The Greater Los Angeles area is home to numerous prestigious private schools, each with its own distinct qualities. Today, we’ll explore two seemingly similar yet distinctly styled schools: the well-established “century-old relic,” Chadwick, and the up-and-coming “born-with-a-silver-spoon” Sage Hill.

We’ll delve into their founding histories and teaching philosophies, examine their differences in academic performance, explore which school excels in college admissions, and discuss the unique features of their curriculum.

School Overview

Chadwick School was established in 1935 and began formal enrollment in 1938. Today, Chadwick occupies 45 acres of land with 22 school buildings, serving a total of 865 students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Sage Hill School was founded in 2000 through donations from a group of parents and is ranked as the top private high school in Orange County. It spans 30 acres with 6 buildings and enrolls students from 9th to 12th grade.

Basic Information:

	Chadwick School	Sage Hill School
Year Founded	1935	2000
Grades Offered	K-12	9-12
Student Enrollment (G9-12)	360	544
Student-Teacher Ratio	8:1	9:1
Asian Student Percentage	24.2%	34.0%
Accepting International Students?	Yes, with language proficiency proof required.	No

Rankings (2023 Niche):

	Chadwick School	Sage Hill School
Overall Niche Grade	A+	A+
Best College Prep Private High Schools in CA	#17 of 413	#14 of 413
Best Private High Schools in CA	#33 of 454	#12 of 454

In summary, the overall rankings of the two schools are very close, with little differentiation in academics, diversity, faculty quality, and college acceptance rates. However, Sage Hill slightly outperforms Chadwick in the categories of sports and clubs & activities, resulting in a higher overall ranking.

Teaching Styles

Chadwick prioritizes blending practicality with creativity in its teaching methodology, aiming to foster well-rounded individuals equipped with leadership skills, critical thinking abilities, and strong character alongside academic prowess.

Meanwhile, Sage Hill champions courage, creativity, and community engagement, seeking to develop students who are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and capable of applying their knowledge in meaningful ways. The school fosters a vibrant artistic environment, emphasizing teamwork and leadership development.

Academic Performance

For parents aiming for their children to attend prestigious universities, the educational quality of the school, including standardized test scores, is crucial. Both Chadwick and Sage Hill have comparable SAT and ACT averages, with Sage Hill slightly outperforming Chadwick in SAT scores.

Academics (Class of 2021-2023)
	Chadwick School	Sage Hill School
Average SAT	1393	1418
Average ACT	33	32

Additionally, both schools boast a 100% college acceptance rate, with a significant number of students admitted to renowned universities in the Los Angeles area.

Ranking	University	Chadwick 2022	Sage Hill 2022
1	Princeton	2	0
3	Harvard	0	0
3	Yale	2	0
8	UPenn	1	2
12	Dartmouth	1	2
13	Brown	2	3
17	Cornell	2	1
18	Columbia	0	0
Class Size		90	133
Ivy League		11%	6%

It is evident from the Ivy League acceptance rates in 2022 that Chadwick’s class sizes are slightly smaller, with a higher Ivy League acceptance rate than Sage Hill, indicating that the school has invested more effort in college counseling. Over the years, Chadwick’s overall acceptance rate to U.S. News’ Top 20 colleges has been significantly higher than Sage Hill’s, demonstrating a clear advantage.

In academics, both schools excel without notable differences. Chadwick maintains a high acceptance rate to top American universities, while Sage Hill has steadily improved its standardized test scores, now surpassing Chadwick in this regard.

Curriculum

In terms of curriculum, both schools offer a diverse range of AP courses, each with its own distinctive programs. The following chart shows the number of AP courses offered by each school in various subjects.

AP Category (Including Post-AP)	Chadwick School	Sage Hill School
History and Social Studies	3	6
Mathematics	5	4
Science	7	6
World Languages	3	1
Visual and Performing Arts	5	2
English	5	1
Total	28	20

Chadwick offers a greater number of AP courses overall, with more STEAM and language courses than Sage Hill. However, Sage Hill boasts a richer offering of history and social science courses.

In addition, Chadwick School’s high school division offers 28 AP courses along with three specialized programs: Outdoor Education, Global Education, and Community Service, enriching students’ experiences with outdoor activities, exchange opportunities, and fostering independence.

Sage Hill offers 20 AP courses aligned with California Common Core Standards and provides special programs like Service Learning, Sage Hill Internship, and Speaker Series, offering students diverse opportunities for community service, internships, and real-world exposure.

What Do Parents Say?

According to the 2023 Niche website, nearly half of the students and parents attending Chadwick School and Sage Hill have rated both schools as “Excellent” and shared their viewpoints.

Chadwick: “The school’s cultural heritage is rich, emphasizing the cultivation of children’s empathy and sense of social responsibility, aligning with the concept of lifelong learning.”

Sage Hill: “The school places special emphasis on standardized test scores, with strong teaching capabilities among teachers, resulting in relatively high academic pressure for students.”

Conclusion

• Both Chadwick and Sage Hill are dedicated to cultivating well-rounded, academically strong students. Chadwick emphasizes individual judgment and social responsibility, while Sage Hill focuses on critical thinking and adaptive leadership.
• Chadwick offers diverse STEAM AP courses and immersive programs, while Sage Hill provides rich history and social science courses and ample internship opportunities.
• Chadwick represents a traditional, established institution, while Sage Hill is an inclusive, innovative newcomer.

Which school appeals to you more?