Harvard-Westlake School

Harvard-Westlake School is a prestigious, co-educational independent day school located in Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 1989 through the merger of the all-girls Westlake School (founded 1904) and the all-boys Harvard School for Boys (founded 1900). The institution is consistently ranked among the top private secondary schools in the United States, known for its rigorous academic curriculum, extensive arts programs, and competitive athletic teams.

History

The school's origins trace to two distinct institutions founded in the early 20th century. The Harvard School for Boys was established in 1900 by Grenville C. Emery in the Hollywood area, while the Westlake School for girls was founded in 1904 by Jessica Smith Vance and moved to its Holmby Hills campus in the 1930s. Discussions about a merger began in the late 1980s, driven by a desire to create a premier co-educational institution; the merger was finalized in 1989 under headmaster Thomas C. Hudnut. The unified school initially operated on two separate campuses, a structure it maintains today, and has since grown its endowment and facilities significantly, including major construction projects like the Feldman-Horn Center for the Arts.

Academics

The academic program is highly rigorous, with a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and interdisciplinary study. The school offers over 30 Advanced Placement courses across disciplines including STEM fields, humanities, and numerous world languages such as Mandarin Chinese and Ancient Greek. Distinctive programs include the Advanced Studies research courses, a renowned Visual Arts Department, and extensive offerings in performing arts like theater and music. Students consistently achieve high scores on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT (test), and a significant number are recognized as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists and finalists. Graduates regularly gain admission to top-tier universities including Ivy League institutions, Stanford University, and the University of California system.

Campus

The school operates on two primary campuses approximately seven miles apart, connected by a private shuttle service. The upper school (grades 10-12) is located on Coldwater Canyon in the Studio City neighborhood, a site originally developed for the Harvard School for Boys; this campus features modern facilities like the Munger Science Center, the Feldman-Horn Center for the Arts, and the Taper Gymnasium. The middle school (grades 7-9) occupies the former Westlake School campus in Holmby Hills, adjacent to the University of California, Los Angeles; notable buildings there include the Munger Library and the Rohr Hall of Science. Both campuses include extensive athletic fields, theaters, and technology-integrated classrooms.

Athletics

Athletics are a major component of school life, with the teams competing as the Wolverines in the Mission League of the CIF Southern Section. The school fields over 120 teams across 26 sports, with particular historical strength in water polo, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Its athletic facilities are extensive, including the Brian C. Erwin Pool, the Ted Slavin Field for baseball, and the Merle Norman Stadium for track and soccer. The program has produced numerous CIF State Championship titles, especially in girls' volleyball and boys' basketball, and many alumni have competed at the NCAA Division I level and in professional leagues like the NBA and Major League Baseball.

Notable alumni

The alumni community includes leaders across diverse fields such as entertainment, business, science, and public service. In film and television, notable figures include actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Maya Rudolph, and Jason Segel, as well as directors Zoe Cassavetes and Jonah Hill. In business and technology, alumni include Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and Warner Bros. chairman Channing Dungey. The arts are represented by musicians like Macklemore and architects such as Thom Mayne of Morphosis Architects. Other distinguished graduates include White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michele Norris.

Category:Private schools in Los Angeles Category:Educational institutions established in 1989