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Best California Boarding Schools (2023)

For the 2023 school year, there are 19 college-prep and junior boarding schools serving 4,474 students located throughout California.

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

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

Villanova Preparatory School Photo - Founded in 1924, Villanova Prep is the only Catholic boarding school in the Augustinian tradition. In this supportive environment, students are comfortable taking risks and learning more about themselves throughout their Villanova experience.

Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Krone Library is home to countless resources and study spaces for IAA students as well as the College Counseling Office. Our College Counseling staff work with our students throughout their time at the Academy, helping them prepare for the next step in their artistic journey.

Army and Navy Academy Photo

EF Academy Pasadena Photo - EF Academy is an international high school welcoming day and boarding students from over 60 nationalities. At this sunny Pasadena, California campus, students have the opportunity to become global changemakers and participate in EF Academy's signature Global Leadership Program.

Santa Catalina School Photo - Volleyball in the Gym

Lake Tahoe Preparatory School 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.

Cate School Photo - Day Walk

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.

The Webb Schools Photo - Although community service hours are not required at Webb, many of our students volunteer for one or more of our numerous service activities. Students have traveled to Costa Rica, Thailand, Romania, Australia, Nepal, Fiji and across Africa on service trips.

Stevenson School Photo - Outdoor Education: Afternoon surfing, day hikes, weekend camping trips, and an 11-day wilderness trek introduce students to the wilderness environment while emphasizing the development of a positive attitude toward challenging situations.

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.

Ojai Valley School Photo - OVS students enjoy time hanging out with friends on the 195-acre high school campus, located in a stunning canyon overlooking the Ojai Valley. Throughout the year, student life is punctuated with fun events to balance the academic schedule. These include camping trips, prom and other socials, themed dress days, community service projects, and countless weekend excursions.

The Thacher School Photo - In courses designed for intellectual and creative expansion, students and teachers meet in seminar circles, studios, and laboratories to create a learning environment that is vigorous and supportive, galvanizing and nurturing.

The Athenian School Photo

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

Villanova Preparatory School Photo - Founded in 1924, Villanova Prep is the only Catholic boarding school in the Augustinian tradition. In this supportive environment, students are comfortable taking risks and learning more about themselves throughout their Villanova experience.

Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Krone Library is home to countless resources and study spaces for IAA students as well as the College Counseling Office. Our College Counseling staff work with our students throughout their time at the Academy, helping them prepare for the next step in their artistic journey.

EF Academy Pasadena Photo - EF Academy is an international high school welcoming day and boarding students from over 60 nationalities. At this sunny Pasadena, California campus, students have the opportunity to become global changemakers and participate in EF Academy's signature Global Leadership Program.

Santa Catalina School Photo - Volleyball in the Gym

Lake Tahoe Preparatory School 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.

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.

The Webb Schools Photo - Although community service hours are not required at Webb, many of our students volunteer for one or more of our numerous service activities. Students have traveled to Costa Rica, Thailand, Romania, Australia, Nepal, Fiji and across Africa on service trips.

Stevenson School Photo - Outdoor Education: Afternoon surfing, day hikes, weekend camping trips, and an 11-day wilderness trek introduce students to the wilderness environment while emphasizing the development of a positive attitude toward challenging situations.

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.

Ojai Valley School Photo - OVS students enjoy time hanging out with friends on the 195-acre high school campus, located in a stunning canyon overlooking the Ojai Valley. Throughout the year, student life is punctuated with fun events to balance the academic schedule. These include camping trips, prom and other socials, themed dress days, community service projects, and countless weekend excursions.

The Thacher School Photo - In courses designed for intellectual and creative expansion, students and teachers meet in seminar circles, studios, and laboratories to create a learning environment that is vigorous and supportive, galvanizing and nurturing.

Top California Boarding Schools (2023)

School

Location

Grades

Students

Army and Navy Academy

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(4)

2605 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(888) 762-2338

Grades: 7-12

| 320 students

The Athenian School

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(1)

2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd.
Danville, CA 94506
(925) 362-7223

Grades: 9-12
6-12 (day)

| 535 students

Besant Hill School

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(1)

8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-4343

Grades: 9-12, PG

| 100 students

Cate School

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(19)

1960 Cate Mesa Road, P.O. Box 5005
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127

Grades: 9-12

| 300 students

Dunn School

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P.O. Box 98, 2555 W. Highway 154
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(800) 287-9197

Grades: 9-12
6-12 (day)

| 249 students

EF Academy Pasadena

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1539 E Howard St.
Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 507-9223

Grades: 9-12

| 150 students

Excelsior School

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41 W Santa Clara St.
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 623-6339

Grades: 9-12

| 110 students

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

(Catholic)

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440 N. St. Katherine Drive
La Canada, CA 91011
(626) 685-8521

Grades: 9-12

| n/a students

Idyllwild Arts Academy

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(19)

52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 468-7223

Grades: 9-12, PG

| 280 students

Lake Tahoe Preparatory School

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255 Olympic Valley Road | P.O. Box 2180
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(530) 583-8665

Grades: 9-12, PG

| 70 students

Midland School

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(4)

PO Box 8 / 5100 Figueroa Mountain Road
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-5114

Grades: 9-12

| 82 students

Ojai Valley School

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(2)

723 El Paseo Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-1423

Grades: 3-12
PK-12 (day)

| 275 students

St. Andrew's Academy

(Anglican)

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(4)

PO Box 3050, 159 Main St.
Chester/Lake Almanor, CA 96020
(530) 596-3343

Grades: 5-12, PG
Pre-K-12, PG (day)

| 16 students

Santa Catalina School

(Catholic)

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(1)

1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-9356

Grades: 9-12

| 230 students

Stevenson School

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(11)

3152 Forest Lake Road
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(831) 625-8309

Grades: 9-12
PK-12 (day)

| 523 students

The Thacher School

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(26)

5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210

Grades: 9-12

| 254 students

Villanova Preparatory School

(Catholic)

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(1)

12096 N. Ventura Ave
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-1464

Grades: 9-12

| 200 students

The Webb Schools

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(29)

1175 West Baseline Road
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214

Grades: 9-12

| 405 students

Woodside Priory School (Priory)

(Catholic)

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(2)

302 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-8223

Grades: 9-12
6-12 (day)

| 375 students

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