United States
U.S. West Coast
Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle: competitive day schools with a technology-era curriculum.
Schools families consider
Listed for orientation. AJPE is not affiliated with, and does not represent, any school. The right list for a child is usually shorter and sometimes different.
- Harvard-Westlake School, Marlborough School, Brentwood School, Crossroads School, Polytechnic School and Chadwick School (Los Angeles)
- Castilleja School, Menlo School, The Nueva School, The Harker School, Crystal Springs Uplands School, Lick-Wilmerding High School, Head-Royce School, The Branson School and San Francisco University High School (Bay Area)
- Lakeside School and University Prep (Seattle)
Calendar
Inquiry and tours in September and October; applications due in December or early January; decisions in March. Kindergarten, Grade 6 and Grade 9 are the main entry points.
What to know
- Many schools use common platforms (Ravenna in the Bay Area and Seattle) and shared recommendation forms.
- ISEE or SSAT for middle and upper school; interviews and student visits are central.
- International applicants need F-1 status; some day schools do not issue I-20s, which narrows the list.
- Sibling and legacy preferences and parent interviews carry weight at many schools.
Sport and the portfolio
Sailing in the Bay, skiing in Tahoe, tennis, swimming, rowing and lacrosse; schools value depth over breadth.
Planning for U.S. West Coast?
A pathway review sets out realistic schools, entry points and timing in writing.