Let's be honest: this is the hardest inter-district transfer in Los Angeles County. BHUSD does not accept general transfer permits, period. There is no capacity-based pathway, no lottery, and no open enrollment for out-of-district families. The only two doors are employment with BHUSD or Beverly Hills City Hall, or the Grandparent Permit — which itself has been limited to siblings of current permit holders for the past two application cycles. If you don't have a grandparent who has lived in Beverly Hills for at least 10 years, or a qualifying job, this playbook will tell you that directly. But if you do qualify through one of those pathways, this guide will walk you through every step, every form, and every deadline so you can execute flawlessly.
Beverly Hills Unified School District is one of the most desirable and most exclusive public school districts in California. Serving only the city of Beverly Hills, BHUSD operates just four schools: two elementaries (El Rodeo and Horace Mann, both TK-5), one middle school (Beverly Vista, 6-8), and one high school (Beverly Hills High School, 9-12). A fifth school, Hawthorne Elementary, closed in June 2024 after El Rodeo completed a $153 million reconstruction and reopened in Fall 2024. The former Hawthorne campus now houses the district office and an Early Childhood Center.
The numbers tell the story: BHUSD spends approximately $60,000 per student — roughly three times the California state median. According to Niche, 55% of students are proficient or above in math and 71% in reading, with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. The district holds multiple California Distinguished School Awards and a National Blue Ribbon designation. Beverly Hills High School, with an enrollment of about 1,173 students, maintains a demographic profile of roughly 67% White, 11% Asian, 9% Hispanic, and 9% two or more races.
Most LA-area transfer playbooks walk you through a process where you apply, compete in a priority system, and hope for space. BHUSD doesn't work that way. As a basic aid district, BHUSD is funded by local property taxes rather than per-pupil state allocations. Every additional non-resident student costs the district money without generating offsetting revenue. This is why the district eliminated general opportunity permits around 2010 — a decision that affected over 500 students — and has maintained one of the most restrictive transfer policies in Los Angeles County ever since.
| Feature | BHUSD | SMMUSD | CCUSD |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Inter-District Permits | **Not accepted** | Limited, capacity-based | Limited, capacity-based |
| Employee Permits | Yes — BHUSD + City Hall | Yes — SMMUSD employees | Yes — CCUSD employees |
| Grandparent/Legacy Permit | Yes — 10-year BH resident | No | No |
| Spending Per Student | ~$60,000 | ~$22,000 | ~$16,000 |
| Residency Verification | Aggressive, random annual audits | Standard | Standard |
| Funding Model | Basic Aid (property tax) | Basic Aid (property tax) | LCFF (state formula) |
No. You cannot hold a place for a child who is not yet school-aged. The child must be TK-eligible (turning 5 by September 1 of the enrollment year) to submit an application. However, the sibling priority means that if your older child is enrolled on a Grandparent Permit, your younger child has a pathway to apply when they reach school age — as long as the older sibling is still enrolled (TK through 11th grade).
| School | Grades | Math Proficient | ELA Proficient | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **El Rodeo Elementary** | TK-5 | 78% | ~80% | $153M campus reopened Fall 2024 |
| **Horace Mann Elementary** | TK-5 | 64% | 71% | CA Distinguished School ('87, '97, '04, '08) |
| **Beverly Vista Middle** | 6-8 | ~55% | ~71% | National Blue Ribbon 2005 |
| **Beverly Hills High School** | 9-12 | ~55% | ~71% | KBEV broadcast, 30+ AP courses |
| When | What to Do | Who Acts |
|---|---|---|
| **Feb 1, 2026** | LAUSD outgoing inter-district permit window OPENS. Apply at apply.lausd.net on DAY ONE. | You + LAUSD |
| Feb 2, 2026 | BHUSD 2026-27 enrollment opens for residents. Check bhusd.org for any Grandparent Permit policy updates. | BHUSD |
| **Mar 2, 2026** | BHUSD Grandparent Permit application portal OPENS for 2026-27 (siblings only). | You + BHUSD |
| **Mar 20, 2026** | BHUSD Grandparent Permit application portal CLOSES. | BHUSD deadline |
| Apr 7-8, 2026 | In-person document collection at BHUSD District Office (624 N Rexford Dr). Bring all grandparent residency documents and inter-district release. | You |
District Office / Enrollment Center Address: 624 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Phone: (310) 551-5100 Fax: (310) 276-5023 Enrollment Email: enrollment@bhusd.org Enrollment Appointments: bhusdregistration.setmore.com Website: bhusd.org Online Enrollment Portal: beverlyhillsusd.asp.aeries.net/air/ School Finder: bhusd.org/school-district-beverly-hills-unified-/enrollment/school-finder
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