Ambassador Christian School (ACS) is located in the coastal city of Torrance, 32 kilometers south of Los Angeles, California. Its prime location and high-quality education have helped it become one of the most well-regarded private schools in the area since its establishment in 2013.

Modeled after the best American boarding schools, ACS employs the Harkness teaching method, a round-table discussion-based approach that encourages open dialogue, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. Students are challenged to ask questions, make deductions, and think deeply to achieve academic growth. In addition, the school offers a wealth of academic resources including dual-credit courses, cutting-edge educational technology, and group project-based learning. ACS also provides a comprehensive, multi-level college counseling program. Graduates are consistently admitted to prestigious universities in the U.S., including several Ivy League schools and institutions ranked in the national Top 25.

Highlights

● High Value Private School in Southern California

ACS is located in Torrance, a coastal city known for its safe neighborhoods, affluent community, and excellent quality of life. Students benefit from access to top-tier educational, career, and entertainment resources in the greater Los Angeles area.
Compared to other prestigious private schools in the LA metropolitan area, ACS offers outstanding value. It is one of the few private schools in Southern California with total tuition and boarding fees around $50,000 per year.

● Earn College Credit or an Associate Degree Through Dual-Credit Program

ACS partners with Colorado Christian University (CCU) to offer a dual-credit program, giving students the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses during high school.
These courses demonstrate students’ academic capabilities and enhance their competitiveness in college admissions. Students who earn 60 college credits through this program graduate with both an ACS high school diploma and an Associate Degree from CCU—saving up to two years of college time and up to $80,000 in tuition.
Many students are able to skip their freshman year of college thanks to this program. Credits earned through CCU are transferable to the University of California system (including UCLA and UC Berkeley) and other top universities across the U.S. Many ACS alumni have successfully used this advantage to accelerate their college education.

● Personalized Learning and Outstanding College Placement

Despite being a relatively small school, ACS offers a wide range of courses, including over 20 Honors and AP courses, and even the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma Program, which includes AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who complete the two-year program and meet the assessment requirements are awarded the AP Capstone Diploma.
The school’s College Counseling Office supports students and their families with four years of personalized college and career planning.
ACS graduates are consistently admitted to world-renowned universities, such as the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, University of Oxford, UC Berkeley, and New York University, among others.

● Unique Harkness Round-Table Teaching Method

ACS implements the Harkness Round-Table Method, a student-centered approach where learning is driven by student discussion and collaboration. Students sit around a circular table and engage in open dialogue, while teachers act as facilitators, encouraging critical thinking, respectful interaction, and analytical listening.
The Harkness method originated at Phillips Exeter Academy, the high school alma mater of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. ACS faculty members have received professional training at Exeter to effectively apply this method in the classroom.
In addition to the Harkness method, ACS integrates advanced educational technology into lessons and provides opportunities for both independent learning and group projects.

● Over 250 eDynamic Online Electives to Explore Career Interests

As a complement to in-class learning, ACS offers over 250 eDynamic online elective courses. These courses allow students to explore personal interests, develop skills, and gain knowledge in various career fields.
Using real-world business scenarios, students explore industries such as culinary arts, fashion, hospitality, retail, sports management, manufacturing, marketing, and finance.
Students learn practical business knowledge including personnel management, pricing strategies, production safety, and more—helping them build social and professional competencies in their fields of interest.