About Harvard Heights

Harvard Heights was laid out as a suburban community of single-family dwellings, and while many remain on area real estate agent's listings, the changing ethnographic and social makeup of the community has led to a shift towards multi-family homes and apartment complexes. Originally settled by the Latino Catholic community, it is home to Loyola High School, an exclusive all-boys Catholic high school which remains the oldest high school in Los Angeles. The 1940s and 50s saw the arrival of Greek-American immigrants, it remains the home of the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the largest Greek Orthodox place of worship on the west coast.

Throughout the 70s and 80s, Harvard Heights saw the immigration of Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigrants fleeing war and seeking opportunity in the United States. This has led to a unique "Byzantine-Latino" culture which combines Greek and central-American cultures, traditions, holidays and cuisines. Harvard Heights is most known for the abundance of shops producing authentic Salvadoran Pupuserias, a form of thick tortilla blended with cheese, refried beans, chopped pork, and seasonings. Many Salvadoran and Greek shops and restaurants remain in the area. The region is home to yearly cultural events, primarily major Salvadoran holidays and celebrations.

An emphasis on small, single-family homes throughout the 20th century has made Harvard Heights one of the few areas within central Los Angeles where young families can find affordable houses. As such, houses are in high demand, and local real estate agencies specialize in being bilingual and helping recent Mexican and Salvadoran immigrants find housing and understand the complex and diverse nature of American home ownership law.

Harvard Heights is served by the Los Angeles Unified School System. Because of the large number of families with small children in the community, there are four elementary schools, two middle schools and three high schools zoned for Harvard Heights, in addition to a number of private schools. The private schools are predominantly Catholic in nature. Most schools offer bilingual education, with an emphasis on teaching the children of immigrants to speak English as well as Spanish. The area is served by three libraries, increasing the opportunities for bilingual learning.