Education

Burbank is within the Burbank Unified School District. The district was formed on June 3, 1879, following a petition filed by residents. First named the Providencia School District, Burbank’s district started with one school house built for $400 on a site donated by Dr. Burbank, the area’s single largest landholder. The first schoolhouse, a single redwood-sided building serving nine families, is on what is now Burbank Boulevard near Mariposa Street. In 1887, a new school house was constructed at San Fernando Road and Magnolia Boulevard, which was in Burbank’s center of commerce.

Burbank is home to several California Distinguished Schools including the confusingly named Luther Burbank Middle School (see history above). Both its public and private K-12 schools routinely score above state and national average test scores. A number of colleges are also located in Burbank including the Woodbury University with its renowned design program and several make up and beauty trade schools serving the entertainment industry.