1030 East California Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91106
At Polytechnic School, our name conveys both a sense of our history and of our philosophical base. Polytechnic literally means “many arts,” and since 1907, Poly has been a place where students become multi-talented, intellectually ambitious citizens of the world. As a K-12 school, we are able to create a coordinated sequence of learning across all grades and developmental stages. Our Lower, Middle, and Upper School programs provide continuity for students and allow Poly teachers to invest deeply in each child’s progress over the long term. Our graduates leave Poly ready to fulfill the promise of their own talents and to lead meaningful, purposeful lives.
Students achieve their full potential within a vibrant learning community at Poly. Admission is the pathway to joining our student-centered K-12 community by visiting, applying, and learning about affording a Poly education. We envision a community of students, inspired by transformative teaching, who will contribute profoundly to the world as intellectual leaders. We develop the unique intellect, talents, and character of each student in a community dedicated to academic excellence, personal responsibility, and service to others.
Transformative, community-oriented.
Lifelong learners, intellectual leaders, compassionate.
80% of students participate in athletics with 90 coaches, with 16 Fall teams, 13 Winter teams, and 14 Spring teams. 17% of students participated in the Upper School Musical with 20 performances in 2019-2020. At the Lower School, our goal is to build a foundation for lifelong curiosity and confident learning. Poly’s Middle School offers a safe, supportive, and challenging place to make the transition from childhood to adolescence. At the heart of Poly’s Upper School are ambitious students who are committed to intellectual, athletic, and co-curricular pursuits, service to others, and most importantly, building an authentic and supportive community.
We offer 17 AP courses, with 567 exams taken by 242 students in 2019-2020. Nurtured by dedicated faculty and staff, Poly students thrive within a multi-faceted curriculum that promotes academic excellence, self-discovery, global citizenship, and leadership. Exceptional foundational coursework, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses, allows Upper School students to explore each academic discipline and develop their potential in expected and unexpected ways.
– Our student to faculty ratio is 6:1
– Our campus is on 15 acres with 27 buildings
– In 1907, Polytechnic School was founded as the first nonprofit, independent school in Southern California.
