The Thacher School Photo #9 - "Come west. Breathe deep. Let these books and these hills and these horses be your teachers."-Sherman Day Thacher

The Thacher School

5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
previous
The Thacher School Photo #1 - 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.
next
The Thacher School Photo #1 - 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 Thacher School Photo #2 - "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
The Thacher School Photo #3 - Thacher's 427 acres sit at the foot of the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California's idyllic Ojai Valley. Here, members of the girls' varsity soccer team stretch before an afternoon practice.
The Thacher School Photo #4 - Team sport offerings include football, volleyball, cross-country, tennis, basketball, soccer, track and field, lacrosse, and baseball. Students can also choose to participate in yoga, dance, rock climbing, and riding.
The Thacher School Photo #5 - Twice a year, the entire school packs up and heads into the wilderness for a week of adventure, challenge, and bonding. Leaders offer a variety of trips focusing on activities such as backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, and sailing.
The Thacher School Photo #6 - 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.
The Thacher School Photo #7 - State-of-the-art dormitories incorporate as much of Thacher's beautiful outdoor space as possible.
The Thacher School Photo #8 - Though most new students have had little or no experience with horses, each ninth grader spends the first year learning to care for and ride a horse. A long-standing tradition and central part of a Thacher education, the program teaches responsibility, problem solving, and grit in addition to riding skills and rewards participants with heightened self-confidence and awareness.
The Thacher School Photo #9 - The Milligan Center for Performing Arts, a 450-seat auditorium, hosts three major stage productions each year as well as multiple performances by the dance ensemble, jazz band, Chamber Singers, and string orchestra. Thacher's vibrant studio art program offers courses in two and three-dimensional art, photography, ceramics, and wood design.
The Thacher School Photo #10 - "Come west. Breathe deep. Let these books and these hills and these horses be your teachers."-Sherman Day Thacher
Founded in 1889, The Thacher School is a coeducational boarding high school located 85 miles north of Los Angeles, California.
The School serves academically talented students who will benefit from a rigorous college preparatory experience.
The faculty and students live and work closely together in a community in which cooperation, trust, honesty, and respect are the cornerstones of school life.
Together, we commit to the belief that demands in the academic classroom, when combined with those of mountains and horses, of sports and the arts, produce independent minds, strong bodies, and powerful character.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 255 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,880
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $63,080
  • Acceptance rate: 15%
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Thacher School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
The Thacher School
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
8-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1889
1906
Campus Size
427 acres
125 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
255 students
315 students
% Students of Color
55%
26%
% International Students
12%
20%
% Students Boarding
93%
70%
Average SAT Score
1358
(Out of 1600)
* National Avg. »View
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1260 - 1510
-
Average ACT score
31
(Out of 36)
*National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Average Class Size
11 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student : Teacher Ratio
6:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
72%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size
$206 million
(June 2021)
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$77,880
$66,250
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$63,080
$35,600
% Students on Financial Aid
31%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$65,750
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline
Jan. 15
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
94%
-
Acceptance Rate
15%
60%
Director of Admissions
Bill McMahon

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
18
Courses
Advanced Biology, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Economics, Advanced Environmental Science, Advanced Physics Astronomy Based, Advanced Psychology, Astronomy Research, Computer Science, Data Science and Robotics H, English IV Honors, Honors Contemporary Ethical Issues, Introduction to Programming

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
30
23
Extracurriculars
Prefects, Quilting, Sir Winston Churchill Debating Society, Spanish Club

Club or Organization:
Amnesty International Club, Astronomy Club, Black Student Union, Cheese Club, Christian Fellowship Club, Community Service Club, Crochet Club, Emotional Health Task Force, Environmental Action Committee, Indoor, International Students at Thacher, Jewish Student Union, Latinos Unidos, Literary Society, Multi-ethnic Student Union, Peer Tutoring, Robotics Club, Spectrum, Thacher Asian Students Society, The Notes, United Cultures of Thacher

Arts and Music Programs:
Chamber, Thacher Masquers

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Fitness/Challenge Fitness, Ski Club, Thacher Pack & Spur Club

College Matriculation

Year: 2018 - 2022
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
Colorado College
15
University of Southern California
14
Dartmouth College
13
Stanford University
13
Claremont McKenna College
12
Harvard University
10
University of Pennsylvania
10
University of Virginia
10
Wake Forest University
10
University of Chicago
9

School Notes

  • Founded in 1889, The Thacher School is a coeducational boarding high school located 85 miles north of Los Angeles, California. The School serves academically talented students who will benefit from a rigorous college preparatory experience. The faculty and students live and work closely together in a community in which cooperation, trust, honesty, and respect are the cornerstones of school life. Together, we commit to the belief that demands in the academic classroom, when combined with those of mountains and horses, of sports and the arts, produce independent minds, strong bodies, and powerful character.
  • The Thacher School accreditations: TABS, NAIS, WBSA, SSATB
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Thacher School cost?
The Thacher School's tuition is approximately $77,880 for boarding students and $63,080 for day students.
What schools are The Thacher School often compared to?
The Thacher Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Cate School by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of The Thacher School?
The acceptance rate of The Thacher School is 15%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 60%. The Thacher School's acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.
What sports does The Thacher School offer?
The Thacher School offers 19 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cycling, Dance, Equestrian, Football, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Riding, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Surf Team, Tennis, Track, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is The Thacher School's ranking?
When is the application deadline for The Thacher School?
The application deadline for The Thacher School is Jan. 15.

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2017
5.00
Yale
Thacher's community on campus is unlike any other, connections at the school go beyond merely knowing every student's name but having had interacted closely with everyone whether on a camping trip, in the dining hall. . .

Class of 2017
5.00
Yale University
You cannot mention Thacher without talking about the horse program; each freshman is required to take care of and ride a horse for the first year of high school. I rode all four years and. . .

Class of 2016
5.00
Dartmouth College
One thing that makes Thacher unique are the opportunities to form close, meaningful relationships with teachers and its commitment to helping students grow personally as well as academically. Whether it's out in the Domelands wilderness. . .
Show more reviews (23 reviews)
Submit Review for The Thacher School
Earn $20 by submitting your alumni review!

Recent Articles

Boarding School Myths
Boarding School Myths
This article debunks common myths about boarding schools, addressing misconceptions about wealth requirements, diversity, student life, school types, and family communication. It provides valuable insights for families considering boarding school education and highlights the modern realities of these institutions.
A Partnership of Three
A Partnership of Three
This article explores the three-way partnership between the school, parents, and students in boarding school education. It outlines the obligations and responsibilities of each party, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and commitment to ensure a successful boarding school experience.
Admissions Checklist For Boarding School Applicants
Admissions Checklist For Boarding School Applicants
This comprehensive guide provides a detailed checklist for boarding school applicants, covering key aspects of the admissions process such as testing, recommendations, interviews, and financial aid. It also includes additional information for international students applying to U.S. boarding schools.

Featured Schools

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 255 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $77,880
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $63,080
  • Acceptance rate: 15%
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15
  • Source: Verified school update

Request Information

Quick Links