Santa Monica Schools


    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, the”best” elementary schools are in the neighborhoods of Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Westwood. Below you will find brief descriptions of the public schools in these neighborhoods that are considered to be the most desirable.

    Here is a simple way 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

    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