A Focus on the Child
Carlthorp School, established in 1939, is the oldest independent school in Santa Monica. Though the breadth of our curriculum has radically expanded in the last sixty-five years, our basic philosophy remains the same; we focus on the child as a whole, helping them to grow academically, socially, and ethically -- all within the framework of a traditionally academic school.

A Reputation for Excellence
Carlthorp School continues to enjoy a reputation for academic excellence that is demonstrated annually, as approximately 95% of our graduates are accepted to the secondary school of their first choice. The class of 2005 went on to study at Harvard-Westlake, Marlborough, Brentwood, Windward, St. Matthews, St. Paul's, Crossroads, Campbell Hall, and Lincoln Middle School. Our alumni attend universities from Stanford University, UCLA and UC Berkeley, to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

A Diverse Community
Today, the school reflects our multi-faceted community, enabling children to grow and develop in a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse community. Our kindergarten class of 2005 came to us from 22 different preschools throughout Los Angeles. Our students display a diversity of interests, and our student body includes a variety of nationally competitive athletes, gifted artists, award-winning musicians, published poets, and even aspiring actors. There is not one “type” of Carlthorp School student, just as there is not one “type” of Carlthorp School family. What our community shares in common is a total focus on the good of the child, and a commitment to the best education we can give them.