One of the premier boys schools in the nation, McCallie has provided rigorous college preparation in a Christian context since 1905. McCallie is an achievement-oriented community that encourages boys to strive toward academic excellence and commit to a student-administered honor system. McCallie offers a coordinate program with Girls Preparatory School, AP courses in all disciplines, an extensive weekend activities program, 14 competitive varsity sports, and 39 different intramural tournaments... Featured: McCallie School
 
Home > School Directory > California > The Athenian School
The Athenian School
2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd., Danville, CA 94506 - View a map of this school Map
tel: 925.362.7223

With distinctive meaningful programs, The Athenian School goes far beyond preparing talented and diverse students for outstanding colleges. Athenian empowers its graduates to become world citizens with lives of purpose and personal fulfillment. Athenian's distinguishing features include: an exciting and challenging academic curriculum, required community service, a required wilderness course, and extraordinary international experiences. Other signature programs include: town meeting, an airplane construction project, an award-winning robotics team, and many international opportunities (exchange, service projects, annual conferences, and faculty-led educational and service trips). Located on 75 beautiful acres at the base of Mt. Diablo, Athenian is the San Francisco Bay Area's only nonsectarian school with a high school boarding program. Virtually 100% gain admission to 4-yr. universities, from all the Univ. of CA campuses, to USC, Stanford, all the Ivy League campuses, outstanding liberal arts colleges, and a wide range of others. Athenian encourages students to find the colleges or universities that best fit them, and most students gain admission to their first-choice school. Most importantly, Athenian students develop a deep understanding of themselves, extraordinary skills for achievement, and the compassion to make a positive difference in the world.
Listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 264 schools) for:

Definition of Terms
Overview:
School Focus College Preparatory College Preparatory
Grades Offered  (Boarding) 9-12 9-12
Grades Offered (Day) 6-12 9-12
School Type Co-ed Co-ed
Support for ADD/ADHD Students No No
Religious Affiliation Non-denominational Non-denominational
Year Founded 1965 1900
Campus Size 75 acres 135 acres
     
Student Body    
Enrollment 300 students 300 students
Percent Students of Color 38% 18%
Percent International Students 10% 16%
Percent Students Boarding 14% 70%
Average SAT Score 1900 *National Avg. » View
Offers Post-Grad Year No No
     
Academics and Faculty    
Saturday Classes No No
Classroom Dress Code Casual Casual
Average Class Size 15 12
*National School Avg. » 20
Teacher : Student Ratio 1:10 1:7
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered 12 14
ESL Courses Offered Yes Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree 68% 60%
Summer Program Offered Yes Yes
     
Finances    
Endowment Size $3 million $15 million
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) $39,060 $39,900
Yearly Tuition (Day Students) $24,600 $22,560
Percent Students on Financial Aid 20% 31%
Average Financial Aid Grant $12,000 $18,000
Merit Scholarships Offered No No
     
Admission    
Application Deadline Jan. 9 / rolling Jan. 15
SSAT Required No Yes
Acceptance Rate 43% 60%
Director of Admissions Christopher Beeson
Associate Director of Admissions Beverly Gomer
Sports:
Total Interscholastic Sports Offered 12 13


BadmintonBaseball
BasketballCross Country
GolfSoccer
SoftballSwimming
TennisTrack and Field
VolleyballWrestling
Extracurricular:
Total Extracurricular Organizations 37 23
 
 
Airplane Construction ProjectAsian Club
Athenian Wilderness Experience--requiredBand/Orchestra
BasketballCapoeira
ChorusCommunity Action Board
ConditioningConservative Club
DanceFencing
HikingHiking
Independent Physical Education OptionInterim Trips--teacher-led adventuresome trips or activities
Interweave-Jew Crew
Latino ClubLIterary Magazine
Music and Dance ConcertsOn Campus speakers and artists
Outdoor AdventurePoetry Readings
QED Math ClubRobotics Team--award-winning
Rock ClimbingRound Square
Round Square Study AbroadRunning
SailingStudents of Color
Theater ProductionsUltimate Frisbee
Weight LiftingYearbook
Yoga 
College Matriculation:  
Year: 2002-2006
University of California, Santa Cruz
20
Univeristy of California, Davis
15
University of Colorado, Boulder
11
University of California, Los Angeles
10
University of California, Santa Barbara
10
University of Calfornia, Berkeley
8
Occidental College
6
University of Southern Calfornia
6
University of Pennsylvania
4
Brown University
3
School Notes:
  • Athenian's superb curriculum extends far beyond academic subjects with distinctive programs which develop students as world citizens for successful, meaningful, and purposeful lives.
  • The academic curriculum offers:
    • Interdisciplinary humanities courses in grades 9 and 10, followed by diverse seminars in history and literature
    • Hands-on and applied science options, including: an airplane construction project, an applied science course, and an award-winning robotics team
    • Extensive mathematics offerings beyond our two years of AP calculus courses to statistics and AP statistics
    • Extensive offerings in the arts, including drawing, painting, pottery, stained glass, and photography, theatre, dance, and chorus
    • Honors and/or AP courses accross the curriculum
    • Superb college counseling with an individual plan for each student and counselors dedicated only to college advising
  • Beyond the classroom, Athenian prepares students for the future as world citizens through:
    • Meaningful required community service
    • Extraordinary international opportunities through the Round Square Consortium of 60 schools on six continents: study abroad exchanges, international community service projects, and annual international student conferences
    • Participation in school-governance through town meeting
    • Guidance from a residential community of faculty who live on campus with their families. Faculty know students well, offering advice and support as mentors for each student.
    • The Athenian Wilderness Experience, required of all 11th grade students (a meaningful program developing independence, leadership, and teamwork--NOT a survival course)
    • An amazing an advantageous location which offers a beautiful 75-acre campus at the base of Mt. Diablo as well as easy access to the San Francisco Bay Area
    • Faculty who not only teach academic subjects but mentor students individually as academic advisors, residential program advisors, dormitory parents, coaches, club sponsors, community service trip leaders, and interim trip leaders.
    • Service Learning in which academic courses include hands-on experiential learning with a community service focus. Such programs happen on campus, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and on international trips to such places as Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe.
  • ALUMNI & PARENTS SAY:
    • "With the perfect balance of challenge and nurturing, Athenian teachers encourage you to experience and connect with your studies. I enjoyed academics, athletics, and the arts. I pursued my passions, graduating more certain of myself. I felt intellectually confident in my first college class. Athenian changes lives, and it's graduates affect change in the world." --Sarah Ames, Athenian Class of 2005, Vassar College
    • "Athenian's inclusive environment enables every student to make a mark--whether in academics, performance and art, or clubs and sports. Athenian consistently produces bright, engaging, and confident young adults who are keenly aware that they are citizens of the world." --Deepak and Sherry Kamlani, current parents
    • "Athenian encourages maturation as a full person and student. Athenian created a passion for learning in my son. He attended a Round Square conference in South Africa that profoundly affected him. He wants to help better the world. Jason now attends Stanford. The excitement about ideas ignited at Athenian shone through in his Stanford application. --Tina Levy, alumni parent (Jason, Athenian Class of 2004)
    • "Athenian contributed to my growth as an intellectual and individual. The Athenian community helped me understand my role as a citizen of the world. I will be able to contribute to the greater society thanks to Athenian's rich ideals and supportive atmosphere. I will always cherish and stay connected to this amazing place." --Carmen Jimenez-Robbins, Athenian Class of 2005, Brown Univ.
    • "Athenian teachers respect students, saying, "I not only see your children as they are now, but as what they can become." In my daughter, I now see a strong student, a self-motivated learner, and a well-rounded young lady with the desire to serve and take full responsibility for her life." --Margaret Bam, boarding student parent, South Africa
    • "At Athenian you can do so many things--like start a club or propose a change. The avenues are open for you to explore. Personally, Athenian teachers are open to conversation outside of the classroom, and you get to know people really well. I have learned so much, both inside and outside the classroom. Many students leave Athenian and find college writing easy; Athenian prepared them well." --Kevin Burke, Athenian Class of 2005, University of Pennsylvania
  • School accreditations: WASC, NAIS, CAIS, TABS, SSAT, ERB
  • Sample of notable school alumni:
    • Phillip Bennett - Geology Professor, Univ. of Texas, Austin
    • Benjamin Brandzel - MoveOn.org Student Action Founder
    • Greg Sherwood Cohalen - Emmy Award-Winning Public Broadcasting Anchor
    • Craig Debro - KTVU 2, Oakland, Television News Reporter
    • Joan Haratani - Attorney, San Francisco Bar Association President
    • Carol Moldaw - Noted Poet, Winner of the Field Prize
    • Douglas Perednia - Physician, Business Executive, Entrepreneur
    • Korshied Samad - Journalist, Bureau Chief, Afghan Nonprofit Org. Founder
    • Jackie Thomas - Nike Executive, Athenian School Trustee
    • Andrew Wistrich - United States District Magistrate Judge
  • Profile last updated: 01/09/2008
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