Schools


    We have some excellent public and private schools in Los Angeles. Listed on this page are some of the best public schools in the City.

    Prior to selling real estate, Simon was a school teacher in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. It is important that when we “rank” the quality of a school that we don’t ignore the variety of challenges these professionals have when educating our children. Los Angeles is notorious for having some very troubled public schools. As you might guess, the better ranked schools are in the more exclusive neighborhoods. If you are relocating to the Westside of Los Angeles where I work, there are some fantastic public school opportunities.

    Here are two simple ways to find out which school district the home you are interested in is located:

    Click here to download the Santa Monica School District Map :

    Santa Monica School District Map

    Click here to use the Los Angeles Unified School District School Finder:

    LAUSD Logo

    Santa Monica Schools

    Franklin School has test scores that are slightly higher than Roosevelt. It is the type of school that helps sell real estate. Parents will gleefully mention at parties that their daughter will be attending Franklin in the fall. It is considered by many to be as good as any private school. Parents who could easily afford and get their children into the most elite private elementary schools will often choose Franklin.

    Franklin School Homepage
    Franklin School Info and Test Scores

    Roosevelt School is also an excellent School. It has a reputation for engaging the students in new and exciting educational techniques. Roosevelt comes second only to Franklin, in the City of Santa Monica.

    Roosevelt School Homepage

    Roosevelt School Info and Test Scores

    S.M.A.S.H., Santa Monica Alternative School House, is the only school that I will be listing here that has an unconventional alternative approach to education. It was created by a group of people around 1972 looking to create a school where more relaxed, non-authoritarian, non-competitive methods would be empathized.

    S.M.A.S.H., Santa Monica alternative School House Home Page

    Grant School is much beloved by parents and students for the great energy that the Principal and teachers provide. It’s test scores may not be as high as Franklin and Roosevelt, but it’s students and parents tend to be equally enamored by the quality of the education and the spirit that the school provides.

    Grant School Homepage

    Grant School Info and Test Scores

    Canyon School is also a really great school. It is located in Santa Monica Canyon and is part of the LAUSD. It should be noted that all of the Santa Monica public schools are considered to be excellent. The ones that I mention here are the ones that people talk about as being truly exceptional.

    Canyon School Info and Test Scores

    Brentwood Schools

    Kenter Canyon School actually beat out Franklin School for test scores in 2005. It has had an increasingly impressive track record over the past few years. It is now ranked among the best schools in Los Angeles.

    Kenter Canyon School Homepage

    Kenter Canyon School Info and Test Scores

    When moving to Brentwood, you need to remember that it is part of the LAUSD. Kenter Canyon is only available to families living in the northern part of the Brentwood neighborhood. The public education opportunities in the southern part of Brentwood are generally not recommended to parents of substantial financial means.

    Westwood Schools

    Warner School is unrivaled for its academic excellence and has had a longstanding place among the top schools in Los Angeles. It is nestled in the northern part of Westwood, near UCLA. You would have to bet that a neighborhood with this many accomplished academics would have a great school.

    Warner School Homepage

    Warner School Info and Test Scores

    Pacific Palisades Schools

    Marquez School has an excellent reputation. Properties in this district are prized within the Palisades parent community.

    Marquez School Info and Test Scores

    DISCLAIMER: School rankings, school district locators and all of the information on this page is considered accurate but not guaranteed. Please contact the schools and the school district directly to confirm the information found on this web-site.