Pilgrim School

Pilgrim School, founded in 1958, is an independent, co-educational, college-preparatory day and boarding school for students in Early Education through Grade 12. The school is nestled in Wilshire Center, easily accessible from Hollywood Hills, Downtown, Hancock Park and West Hollywood, and attracts a student body as varied as the city's population.

We are a city school:

Where individual talents, contributions and skills yield a richer and more dynamic community.Where academic skills are applied to real-world challenges and opportunities. Los Angeles is our city. The California Science Center, Disney Music HallThe Getty, LACMA, Chinatown, the Natural History Museum, the Fowler Museum at UCLA, MoCA, Venice Beach and art galleries, the Endeavour, the Museum of Tolerance, Skirball Center, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Grammy Museum — these are a few of our classrooms.

Early Education:

Pilgrim School provides a rich and nurturing environment in which children are able to grow, play, and develop at their own pace. We foster their different learning styles and respect their individuality. During our day, we provide opportunities for indoor and outdoor play, music, art, ballet, and age appropriate academic readiness to prepare them for their future education. The focus on the whole child provides a foundation for a healthy and well-educated person.

Elementary School (k-5):

Our elementary school is a safe environment for children to grow, learn, and play. Small class sizes allow for enriched open-ended learning opportunities within a challenging academic program that promotes independent and critical thinking skills, encourages inquiry and investigation, and emphasizes independent thinking. The close community of faculty, staff, and families fosters empathy and social awareness as well as a sense of belonging. Students enter secondary school eager to learn, and with a curiosity about the world around them.

Secondary School (6-12):

Pilgrim secondary students continue their progress from readiness to full participation in the world of young adulthood. They find themselves poised to integrate the lessons of heart, mind, and soul. As students meet the greater demands of Middle and High School, they find the support of attentive and caring teachers complemented by new learning tools. Access to technology — including individual iPads and laptops, media, and choice, encourages students to take risks within Pilgrim’s community of academic, athletic, artistic, and civic leadership. Students graduate with a strong sense of their potential, and a readiness to participate actively and thoughtfully as adults in the world.

Matriculation:

Pilgrim students all go on to pursue education at a higher level, and are accepted into Ivy League, as well as smaller liberal arts schools, top art institutions, and international colleges such as the Sorbonne and Oxford. What is most important about our students’ matriculation however, is the process of pairing the student with the right school. College counselors, faculty, and the Head of School all work together with each student and family, discussing each student’s dreams, abilities, needs, and interests when choosing a school. Students have guidance throughout the application process, including workshops on essay writing, applying for financial assistance, and interview techniques.