After Incarnation: Choosing a High School

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.

Incarnation usually has a High School Night in October which showcases local Catholic schools. Applications should be made in November and entrance placement exams are usually on Saturdays in January depending on the school. Take the test at the location of your first choice. You should have a second choice as your child may not get admitted to your first choice. The Catholic schools will base admittance on your child's entrance exam score, grades from 7th grade and the first term of 8th grade, and recommendations of the junior high teachers. Most also require an interview. If you don't get in, most schools are willing to send copies of their placement scores to your second choice; some schools have second sittings. Once you are in, a commitment registration fee is usually required.

Private Catholic schools also require up to 30 service hours from the parents,solicit additional donations in the neighborhood of $1,000 and may require participation in their many fundraising activities. Many schools also require students to do several 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. More information about scholarships.

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: $11,200 Registration Fee: $650 Additional fees are also required for athletics, retreats and certain academic courses. Financial Aid available.
Holy Family High School, Glendale	All girls, oldest regional college prep parish high school in the area, about 210 girls, innovative science/medicine program placing students at Glendale Memorial Hospital, AP courses available. A leader in technology: transitioning to iPads for textbooks and daily computer use. Many classrooms with "smartboards". Beautiful library with a "technology bar" with building plans in the works. Small band music program. New principal, Nancy Sullivan (from Notre Dame Academy, West LA) is highly regarded.	Registration Fee: $450 (non-refundable), Book Rental Fee: $400 Participation Fee: $600 Tuition: $7,350-$7,850 discounts for early payment and/or multiple students. Cost of iPad may be built into future tuition.
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. Inca parent Mrs. Sonner is on staff.	Tuition:Day Student: $18,700 Boarding Student Tuition and Room and Board: $40,700. 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.	Tuition: $13,810 Fees: $1,000 (includes registration fee) Location in Downtown Los Angeles may be a stretch for Inca Parents. Most kids car-pool.
Mayfield Senior School, Pasadena	Small all girls elite independent Catholic school, good academic reputation, innovative Conservatory for the Arts program featuring AP classes and programs in music, dance, visual arts, and creative writing in the afternoons and Saturdays. They have about 300 girls. They only take top students.	Tuition: $20,395. Fact Sheet
Providence High School, Burbank	Small co-ed private Catholic school, good academic reputation, about 560 students. Award-winning visual and performing arts program. Excellent choir but no instrumental music program. Currently building a new science center. They have a special media-tech track and a medical-interest track. No football team, but most other sports. A new principal is coming in this year.	Tuition:$13,255, discount given if paid in full. Application Fee $65, Registration Fee $550, Technology Fee $500, Facilities Fee - $625. 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: $10,300 plus fees.
Bellermine Jefferson High School, Burbank	"The small school with BIG results" Co-ed parish school, 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. New principal this year, former Bell-Jeff graduate.	Tuition:$8,525 Catholic $8,990 non-Catholic Registration Fee:$650 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 morning band music program for elementary school kids.	Tuition $12,200. Fact Sheet
Bishop Alemany High School, Mission Hills	Largest co-ed Archdiocesan Catholic school in the region, over 1,600 students, with plenty of sports and extracurricular activities, strong academic program, AP classes, music program with a first class schola cantorum and a strong orchestra program. There is something for everybody. 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: $8,745 discounts for early payment and multiple family members About 25 minutes north on the 5 from Glendale..
Clark Magnet High School, Glendale USD	A great local free public magnet school, specializing in science, technology and art. The principal Doug Dall has formed 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 School District, write an essay saying why you want to go there. Other Admission Requirements Apply by March.	No sports programs on campus except intramural and few typical high school social events; there is a prom. If you want to do sports, you do them through your closest Glendale USD campus. Busing from your neighborhood costs $100/year.
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. Students take regular classes in the morning and practice their art in the afternoon and evening. Students are admitted based on grades and audition or, in the case of visual arts, a portfolio review. They are looking for a high level of talent along with real commitment, self-discipline and the willingness to participate in the many programs and ensembles.	On the campus of CSU Los Angeles. No sports and few extracurriculars except for their theatrical and music programs. If your kid is in a show, they might be staying very late on campus.

Written by Inca Parent Dennis Doyle ddoyle@glendale.edu. Updated 3/4/2012.