Top California Boarding Schools

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Midland School Photo - Midland's 10-acre certified organic garden. It currently provides 80% of the produce that our community consumes in the dining hall.
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Midland School Photo - Midland's 10-acre certified organic garden. It currently provides 80% of the produce that our community consumes in the dining hall.
Monte Vista Christian School Photo - Mustang Gymnasium
San Domenico School Photo - The San Domenico Dance department offers an in depth training program in ballet, modern dance, jazz and choreography with professional master teachers and choreographers. The four-year program offers opportunities to explore dance from the beginning to the advanced level. Courses may include homework such as, journaling, book reports, field trips, performance critiques, resumes, biographies, grant proposals and choreography.
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
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.
Santa Catalina School Photo - Volleyball in the Gym
The Webb Schools Photo - Although community service hours are not required at Webb, many of our students voluntarily choose to participate in one or more of our numerous service activities. In the past few years, our students have traveled to Costa Rica, Thailand, Romania, Australia, Nepal, Fiji and three countries in Africa on service trips.
Amerigo Napa Valley Justin-Siena High School Photo - Amerigo Napa Valley partners with Justin-Siena High School to provide boarding students with a premier university-preparatory education.
Cate School Photo - Day Walk
Dunn School Photo - The STEM quad at Dunn, housing the math classrooms, tinker space, makers lab and more.
Southwestern Academy Photo - A unique learning environment
Oak Grove School Photo - Each year, seniors take a one-month trip to India, participating in Oak Grove's sister schools. Out students learn about themselves and their world, in part by being of service.
The Athenian School Photo - Athenian students
St. Catherine's Academy Photo - St. Catherine's recognizes the important role that athletics plays in the development of a well-rounded young man. Our physical education program and championship athletic teams seek to develop skills and capabilities that reach far beyond the athletic field.
American University Preparatory School Photo
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.
Excelsior School Photo - School is located in a historical 17-acre park like campus complete with cafeteria, library, and dormitory facilities.
Amerigo Los Angeles, Bishop Montgomery High School Photo - Students at Bishop Montgomery High School have access to an array of advanced-level courses, extracurriculars and athletics - all located just one mile away from the Pacific Ocean.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Photo
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo - Weekend activities are planned by both students and the Residential Faculty. These activities expose the students to various opportunities in and around the Bay Area. Past activities have included ski trips, rockclimbing, sea kayaking, surfing, museums, concerts, camping, shopping, movies, bowling, beach trips, and pro or college sports games.

Top California Boarding Schools (2018-19)

  • School Location Grades Students
  • American University Preparatory School
    American University Preparatory School Photo - AUP prepares students to be proficient in technological skills needed for the 21st century by requiring them to take Digital Media Arts and Computer Science courses. Our academic curriculum promotes digital fluency in and out of the classroom. Students build a digital portfolio with 2D/3D projects, video productions, computer generated animation artworks, and website/software designs.
    345 South Figueroa Street
    Los Angeles, CA 90071
    213-400-4585
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 40 students
  • Amerigo Los Angeles, Bishop Montgomery High School
    Amerigo Los Angeles, Bishop Montgomery High School Photo - Students at Bishop Montgomery High School have access to an array of advanced-level courses, extracurriculars and athletics - all located just one mile away from the Pacific Ocean.
    (Catholic)
    5430 Torrance Blvd
    Torrance, CA 90503

    Grades: 9-12 | n/a students
  • Amerigo Napa Valley Justin-Siena High School
    Amerigo Napa Valley Justin-Siena High School Photo - Over 80% of our students participate in Athletics. We have a certified Athletic Trainer on staff full-time to keep our students safe.
    (Catholic)
    4026 Maher St.
    Napa, CA 94558
    312-496-5533
    Grades: 9-12 | 580 students
  • Army and Navy Academy
    Army and Navy Academy Photo - Of course, one of the major highlights of the school year is graduation. Seniors proudly wear their formal uniforms, and prepare for life after ANA. As a college preparatory boarding school, our graduates go on to exciting endeavors at highly regarded colleges. Their leadership and academic experience at the Academy prepares them for success no matter where they go next.
    All-boys 
    (4)
    2605 Carlsbad Blvd.
    Carlsbad, CA 92008
    888-762-2338
    Grades: 7-12 | 320 students
  • The Athenian School
    The Athenian School Photo - Athenian students
    (1)
    2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd.
    Danville, CA 94506
    9253627223
    Grades: 9-12 | 6-12 (day) | 517 students
  • Besant Hill School
    Besant Hill School Photo - Besant Hill School is located in the Ojai Valley, on 500 acres of private land with beautiful vistas in every direction. Facilities include three dormitories, outdoor sports facilities including a new aquatics center, indoor theater, atelier, and classrooms nestled along winding paths and oak trees.
    (1)
    8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-646-4343
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 100 students
  • Cate School
    Cate School Photo - Sophomore English Class
    (14)
    1960 Cate Mesa Road, P.O. Box 5005
    Carpinteria, CA 93013
    8056844127
    Grades: 9-12 | 276 students
  • Dunn School
    Dunn School Photo - The STEM quad at Dunn, housing the math classrooms, tinker space, makers lab and more.
    P.O. Box 98, 2555 W. Highway 154
    Los Olivos, CA 93441
    800-287-9197
    Grades: 8-12 | 6-12 (day) | 249 students
  • Excelsior School
    Excelsior School Photo
    1539 E. Howard St.
    Pasadena, CA 91104
    626-398-2388
    Grades: 9-12 | 110 students
  • Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
    Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Photo
    All-girls  (Catholic)
    440 St. Katherine Dr.
    La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
    626-685-8521
    Grades: 9-12 | 401 students
  • Idyllwild Arts Academy
    Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Idyllwild Arts has five dormitories, each with their own unique culture. Students are housed two to a room, and most dorms feature en-suite bathrooms.
    (15)
    52500 Temecula Road
    Idyllwild, CA 92549
    19514687223
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 318 students
  • Midland School
    Midland School Photo - Backpacking into the Los Padres Wilderness. Our students take frequent trips on Midland's 2,860 acre property.
    (4)
    PO Box 8
    Los Olivos, CA 93441
    805-688-5114
    Grades: 9-12 | 89 students
  • Monte Vista Christian School
    Monte Vista Christian School Photo - Boys Dorm Room
    (1)
    2 School Way
    Watsonville, CA 95076
    831-768-6137
    Grades: 9-12 | 1000 students
  • Oak Grove School
    Oak Grove School Photo - Performing arts are a big part of campus life at Oak Grove School, with community-wide High School Showcases, and many opportunities to perform outside of the school.
    (1)
    220 West Lomita
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-646-8236
    Grades: 9-12 | Pre-K-12 (day) | 64 students
  • Ojai Valley School
    Ojai Valley School Photo - Surf's up! OVS students enjoy great Southern California weather and frequent excursions to the Pacific Ocean for early morning surf trips. The "Dawn Patrol" surf club welcomes beginners and experienced surfers alike, and they regularly paddle out from local surf spots.
    (1)
    723 El Paseo Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)646-1423
    Grades: 3-12 | Pre-K-12 (day) | 269 students
  • St. Andrew's Academy
    St. Andrew's Academy Photo - Cast shot for the St. Andrew's Film Club production of "The Ordeal of Young Tuppy," by P. G. Wodehouse
    (Anglican)
    (1)
    PO Box 3050, 198 Main St.
    Chester/Lake Almanor, CA 96020
    530-596-3343
    Grades: 6-12 | Pre-K-12 (day) | 13 students
  • St. Catherine's Academy
    St. Catherine's Academy Photo - Technology continues to grow, and St. Catherine's is committed to reflecting that in our educational program. Each classroom is equipped with a SmartBoard, and students can utilize personal computers through our traveling laptop cart. In addition, every student attends computer instruction in our new technology learning lab. Students learn basic computer and study skills and are instructed in the full suite of Microsoft programs most commonly required in college-prep high school classes.
    All-boys  (Catholic)
    215 N. Harbor Blvd.
    Anaheim, CA 92805
    714-772-1363
    Grades: 4-8 | K-8 (day) | 150 students
  • San Domenico School
    San Domenico School Photo - As members of the Bay Area Conference, we play teams from around the Bay Area and compete in a range of sports arranged seasonally, such as Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, and IEA Horseback Riding eventing.
    1500 Butterfield Road
    San Anselmo, CA 94960
    415-258-1905
    Grades: 9-12 | K-12 (day) | 680 students
  • Santa Catalina School
    Santa Catalina School Photo - Another Great Musical Production!
    All-girls  (Catholic)
    (1)
    1500 Mark Thomas Drive
    Monterey, CA 93940
    831-655-9356
    Grades: 9-12 | 244 students
  • Southwestern Academy
    Southwestern Academy Photo - A unique learning environment
    2800 Monterey Road
    San Marino, CA 91108

    Grades: 6-12, PG | 144 students
  • Squaw Valley Academy
    Squaw Valley Academy Photo - Students reside in adult-supervised dormitories with up to 3 other roommates. Rooms come furnished with beds, dressers/clothing storage, desks & chairs, in-room dormitory refrigerators, and individual combination hotel safes for students to store their valuables.
    235 Squaw Valley Road | P.O. Box 2667
    Olympic Valley, CA 96146
    530-583-9393
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 100 students
  • Stevenson School
    Stevenson School Photo - The Fine Arts department offers dance, music, drama, painting, ceramics, graphic design, and more. There are no limits to self-expression and developing your creative talents.
    (11)
    3152 Forest Lake Road
    Pebble Beach, CA 93953
    831-625-8309
    Grades: 9-12 | Pre-K-12 (day) | 750 students
  • The Thacher School
    The Thacher School Photo - Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before lunch, the community gathers outdoors for Assembly, a time reserved for announcements, presentations, and acknowledgements. The spontaneous spirit of Assembly usually becomes fodder for discussion later in the day.
    (25)
    5025 Thacher Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-640-3210
    Grades: 9-12 | 246 students
  • Villanova Preparatory School
    Villanova Preparatory School Photo - Villanova recognizes, first and foremost, the potential in every student and seeks to provide an environment that nurtures this potential.
    (Catholic)
    (1)
    12096 N. Ventura Ave
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-646-1464
    Grades: 9-12 | 260 students
  • The Webb Schools
    The Webb Schools Photo - Our Hefner Observatory houses a Celestron-14 telescope.
    (29)
    1175 West Baseline Road
    Claremont, CA 91711
    909-482-5214
    Grades: 9-12 | 410 students
  • Woodside Priory School (Priory)
    Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo - The Priory values arts in education as an expression of one's own humanity and an aspect of understanding all humanity. In concert with academic studies, learning about and doing arts is part of fully developing students' intelligence and potential.
    (Catholic)
    (2)
    302 Portola Road
    Portola Valley, CA 94028
    650-851-8223
    Grades: 9-12 | 6-12 (day) | 375 students
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