Los Angeles County Public School District Overview

Los Angeles County is the most populous county in California—and the United States. It contains 80+ public school districts and nearly 2,000 schools, serving more than 1.4 million students across urban, suburban, and rural communities.

For parents, understanding how districts are organized, how feeder pathways function, and how programs differ across communities is key to making informed school choices.

This guide helps families understand:

• How school districts are organized (unified, elementary, and high school)
• School pathways and feeder patterns
• Key school districts within Los Angeles County and their representative schools
• Challenges families should be aware of when evaluating schools

How Public Schools Are Organized in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County operates the largest and most complex public school system in California.

• Students served: ~1.3 million (K–12)
• Employees: ~200,000 educators and staff
• Combined annual budgets: ~$25 billion

Governance

• The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) provides services, compliance oversight, and fiscal monitoring to all 80 districts.
• The Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization is an independent, 11-member elected body that manages territorial decisions such as district boundary transfers, unification or de-unification, and creation of new districts.
• Districts also partner with community agencies to provide wraparound services such as mental health counseling, after-school programs, and nutrition services.

Types of School Districts in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles county’s 80 public school districts are divided into three categories:

• Unified School Districts (K–12) – one system from elementary through high school.
• Elementary School Districts (K–8) – cover only elementary and middle grades, with students feeding into a separate high school district.
• High School Districts (9–12) – oversee multiple feeder elementary districts.

District Type	Number of Districts	Grades Covered	Examples
Unified School Districts	48	K–12	Los Angeles USD, Long Beach USD, Pasadena USD
Elementary School Districts	27	K–8	East Whittier City SD, Rosemead SD
High School Districts	5	9–12	Whittier Union High SD, Antelope Valley Union High SD

Note:

• Some districts in Los Angeles County include the words “Union” or “Joint” in their names. These are not separate types of districts but reflect historical mergers, broader geographic coverage (sometimes across counties), or shared governance arrangements.
• Charter schools are not included in this count, since they operate independently under separate governance and are not classified as districts.

Click to access the Los Angeles County public school directory

School Pathways and Advancement

A child’s pathway in Los Angeles County depends on the type of district:

• Unified School Districts (48 total): Students remain in the same district from K–12.
• Elementary School Districts (27 total): Students attend K–8, then transition into a separate high school district.
• High School Districts (5 total): Enroll students from multiple feeder elementary districts.

Admission Rules Parents Should Know

• Neighborhood Schools (Default): In most districts, a student’s school placement is determined by residential address within district boundaries.
• LAUSD School Choice: Los Angeles Unified operates one of the largest choice systems in the nation, with options such as magnet programs, dual-language immersion, gifted centers, and STEM academies. Families must apply to these programs separately. Learn more about LAUSD Application.
• Suburban Districts: Communities like Arcadia, Beverly Hills, and Torrance typically follow strict neighborhood school assignments with limited choice options. These districts are highly regarded for strong academics but allow less flexibility in program selection.

Representative Public School Districts in Los Angeles County

Below are some of the most representative—either by size, reputation, or academic programs.

District	Enrollment	Funding / Budget	Spend per Student	Teacher Pay (approx.)	Niche Ranking
Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD)	~430,000	~$18.8B (2025–26)	~$18k	$75k–$110k	B
Long Beach Unified (LBUSD)	~68,000	~$1.3B (2023–24)	~$16k–$19k	$78k–$120k	A-
Pasadena Unified (PUSD)	~15,000	~$335M (2024–25)	~$22k–$23k	$74k–$118k	B
Torrance Unified (TUSD)	~23,000	~$327M (2024–25)	~$17k–$18k	$80k–$125k	A
Arcadia Unified (AUSD)	~9,500	Stable LCFF + parcel taxes	~$18k	$85k–$125k	A+
Beverly Hills Unified (BHUSD)	~3,000	~$99M revenue / $105M expenditures (2024–25)	~$20k–$22k	$85k–$130k	A
Whittier Union High SD	~11,000	~$165M (est.)	~$15k	$72k–$115k	B
Antelope Valley Union High SD	~22,000	~$341M (est.)	~$15.5k	$70k–$112k	B-
Glendale Unified	~25,000	~$410M (est.)	~$16.5k	$77k–$120k	A-
Santa Monica–Malibu Unified (SMMUSD)	~10,500	~$200M (est.)	~$19k	$80k–$130k	A

Los Angeles Unified (LAUSD)

• Representative Schools: Fairfax HS, Roosevelt HS, Hamilton HS, El Camino Real Charter
• What Parents Should Know: Largest district in California and the U.S.; offers extensive magnet, dual-language, gifted, and STEM programs. Faces declining enrollment and persistent budget deficits despite its large funding base.

Long Beach Unified

• Representative Schools: Long Beach Poly HS, Wilson HS, Millikan HS
• What Parents Should Know: Nationally recognized for college-prep and career readiness programs. Strong partnerships with CSU Long Beach. Stable governance and consistent academic performance, though enrollment has gradually declined.

Pasadena Unified

• Representative Schools: Pasadena HS, Marshall Fundamental, Blair HS
• What Parents Should Know: Offers International Baccalaureate (IB) programs and arts-focused schools. Despite high per-student spending, the district is experiencing serious budget deficits and financial instability.

Torrance Unified

• Representative Schools: West HS, South HS, Torrance HS
• What Parents Should Know: Known for high AP participation and strong academic balance. Supported primarily by state LCFF funds, the district has maintained high-performing neighborhood schools with strong community support.

Arcadia Unified

• Representative Schools: Arcadia HS, Dana Middle School, Camino Grove Elementary
• What Parents Should Know: Consistently ranked as one of California’s top suburban districts. Known for academic rigor, strong STEM and college-prep focus, and high university matriculation rates. Parent involvement and local community support are very strong.

Beverly Hills Unified

• Representative Schools: Beverly Hills HS, El Rodeo Elementary
• What Parents Should Know: A small, resource-rich district with strong local property tax support. Provides strong arts and extracurricular opportunities. Known for sending graduates to highly selective colleges.

Whittier Union High SD

• Representative Schools: California HS, La Serna HS, Pioneer HS
• What Parents Should Know: A high school–only district that serves students from several feeder elementary districts. Offers strong community engagement and academic focus, though it has fewer specialized choice programs compared to unified districts.

Antelope Valley Union High SD

• Representative Schools: Quartz Hill HS, Palmdale HS, Highland HS
• What Parents Should Know: Serves northern Los Angeles County, covering fast-growing desert communities. Offers career and technical education programs but faces challenges related to equity, socioeconomic diversity, and resource distribution.

Glendale Unified

• Representative Schools: Crescenta Valley HS, Hoover HS, Clark Magnet HS
• What Parents Should Know: Offers strong dual-language immersion and magnet programs. Serves a diverse student population and consistently performs above state academic averages.

Santa Monica–Malibu Unified

• Representative Schools: Santa Monica HS, Malibu HS, Lincoln MS
• What Parents Should Know: Backed by one of the wealthiest tax bases in LA County. Offers excellent arts, STEM, and extracurricular programs. Strong parent involvement and high community expectations contribute to overall district performance.

Key Takeaways for Parents

• Funding varies widely: Wealthier property-tax bases (e.g., Beverly Hills, Santa Monica–Malibu, Arcadia) support higher per-student spending, while larger urban districts (e.g., LAUSD) face budget and equity challenges.
• Governance: All districts are governed by elected school boards, but program offerings, teacher pay, and resources differ greatly.
• Enrollment shifts: Rising housing costs and declining birth rates are reducing student numbers across LA County, raising the possibility of future school consolidations.

For families, choosing a district is not just about academics—it’s also about community values, access to special programs, and long-term stability. By understanding how Los Angeles County districts are organized, how feeder pathways work, and what each community offers, parents can make better-informed decisions about their children’s K–12 education.

Recommended Reading

• California 20 Best Private K-12 Schools For 2025–26
• 20 Best Private High Schools in California for 2025–26
• California’s Middle School Science: Integrated vs. Discipline Specific Model Standards
• Bay Area Public School District Overview

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