With all do respect, if a good education is the real goal, there are PLENTY of top quality schools much closer, some even in So Cal.
I'm sure prep school is the answer to some, I just don't get it.
Now if the goal is to show off to co-workers or to the hockey snobs, so be it. But call it what it is.
Agree that there are plenty of good schools here. My take is that the ADHSHL is on the right path to hopefully keep kids here and get noticed at Nationals or other showcases. Last year, I hear that there were scouts from many colleges at the HS nationals and many got offers - mostly D3 colleges but it's a start.
Compared to Prep costs, there are a range of excellent D1 schools with costs of 8K to 18K here. You have JSerra (18.5K), Santa Margarita (17K), Olu (17K), Damien (8K), Bellermine (San Jose -16K), Tahoe, and St. Marys (new). You also have D2 and D3 teams who could step up to D1 in the coming years including Servite, Mater Dei, Central Cathedral (San Diego), La Jolla Country Day (34K - ouch), St John Bosco. Most of these programs play a minimum of 40 game seasons and are more competitive than 16AA aside from maybe the top 2 AA teams in the state (I know OLu a few years back was beating 16AAA teams and pretty sure SM could or may have last year). It's a shame the Kings can't get more going with private schools in LA county, but the good thing is that the ADHSHL seems to take on other teams regardless of location.
If the league can continue to build it's reputation of producing good hockey players, there will eventually be more national recognition and potential for movement onto bigger and better things. My 2 cents...