It's likely your child will have a good high school experience no matter where he/she ends up, but as you ponder your choices, you should be looking for a school which is the best fit for your child's talents and interests. That school might not be the place where most of his classmates are going. Sometimes students will blossom when they go to an entirely different school away from their old grade school clique. The "best" schools might not be best for your child; they might skimp on innovation, lack accommodation for different learning styles, put your kid in competition with other top students resulting in a lower GPA which may limit college options.Some smaller schools do certain things well, perhaps better than the larger schools, but larger schools have an abundance of activities. Above all, is the campus community welcoming, thoughtful, Christian? Do they share your values? Investigate as many schools as possible.

The Catholic schools will look at your child's scores from the entrance exam (most are willing to send copies of their scores to your second choice; some schools have second sittings), grades from 7th and the first term of 8th grade, and recommendations of the junior high teachers. Most also require an interview. Once you are in, Catholic schools often require up to 30 service hours from the parents and solicit additional donations in the neighborhood of $1,000. Many schools also require students to do up to 30 hours of Christian service in the community also. This might be in addition to hours required by Incarnation's local parish confirmation program (two year program during 9th and 10th grade). Most schools run summer schools, which they may require for incoming freshmen who are borderline acceptances, but going to their summer school does not guarantee acceptance. Most Catholic schools offer financial aid, through local endowments or the Archdiocese.

St.Francis High School, La Canada/Flintridge	All boys, Franciscan Education, strong emphasis on forming boys to be "scholar-athletes", college prep, average students may find it a struggle, though they provide counseling and tutoring. Poor grades or a poor evaluation from the junior high teachers may hurt your chances to go here. Excellent drama program, extracurricular program in media, television, major sport: football. Extensive college counseling. About 700 boys.	Tuition: $10,640 Registration: $650 plus books, and some class and athletic fees dependent upon what classes they take. Financial Aid available.
Holy Family High School, Glendale	All girls, college prep parish high school, about 350 girls, good academic reputation, innovative science/medicine program in cooperation with Glendale Memorial Hospital, AP courses available. Study abroad program every year.	Registration Fee: $450 (non-refundable), Book Rental Fee: $300 Participation Fee: $600.00 Tuition: One Student: $6,800.00 Two Students: $13, 600.00
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, La Canada/Flintridge	All girls school, college prep, an elite private girls school, taking only top students. Great drama and dance department and extensive sports program. Average students may struggle. About 400 students.	Tuition:Day Student: $18,200 Boarding Student Tuition and Room and Board: $39,750. Financial Aid available.
Loyola High School, Los Angeles	Jesuit education. The elite all-boys college-prep school. Strong academics required; they only take boys who are strong in English and Math. Even good students may struggle as they compete with other top boys from the area. This school stresses a Jesuit awareness of the poor and requires service hours for the boys. About 800 boys. Inca parent Mr.Aristov is on the staff.	TotalTuition and fees: Freshmen$14,355 Sophomores$14,300 Juniors$14,265 Seniors$14,450
Mayfield Senior School, Pasadena	Small all girls elite independent Catholic school, good academic reputation, innovative "Conservatory for the Arts" program featuring AP classes in music, dance, visual arts, and creative writing in the afternoons and Saturdays. They have about 300 girls. They only take top students.	Tuition: $19,995. Fact Sheet
Providence High School, Burbank	Small co-ed private Catholic school, good academic reputation, about 560 students. Currently building a new science center.	Tuition:$9,900.00. This includes books. Fact Sheet
Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles	Small private all girls school, good academic reputation, tradition in art and music, run by the Immaculate Heart Community. About 520 girls. Average students may struggle. If this is your first choice, you should take the first sitting of the entrance exam, as places will fill up and few in the second sitting will be accepted. Inca parents Mrs.Turcotte and Mrs.Friedman are on the staff.	Tuition: $9,800 plus fees.
Bellermine Jefferson High School, Burbank	Small co-ed parish school, excellent principal, Sr.Cheryl Milner, innovative science program, good academic program. Great theatre program. They work hard to get as many students as possible into college with scholarships. Will work with students with developmental needs.	Tuition:$7,975 Catholic $8,360 non-Catholic Registration Fee: $550 Application Fee $50
Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks	Co-ed private Catholic school, about 1,200 students, good academic reputation, wonderful band and general music program with a new first class music educaton center. They have an impressive Saturday band music program for elementary school kids.	Tuition $10,700. Fact Sheet
Bishop Alemany High School, Mission Hills	Large co-ed Archdiocesan Catholic school, about 1,600 students, with plenty of sports and extracurricular activities, strong academic program, music program with a first class schola cantorum and a strong orchestra program. Their football team beat St.Francis this year. Staff is friendly, professional and Principal Frank Ferry is an Alemany graduate and is a wonderful hands-on administrator. Innovative block scheduling. Will work with students who have developmental needs.	Tuition: First Student in a Family $7,205 Second Student:$6,545 Third Student $5,610 Registration Fees: First Student in a Family:$500 Second Student:$450 Third Student:$400.
Clark Magnet High School, Glendale USD	A great local free public magnet school, specializing in science and art. Like a private school, except free. The principal Doug Dahl has managed to form partnerships with many high-tech companies to get state of the art equipment and software. Students do physics in 9th grade and art on all grades. They have an award-winning program in robotics and digital animation. You need to prove that you live in the Glendale Unified School District, write an essay saying why you want to go there.	No sports programs on campus and few typical high school social events. If you want to do sports, you do them through your local Glendale USD campus (like Glendale High). Free busing from your neighborhood.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts	Free Los Angeles County public school specializing in the performing arts, including music, theatre, visual arts, and dance. Admission is by audition only and is very tough (for example, 60 students may try out for 12 slots in girls vocal department). Very much like auditioning for a slot in a show, if they need only 3 cellists, they only take 3 from dozens of applicants. It helps to have not only talent, but good music reading skills. On visual arts, best to have an extensive portfolio.	On the campus of Cal State Los Angeles. No sports and few extracurriculars except for the arts, theatrical and music programs and performances.