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Founded in 1910, Cate School is a grade 9-12, coeducational, college preparatory boarding school in Carpinteria, California. What began as a group of twelve boys and a few teachers has expanded into a 265-student, 65-teacher, deeply academic and talented community with the most diverse student body of any boarding school of its size in the United States. The faculty are experts in their fields: 74% hold advanced degrees, 18% of these have PhDs. Cate is one of this nation’s most selective boarding schools, accepting only 20% applicants each year. 52% of Cate's most recent graduating class attend the 25 top-ranked colleges and universities in the country. The Cate experience combines academics, athletics, art and co-curricular activities in a close-knit, community setting where students are enriched by their relationships with their teachers and each other. When students leave Cate, they have the tools and the conviction to seek out lives full of purpose and meaning. College admissions offices often report back that Cate students are among their schools' brightest, most dynamic, and intellectually curious individuals. Mission: Through commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service, each member of the Cate community contributes to what our founder called: "...the spirit of this place...all compounded of beauty and virtue, quiet study, vigorous play, and hard work."
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Cate School
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Boarding School Avg.
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| Definition of Terms | ||
| School Focus | College Preparatory | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered. | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Support for ADD/ADHD Students | No | No |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1910 | 1906 |
| Campus Size | 150 acres | 125 acres |
| Student Body | ||
| Enrollment | 265 students | 296 students |
| Percent Students of Color | 42% | 18% |
| Percent International Students | 16% | 18% |
| Percent Students Boarding | 85% | 69% |
| Average SAT Score | 1991 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1860 - 2130 | - |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
| Academics and Faculty | ||
| Saturday Classes | Yes | No |
| Frequency of Saturday Classes | Bi-Weekly | Weekly |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 10 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 1:5 | 1:7 |
| # of AP/Advanced Courses Offered | 21 | 14 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 81% | 64% |
| Summer Program Offered | No | Yes |
| Finances | ||
| Endowment Size | $72 million | $14 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $45,900 | $42,800 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $36,550 | $23,900 |
| Percent Students on Financial Aid | 30% | 34% |
| Average Financial Aid Grant | $32,000 | $18,500 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
| Admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan. 15 | Jan. 15 |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 82% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 22% | 60% |
| Director of Admissions | Charlotte Brownlee '85 | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Gwendolyn Pierce | |
Course Listings: |
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| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses | |
Sports: |
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| Total Interscholastic Sports Offered | 16 | 13 |
Interscholastic Sports
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| Ballet | Baseball | |
| Basketball | Cross Country | |
| Football | Golf | |
| Lacrosse | Soccer | |
| Softball | Squash | |
| Swimming | Tennis | |
| Track and Field | Ultimate Frisbee | |
| Volleyball | Water Polo | |
College Matriculation: |
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| Year: - | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
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| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes:
- With more than 101 courses offered, the goal of the Cate curriculum is to teach students to think and to develop in them a lifelong love of learning. Cate graduates consistently enroll in the country’s top colleges and universities.
- Cate strongly values diversity. Our student body is comprised of 42% students of color. We enroll boys and girls from 25 states and 14 countries.
- Our commitment to socio-economic diversity is evidenced by a financial aid budget of more than $2,600,000.
- School accreditations: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- David Crosby - Singer/songwirter
- Garrett Lisi - noted physicist
- Billy Steinberg - musician/songwriter
- Warren Briedenbach III - pioneering surgeon
- Sir John R.H. Bond - financier
- Mona Khalil - United Nations
- Dr. William New - inventor and physician
- Profile last updated: 07/20/2011
School Map:
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Nearby Boarding Schools:
- Villanova Preparatory School - 280 students - 13.8 mi. away - view location
- Ojai Valley School - 295 students - 14.7 mi. away - view location
- Besant Hill School (Formerly Happy Valley School) - 105 students - 18.2 mi. away - view location
- The Thacher School - 240 students - 19.0 mi. away - view location
- Dunn School - 221 students - 42.5 mi. away - view location
- Co-ed school
- Boys school
- Girls school
Note: Data has been gathered from schools, government and commercial data sources.
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