Applications for admission for the 2021-22 academic year will be available on September 1, 2020. Applications will be due Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

We enjoy getting to know applicants and parents during the application process. As a community, we look for students who have potential to thrive and be successful in the Chadwick School environment, making the most of their academic abilities and enjoying the many opportunities available outside of the classroom. As a result, admission is competitive. The admissions committees consider the candidate’s school record, teacher and administrator recommendations, and test scores. Students applying to kindergarten will have opportunities to meet with our staff and with our Village School teachers as part of the admission process. Given Chadwick’s emphasis on our core values — respect, responsibility, fairness, compassion and honesty — the student’s character and integrity are significant in our decision-making. Other factors include age appropriate considerations of leadership, work ethic and commitment, and talent — both potential and demonstrated. We consider each student in the context of the total applicant pool. Each year, the admissions committees bring together a diverse group of new students, each of whom brings the ability and desire to thrive in our community — academically and personally.

We have optimal class sizes allowing teachers to know each of their students well. The typical class for K-6 is 20 students, and most elementary grades have 2 teachers in each classroom. In the Middle and Upper Schools, the typical class size is 16-20 students.  

Students get to campus by bus or in a carpool. Chadwick provides a bus to service our families from Carson, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Ladera Heights, Lomita, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach and Torrance. Morning, afternoon and round-trip fare options are available for each location. Actual costs and schedules will be made available to students and their families each summer, as locations may vary each year. In the 2018-2019 school year, annual bus fees range from $425 - $800 one way and $1,200 - $2,000 round trip. Click here for a sample bus schedule.

Chadwick has an extensive network of carpools. The transportation office can assist families with finding a carpool. 

There are four major entry points to Chadwick School. We admit approximately 40 new students to the kindergarten program each year. It is important to note that all students entering kindergarten must be five years of age by Sept. 1 in the year they plan to enroll. With a larger sixth-grade class, we have the opportunity to offer admission to approximately 35 new students. We admit approximately 10 to 15 new students in seventh grade, and 20 to 25 new students to ninth grade. Applications for Grades 1-5 and Grade 8 are considered on a space availability basis, in addition to the normal admission criteria. Under special circumstances, we may consider a new student in Grade 10 or 11.

We have optimal class sizes allowing teachers to know each of their students well. The typical class for K-6 is 20 students, and most elementary grades have two teachers in each classroom. In the Middle and Upper Schools, the typical class size is 16-20 students.

• Village School: 7:55 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. (early dismissal at 2:15 p.m. on Fridays)
• Middle School: 7:55 a.m. - 3:40 p.m. (early dismissal at 2:45 p.m. on Fridays)
• Upper School: 7:55 a.m. - 3:40 p.m. (early dismissal at 2:45 p.m. on Fridays)

All divisions begin at 8:55 a.m. on Wednesdays as part of a wellness initiative. 

Founder Margaret Chadwick believed that a student’s choice of dress is a means of self-expression, so we do not have uniforms. However, we do have a dress code requiring that all students dress appropriately and in good taste for learning.

Our main after-care program in the Village School (grades K-6) is called Extended Day and it offers a blend of structured and self-directed activities in an informal atmosphere at a cost of $8 per hour after school. There is no fee before school. Financial aid is available. Extended Day is available both before and after regular school hours. Activities may include indoor and outdoor games as well as arts and crafts. The program also provides structured time for homework, relaxation and exploration, and a healthy snack.

Morning Care:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:15 a.m. - 7:55 a.m.

Wednesday: 7:15 - 8:55 a.m.

After-School Care:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 3:15 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Friday: 2:15 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Chadwick School Issues the I-20 permit once a student has been accepted and is enrolled. We do not offer an ELL (English Language Learner) program. It is absolutely necessary that a student be fluent and literate in English, as full English fluency is required for all course material. We do not have a home-stay program or offer boarding, nor do our students live with guardians. Because of expected parental involvement, International students seeking to enroll at Chadwick School must live within commuting distance, with one or both of their parents.

Academic success at Chadwick depends on the applicant's ability to communicate effectively in English. All international applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL test scores in order to demonstrate English proficiency.