The years between 6th and 8th grade are when students change the most, which is why the setting matters so much. This guide covers what's different about middle school, what to look for and ask on a tour, and how the timing usually works in Los Angeles.
It's meant to be useful whichever schools are on your list, and the last section explains how middle school works at Page Academy.
What changes when your child starts middle school
In elementary school, most children spend the day with one teacher who knows them well. In middle school, they usually move between several teachers who each specialize in a subject, the workload grows, and students are expected to keep track of assignments and long-term projects on their own.
The social side changes just as much, as friendships shift and children form a clearer sense of who they are. A good middle school plans for this with adults who know each student and a structure that teaches organization and self-advocacy instead of assuming students already have those skills.
What to look for in a private middle school
Academics and high school preparation
Ask how the curriculum builds from 6th through 8th grade and how the school knows its students are ready for high school. Strong programs ask students to write often, research real questions, present their work out loud, and move ahead in math when they're ready.
Advisory and character
Many middle schools have an advisory program, a homeroom-style group where one adult keeps an eye on each student's academic and social life. Whatever the school calls it, find out who would notice if your child were struggling and how the school teaches responsibility, kindness, and leadership.
Class sizes
Small class sizes matter a great deal at this age, because it's easy for a quiet 12-year-old to go unnoticed in a crowded room. In a small class, teachers can see who's ready for more challenge and who needs another explanation, and students get more chances to speak and ask questions.
Arts, athletics, and enrichment
Middle schoolers are still discovering what they love, so look for a school where they can try theatre, music, visual art, sports, and student leadership. Ask which activities happen during the school day, and whether every student takes part or only those who make a team or win an audition.
A school that ends in 8th grade, or one that runs through 12th?
Los Angeles families generally choose between two models. Some schools keep children from the early grades through 8th grade, while others begin in 6th or 7th grade and continue through 12th.
In a school that ends in 8th grade, middle schoolers are the oldest students on campus, and when it's time for high school they choose again with a much clearer idea of who they've become. A school that runs through 12th grade offers one admissions process and a continuous path to graduation, usually on a larger campus shared with older teens. Neither model is better for every child, so think about which setting would suit yours at 11, 12, and 13.
Planning the school commute across Los Angeles
Distance on a map doesn't tell you much in Los Angeles, so drive the route at the times you'd really be making it, for both morning drop-off and afternoon pickup.
Ask each school what time campus opens, whether there's supervised care before and after school, and whether families from your neighborhood carpool. A commute your family can sustain for three years will do more for your child than a longer drive to a school that looks slightly better on paper.
Questions to ask on a private middle school tour
A tour is your best chance to see how a school really runs, so bring questions that go beyond the brochure.
- How many teachers will my child have, and how do they share what they notice about each student?
- How do you place students in math, and can they move ahead during the year?
- How much homework should we expect in 6th grade, and how does that change by 8th?
- Who does my child go to when something's wrong, academically or socially?
- How do you handle phones, social media, and conflicts between friends?
- Which arts, sports, and enrichment activities are open to every student?
- Where have recent graduates gone to high school, and how do you help with applications?
While you're there, watch the students as much as you listen to the guide, because middle schoolers who look comfortable talking with adults will tell you a lot about the culture.
When to apply to private middle schools in Los Angeles
Most families start looking about a year before their child would enroll. Many Los Angeles private schools hold tours in the fall, take applications through the fall and winter, and send decisions in the spring, while others review applications year-round and admit students as space allows. Every school sets its own calendar, so check each admissions page early.
An application typically includes school records, teacher recommendations, and a visit or interview, and some schools ask for an admissions test as well. Sixth and seventh grade are common entry points, though it's worth asking any school whether it has room in the grade your child needs.
How middle school works at Page Academy
Page Academy's middle school serves 6th through 8th grade on two campuses. Our Los Angeles campus is in Hancock Park, at 565 N Larchmont Blvd in Larchmont Village, where Page has been a neighborhood school since 1954. It's close to Windsor Square, Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, and Hollywood. Our second campus is in Costa Mesa, which is in Orange County.
Page was founded in 1908 by Robert and Della Page Gibbs, and it's been run by the same family for four generations. The Hancock Park campus serves children from age 2 through 8th grade, so our middle schoolers are the oldest students on campus.
Class sizes are small, so teachers know where each student is strong and where they need support. The middle school curriculum centers on hands-on exploration, research, and presentation, so students present their own designs at the Invention Convention and enter writing and public speaking competitions. Social-emotional learning is woven throughout, and six character values guide the school: scholarship, service, leadership, community, spirit, and wellness.
Art, music, P.E., technology, and language round out the school day, and students work on stage and behind the scenes in our musical theatre productions.
Applying to grades 6 through 8 includes a review of school transcripts, administrative and teacher recommendations, a parent interview, and a student interview. You can read the steps on our admissions page and see where Page graduates go after 8th grade.
"Page provided me with good study habits, confidence in myself, and with the ability to know when to seek support."Ava W., Page Academy 2016
Private middle school questions & answers
What grade does private middle school start in Los Angeles?
When should we start looking at private middle schools?
Is a school that ends in 8th grade better than one that runs through 12th?
Does Page Academy have a middle school in Los Angeles?
What is the admissions process for middle school at Page Academy?
Visit Page Academy in Hancock Park
Tours at Page are private, so the visit is all about your family, and you can bring every question on this list. You're welcome to tour our Hancock Park campus in Los Angeles or our Costa Mesa campus in Orange County.