Tuition is $54,900. The acceptance rate is 20 percent.

Just looking at these two numbers gives an idea of the standing of Harvard-Westlake in Studio City.

These were the first figures a family encountered while researching private schools in LA.

This family had no major complaints about their assigned public school district. However, as their child aimed for top-tier colleges, they began to question whether the public school district would be sufficient.

So, they started to gather information about private schools.

Recent admissions results from Harvard-Westlake show that 50 percent of graduates go on to top 25 colleges. In the same cohort, 9 students were accepted to Stanford and 8 to Harvard. The acceptance rate for top 50 colleges is 21.45 percent, for top 25 colleges it is 29.41 percent, and the combined rate for Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT is 18.69 percent.

What these numbers mean is simple. Gaining admission is a narrow path, and once admitted, the college preparation process is intricately woven into the entire school system.

Financial aid is operated based on need, and there are no merit scholarships.

The issue is not just tuition. As families flock to reduce commuting distances, the demand for housing in Studio City and Encino rises.

According to Zillow, the average home value in Studio City is $1,498,415. Redfin reports that the median sale price over three months until July 2026 is $1.81 million.

Encino is not much different. When adding housing costs to tuition, the burden doubles.

As a result, many families choosing private schools often settle in slightly more affordable nearby areas, even if it means increasing their commuting distance.

However, a benefit of private schools is that they do not adhere to residential school district regulations. This means there is no need to insist on living in an expensive neighborhood just to get into a prestigious public school district. However, it is necessary to directly confirm commuting times and shuttle availability with the school before admission.

For families newly settling in LA, it is also advisable to understand California's property tax assessment method.

Taxes are assessed based on the purchase price, so the tax burden may feel relatively heavier for homes purchased recently. Since specific regulations can vary by county, it is important to check.

From an investment perspective, areas near private schools tend to have steady demand, resulting in shorter rental vacancy periods. However, because the purchase prices are high, rental yields may often be lower compared to other areas. It is necessary to consider both yield and capital gains.

Mortgage rates also significantly impact budgets.

Depending on the interest rate, monthly payments can vary greatly even for the same sale price, so it is advisable to compare pre-approval conditions from several lenders before making an offer.

For families moving from other states, it is important not to directly apply the property tax and insurance rates from their previous residence.

California has a tax structure based on purchase price, which differs from other states.

For families who have just immigrated from Korea, the American real estate transaction process may feel unfamiliar.

Understanding that there is no jeonse system and that both buying and renting go through escrow procedures will make the subsequent process much smoother.

Choosing a school affects commuting radius, budget, property taxes, and mortgage conditions all at once.

Therefore, families considering private schools need to develop the habit of comparing school data and housing market data side by side.

Ultimately, the choice between private schools and public school districts requires comparing tuition, commuting distance, and housing budget all in one table to find the answer.