FAQs

Notre Dame Academy offers two distinct middle school experiences. Our Coed Middle School provides a collaborative learning environment for boys and girls, while our All-Girls Middle School is intentionally designed to help young women build confidence, leadership, and academic independence. Both programs share the same commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and whole-person formation, allowing families to choose the environment that best supports their child's growth.

We strive for a balanced 50/50 ratio across our coeducational divisions. Typically, our classes maintain a consistent balance of approximately 45% boys and 55% girls.
 

We prioritize small class sizes to foster meaningful relationships and personalized learning. Across Notre Dame Academy, the average class size is 17 students, allowing teachers to know each student well and provide individualized support and mentorship.

Our youngest learners follow a thoughtfully structured day that balances foundational academics with creative exploration. A typical day includes morning announcements, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Religion, along with enriching specials such as PE, Art, Music, Spanish, and Leadership. Students also enjoy scheduled snack, recess, lunch, and a dedicated rest time, giving them opportunities to recharge, play, and grow socially throughout the day.

We believe in the "gift of time." Because our TK and Kindergarten programs are fully integrated into the elementary school environment—sharing recess and campus life with students up to 2nd grade—the transition can be demanding. We prioritize school readiness over purely academic skills, focusing on a child's ability to maintain sustained attention and navigate a full school day. Often, waiting a year allows a child to enter with the maturity needed to thrive.

At Notre Dame Academy, young women are encouraged to lead, take intellectual risks, and discover their full potential. In an all-girls learning environment, students build confidence, strengthen their voices, and pursue opportunities in STEM, leadership, the arts, and athletics without limitation. The result is a community where girls thrive academically, grow in self-assurance, and graduate prepared to lead with purpose and integrity.

Faith at NDA is lived, not just taught. While we are proudly rooted in the Catholic tradition, we welcome families of all backgrounds. Our focus is on universal Gospel values such as compassion, justice, and service. We help students build a moral compass through prayer, reflection, and "Community Time" discussions.
 

We maintain an extremely secure environment through significant investments in safety infrastructure. Our campus features restricted access gates, comprehensive camera systems, and professional security personnel. Beyond physical measures, we have rigorous systems and procedures in place to ensure our campus remains a focused and protected space for learning.
 

We offer flexible transportation solutions for Los Angeles families. We partner with GoKid, a secure carpooling platform that allows NDA families to connect and coordinate rides based on location. Additionally, we offer professional bus transportation through First Student for students in the all-girls division with various plans and schedules available to suit your needs.
 

Yes. Our need-based tuition adjustment program is designed to support mission-aligned families. We consider demonstrated financial need and available resources to ensure an NDA education is accessible to qualified students.
 

We offer four-year merit scholarships for incoming 9th grade applicants. These are awarded based on a comprehensive review of HSPT scores, academic performance, and teacher recommendations. The number of scholarships varies annually based on the applicant pool.
 

To help you make a confident decision, tuition adjustment and merit award amounts are included directly in the acceptance package for new families. Returning families receive this information within their annual Enrollment Agreement.

No. The application fee is required for all applicants to cover the administrative costs of our comprehensive review process.
 

If your current school does not release recommendations, you may submit up to two character references from mentors, coaches, tutors, or former teachers who can speak to your child’s strengths and character.
 

To ensure a fair and consistent review for all families, we only accept the required number of recommendations specified for your child's grade level.
 

Our review process varies by division to ensure the right fit. For TK and Kindergarten, we focus on school readiness. For Grades 1 through 5, we review grades, recommendations, and conduct a family interview. Middle School applicants also complete a formal assessment. For 9th Grade, we use a holistic approach; while the HSPT is important, we place significant weight on the interview, teacher recommendations, the student’s resume, and their personal essay.
 

The HSPT is just one component of our review. We view it as a helpful data point, but it is not the sole indicator of potential. We look closely at the "whole student" through their academic record, teacher recommendations, and student interviews.
 

Admissions decisions for the upcoming school year will be released on March 5, 2027.