One year ago, Paul Revere Middle School (Revere) student Romeo Jensen chose not to attend Pali. The Los Angeles fires had recently displaced students and faculty from campus, and because uncertainty loomed over the school’s future, Jensen enrolled at Milken Community School instead.
Now, he plans to transfer into Pali as a sophomore.
Jensen’s decision reflects a widespread shift. In February 2025, a random sample of 150 eighth graders from Revere found that 66.7% planned to attend Pali for ninth grade. This February, that figure rose to 79.3%, with another 9.3% of students undecided yet considering Pali.
The remaining students plan to attend a different public school (4.7%) or a private school (6.7%). For most in the survey, that decision wasn’t a rejection of Pali, and instead a pull toward other opportunities, including athletic scholarships, specialized arts programs or transportation considerations.
The rebound in enrollment interest suggests families feel more secure about the school’s long-term stability.
Many Revere eighth graders mentioned Pali’s rigorous academics and competitive athletics as major factors in their decision.
Rocco Myers, who plans to attend Pali next year, pointed to the school’s “strong college readiness,” and classmate Innokentiy Deev said he looks forward to joining a football program with a winning reputation.
Other surveyed eighth-grade Revere students mentioned Pali’s “Advanced Placement classes, diverse course offerings and a variety of extracurriculars” as reasons that they feel confident in choosing Pali.
Beyond academics and sports, the survey reveals however that the most consistent reason incoming students are returning to Pali is the environment it boasts.
Jordan Miller said he plans to join his Revere classmates at Pali: “Most of my friends are going, and Pali is a great school.” Victoria Lopez is continuing a family legacy, inspired by her father and previous generations who attended. Kaitlyn Kent values its proximity to her neighborhood. Isabella Marruzzi said she loves the campus and its energy.
That shift is also visible on campus, according to Pali Ambassador and junior Sam Schwartz.
Schwartz, a tour group leader, said attendance among interested families has been increasing, and the questions he’s fielding have shifted from recovery concerns to academic and extracurricular opportunities.
“I mostly get day-in-the-life and logistical questions,” Schwartz said. “Now, everyone seems confident in the quality of Pali. The mood has changed since the Sears tours when Pali’s future was unknown. Everyone is happy to be here and be back. You could see it on everyone’s face.”
The focus, Schwartz says, is no longer on what was lost, rather on what Pali has to offer and its future.
Even in the wake of disruption, the incoming class appears undeterred.
If anything, the data suggests that Pali’s identity—rooted in academic strength, athletic pride and a tight-knit community—has only grown stronger.
For Jensen and many others, what once felt uncertain now feels stable again.
Editor’s Note: The polls referenced in this article were conducted by Tideline staff. Revere eighth graders surveyed were selected at random by homeroom number.
