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Best California Boarding Schools

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 14 college-prep and junior boarding schools serving 4,319 students located throughout California.

You can also browse our full boarding school directory or specify additional search criteria.

Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo - Woodside Priory is a Benedictine Catholic, independent college preparatory school. Founded by Hungarian monks in 1957, Priory has been an international school from its very beginning.

Army and Navy Academy Photo - Evenings and weekends are often spent at our beachfront rec hall, where cadets play beach volleyball, work out in the Spartan gym, watch movies, gather around the fire pit, or practice culinary skills in our outdoor kitchen.

ISI Academy Olympic Valley (formerly Lake Tahoe Prep) Photo - Lake Tahoe is a premier world-renown resort destination year-round. The blue skies, clear water, dense forests, and deep snow make it a haven for for everyone - from outdoor enthusiasts to authors and explorers.

Dunn School Photo - The STEM quad at Dunn, housing the math classrooms, tinker space, makers lab and more.

Santa Catalina School Photo - Volleyball in the Gym

Stevenson School Photo - Situated between the Pacific and Silicon Valley, Stevenson is a school shaped by both its surroundings and its namesake. Like Robert Louis Stevenson - the adventurer and writer who once roamed this coast - the school embraces learning as an exploration. Here, tidepools become classrooms, cypress groves frame our campuses and students are encouraged to chart their own journeys with curiosity andcreativity.

EF Academy Pasadena Photo - Hands-on learning encourages our students to make their own discoveries. Calculate velocity in the real world by measuring the speed of a baseball!

The Thacher School Photo - "Education is not merely the making of scholars. It is the making of men and women. It is the training of the younger generation in the art of living for their own greatest good and the greatest good of their fellow citizens."-Sherman Day Thacher

Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Idyllwild Arts Academy is home to 280 students from over 30 countries and 27 US states, all devoted to intensive study of the arts. Named #1 High School for Arts in the nation by Niche in 2025.

Ojai Valley School Photo - OVS students enjoy time together on our two campuses in the Ojai Valley in Southern California. Throughout the year, student life is punctuated with fun events to balance the academic schedule. These include camping trips, socials, themed dress days, community service projects, and countless weekend excursions.

The Webb Schools Photo - "My favorite thing about Webb is all the friendships that you make throughout your time." Sakeena '27

Besant Hill School Photo - A spectacular view of the Topa Topa mountains from the common room in our Phoenix dorm. Students gather here for study sessions, snacks and social activities.

Historical Statistics Overview

This State (CA)

US (avg. per state)

# Schools

14 Schools

6.4 Schools

View Data

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools
Year	California (CA) Total	US Avg per State
2025	14	6.4
2024	14	6.2
2023	13	6
2022	13	5.9
2021	13	5.7
2020	13	5.4
2019	13	5.4
2018	12	5.2
2017	12	5.1
2016	12	4.9
2015	12	5

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# Students

4,356 Students

2,517 Students

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Trends in Total Number of Boarding School Students
Year	California (CA) Total	US Avg per State
2025	4,356	2,517
2024	3,702	2,453
2023	3,577	2,367
2022	3,531	2,384
2021	3,538	2,278
2020	3,612	2,144
2019	3,974	2,197
2018	3,657	2,146
2017	3,652	2,100
2016	3,648	1,980
2015	3,600	1,985

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Academics and Faculty

This State (CA)

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

7:1

8:1

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Trends in Average Student-Teacher Ratio
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	7	7.56
2024	7.07	7.42
2023	6.92	7.27
2022	6.77	7.24
2021	6.92	7.14
2020	6.85	7.1
2019	8.85	7.31
2018	7.08	7.25
2017	6.83	7.28
2016	6.83	7.25
2015	7	7.42

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% Faculty with Advanced Degree

74%

69%

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Trends in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	73.57%	68.79%
2024	73.57%	68.47%
2023	72.92%	68.7%
2022	73.62%	68.29%
2021	73.25%	67.41%
2020	72.58%	66.44%
2019	73%	65.37%
2018	72.5%	65.99%
2017	73.25%	65.94%
2016	69.92%	65.26%
2015	69.08%	64.84%

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Academic Programs

This State (CA)

Avg. AP Courses

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Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	26.83	21.79
2024	25.5	22.03
2023	22.45	21.94
2022	21.45	21.71
2021	21.15	21.96
2020	20.33	21.81
2019	19.92	21.32
2018	19.58	21.08
2017	19.67	20.87
2016	20.75	20.25
2015	20.67	20.27

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Avg. IB Courses

None reported

Avg. Class Size

View Data

Trends in Average Class Size
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	12.14	12.78
2024	11.93	12.77
2023	11.46	12.73
2022	12	12.61
2021	12	12.54
2020	11.69	12.41
2019	12	12.58
2018	12	12.7
2017	12.25	12.59
2016	12.17	12.57
2015	12.42	12.63

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Academic Performance

This State (CA)

Avg. SAT Score

1286

1271

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Trends in Average SAT Score
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	1286	1271
2024	1294	1274
2023	1341	1278
2022	1333	1276
2021	1322	1277
2020	1323	1273
2019	1325	1271
2018	1326	1273

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Avg. ACT Score

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Trends in Average ACT Score
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	28.14	27.06
2024	28.29	26.91
2023	29	26.99
2022	27.43	26.75
2021	27.13	26.65
2020	28	26.73
2019	27.88	26.53
2018	27.5	26.44
2017	27.5	26.15
2016	28.17	25.99
2015	26.5	25.73

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Avg. Acceptance Rate

46%

59%

View Data

Trends in Average Acceptance Rate
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	45.6%	58.56%
2024	49.18%	57.34%
2023	48.82%	56.69%
2022	47.73%	56.48%
2021	44.4%	55.89%
2020	44.2%	55.26%
2019	44%	54.55%
2018	44.27%	54.5%
2017	44.09%	54.34%
2016	43.91%	53.38%
2015	47.91%	53.67%

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Tuition and Finances

This State (CA)

Avg. Tuition (Boarding)

$75,078

$64,455

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Trends in Average Tuition Cost
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	$75,078	$64,455
2024	$72,516	$62,584
2023	$69,870	$60,415
2022	$64,164	$58,343
2021	$62,020	$57,017
2020	$60,785	$55,760
2019	$59,418	$54,186
2018	$56,979	$52,108
2017	$55,364	$50,594
2016	$54,152	$49,180
2015	$52,665	$47,708

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Avg. Tuition (Day)

$47,277

$38,004

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Trends in Average Day Student Tuition
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	$47,277	$38,004
2024	$45,110	$36,732
2023	$41,229	$35,848
2022	$36,823	$34,469
2021	$36,000	$34,614
2020	$35,241	$33,350
2019	$33,206	$31,555
2018	$32,923	$30,133
2017	$32,774	$29,344
2016	$33,204	$29,140
2015	$30,398	$28,042

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Avg. Tuition (International)

$70,210

$62,450

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Trends in Average International Student Tuition
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	$70,210	$62,450
2024	$67,440	$59,956
2023	$67,440	$57,872
2022	$61,266	$56,738
2021	$59,457	$54,097
2020	$63,897	$52,930
2019	$62,910	$51,250

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Avg. Financial Aid Rate

34%

42%

View Data

Trends in Average Financial Aid Rate
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	33.85%	41.95%
2024	34%	40.75%
2023	34%	40.83%
2022	34.08%	39.99%
2021	35.92%	40.06%
2020	35.42%	39.31%
2019	34.67%	38.46%
2018	34.08%	37.83%
2017	33.33%	36.82%
2016	33.55%	36.22%
2015	33.45%	35.64%

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Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$39,459

$27,075

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Trends in Average Financial Aid Grant
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	$39,459	$27,075
2024	$37,903	$26,722
2023	$36,819	$26,202
2022	$35,892	$26,183
2021	$34,882	$26,267
2020	$34,882	$26,166
2019	$33,185	$26,311
2018	$30,617	$25,365
2017	$29,137	$24,537
2016	$27,439	$23,339
2015	$25,545	$22,851

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Avg. Endowment

$53 MM

$84 MM

View Data

Trends in Average School Endowment
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	$53 million	$84 million
2024	$51 million	$83 million
2023	$50 million	$77 million
2022	$50 million	$73 million
2021	$44 million	$73 million
2020	$43 million	$67 million
2019	$38 million	$67 million
2018	$35 million	$72 million
2017	$35 million	$71 million
2016	$34 million	$68 million
2015	$32 million	$67 million

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Student Diversity

This State (CA)

% Students of Color

39%

30%

View Data

Trends in Average % Students of Color
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	39.08%	29.63%
2024	37.23%	29.4%
2023	37.75%	28.56%
2022	37%	27.27%
2021	34.17%	26.61%
2020	33%	25.85%
2019	33.75%	24.45%
2018	33.33%	23.62%
2017	31.17%	22.39%
2016	30.92%	21.58%
2015	26.55%	21.11%

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% International Students

25%

27%

View Data

Trends in Average % International Students
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	25.14%	26.71%
2024	25%	26.61%
2023	26.69%	26.33%
2022	27%	25.9%
2021	22.42%	25.04%
2020	22.67%	25.42%
2019	26.42%	25.64%
2018	25.75%	26.43%
2017	27.58%	26.69%
2016	28.17%	25.93%
2015	27.33%	25.38%

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% Boarding Students

66%

59%

View Data

Trends in Average % Boarding Students
Year	California (CA) Avg	National Avg
2025	66%	59.08%
2024	66%	60.19%
2023	70.15%	60.59%
2022	69.92%	61.19%
2021	69%	61.06%
2020	68.92%	61.8%
2019	69.58%	62.22%
2018	69.58%	62.39%
2017	69.92%	63.02%
2016	69.17%	63.39%
2015	69.33%	63.63%

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding schools are located in California?

There are 14 college-preparatory boarding schools located in California.

What is the average tuition cost of boarding school in California?

The average California boarding school tuition cost is $78,004 per year.

What is the oldest boarding school in California?

San Domenico School, founded in 1850, is the oldest boarding school in California.

What boarding school in California has the lowest acceptance rates?

The Webb Schools has the lowest boarding school acceptance rate (14%) in California.

What boarding school in California has the highest average SAT scores?

The Webb Schools has the highest average SAT scores (1520) in California.

Which boarding schools in California are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of boarding schools in California include: San Domenico School vs. Stevenson School, The Thacher School vs. Cate School, Woodside Priory School (Priory) vs. Stevenson School

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