Besant Hill School
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.
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- CU Boulder 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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Besant Hill School is listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 305 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Student Attention Low student:teacher ratio
| Definition of Terms | 2020 School Data | Besant Hill School | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | Pre-prof. Arts / College-prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered | 9-12, PG | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| ADD/ADHD Support | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Learning Differences (LD) | Yes | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1946 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 520 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 100 students | 306 students |
| % Students of Color | 13% | 25% |
| % International Students | 25% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 88% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | n/a | * National Avg. »View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | Yes | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual (Respectful and Appropriate) | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 10 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 4:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 12 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 70% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Summer Program Details | Link to Summer Program Details | |
Finances
| Endowment Size | $2 million | $23 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $55,000 | $58,935 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $25,095 | $32,900 |
| Tuition international students | $61,100 | $53,975 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 25% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $20,500 (Apply at solutionsbysss.com) | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | Yes | No |
Admission
| Application Deadline | Feb. 1 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | No | Yes |
| Acceptance Rate | 50% | 57% |
| Director of Admissions | Alex Spence | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Terra Furguiel | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 12 | 18 |
| 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 | 14 | 16 |
| Sports | Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Cross Country Running, Dance, Golf, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Surf Team, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 27 | 24 |
| 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 | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2011 - 2016 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | 4 | |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 3 | |
| Cal State Poly Pomona | 2 | |
| California Polytechnic State University | 2 | |
| Evergreen State College | 2 | |
| Michigan State University | 2 | |
| Otis College of Art and Design | 2 | |
| School of the Arts Institute of Chicago | 2 | |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 2 | |
| University of Southern California | 2 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
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.
- LD types supported: Dyslexia / Language-based and Mild Learning Differences
- 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)
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