Local Preference for Freshmen

Cal State LA is a very popular campus.  We receive more applications than can be accommodated. Cal State LA has a long history of commitment to access, the local community, and social upward mobility.  Based on CSU and campus policy, preference for freshman and transfer admission is offered to applicants who are considered 'local.'

As part of our commitment to provide access to veterans, Cal State LA gives 'Local Preference' to all military veterans regardless of their school of origin. This Veterans category includes active-duty, reservists, and National Guard.

See the Freshman Application and Admission page for information on how the Local Preference is used in the admission process.

Freshman applicants who will graduate from one of the following high schools will receive local preference. Cal State LA also gives 'Local Preference' to all military veterans regardless of their high school. This Veterans category includes active-duty, reservists, and National Guard.

Map of Cal State L.A.'s Local Service area outlined

Local Preference High Schools

(We recognize that new schools open every year. If your school is not listed, but is located within Cal State LA's local admission area (see map above), you will be considered a local area applicant.)

  • Academia Avance Charter
  • Academic Leadership Community @ Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
  • Academic Performance Excellence Academy (APEX)
  • Academy for Multilingual Arts & Sciences @ South Region HS #12
  • Academy of Environmental & Social Policy @ Roosevelt
  • Academy of Med & Health Sciences @ Roosevelt
  • AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian HS
  • Alhambra HS
  • Alliance Cindy & Bill Simon Technology Academy HS
  • Alliance Collins Family College-Ready HS (formerly Alliance Huntington Park College-Ready Academy)
  • Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan HS
  • Alliance Gertz-Ressler/Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex (formerly Alliance Gertz-Ressler Academy HS)
  • Alliance Judy Ivey Burton Technology Academy HS
  • Alliance Leichtman-Levine Family Environmental Science HS (formerly Alliance Environmental Science and Technology High School)
  • Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science School (MASS)
  • Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield HS
  • Alliance Morgan McKinzie HS (formerly Alliance Media Arts and Entertainment HS)
  • Alliance Neuwirth Leadership Academy (formerly Alliance College Ready Academy High #5)
  • Alliance Ouchi-O'Donovan 6-12 Complex (formerly Alliance William and Carol Ouchi HS)
  • Alliance Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Health Services Academy (formerly Alliance Health Services Academy)
  • Alliance Renee & Meyer Luskin Academy HS
  • Alliance Susan & Eric Smidt Technology HS
  • Alliance Ted K. Tajima HS (formerly College Ready Academy HS #16)
  • Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology HS (formerly Technology & Math Science High)
  • Alverno HS
  • Ambassador School of Global Leadership @ RFK Community Schools
  • American University Preparatory School
  • Anahuacalmecac University Preparatory HS
  • Anderson W. Clark Magnet HS
  • Animo Film and Theater Arts Charter HS
  • Animo Inglewood Charter HS
  • Animo Jackie Robinson HS
  • Animo Justice Charter HS
  • Animo Locke 1 College Preparatory Academy
  • Animo Locke 2 Charter HS College Preparatory Academy
  • Animo Locke 3 Charter HS College Preparatory Academy
  • Animo Locke ACE Academy
  • Animo Locke Technology Charter
  • Animo Oscar De La Hoya Charter High
  • Animo Pat Brown HS
  • Animo Ralph Bunche HS
  • Animo South Los Angeles Charter
  • Animo Watts Charter HS
  • Antelope Valley HS
  • Antelope Valley Christian
  • APEX Academy
  • Applied Technology Center
  • Arcadia College Preparatory
  • Arcadia HS
  • Armenian Mesrobian HS
  • Arroyo HS
  • Arroyo Pacific Academy
  • ArtLAB @ Sotomayor Learning Academies
  • Aspire Ollin University Preparatory School
  • Aspire Pacific Academy
  • Aveson Global Leadership Academy
  • Bais Chana Chabad HS
  • Bais Yaakov School for Girls
  • Bell Gardens HS
  • Bell HS
  • Belmont HS
  • Bible Presbyterian Academy
  • Bishop Amat HS
  • Bishop Conaty–Our Lady of Loretto
  • Bishop Mora Salesian High
  • Blair HS
  • Bnos Devorah HS
  • Boyle Heights STEM HS
  • Boyle Heights Technology Academy
  • Bravo Medical Magnet HS
  • Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy
  • Business & Tourism @ Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
  • Business Industry School
  • CA Academy for Liberal Studies Early College HS
  • California School of the Arts - SGV
  • California Technical University HS
  • Calvary Chapel Christian (Lancaster)
  • Camino Nuevo High School Charter
  • Cantwell–Sacred Heart of Mary High
  • Canyon Oaks HS
  • Cathedral HS (Los Angeles)
  • Central City Value
  • Central HS
  • Century HS
  • CIS Academy
  • City Honors College Preparatory Academy
  • City of Angels School
  • CIVITAS Sol of Leadership
  • College Bridge Academy (Los Angeles)
  • Collegiate Charter High School of Los Angeles 
  • Columbus HS
  • Communication & Technology School @ Diego Rivera Learning Complex (formerly South Region High #2)
  • Communications, New Media and Technology @ Roosevelt
  • Community Health Advocates (CHAS) @ Augustus Hawkins HS
  • Crenshaw Arts/Tech Charter HS
  • Crenshaw HS
  • Crescenta Valley HS
  • Critical Design and Gaming School (DAGS) @ Augustus Hawkins HS
  • Culver City HS
  • Daily (Allan F.) HS
  • Dickranian (TCA Arshag) Armenian School
  • Don Bosco Technical Institute
  • Dorsey (Susan Miller) HS
  • Downey HS
  • Downtown Magnets HS
  • Duarte HS
  • Eagle Rock HS
  • Early College Academy @ LATTC
  • Early College Academy of Leaders & Scholars (eCALS) @ Sotomayor Learning Academies
  • East Los Angeles Performing Arts Academy @ Esteban Torres HS
  • East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy @ Esteban Torres HS
  • Eastside HS
  • Edward R. Roybal Learning Center
  • El Monte HS
  • El Rancho HS
  • Elizabeth Learning Center
  • Engineering & Technology @ Mendez Learning Center
  • Engineering & Technology Academy @ Esteban Torres HS
  • Excelsior School
  • Fairfax HS
  • Fernando Pullum Performing Arts HS
  • Fine Arts Academy @ Maya Angelou Community School
  • First Presbyterian School
  • Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
  • Foshay Learning Center
  • Francis (John H.) Polytechnic HS
  • Franklin (Benjamin) HS
  • Frederick Douglass Academy HS
  • Fremont (John C.) HS
  • Gabrielino HS
  • Garfield (James A.) HS
  • Glendale Adventist Academy
  • Glendale HS
  • Global Issues Academy @ Maya Angelou Community School
  • Green Design Community Sch @ Diego Rivera Learning Complex (formerly South Region HS #2C)
  • Hamilton (Alexander) HS
  • Harold McAlister HS
  • Helen Bernstein HS
  • High Tech High Los Angeles
  • Hollywood HS
  • Holy Family HS College Preparatory
  • Hoover (Herbert) HS
  • Humanitas Academy @ Esteban Torres HS
  • Humanitas Art School @ Roosevelt
  • Huntington Park HS
  • Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine @ Linda Marquez HS
  • ICEF View Park Prep Charter HS
  • Immaculate Heart HS
  • Independence HS
  • Inglewood HS
  • International Learning Center @ South Region HS #9
  • Kahlo (Frida) HS
  • King Drew Magnet HS
  • La Canada HS
  • La Salle High
  • LAUSD/USC Math Sci Tech Magnet HS
  • LAUSD/USC Media Arts Engineering Magnet
  • Leadership in Entertainment and Media Arts
  • Learning Works!
  • Legacy Charter High
  • LIBRA Academy @ Linda Marquez HS
  • Lincoln (Abraham)  HS
  • Los Angeles Academy of Arts & Enterprise Charter
  • Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES)
  • Los Angeles County High School of the Arts (LACHSA)
  • Los Angeles High School of the Arts @ RFK Community Schools
  • Los Angeles HS
  • Los Angeles International
  • Los Angeles Leadership Academy
  • Los Angeles River School @ Sotomayor Learning Academies
  • Los Angeles School of Global Studies
  • Los Angeles Teachers Preparatory Academy
  • Lou Dantzler Preparatory Charter High
  • Loyola High School of Los Angeles
  • Lycee International de Los Angeles
  • Manual Arts HS
  • Maranatha HS
  • Mark Keppel HS
  • Marlborough School
  • Marshall (John) HS
  • Marshall Fundamental
  • Math & Science @ Mendez Learning Center
  • Math, Science & Technology Magnet Academy @ Roosevelt
  • Mayfield Senior School
  • Maywood Academy HS
  • Mervyn M. Dymally HS
  • Mesivta Birkas Yitzchok
  • Middle College HS
  • Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
  • Monrovia HS
  • Montebello HS
  • Montecito HS of Art, Science and Design
  • Mountain Park HS
  • Mountain View HS
  • Muir (John) High
  • Nava College Preparatory Academy
  • New Covenant Academy
  • New Designs Charter School
  • New Open World (NOW) Academy @ RFK Community Schools
  • New Village Charter HS
  • Newmark (Harris) HS
  • Ohr Haemet Institute For Girls
  • Opportunities Unlimited Charter High
  • Options for Youth San Gabriel
  • Orthopaedic Hospital Magnet
  • Palmdale HS
  • Pasadena HS
  • Performing Arts Community School - South Region High #2
  • Pilgrim Day School
  • Pilibos (Rose & Alex) Armenian School
  • Polytechnic HS
  • Public Service Community School @ Diego Rivera Learning Complex (formerly South Region High #2A)
  • Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts
  • Ramona Convent HS
  • Renaissance Arts Academy
  • Responsible Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship @ Augustus Hawkins HS
  • Ribet Academy
  • Rio Hondo Preparatory School
  • Rose City HS
  • Rosemary School
  • Rosemead HS
  • Sacred Heart HS
  • Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School
  • San Gabriel Academy
  • San Gabriel HS
  • San Gabriel Mission HS
  • San Marino HS
  • Santee Education Complex
  • School of History & Dramatic Arts @ Sotomayor Learning Academies
  • School of Law & Government @ Roosevelt
  • School of Social Justice @ Linda Marquez HS
  • School of STEM @ Roosevelt HS
  • Schurr HS
  • Sci, Tech, Engineering, Arts, & Math @ Legacy HS (formerly South Region HS #9)
  • Shalhevet HS
  • Social Justice @ Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
  • Social Justice Academy @ Esteban Torres HS
  • Social Justice Schools @ Maya Angelou Community School
  • Soledad Enrichment Action Charter School
  • South East HS
  • South El Monte HS
  • South Gate HS
  • South Pasadena HS
  • Southwestern Academy
  • St. Francis HS
  • St. John Bosco HS
  • St. Matthias HS
  • St. Monica Academy
  • STEAM @ Legacy HS Complex
  • STEM Academy of Hollywood
  • Student Empowerment Academy
  • Summit View West School
  • Sylmar HS
  • Synergy Quantum Academy @ Maya Angelou Community School
  • Technology Arts and Design School @ South Region HS #12
  • Temple City HS
  • Thomas Jefferson HS
  • UCLA Community School @ RFK Community Schools
  • USC Hybrid High School
  • Vail High School
  • Verbum Dei HS
  • Verdugo Hills HS
  • View Park HS
  • View Park Preparatory Accelerated HS
  • Village Christian School
  • Visual and Performing Arts @ Legacy HS (formerly South Region HS #9)
  • Visual Arts & Humanities @ RFK Community Schools
  • Wallis Annenberg HS
  • Warren HS
  • Washington (George) Preparatory HS
  • Waverly School, The
  • West Adams Preparatory HS
  • Westridge School For Girls
  • Westview School
  • Whitman (Walt) High School
  • Wildwood School
  • Wilson (Woodrow) HS
  • Yeshiva Gedolah of Los Angeles
  • YULA Boys HS