Buyer’s Guide · Schools & School-Driven Buying

Las Virgenes Schools Guide: Round Meadow, Stelle & Calabasas High

For families relocating to Southern California, the school district is often the first decision and every other decision follows from it. In the Calabasas corridor, that decision points almost without exception to one place: Las Virgenes Unified School District. This guide walks through the main schools, the communities that feed into them, and what families need to know before they pick a neighborhood.

The district at a glance

Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) is a public K–12 district covering the western portion of Los Angeles County and a sliver of southern Ventura County. It serves the cities of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, and Westlake Village, plus the unincorporated communities of Bell Canyon, Cornell, and parts of the Santa Monica Mountains.

LVUSD consistently ranks among the top public districts in California by test performance, college admissions outcomes, and the strength of its athletics and arts programs. For most buyers, the high school is the headline reason — Calabasas High School in particular has a long-standing reputation as one of the top public high schools in greater Los Angeles.

The key schools for the Calabasas / Bell Canyon corridor

Round Meadow Elementary School

Located in the Calabasas area and serving the Bell Canyon / Hidden Hills attendance area. Highly regarded among parents for its established culture, parent involvement, and the strength of its enrichment programs.

A.E. Wright Middle School & A.C. Stelle Middle School

Two middle schools in the district. Stelle Middle School is the typical feeder for students coming from Round Meadow Elementary in the Bell Canyon area; A.E. Wright serves other portions of the district. Both are public middle schools within Las Virgenes Unified.

Calabasas High School

The flagship high school for the eastern portion of the district. Strong academic reputation, well-established athletics and arts, and a long college admissions track record. The school's reputation is the single most-cited reason buyers commit to the Calabasas corridor.

Which communities feed into these schools?

Several distinct neighborhoods sit inside the Las Virgenes Unified boundaries. For buyers comparing them, the school district is the shared anchor.

• Calabasas (city limits). Walkable to many district campuses. Newer construction, smaller lots.
• Hidden Hills. Guard-gated, one-to-two-acre estate lots, very high-end.
• Bell Canyon. Guard-gated, multi-acre estate lots, unincorporated Ventura County. Same school district as Hidden Hills.
• Westlake Village (LA County side). A mix of family homes and luxury enclaves like North Ranch.
• Agoura Hills. Excellent family-friendly inventory at a wider price range.

For families specifically interested in gated communities with Las Virgenes schools, the shortlist is Hidden Hills and Bell Canyon. Both deliver the school district, both deliver community-level security, and they differ primarily in lot size, price-per-acre, and feel.

A common buyer pattern

A pattern we see often with relocating families: the school search starts with "Calabasas High School." That points to LVUSD. LVUSD points to a list of neighborhoods, of which Hidden Hills tends to be the most-recognized. Hidden Hills's lot sizes (one to two acres) then collide with the family's actual needs — they wanted room for a guest house, horses, a sport court, or simply a bigger backyard for the kids. The buyer then discovers Bell Canyon: same schools, same gates, materially more land.

The school district decision does not need to be revisited. The community decision often does.

Companion reading

• Bell Canyon vs Hidden Hills: A Buyer's Comparison Guide
• Building a Family Compound Near Calabasas
• The Quiet Alternatives to Hidden Hills & Calabasas

School boundary and feeder information changes periodically. Families should always verify current attendance areas directly with Las Virgenes Unified School District before making a purchase decision.