8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd or PO Box 850, Ojai, CA 93023 - 
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tel: (800) 900-0487
Founded in 1946 by Aldous Huxley, J. Krishnamurti, Guido Ferrando and Rosalind Rajagopal on 520 acres in the resort town of Ojai, California this boarding school community offers a vigorous college preparatory curriculum with a cornerstone on creative expression, sustainability and divergent thinking. Besant Hill offers 33 art electives, competitive athletics, travel and experiential education programs, small classes and a 4:1 student teacher ratio.
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Overview: |
Besant Hill School
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Boarding School Avg.
|
| Definition of Terms | ||
| School Focus | Pre-prof. Arts / College-prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered. | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Support for ADD/ADHD Students | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Learning Differences (LD) | Yes | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1946 | 1906 |
| Campus Size | 520 acres | 125 acres |
| Student Body | ||
| Enrollment | 105 students | 296 students |
| Percent Students of Color | 11% | 18% |
| Percent International Students | 28% | 18% |
| Percent Students Boarding | 82% | 69% |
| Average SAT Score | n/a | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1400 - 1700 | - |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
| Academics and Faculty | ||
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 10 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 1:4 | 1:7 |
| # of AP/Advanced Courses Offered | 6 | 14 |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 50% | 64% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Finances | ||
| Endowment Size | $2 million | $14 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $41,990 | $42,800 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $20,900 | $23,900 |
| Percent Students on Financial Aid | 25% | 34% |
| Average Financial Aid Grant | $11,000 | $18,500 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
| Admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb. 22 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | No | Yes |
| Acceptance Rate | 50% | 60% |
| Director of Admissions | Randy Bertin - Assistant Head | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Terra Furguiel | |
Course Listings: |
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| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses | |
Sports: |
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| Total Interscholastic Sports Offered | 7 | 13 |
Interscholastic Sports
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| Baseball | Basketball | |
| Cross Country | Golf | |
| Soccer | Tennis | |
| Volleyball | ||
Extracurricular: |
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| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 6 | 24 |
Extracurriculars
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| Ceramics | Drama | |
| Film | Music | |
| Photography | Studio Art | |
College Matriculation: |
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| Year: 2006-2010 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
|
|
| Babson College | 2 | |
| Beloit College | 2 | |
| Berklee School of Music | 2 | |
| Cal Arts | 2 | |
| Chicago Institute of the Arts | 2 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 2 | |
| Brooks Institute | 1 | |
| Evergreen College | 1 | |
| Seattle Unviersity | 1 | |
| Smith College | 1 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes:
- Besant Hill School is an accredited boarding school with an emphasis on creative expression and Right-brained thinking. The school provides a small, safe and intimate community where students are able to explore and express both their intellectual and creative abilities through challenging academic classes, music, studio art, theater and photography. Outdoor education, community service and athletics are an important component of the educational experience. Besant Hill School sits atop 450 acres of beautiful land just outside of the town of Ojai. The school is 20 minutes from the ocean and 20 minutes from the mountains. The Besant Hill School campus offers boarding facilities for both boys and girls. The residents are housed 2 to a room in bedrooms that contain study and storage facilities for each student. Dorm parents live in each wing of the dormitories and supervise the boarding students with the help of student prefects.
- Other facilities include a modern dining hall, tennis courts, volleyball court, basketball courts and soccer field, theater and music rooms in addition to a studio art center, ceramics room and large dark room.
- LD types supported: Dyslexia / Language-based and Mild Learning Differences
- School accreditations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- Profile last updated: 09/30/2010
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Nearby Boarding Schools:
- The Thacher School - 240 students - 2.0 mi. away - view location
- Ojai Valley School - 295 students - 3.9 mi. away - view location
- Villanova Preparatory School - 280 students - 4.4 mi. away - view location
- Cate School - 265 students - 18.2 mi. away - view location
- Midland School - 90 students - 50.5 mi. away - view location
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- Co-ed school
- Boys school
- Girls school
Note: Data has been gathered from schools, government and commercial data sources.
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