{{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Milken Community School | logo = [[File:Milken_Community_School_logo.png|frameless|center|Milken Community School logo]] | motto = Developing students with sharp minds, generous hearts, and kind souls | city = [[Los Angeles]] | state = [[California]] | postal_code = | zipcode = 90049 | country = USA | type = Private, [[coeducational]] 6-12 | religious_affiliation = [[Jewish]] | established = 1990 | ceeb = 051727 | head_of_school = Sarah Shulkind | faculty = 145 (2014-2015) | enrollment = 750 | nickname = Wildcats | newspaper = The Roar | yearbook = Visions | website = {{URL|www.milkenschool.org}} | colors = Blue and white {{color box|#28588D}}{{color box|##FFFFFF}} | address = 15800 Zeldins' Way }} [[Image:Milken Community High School.JPG|thumb|right|Milken Community High School]]
'''Milken Community School''' (originally '''Milken Community Schools''', colloquially '''Milken''') is a [[Private school|private]] [[Jewish]] [[high school]] and [[middle school]]. It is located on [[Mulholland Drive]] in the [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air]] area of [[Los Angeles, California]]. It is one of the largest [[Jewish day school]]s in the United States.<ref>Julie G Fax, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/education/article/las_jewish_high_schools_are_all_over_the_map_20080229 "L.A.‘s Jewish high schools are all over the map"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', February 28, 2008.</ref><ref name="Dart1995"/> Long affiliated with [[Stephen S. Wise Temple]], a [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] congregation, the school is officially non-denominational, and became independent from the temple in July 2012. Despite the separation, Milken Community Schools continues to be the school in which many Stephen S. Wise students are enrolled.
In 1998, Milken was the largest non-Orthodox Jewish high school in the United States.<ref name="Helfand1998">Duke Helfand, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-14-me-22629-story.html "Milken High Is Dedicated by Founders: The $30-million campus is largest non-Orthodox Jewish high school in U.S."], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', September 14, 1998.</ref> As of 1994, it was the only Reform Jewish high school in the United States and was a part of the only K-12 Jewish education program west of [[Chicago]] that was not a part of [[Orthodox Judaism]].<ref name=Darthills>Dart, John. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-06-we-59179-story.html EDUCATION : Reform Jewish High School Moving to Hills]." ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. November 6, 1994. Retrieved on July 9, 2016.</ref>
==History== The school began in [[Van Nuys, Los Angeles|Van Nuys]] in 1984 as the Golda Meir School, and was later renamed the Einstein Academy.<ref>Melissa Schmitt, [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/THE+$32+MILLION+SCHOOL%3B+MILKEN+FOUNDATION+AIDS+JEWISH+CAMPUS.-a083822114 "The $32 Million School; Milken Foundation Aids Jewish Campus"], ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', May 9, 1998.</ref> When the school became affiliated with Stephen S. Wise Temple, it was renamed Stephen S. Wise High School. After a large donation from [[Lowell Milken|Lowell]] and [[Michael Milken]]'s [[Milken Family Foundation]] in 1995, the school, then reported to be the "largest non-Orthodox Jewish high school in the country", was named Milken Community High School.<ref name="Dart1995">John Dart, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-09-me-43880-story.html "Jewish School Renamed for Milkens"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', September 9, 1995.</ref> At the beginning of the 2013–2014 school year, the school was renamed to Milken Community Schools, with the intention of creating a name that encompassed both the middle school and the high school.
The Upper School was held in temporary trailers, on the lot where the new Middle School now stands, from 1994 to 1998 until the current, first three buildings of the Upper School campus opened in 1998. A year later in November 1999, the fourth and final building opened that completed the Upper School campus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1999-10-09 |title=Milken High to Honor Completion of Final Building |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-09-me-20413-story.html |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The Upper School campus had a cost of $30 million, and was built by MATT construction.<ref name="Helfand1998"/> Ten years later, the Saperstein Middle School campus was completed and opened in 2009. Previously, the Middle School occupied temporary trailers on the parking lot of the [[Bel Air Presbyterian Church]] from 1981 to 2008.
The Middle School and Upper School have historically had the same name, yet after the completion of the new Middle School campus in 2009, the Middle School was officially renamed the David and Hillevi Saperstein Middle School of Milken Community High School after a subsequent donation from [[David I. Saperstein|David and Hillevi Saperstein]], while the Upper School remained the Milken Community High School.
On March 25, 2011, Milken Community High School and Stephen S. Wise Temple announced that the school would become independent from the temple effective July 1, 2012.<ref>Jonah Lowenfeld, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/milken_school_stephen_s_wise_temple_severing_ties_20110325/ "Milken school, Stephen S. Wise Temple severing ties"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', March 25, 2011.</ref>
[[American Jewish University]] had its Familian campus at 15600 Mulholland Drive, directly across the freeway from the Milken campus. Milken had long sought an arrangement to share facilities with the university, but unsuccessfully. In February 2022, AJU announced plans to sell the location.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 February 2022 |title=AJU to Sell Bel Air Campus |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/weekly-news/aju-to-sell-bel-air-campus/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=[[Los Angeles Business Journal]]}}</ref> Milken made a bid of approximately $60 million, but was outbid by a Swiss learning company. That deal fell through amid community opposition. On Tuesday, December 26, 2023, Milken announced that it had successfully reached a deal to buy the campus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keene |first=Louis |date=2023-12-27 |title=American Jewish University finds new buyer for its campus: The Jewish school next door |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/574687/american-jewish-university-to-sell-campus-to-milken/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref> An official groundbreaking ceremony for the campus took place on November 9, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torok |first=Ryan |date=November 19, 2025 |title=Milken School Holds Milestone Groundbreaking at New Campus |url=https://jewishjournal.com/community/385049/milken-school-holds-milestone-groundbreaking-at-new-campus/ |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Jewish Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Judaism== All students were required to take four years of [[Modern Hebrew|Hebrew]], of which 18 different levels are offered; but as of the beginning of the 2018 school year, the new administration dropped this requirement. Hebrew is now optional as a course, but many students still choose to partake in it. Four years of Jewish studies are still required, and are offered at college-preparatory, honors, and high honors levels (9th-[[Jewish Law]], 10th-[[Chumash (Judaism)|Chumash]], 11th-Jewish Law, 12th-Jewish Thought). Spiritual Practice takes place once a week, with varied options such as traditional-egalitarian minyan, yoga, meditation, doubters' minyan, and others. An optional daily morning minyan is also offered. Through the Advanced Jewish Studies Center (AJSC), numerous Judaic electives are offered, including comparative religion, intensive [[Talmud]] study, comparative film, and others.
==Tiferet Israel Fellowship== [[Image:TIF2.jpg|thumb|right|Tiferet Israel Fellowship]]
In partnership with the [[Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education]] (AMIIE), MCHS offers an opportunity for students to learn and live in [[Israel]] during the spring semester of the 10th grade. Through a full academic program, schedule of tiyyulim (field study and trips), personalized chuggim (individualized activities) and partnership with [[Israelis|Israeli]] teens, Tiferet Israel Fellows learn inside and outside of the classroom and build relationships with the land and people of [[Israel]]. The semester abroad is followed by two years of additional programming. The junior year focuses on public presentation skills, training fellows how to best advocate for the State of Israel. The senior year concludes with an intensive seminar based at the [[Shalom Hartman Institute]] in Jerusalem, in which students examine Israeli cultural and political issues.
==Extracurricular activities==
The [[FIRST Robotics Competition]] team, the MilkenKnights, was a finalist at the Los Angeles Regional in 2012 and the Orange County Regional in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://milkenknights.com/achievements/|title=Achievements - The MilkenKnights from 2006 to now|website=milkenknights.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> They have won several awards, including two Dean's List Finalist Awards (Nathan Schloss in 2010 and Jared Hasen-Klein in 2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebluealliance.com/team/1836/history|title=Team 1836 - The MilkenKnights|website=The Blue Alliance|language=en|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2017/team/1836|title=Team 1836 : FRC Event Web|website=frc-events.firstinspires.org|language=en|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2010/CA/awards|title=CA Awards : FRC Event Web|website=frc-events.firstinspires.org|language=en|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> In 2010, the team became one of the first American robotics teams to compete in the Israeli FIRST robotics regional.<ref>[http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/milken_robotics_team_to_compete_in_israel_20100302/ "Milken Robotics Team to Compete in Israel"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', March 2, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://milkenknights.com/ Milken Knights] team website.</ref>
The school has won at least one Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award for every year that the competition has been running.<ref>[http://www.milkenschool.org/rogerkassebaum/ "MAST Director Roger Kassebaum Wins National Recognition"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227220703/http://www.milkenschool.org/rogerkassebaum/ |date=2011-02-27 }} (accessed 2012-1-30).</ref><ref>Julie G. Fax, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/education/article/milken_students_win_first_high_school_x_prize_20071102/ "Milken students win first high school X PRIZE"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', November 2, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/milken_students_win_green_competition_20100427/ "Milken Students Win Green Competition"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', April 27, 2010.</ref>
===Sports=== In the fall of 2011, after the previous year held an undefeated season and championship for the Wildcats' [[flag football]] team,<ref name="tenhut">{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/education/article/ten-hut_milken_takes_on_tackle_football_20110301/|title=Ten-hut! Milken takes on tackle football|last=Lowenfeld|first=Jonah|date=1 March 2011|work=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]|access-date=19 September 2011}}</ref> Milken began to play tackle football in the Heritage League. They play their games on Thursday nights instead of the traditional Friday night because the latter is the Jewish [[Shabbat|Sabbath]].<ref name="Painter">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18867374|title=UPON FURTHER REVIEW: Milken hits mother lode with new football team|last=Painter|first=Jill|date=10 September 2011|work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]]|access-date=19 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925003304/http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18867374|archive-date=25 September 2012}}</ref>
==Notable alumni== *[[Amir Blumenfeld]], comedian<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milkenroar.com/blog/2011/03/02/who-is-the-milken-student-what-websites-are-we-on/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308032235/http://www.milkenroar.com/blog/2011/03/02/who-is-the-milken-student-what-websites-are-we-on/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-03-08 |title=ROAR – Who is the Milken student: What websites are we on? |publisher=Milkenroar.com |access-date=2011-08-01 }}</ref> *[[Max Borenstein]], screenwriter *[[Skyler Gisondo]], actor *[[Mark Gurman (journalist)|Mark Gurman]], technology journalist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Salvador |date=2012-06-27 |title=18-year-old attends school by day, gets Apple scoops by night |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-jun-27-la-fi-tn-mark-gurman-apple-reporter-20120625-story.html |access-date=2025-09-18 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> *[[Sean Rad]], creator of [[Tinder (app)|Tinder]]<ref>{{cite web |title=School Leadership Milken Community School in Los Angeles, CA |url=https://www.milkenschool.org/about/school-leadership |website=www.milkenschool.org |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref> *[[Tamir Saban]], [[American-Israeli]] basketball player *[[Asher Vollmer]], game designer and creator of the Apple Design Award winner ''Threes!''; featured in the 2015 ''Forbes''{{'}} "30 under 30" list<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-01-06|title=Alumni Named to Forbes 30 Under 30|url=https://www.milkenschool.org/news-detail?pk=743819&fromId=162601|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Milken Community Schools|language=en}}</ref>
==See also== * [[Jews in Los Angeles]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.milkenschool.org/ Milken Community School] {{Navboxes |list = {{Bel Air, Los Angeles}} {{Los Angeles County private schools}} {{Los Angeles County Westside Schools}} {{Jews and Judaism in California}} {{Jewish schools in the United States}} }} {{authority control}}
{{Coord|34|07|31.91|N|118|28|40.38|W|display=title}}
[[Category:Coalition of Essential Schools]] [[Category:Private high schools in Los Angeles County, California]] [[Category:Jewish day schools in California]] [[Category:Jews and Judaism in Los Angeles]] [[Category:Private middle schools in Los Angeles County, California]] [[Category:Private schools in Los Angeles]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1990]] [[Category:Private high schools in California]] [[Category:Bel Air, Los Angeles]] [[Category:1990 establishments in California]]