Private vs. Public Elementary School in Los Angeles: 2026–27 Parent Guide
Private vs. public school in Los Angeles is one of those debates that can take over a whole birthday party. One parent swears by their neighborhood school, another can't stop talking about their child's tiny independent-school class. If you're feeling pulled in every direction, take a breath. There's no single right answer, only the right fit for your child, your budget and your family's daily life.
So let's swap the playground gossip for real numbers. In this guide, we lay out actual 2026–2027 private elementary tuition from schools' own websites, how financial aid works, the LA private school admissions calendar, the public options that rival private (magnets, dual language and high-performing districts), and what class sizes really look like. Then we give you an honest pros-and-cons list and a checklist to help you decide.
Key Takeaways
Private tuition: Posted 2026–27 K–5 tuition at well-known LA independent schools runs from about $42,900 to about $49,700, with fees on top.
Catholic option: The Archdiocese of Los Angeles runs about 250 schools, and one 2026–27 example (Nativity School) lists tuition at $4,490.
Financial aid: Need-based aid is common at independent schools and isn't a loan; some schools report average tuition reductions of 65%.
Private deadlines: Many applications are due in November or December 2026, with common notification on Mar 12, 2027 and replies due Mar 19, 2027.
Public deadline: The LAUSD Choices on-time window for magnets, dual language and more runs Oct 1 – Nov 6, 2026.
Class size: LAUSD's teachers' contract sets TK–3 classes at an average of 22 and a maximum of 25.
Big picture: Several LA County districts post test scores far above the state average, so "public" covers a wide range of experiences.
What Private Elementary School in Los Angeles Really Costs
Let's start with the number everyone wants to know. Below are 2026–27 elementary tuition figures posted on each school's own tuition page. Keep in mind that most schools charge fees beyond tuition, such as deposits, new-student fees, transportation and trips.
Brentwood School: K–5 tuition is $49,685. There's a $4,000 deposit and a $2,500 new-student fee (waived for aid recipients), and bus transportation is $1,575. Extended Day for K–5 is included at no extra cost.
Campbell Hall: K–5 tuition is $48,700. Fees run $1,640–$3,670, plus a $2,000 new-student fee, and the school estimates "other anticipated costs" of $2,500–$3,500. Bus service is $3,900.
Wildwood School: Elementary tuition is $48,500 and includes testing and local field trips. The application fee is $150, and new-student fees are extra.
Mirman School: Lower School tuition is $46,875 under an "inclusive tuition" model. There's a $2,500 new-student fee, and the bus is $4,550.
Seven Arrows Elementary: K–5 tuition is $46,228. Add a $3,500 deposit, a $150 application fee and a $3,000 new-student fee.
Turning Point School: Elementary (K–4) tuition is $45,308 and includes morning care. There's a $2,000 placement fee, and the deposit is 10% of tuition.
Echo Horizon School: K–6 tuition is $43,762. There's a $3,000 deposit and a $2,000 new-student fee, and five-day after-school care is $2,940 a year.
The Center for Early Education: K–6 tuition is $42,945, with a $3,200 deposit and a $2,000 new-student fee.
Here's the reality check. Across these schools, fees on top of tuition commonly add $1,500 to $3,700 or more, and one-time new-student fees typically run $2,000 to $3,000. Multiply by six or seven years of elementary school (and by each child), and private elementary school becomes a six-figure commitment for families paying full price.
Insider tip: When you compare schools, ask for the "all-in" yearly cost. Tuition that includes after-care, field trips or testing can make a slightly higher sticker price a better deal than it looks.
How private school financial aid works in Los Angeles
Now for the good news: sticker price isn't always the price you pay. According to Los Angeles Independent Schools (LAIS), all member schools offer need-based financial aid, and that aid isn't a loan. Families usually apply through a processor such as Clarity, FAST, FACTS, SSS or Blackbaud.
Schools share some eye-opening figures on their own sites:
The Center for Early Education: Aid families see an average 65% reduction in tuition, with reductions ranging from 17% to 99% and a $2.8 million aid budget.
Campbell Hall: The aid budget is more than $10 million a year, with an average grant of $36,000 and grants from $5,000 up to full tuition. The school notes that families receiving discounts of 50% or more typically earn under $300,000.
Brentwood School: Awards about $10 million a year in financial support.
Mirman School: Gives about $2 million in aid to roughly 20% of students, and aid families have an average income of about $170,000.
Turning Point School: Families earning under $250,000 with one enrolled child "may be eligible for some level of assistance."
Westland School: 37% of families used its Flexible Tuition program in 2024–25.
There's also the Independent School Alliance, a Culver City-based nonprofit that helps students from underrepresented and economically under-resourced communities access Greater LA independent schools. It supports entry in grades K, 6, 7 and 9, and families apply two grades ahead, with applications opening in March and closing in June. Placement for 2027–28 is already closed, and information on the 2028–29 cohort is expected in early 2027.
The Catholic school option
Catholic schools are a big, often overlooked piece of the LA private school picture. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reports about 250 Catholic schools and 67,000 students, calling itself the largest Catholic school system in the United States. It also offers $20 million in tuition assistance each year.
That assistance flows through the Catholic Education Foundation. Aid is need-based, families apply through the school principal, and you don't have to be Catholic to qualify. For a real example, Nativity School in Los Angeles lists 2026–27 tuition at $4,490 per student, or $2,990 with a CEF scholarship. Tuition varies a lot from parish to parish, so check each school you're considering.
The LA Private School Admissions Timeline for 2027–28
If you're thinking about private kindergarten for fall 2027, the clock is already ticking. Several independent schools opened applications in August 2026 (Campbell Hall on Aug 17 and Turning Point on Aug 1), and many deadlines land in late fall.
Applications: Sample deadlines include Nov 16, 2026 at The Center for Early Education and a final K–12 deadline of Dec 16, 2026 at Campbell Hall.
Tours and open houses: CEE runs open houses and tours from October through December 2026, and Turning Point hosts an open house on Nov 14, 2026.
Financial aid: Deadlines often fall in January 2027, such as Jan 8 at Mirman, Jan 15 at CEE, Jan 20 at Campbell Hall and Jan 21 at Turning Point.
Notification day: LAIS member schools send K–12 notification letters on Friday, Mar 12, 2027, and email notifications can go out starting at 5 p.m. that day.
Reply deadline: Families must reply by Friday, Mar 19, 2027, at 12 p.m. (noon).
Find the full calendar on the LAIS Dates & Testing page. LAIS is a group of over 60 LA-area independent schools, and many are accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools.
What happens at a kindergarten "playdate"
The kindergarten assessment sounds scarier than it is. CEE describes its version as a group assessment for children with a parent session at the same time, including story time, a mini-PE class, small-group activities and structured play. Parent interviews there run 30 to 45 minutes, and kindergarten applications include a Preschool Evaluation Form that your child's preschool fills out. Some schools also ask for a family conversation, like Turning Point's in-person 45-minute meeting with all custodial parents. For older grades (typically 6th and up), some schools require standardized testing, so check each school's policy.
Public School Options That Rival Private
Here's something we wish every LA parent knew sooner: "public school" isn't one thing. Between LAUSD's specialty programs and some of the strongest districts in the state, many families find a free option that checks their boxes.
LAUSD Choices: magnets, dual language and gifted programs
LAUSD Choices is the application for the district's specialty programs, and the 2027–28 on-time window runs Oct 1 – Nov 6, 2026. Applications are online only, since LAUSD no longer accepts paper applications. The deadline to accept or decline on-time offers is Mar 5, 2027.
Magnet programs: LAUSD describes magnets as voluntary integration programs offering rigorous, theme-based instruction. Admission uses a priority points system.
Dual Language Education: Students learn two languages and work toward becoming bilingual and biliterate, with languages that include Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Armenian.
Schools for Advanced Studies (SAS): Schools earn this designation for exemplary practices in meeting the needs of gifted and advanced learners.
Affiliated charters: These are semi-autonomous district schools that also accept applications through Choices.
Insider tip: The Choices window closes before most private school applications are even due. Applying to both is common, and it keeps your options open until spring.
High-performing public school districts in LA County
If you're open to moving (or already live in one of these communities), several districts post standout results. Here are 2024–25 CAASPP scores, showing the share of students in all tested grades who met or exceeded standards, from the state's official CAASPP results site:
La Cañada Unified: 89.08% in English language arts and 84.00% in math.
San Marino Unified: 85.71% in ELA and 84.74% in math.
South Pasadena Unified: 84.05% in ELA and 78.84% in math.
Manhattan Beach Unified: 83.25% in ELA and 75.67% in math.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified: 80.85% in ELA and 75.41% in math.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified: 72.39% in ELA and 59.97% in math.
Beverly Hills Unified: 71.11% in ELA and 62.80% in math.
For comparison, statewide results were 48.82% in ELA and 37.30% in math, and LAUSD overall was 46.46% and 36.76%. Remember that district averages hide variation between individual schools, so look up any specific school you're considering on the CAASPP site. Niche's 2026 rankings also put La Cañada Unified as the No. 1 district in California, with San Marino at No. 6 and South Pasadena at No. 8, as reported by the La Cañada Outlook. The 2025–26 test results weren't posted yet when we checked.
Class Size: Private vs. Public in LA
Class size is often the first thing parents mention when they talk about private school, so let's look at the facts.
On the public side, California requires TK classrooms to average at least one adult for every 10 students, according to the California Department of Education. State funding rules also push districts to keep average TK–3 class sizes at 24 students or fewer per school. In LAUSD, the teachers' union contract with UTLA sets TK–3 classes at an average of 22 students and a maximum of 25. Grades 4–5 run larger, at an average of 25 (maximum 28) at schools designated PHBAO (Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian and Other Non-Anglo) and 30.5 (maximum 34) elsewhere. The 2025–28 agreement that UTLA members ratified in April 2026 also calls for a 20:1 average TK student-teacher ratio beginning July 1, 2026.
On the private side, numbers vary by school, and some advertise very small groups. Hollywood Schoolhouse, for example, promotes a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. Because there's no single standard, ask every private school for its average and maximum class size in each grade, and whether classes have an aide.
Private vs. Public School in Los Angeles: Pros and Cons
Every family weighs these differently, so here's a balanced look at both sides.
Private school pros
Smaller classes at many schools: More individual attention and a tight-knit feel.
Distinct philosophies: From progressive to traditional, there's a wide range of approaches.
Continuity: Many schools run through middle or high school, so you skip some future application rounds.
Extras built in: Some include after-care, field trips or testing in tuition.
Private school cons
Cost: Tuition near $43,000–$50,000 a year at many independent schools, plus fees.
Competitive admissions: Applications, interviews and assessments with no guarantee of a spot.
Commute: Your school may be far from home, and buses add cost.
Extra costs add up: Deposits, new-student fees, buses, trips and annual-fund expectations sit on top of tuition.
Public school pros
Free: No tuition, at your neighborhood school or through Choices.
Strong specialty programs: Magnets, dual language and SAS schools offer focused learning.
Community ties: Classmates often live nearby, which makes playdates and carpools easier.
Clear class-size rules: State requirements and LAUSD's contract set limits you can look up.
Public school cons
Larger classes: Especially in grades 4–5.
Lotteries and points: Getting into a specific magnet or dual language program isn't guaranteed.
Big variation: Quality and offerings differ widely from school to school.
Fewer guaranteed extras: Ask each school what it offers for after-school care and enrichment.
Your Decision Checklist
Before you choose a path, run through these questions as a family:
Budget: What can we comfortably spend each year for the full span of elementary school, for every child?
Aid: Would we apply for financial aid, and are we ready to share financial documents?
Commute: How far are we willing to drive twice a day, five days a week?
Child's needs: Does our child thrive in small groups, need extra support, or want more challenge?
Philosophy: Do we want progressive, traditional, language immersion or something else?
Backup plan: What's our resident public school, and have we applied to Choices by Nov 6, 2026?
Calendar: Are all private school, financial aid and Choices deadlines in our calendar?
Questions to Ask on a School Tour
Whether you're touring a private school or a public one, these questions cut through the polish:
What's the average and maximum class size in each grade, and is there an aide?
How long have the kindergarten teachers been here, and what's teacher turnover like?
What's the total yearly cost beyond tuition, including fees, trips, after-care, uniforms, devices and annual-fund expectations?
How do you support kids who are ahead, behind, or have learning differences?
What's your homework philosophy in K–2?
How much recess and outdoor time do kids get each day?
How is screen time and technology used in class?
How do you handle social-emotional learning and bullying?
What are after-school care hours and costs?
Where do graduates go next?
What are the expectations for family involvement and volunteering?
For LAUSD schools: how do magnet points work here, does dual language start in TK or K, and is there a parent center?
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The Takeaway
Private vs. public school in Los Angeles isn't a contest with one winner. Private elementary schools can offer small classes and distinct philosophies, often at $43,000 to $50,000 a year before fees, though financial aid can bring that down dramatically. Public options, from LAUSD magnets and dual language programs to districts with some of the state's highest scores, can deliver an outstanding education for free.
The smartest move is to keep both doors open. Apply to Choices by Nov 6, 2026, tour the private schools on your list, calendar every deadline, and compare offers in March. Always confirm tuition, fees and dates with each school before you plan, since these numbers change every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does private elementary school cost in Los Angeles?
For 2026–27, posted K–5 tuition at well-known LA independent schools runs from about $42,900 to about $49,700 a year. Fees such as deposits, new-student fees and transportation usually add more. Catholic schools can cost much less, like Nativity School's posted 2026–27 tuition of $4,490.
When do LA private schools send admissions decisions?
LAIS member schools send K–12 notification letters on Friday, Mar 12, 2027, with emails starting at 5 p.m. Families must reply by noon on Friday, Mar 19, 2027. Check each school's own calendar, since some early childhood programs notify earlier.
Do LA private schools offer financial aid?
Yes, all LAIS member schools offer need-based financial aid, and it isn't a loan. Some schools report large awards, such as an average 65% tuition reduction at The Center for Early Education. Aid deadlines often fall in January, so apply alongside your admissions application.
What is the deadline for LAUSD Choices for 2027–28?
The on-time LAUSD Choices window for 2027–28 runs Oct 1 – Nov 6, 2026. It covers magnets, dual language programs, affiliated charters and more, and applications are online only. The deadline to accept or decline on-time offers is Mar 5, 2027.
Are class sizes smaller in private schools than in LAUSD?
Often, but not always. LAUSD's teachers' contract sets TK–3 classes at an average of 22 students with a maximum of 25, while private class sizes vary by school, with some advertising ratios as low as 6:1. Ask every school for its average and maximum class size in each grade.
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