Read more details about Cate School on their 2025 profile page.
Reflections and Advice:
1.) What do you think makes your school unique relative to other boarding schools?
The campus is located a few miles from the Pacific Ocean on a master with a spectacular view. The sports facilities and fields are excellent. The arts program is very good, including photography.
2.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school?
Can you provide me with a first class-education and instilled a love of learning and sense of curiosity. I also made good friends there. I feel fortunate to have been able to attend.
4.) What did you like most about your school?
I also made good friends there. I feel fortunate to have been able to attend.
5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students to your school?
Just walk around the campus on your visit and I guarantee you will be impressed with the beauty of the location.
Academics:
1.) Describe the academics at your school - what did you like most about it?
We had a great interaction with our teachers, who were very enthusiastic and interested in having deep discussions about their fields of study. The school stresses writing skills, which have served me well in my career. The class sizes are small. It is not a competitive environment but rather one in which the students often work together on projects
Athletics:
1.) Describe the athletics at your school - what did you like most about it?
Athletics are mandatory, and there are many options, including soccer, basketball, football, surfing, and baseball. The school has a relatively new gym to complement its older beautiful wooden gym which was a bit small. Key is part of the "Condor League", which consists of small boarding schools in the general area.
Art, Music, and Theatre:
1.) Describe the arts program at your school - what did you like most about it?
There are many options in the arts program, including painting, photography, music, and theater.
Extracurricular Opportunities:
1.) Describe the extracurriculars offered at your school - what did you like most about it?
Cate stresses volunteering, and there are many opportunities to do so in the local community as well as in foreign countries during the summer.
Dorm Life:
1.) Describe the dorm life in your school - what did you like most about it?
The doors have a beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, with the book-worthy sunset nearly every evening. Most of the rooms are singles, although they are not very large.
Dining:
1.) Describe the dining arrangements at your school.
The dining hall is in a beautiful setting with ocean views. The food is good and varied. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Social and Town Life:
1.) Describe the school's town and surrounding area.
Cate is in a small coastal town called Carpenteria, which is just south of Montecito in Santa Barbara. You're a great beaches and surfing spots in the area.
2.) Describe the social life at your school - what did you like most about it?
You make friends for life at Cate, and there's always some activity going on to entertain you.
Read more details about Cate School on their 2025 profile page.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Cate is a smaller boarding school and has a very much community bubble. This is a west coast boarding school so people are more liberal and open to alternative teaching. They also emphasize outdoor learning. . .
One aspect of Cate School that I think makes it unique is its campus. When I was doing my research for what kind of boarding school, I wanted to apply to, there were a few. . .
Cate is one of the unique places you could ever imagine. High up on a mesa with an ocean view surrounded by hundreds of acres of avocado trees, a utopian little community exists and thrives. . .
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