Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences is a distinguished coeducational independent K-12 day school located in Santa Monica, California, founded in 1971 by Paul Cummins and Rhoda Makoff. With approximately 1,200 students across its two campuses in Santa Monica, Crossroads has built a national reputation for its exceptional integration of rigorous academics with an extraordinary arts program. The school's unique educational philosophy holds that the arts are not supplementary to academic learning, but fundamental to it — resulting in an environment where students pursue excellence in sciences, humanities, and creative disciplines simultaneously. Crossroads' curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses across all disciplines, and the school is especially celebrated for its programs in visual arts, theater, dance, film, and music. The school serves a diverse community of students from throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Crossroads is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). A robust financial aid program — with over 20% of students receiving assistance — ensures that the Crossroads community includes families from a wide range of economic backgrounds. Graduates are consistently admitted to the nation's most selective colleges and universities. The school's alumni include prominent figures in entertainment, technology, science, and the arts.