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School History and Traditions

135 Years of Academic Excellence

In 1888, a young teacher from Maine, newly widowed and accompanied by her young daughter and niece, traveled across the country to relocate to California and start a new life. Within two months of her arrival in Los Angeles in 1889, Mary Caswell founded what would soon become Marlborough School, now the oldest independent girls' school in Southern California.

Over the past century, Marlborough has undergone significant growth and evolution. Today, our student body is representative of the talent and diversity of greater Los Angeles, our academic and athletic programs have expanded, college matriculation is highly competitive and distinguished, and campus facilities have kept pace with the educational innovation taking place inside the classroom.

The Campus

What began as a single building in a barley field has grown into a campus that spans 110,000 square feet, where our students flourish, further their love of learning, discover their passions, and make lifelong friends.

 

   


A Legacy of Tradition

For more than 130 years and through nine successive Heads of School, Marlborough has nurtured a cherished number of traditions, each holding its own unique place in the life of the school, its students, and alumnae.

Class Color & Song

Before they leave Middle School, 9th graders select their Class Colors and Song. They carry the colors with them through Upper School and sing their song at various school celebrations.

Pin Ceremony

To celebrate their completion of Middle School, 9th graders are given a Marlborough School pin at a special ceremony at the end of the year.

Banner Presentation

10th-grade students create and present a banner embodying the best characteristics of their class and all they bring to the school community. It is displayed on campus every five years when they celebrate a milestone reunion.

Ring Ceremony

Marking the passage into their final school year, this century-old school tradition utilizes the imagery of the class ring to emphasize the unity and cohesive journey of the Junior Class through their time at Marlborough.

Mascot Presentation

Each Senior Class selects and presents a class mascot—a fictional figure that symbolizes the identity of the graduates. Recent mascots have included Snoopy, Pascal from Tangled, Vector from Despicable Me, and Mushu from Mulan.


The Milestones