K+ tier. Best for kids who want a supportive community over a pressure cooker.
Address: 13645 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Application Deadline: Not published (no deadline or rolling statement anywhere on the official site — call before you assume anything)
Key dates: Not published — call the admissions office
Tuition cost: $26,280 (2026–27)
Sierra Canyon (7–12)
‘Excellence’ in every direction at once — 24 APs, 76-team athletics, real arts, 1,200 students. Best for the high-achieving kid who wants to go big. Not for kids who wilt under spotlight or pressure, or families uncomfortable with wealth culture.
Address: 20801 Rinaldi St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2026
Key dates: Campus Preview Sat Nov 14; private parent tours + interviews Mon–Thu from Sept; buses run from Brentwood, Bel Air, Culver City, Woodland Hills, Encino & more.
Testing: REQUIRED for grades 6–11 — flexible: school-administered tests (ERB/CAASPP/MAP) satisfy it; ISEE/SSAT specifically optional
Tuition cost: $48,600, grades 7–12 (official)
Viewpoint School (TK–12)
Classic big-campus independent — 27 APs, championship swimming, robotics, ~1,200 students. Best for the motivated all-rounder who wants traditional college-prep with lots of doors. Not for kids needing a tiny, intimate setting. Note: merging with Berkeley Hall (announced Oct 2026).
Address: 23620 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302
Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2026 (priority)
Key dates: Small-group tours (inquiry first — no campus access without appointment); Admission Preview Days (dates TBD); applicant interview + family meeting.
Testing: Optional (ISEE or SSAT)
Tuition cost: $56,973, grades 6–12 (official)
Wildwood School — Upper (6–12)
True progressive — small, project-based, student-led research, the “self-starters and independent learners” factory. Best for curious kids who learn by doing. Not for families who want a traditional structure; the rigor question follows this school everywhere.
Address: 11811 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2026, 11:59pm PT (supplemental materials due Jan 8, 2027)
Key dates: Open house Sept 30, 6–8pm OR Nov 14, 9–11am (pick one); Student Visit Days Nov 11 or Jan 14; decisions Mar 12, 2027
Tuition cost: $56,055 (middle & upper, 2026–27)
Windward School (7–12)
Dynamic college-prep — rigor inside warmth, whole-student approach. Best for bright, motivated kids who want challenge in a nurturing, inclusive community. Not for kids who need a gentle social pond — the recurring theme is cliquey dynamics.
Address: 11350 Palms Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2026 (interview guarantee Nov 12)
Key dates: Tours & events via inquiry/admissions portal (no public dates published).
Testing: REQUIRED (ISEE — complete by Jan 19, 2027)
Tuition cost: $58,101 base (official)
Part 3: The Tea
What parents actually say when the admissions officer leaves the room.
Archer School for Girls
Mom tip: The testing outlier — ISEE not required and not even accepted. Every applicant does 30-min take-home writing + math after the interview instead. Also: teacher recs waived for BHUSD and SMMUSD public-school families (per school site).
Pro: Warm all-girls community where girls build confidence speaking up — admired head of school, “fantastic instruction in English, History, Foreign Language, and Art” (Niche alum reviews, Movoto).
Con: One detailed parent review charges inconsistent math/science — turnover, curriculum gaps, “fostering confidence in math by lowering the bar” (Movoto, 2020) — corroboration thin.
Brentwood School — Upper
Mom tip: 9th grade takes only ~15–20 kids, and the office screens for first-choice signal — “if they know you are also applying to H-W and Crossroads and sense that they are your ‘back up’ choice, I doubt they’ll be that interested” (Beyond the Brochure LA). Counterpoint (DC Urban Mom): “a flashy school where driving up in your Toyota makes you feel inferior.”
Pro: Belonging is the differentiator — “BWS truly sees and values each child as an individual”; values-based culture “like a second home” (recent Niche).
Con: Flashy wealth culture with DEI perceived as performative — “driving up in your Toyota makes you feel inferior. Money, donations and connections go far here” (Movoto, Glassdoor).
Campbell Hall
Mom tip: Nov 16 is the real deadline — Dec 16 doesn’t guarantee an interview. Also new this cycle: standardized tests are now required (ISEE, SSAT, HSPT, or CTP), a shift from last year (per school site).
Pro: Values-first without preppiness — real aid diversity (1 in 4 on aid), “kindness is a major priority along w academics,” vibrant arts (Niche, PrivateSchoolReview).
Con: Aging/outdated campus facilities vs. peer privates, with improvements reportedly in progress (Niche parent reviews).
Chaminade College Prep
Mom tip: No entrance exam required for 2027–28 — one less hurdle than most peers. Parent reviews: the House System genuinely creates belonging; middle school gets raves, high school more mixed (Niche). ~30% of families get tuition assistance.
Pro: A “true” college prep — reasoning over memorize-and-regurgitate; the house system builds friendships fast; “everyone knows your name” family feel (Niche).
Con: Complaints cluster on the high school, not the middle school — middle school “exceptional,” but high school dinged for uneven teacher quality (math singled out) and “Daddy Ball” basketball favoritism (Niche).
Crossroads School — Upper
Mom tip: The interview is a small-group collaborative format — authenticity over polish. Optional early deadline Nov 6 for sibling/alumni/employee families — and new families who want more interview slots. And like the lower school: no rejection letters, so a waitlist letter is effectively a soft no (per school FAQ + Beyond the Brochure LA).
Pro: Creative, laidback but challenging — “high performance with a creative, laidback attitude”; invested teachers, strong community, huge club menu (homes.com).
Con: Permissive party/drug culture: “Crossroads has a massive, MASSIVE drug problem and flakey academics” (DC Urban Mom).
de Toledo High School
Mom tip: The school “expects both parents to contribute financially” — even non-working parents — and late TA applications only get reviewed in later rounds. File Clarity by Jan 15 even if you’re still deciding (per school FAQ).
Pro: Teachers “a breed apart” — culture of building “A+ human beings, not merely robots who perform well on the SAT’s”; small classes, close-knit pluralistic Jewish community (Niche).
Con: Some parent’s wish for more student accountability.
Geffen Academy at UCLA
Mom tip: The Oct 16 guarantee is the whole game — tours happen only inside interviews, so missing Friday means losing the one structured way to see campus. Fee an issue? Email assistance@geffenacademy.ucla.edu for a discount instead of skipping (per school site).
Pro: Project-based, deep-thinking curriculum with an intentional wellness program (a dedicated Wellness class parents call “amazing”), 9 a.m. start, and the UCLA campus (Movoto).
Con: Thin parent-voice sourcing — but employee reviews repeatedly flag disorganized leadership and high turnover (Indeed); a 2023 Daily Bruin investigation documented unaddressed makerspace safety violations.
Harvard-Westlake
Mom tip: Main entries are 7th (~215 seats) and 9th (~90); 8th is effectively closed. Interview + timed writing “carry the decision” — only submit ISEE scores if genuinely strong (per Cardinal Education + Beyond the Brochure LA). Note: last year’s deadline was Jan 16 — this cycle moved a day earlier.
Pro: Rigor “comparable to the DC big 3” with unusually transparent college counseling (published matriculation handbook) and a financial aid program a current parent calls “amazing” (DC Urban Mom, Niche).
Con: Pressure-cooker reputation is earned — “ungodly amount of homework” (DC Urban Mom); a 2019 student-newspaper poll found over a third of respondents had thought about suicide (via Hollywood Reporter).
Louisville High School
Mom tip: The 8th Grade Visit Day is the make-or-break event — “her daughter knew she loved this school on 8th Grade visit day” (parent review). At ~$27K with automatic scholarship consideration by Jan 15, it’s the value play in the girls’-school tier. Note: tuition-assistance priority deadline is Dec 16 — a month before the application priority date.
Pro: Empowering all-girls environment — daughters’ confidence “completely increased”; especially strong English department; calm, non-stressful culture (Niche).
Con: Honestly hard to find — ~280 Niche reviews skew overwhelmingly positive; no recurring complaint surfaced.
Loyola High School
Mom tip: The application is a marathon — Step 2 alone wants a parent statement, activity form, student essay, three student videos, and rec letter requests. Start the day applications open (Oct 21).
Pro: The brotherhood is real — “a special bond that lasts a lifetime,” with rigorous academics and powerhouse athletics (Niche, Homes.com).
Con: The homework load is the recurring complaint — one parent’s son worked late into the night daily through 9th and 10th grade (Homes.com).
Marlborough School
Mom tip: Jan 8 is one of the earliest deadlines on this list — don’t let the holidays eat your timeline.
Pro: Tight-knit and empowering — “one of the best schools in the country,” rigorous academics, teachers who know each girl as an individual (Homes.com).
Con: “Ridiculously rigorous” cuts both ways — a freshman notes the culture can feel restrictive with little peer-to-peer support (Homes.com).
Marymount High School
Mom tip: ISEE/HSPT not required — your daughter can do a low-pressure 25-min Zoom writing assessment instead. And apply early: you can’t schedule the interview until you do, and Saturday slots go fast (per school site).
Pro: “Rigorous academics but not at the expense of a student’s happiness & sanity” — challenging without overwhelming, caring teachers, serene campus (Niche).
Con: Workload is the recurring knock — “not light, especially with APs”; a parent wishes for “a bit more fun and a bit less pressure” (Niche).
Milken Community School
Mom tip: Testing is flexible — they’ll take ERB, CTP4, ISEE, CAASPP, or MAP from this year or last. Use whichever your kid already has; don’t buy a new test-prep cycle (per school site).
Pro: Wide menu of signature electives — STEM, architecture, robotics, finance/entrepreneurship — atop a warm, values-rooted Jewish community; kids “make the kind of friends he’ll have his whole life” (Niche, homes.com).
Con: Recurring complaint that admin looks the other way on toxic student culture — “an open secret in the LA Jewish community” with “a deep racial divide and bullies pick on the nice kids with little to no repercussions” (Niche).
New Roads School
Mom tip: Aid decisions are independent of admissions and cover the activity fee too — ~40% get aid averaging ~$37,000, so the real cost gap is much bigger than the sticker (per school site).
Pro: The rare private school that “doesn’t feel elitist, snooty or uptight” — authentically walks its talk on socioeconomic diversity; teachers “know the kids and care” (Niche).
Con: Recurring complaints that bullying goes unaddressed — “My high schooler was bullied terribly and the school did nothing” (two homes.com reviews); a former teacher’s 2024 discrimination/retaliation lawsuit was reported by the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks
Mom tip: No published deadline means you have to call — don’t assume rolling, and don’t assume you have time.
Pro: Genuinely welcoming — non-Catholic families say they felt fully embraced, and teachers “go above and beyond” for struggling kids (Niche).
Con: Stress management is the theme — students say tests pile up across multiple classes on the same days (Niche).
Sierra Canyon
Mom tip: The Westside reality check — it’s a haul, but buses run through Brentwood, Bel Air, Culver City, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks (per school FAQ). Culturally the celebrity-athletics school; reviews polarized between “extremely well-run” and “rich kid school” — tour and decide which campus you’re seeing.
Pro: “Superior academic education while still focusing on the whole child” — rigorous academics, top-tier facilities and extracurriculars (homes.com).
Con: Recurring celebrity/wealth entitlement culture — “the administration seems to really cater to the rich celebrity parents”; “nepotism and favoritism are the pillars of this school” (Movoto, Glassdoor).
Viewpoint School
Mom tip: The big story: merging with Berkeley Hall (announced Oct 5, 2026) — Berkeley Hall 8th graders get a guaranteed Viewpoint place with no second application, which could tighten 9th-grade seats for outsiders. Separately: the school is currently facing a parent lawsuit alleging it ignored 2024 reports against a teacher later arrested on child-molestation charges (NY Post, Sept 27, 2026; allegations contested — the school says it went to police immediately). Ask about safeguarding policy on tour.
Pro: “Professional and gracious” culture — parents say hello in the halls, many non-entertainment-professional families, kids land real involvement instead of chasing “cool” (Beyond the Brochure LA).
Con: Recurring theme of a cliquish, wealth-driven social scene where “high donating families” steer culture, with student cruelty going unchecked (Movoto parent reviews).
Wildwood School — Upper
Mom tip: Early-cycle applications “tend to get read more carefully” than deadline-day ones (former admissions director via Beyond the Brochure LA) — and the middle-school FAQ asks “Do you track attendance at admission events?”, so show up.
Pro: True progressive substance — small project-based education producing “self-starters and independent learners” (Homes.com, Movoto).
Con: The rigor question never dies — “all fluff and zero substance” for “the very average liberal arts crowd” (Homes.com).
Windward School
Mom tip: Nov 12 is the date that matters — submit by then to lock in a 7th-grade interview (per school site). Parent-review caveat: warm and nurturing, but “if you don’t shine you are left behind” — match the kid to the rigor, not the reputation (Niche).
Pro: Warm-but-rigorous — “the most wonderful school and environment for kids 7th grade onwards”; new students integrated from day one (Niche).
Con: Stubbornly recurring cliquey/mean-girl social dynamics — recent Niche student reviews call the student body “incredibly cliquey” (echoed by older parent reviews).
Welp. Now that you’re all thoroughly overwhelmed, that’s all I got for you. Fifteen schools, fifteen deadlines, and a testing landscape that changes faster than the 405 at rush hour. Trust your instincts. And if all else fails, apply to all of them.
Did I miss something? Got a tip? A juicy secret? Something you want explored? Email us at everybodyknowsinla@gmail.com.
[NOTE: Dates and policies change; confirm everything directly with the schools before you plan your life around it. And don’t just rely on what you hear. Talk to real parents of real kids who attend the schools for a better understanding of them.]
