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.https://youtu.be/xKHH3RrSiBs.
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. . .
Top Rankings
All Schools Similar Size Schools
Besant Hill School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 302 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Student Attention Low student:teacher ratio
| Definition of Terms | 2021 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 | 300 students |
| % Students of Color | 13% | 25% |
| % International Students | 15% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 85% | 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. » 18 |
| 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 | No | Yes |
Tuition Cost
| Endowment Size | $2 million | $25 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $57,750 | $59,500 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $26,350 | $33,250 |
| Tuition international students | $64,155 | $54,500 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 25% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $20,500 (Apply at solutionsbysss.com) | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | Yes | No |
Acceptance Rate
| Application Deadline | Feb. 1 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | No | Yes |
| Acceptance Rate | 50% | 58% |
| 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 | 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 | |
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 | |
| 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)
Profile last updated: 09/08/2021
- Submit Review for Besant Hill School
Related Schools
Show me:
People that viewed Besant Hill School also viewed these schools: Idyllwild Arts Academy, Dunn School, Cate School, Stevenson School and The Thacher School.
- School Location Miles Grades Students
- Grades: 9-12, PG | 280 students 151.1 miles52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 468-7223151.19-12, PG280 - Grades: 9-12| 249 students 50.6 milesP.O. Box 98, 2555 W. Highway 154
6-12 (day)
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(800) 287-919750.69-12249
6-12 (day) - Grades: 9-12 | 300 students 13.7 miles1960 Cate Mesa Road, P.O. Box 5005
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-412713.79-12300 - Grades: 9-12| 500 students 211.9 miles3152 Forest Lake Road
Pre-K-12 (day)
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(831) 625-8300211.99-12500
Pre-K-12 (day) - Grades: 9-12 | 254 students 3.6 miles5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-32103.69-12254
Recent Articles
October 14, 2021
Thinking about making a major gift to your school? How about endowing a faculty chair? More here.
September 30, 2021
American boarding schools have always welcomed international students. Rigorous academic programs, extensive athletic programs, and a wide range of extracurricular activities attract students from all over the world.
September 27, 2021
Admissions to boarding school is a process with many components. The process can be confusing to parents dealing with boarding school admissions for the first time. We guide you through the process.
Featured Schools
