Founded in 1946 by Annie Besant, Aldous Huxley, J Krishnamurti, Guido Ferrando, Robert Logan, Louis Zalk and Rosalind Rajagopal on 520 acres in the resort town of Ojai, California this boarding school community offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with a cornerstone on creative expression, sustainability and divergent thinking.
Besant Hill offers 20+ art electives, competitive and noncompetative athletics, travel and experiential education programs, small classes and a 4:1 student teacher ratio.https://youtu.be/xKHH3RrSiBs.
Quick Stats (2023)
- Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
- Enrollment: 100 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $64,275
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $29,295
- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Average class size: 8 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Besant Hill School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 296 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Student Attention
School Overview
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1946
1906
Campus Size
520 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
100 students
315 students
% Students of Color
13%
25%
% International Students
15%
20%
% Students Boarding
85%
69%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
4:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
12
17
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
70%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$2 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$64,275
$62,000
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$29,295
$35,070
Tuition international students
$71,400
$55,000
% Students on Financial Aid
25%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$20,500
(Apply at solutionsbysss.com)
(Apply at solutionsbysss.com)
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Feb. 1 / rolling
Jan. 15
Acceptance Rate
50%
58%
Director of Admissions
Tracy How
Associate Director of Admissions
Terra Furguiel
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
12
17
Courses
Advanced Environmental Studies, Advanced Studio Art, Algebra II Honors, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Economics, AP English, AP Environmental Science, AP Government, AP Human Geography, AP Physics, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, AP US History, Honors English
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
13
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
27
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Cooking Club, Environmental Sustainability, Film Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Acting, Art Club, Ceramics Club, Choir, Dance Activity, Dance Club, Digital Art, Language Enhancement, Playwriting Club, Prefects (Senior Student Leaders), SAGE- Students Affirming Gender Equality, STEM, Studio, Theater, Voice
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Crossfit, Outdoor Education, Peer Writing Center, Sandy Hook Promise, Surfing, Swimming, Weight, Weight Lifting, Yoga
Cooking Club, Environmental Sustainability, Film Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Acting, Art Club, Ceramics Club, Choir, Dance Activity, Dance Club, Digital Art, Language Enhancement, Playwriting Club, Prefects (Senior Student Leaders), SAGE- Students Affirming Gender Equality, STEM, Studio, Theater, Voice
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Crossfit, Outdoor Education, Peer Writing Center, Sandy Hook Promise, Surfing, Swimming, Weight, Weight Lifting, Yoga
College Matriculation
Year: 2016 - 2021
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Lewis & Clark College
4
San Diego State University
4
Sarah Lawrence College
4
University of California, San Diego
4
University of California, Santa Cruz
4
University of Washington
4
Emerson College
3
New York University
3
University of California, Berkeley
3
University of Redlands
3
School Notes
- As a community, our goal is to cultivate what is excellent in each student. Besant Hill School provides a small intimate learning environment where students are able to fully explore and express both their intellectual and creative abilities. With small classes, positive student/teacher relationships, and a quiet, rural location, we provide a safe and peaceful atmosphere for learning, study, contemplation, and self-expression. The mission of Besant Hill School is the development of each individual's intellectual and artistic abilities. Through awakening the spirit of inquiry, we encourage each student to pursue integrity and excellence. Our non-competitive community builds honesty, respect, compassion and responsibility. Our goal is to develop a lifelong habit of learning as embodied in our school's motto Aun Aprendo, I am still learning.
- Besant Hill 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)
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Besant Hill School cost?
Besant Hill School's tuition is approximately $64,275 for boarding students and $29,295 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Besant Hill School?
The acceptance rate of Besant Hill School is 50%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%.
What sports does Besant Hill School offer?
Besant Hill School offers 13 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country Running, Dance, Golf, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Surf Team, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball.
What is Besant Hill School's ranking?
Besant Hill School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Small average class sizes and Low student:teacher ratio.
When is the application deadline for Besant Hill School?
The application deadline for Besant Hill School is Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
The sense of community at Besant hill is truly unique. I almost never felt homesick because I always felt at home. My teachers became my best friends, and my best friends became my brothers and. . .
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The nearest boarding school to Besant Hill School is Ojai Valley School (0.9 miles away)
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