Top California Boarding Schools

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American University Preparatory School Photo
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American University Preparatory School Photo
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.
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.
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.
Squaw Valley Academy 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.
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.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Photo
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.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Idyllwild Arts Academy is home to 310 students from 35 countries and 26 US states, all devoted to intensive study of the arts. Located 2 hours from Los Angeles, 2 hours from San Diego, and 1 hour from Palm Springs, the Academy is an artistic crossroads for Southern California.
Santa Catalina School Photo - Volleyball in the Gym
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
St. Andrew's Academy Photo - Students and intern in Trafalgar Square
Dunn School Photo - The STEM quad at Dunn, housing the math classrooms, tinker space, makers lab and more.
Monte Vista Christian School Photo - Mustang Gymnasium
Southwestern Academy Photo - A unique learning environment
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.
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.
Besant Hill School Photo - Art class in our beautiful atelier. Visual arts courses include film, photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, printing, and more. Students benefit from field trips to local art galleries and museums in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
River View Christian Academy Photo - The beautiful campus in Northern California.
Villanova Preparatory School Photo - Founded in 1924, Villanova Prep is the only Catholic boarding school in the Augustinian tradition. In this supportive environment steeped in Catholic values, students are comfortable taking risks and learning more about themselves throughout their Villanova experience.

Top California Boarding Schools (2018-19)

  • School Location Grades Students
  • American University Preparatory School
    American University Preparatory School Photo - AUP is a mosaic of students in a variety of racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. Within our rich community of ethnic cultures, AUP strengthens the co-curricular offerings with partnerships that broaden students` experience.
    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 - Community is important. Our students have many opportunities to build community through service, retreats, homecoming, sports, clubs, and activities.
    (Catholic)
    4026 Maher St.
    Napa, CA 94558
    312-416-1955
    Grades: 9-12 | 580 students
  • Amerigo San Diego Mater Dei Catholic High School
    (Catholic)
    1615 Mater Dei Drive
    Chula Vista, CA 91913
    312-416-1955
    Grades: 9-12 | 869 students
  • Army and Navy Academy
    Army and Navy Academy Photo - Leadership and character education make military schools unique. Our students learn important skills such as teamwork, communication, and self-confidence that prepare them for leadership roles throughout the rest of their lives. Many of our students have gone on to become leaders in business, government, medicine, law, and the military thanks to the lessons learned here.
    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 - Community is strengthened through group projects, trips, and all-school councils.
    (1)
    8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-646-4343
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 100 students
  • Cate School
    Cate School Photo - College Day
    (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 - Students with Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, after presiding over a Liturgy.
    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 - The Music Department offers concentrations in Classical Music, Voice and Piano; Jazz Music, Voice and Piano; and Songwriting. Our curriculum combines performance opportunities with music academics and private lessons with some of the top musicians in Southern California.
    (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 - Girls 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 - Ojai Valley School offers students in grades 3-12 the ability to live and learn alongside peers from around the world. Residents participate in a vibrant community of motivated students and develop friendships that last a lifetime. Just ask our alumni. Many of their closest friendships began in the OVS dorms or were developed on camping trips or sports teams.
    (1)
    723 El Paseo Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)646-1423
    Grades: 3-12 | Pre-K-12 (day) | 269 students
  • River View Christian Academy
    River View Christian Academy Photo - The beautiful campus in Northern California.
    All-girls  (Christian)
    31500 Grape St. #326
    Lake Elsinore, CA 92532
    1-800-494-2200
    Grades: 7-12, PG | 40 students
  • St. Andrew's Academy
    St. Andrew's Academy Photo - Choral Summer Camp choristers with faculty
    (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 - With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students can receive personal attention and specialized instruction.
    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 - A Catalina Classroom
    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 - Stevenson has a remarkable athletics culture that balances good sportsmanship, competitiveness, and camaraderie.
    (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 - "Come west. Breathe deep. Let these books and these hills and these horses be your teachers." -Sherman Day Thacher
    (25)
    5025 Thacher Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-640-3210
    Grades: 9-12 | 246 students
  • Villanova Preparatory School
    Villanova Preparatory School Photo - Villanova offers 15 varsity sports and over 20 clubs and student organizations that offer leadership opportunities. Associated Student Body (ASB) helps plan several activities such as dances, pep rallies, movie nights, themed-events and more.
    (Catholic)
    (1)
    12096 N. Ventura Ave
    Ojai, CA 93023
    805-646-1464
    Grades: 9-12 | 260 students
  • The Webb Schools
    The Webb Schools Photo - Located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, our campus setting provides easy access to hiking, snorkeling, rock climbing and other outdoor adventures.
    (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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