About School

Principal’s Message

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year at Excelsior! Excelsior is fully accredited by Western Association for Schools and Colleges (WASC). We offer Day and Boarding School options for local and International students.

We are located on a beautiful 17 acre campus at the foothills of the Angeles Crest Mountains in Pasadena, California. Our students have access to basketball and tennis courts, gym, cafeteria and the library. Our classes have low teacher to student ratios that allow for individualized instruction. Our students are taught in various classrooms including the updated science lab with modern equipment and safety devices, and the computer lab with multimedia features. Our campus is also surrounded by tremendous cultural and learning resources, including the Rose Bowl, California Institute of Technology, numerous museums, colleges, and universities, theatres, and ethnic communities from nearly every country in the world. Our students often use these resources to foster greater understanding in their classes.

Our school mission is “To produce critical thinkers, productive communicators and responsible citizens who are prepared for college and life.” As a college preparatory school, it is our aspiration to help each student become a life-long learner who will not only succeed in college but also in life.

This year, we will be focusing on two missions: deepening our interdisciplinary approach; and expanding our Student Life and Residential programs. As we embark on these tasks, a tremendous focus will be placed on reading and writing in all content areas. Our school has fully adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which “requires students to take part in their learning and to think more critically about content. The increased rigor of the Common Core will help our students to become college and career ready.”

In addition to enriching our academics, we will also be expanding our Student Life and Residential Programs on and off campus. Our Student Life and Residential Programs include a variety of on-campus weekend events, as well as off-campus trips and activities. Our student life and residential programs help every Excelsior student find and explore himself/herself. Students are provided with opportunities to get involved in various extracurricular activities including monthly Town Hall Meetings, Movie Nights, BBQs, Retreat Programs, various intramural sports, Talent Shows, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Bowling, Karaoke Nights, attending professional sports games, community service opportunities, special holiday celebrations, and etc. These programs help our students to build social skills, confidence and self-esteem.

Excelsior School is committed to providing students a rigorous learning community that holistically focuses on the total development of our students.

We welcome you to visit us and see for yourself.

Dr. Annalisa Miller

Principal, Excelsior School

School Profile

Excelsior School is a small private prep school, grades 9-12 which has been in existence since 1986. It offers boarding opportunities for high school students.

Excelsior offers small group learning and individual attention to students. This kind of personalized instruction, which has been advocated by many education experts as being preferable for most children, is often lacking in large public and private schools.

Excelsior's mission is to prepare students not only for college, but also for life, so that our students can develop the skills necessary to succeed in our fast-changing, multi-cultural, technological world.

We can provide condensed schedules and independent study for students in the entertainment field and for students with special needs. A number of very successful actors/entertainers have attended our school.

Our alumni have attended many of the prominent colleges in California and other states, including UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount University, Occidental College, Pepperdine University, Fordham University, and Syracuse University., among others.

Over the years we have acquired a diverse, well-qualified and highly experienced faculty, which is always willing to advance the growth of each student in an interdisciplinary manner.

Since 1992, Excelsior School is authorized under Federal laws to enroll non-immigrant alien students.

img

Accreditation

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of six regional associations, which accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. Regional accreditation began about 100 years ago and arose from a desire on the part of educational institutions to establish standards of quality.

Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process, which plays an important role in developing and maintaining the high quality of education in this country.

Accreditation certifies to other institutions and the general public that education programs meet established standards. High school accreditation is established through a partnership between WASC and the California Department of Education (CDE). This ensures that diploma-granting high schools meet the standards of WASC and the CDE Program Quality Review required by the California State Education Code.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the most prestigious and widely accepted accrediting body for schools in California. The accreditation process ensures that academic standards are high and the school is focused on continuously improving the learning of their students.

WASC accreditation validates the excellent work of our parents and staff – Excelsior School is a place where students learn and grow in an environment of their choosing supported by a personalized curriculum tailored to their specific needs and learning style.

The Campus

Nestled at the foot of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains in Pasadena, California, Excelsior School is located in a historical 17-acre park like residential campus complete with cafeteria, library, and dormitory facilities. The trees, lawns, gardens and pathways provide favorite spots for studying, gathering with friends or solitary enjoyment.

The campus provides classrooms, computer technology center, administrative offices, sports facilities, performance venues and social spaces in a variety of settings. Students can enjoy tennis and basketball courts and a weight room. One of the most valuable aspects of the Excelsior student is the interaction with people who live and work on campus. Excelsior students will share dorms with students from oversea to expose different culture around the world.

School Calendar