The Top Private Schools in the San Fernando Valley and Greater Los Angeles
Harvard-Westlake School
Location: Studio City (middle school) and Holmby Hills (upper school) Grades: 7–12 Tuition: Approximately $50,000 per year
Harvard-Westlake is consistently ranked among the top private schools in the United States — and for families arriving from London's top independents or New York's elite prep schools, it represents a directly comparable standard. The Studio City middle school campus makes it especially relevant for families buying in the Valley. Admissions is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of around 20%, and applications should begin well before your relocation date. Alumni include some of the most recognisable names in entertainment, law, and finance.
For families who buy in Studio City, Toluca Lake, or Sherman Oaks, the Studio City campus is genuinely close. This is not a school you commute to from across the city.
The Buckley School
Location: Sherman Oaks Grades: K–12 Tuition: Approximately $45,000–$48,000 per year
Buckley is the only elite K–12 private school sitting directly within the San Fernando Valley, which makes it uniquely valuable for families who want to stay on this side of the hill. The school has a strong academic reputation with particular depth in writing and computer science, and a 9:1 student-teacher ratio that delivers genuine individual attention.
Notable alumni include Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Nicole Richie, Laura Dern, and Rashida Jones — which gives some indication of the social world families are entering. For buyers in Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Tarzana, Buckley changes the school conversation entirely. You no longer need to cross to the Westside.
Campbell Hall
Location: Valley Village (North Hollywood) Grades: K–12 Tuition: Approximately $38,000–$42,000 per year
Campbell Hall is an independent Episcopal school on a 15-acre campus with a strong emphasis on character alongside academics. It sits just east of Studio City, making it accessible from across the Valley. The school is known for being warm and community-minded — families frequently describe it as feeling like a genuine community rather than a competitive environment. Strong in sport, arts, and service learning.
For families who want rigorous academics without the intensity that surrounds Harvard-Westlake, Campbell Hall is consistently the answer.
Oakwood School
Location: Elementary campus in Studio City; high school in North Hollywood Grades: K–12 Tuition: Approximately $38,000–$42,000 per year
Oakwood follows a progressive educational philosophy with an emphasis on creativity, discussion-led classrooms, and the arts. It attracts families in the entertainment industry and those who want an academically serious school that does not feel corporate. The Studio City elementary campus makes it particularly accessible for families buying in that neighbourhood. Alumni speak consistently about the quality of relationships with teachers and the confidence the school builds.
Viewpoint School
Location: Calabasas Grades: K–12 Tuition: Approximately $38,000–$43,000 per year
Viewpoint sits in Calabasas and draws families from across the western Valley — Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, and Calabasas itself. It is consistently ranked among the top schools in California and offers a more contained, campus-focused environment than some of the more urban options. For families buying in the western Valley who want a strong school with space and a genuine campus feel, Viewpoint is the natural conversation.
Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles
Location: Multiple campuses across Los Angeles Grades: Pre-K–12 Tuition: Approximately $28,000–$38,000 per year
For families relocating from France, Europe, or international backgrounds, Le Lycée offers a French-language curriculum that leads to the Baccalauréat. It draws a genuinely international student body and suits families who want their children to maintain French language fluency or who are planning to return to Europe. Worth knowing for the right family.
