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

Best California Boarding Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 16 college-prep and junior boarding schools serving 4,989 students located throughout California.

Top California Boarding Schools (2025)

School
Location
Grades
Students
Army and Navy Academy
Army and Navy Academy Photo
(4)
2605 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(888) 762-2338
Grades: 7-12
| 320 students
The Athenian School
The Athenian School Photo
(1)
2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd.
Danville, CA 94506
(925) 362-7223
Grades: 9-12
6-12 (day)
| 525 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 four dormitories, outdoor sports facilities including a new aquatic center, indoor theater, atelier, and classrooms nestled along winding paths and oak trees. We also have an eight acre organic farm.
(1)
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-4343
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 100 students
Cate School
Cate School Photo - Day Walk
(19)
1960 Cate Mesa Road, P.O. Box 5005
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Grades: 9-12
| 300 students
Dunn School
Dunn School Photo - In 2020 the new Leadership Center was completed. Overlooking the open space known as Munger Common, the center provides state of the art meeting rooms and learning facilities, is home to the student-run Earwig Cafe, and hosts our college counseling team. Students can be found gathering both indoors and outside the center for conversation and relaxation.
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
EF Academy Pasadena Photo - Hands-on learning encourages our students to make their own discoveries. Calculate velocity in the real world by measuring the speed of a baseball!
1505 E Howard St.
Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 507-9223
Grades: 9-12
| 265 students
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Idyllwild Arts Academy is home to 280 students from 30 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.
(23)
52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 468-7223
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 280 students
255 Olympic Valley Road | P.O. Box 2180
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(245) 582-8690
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 70 students
Midland School
(4)
PO Box 8 / 5100 Figueroa Mountain Road
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-5114
Grades: 9-12
| 82 students
Ojai Valley School
Ojai Valley School Photo - OVS offers an exceptional college-prep program. Recent college acceptances for our students include Stanford, Columbia, Northeastern, NYU, Boston College, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Pitzer College, Smith College, Vassar College, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and many more.
(2)
723 El Paseo Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-1423
Grades: 3-12
PK-12 (day)
| 323 students
San Domenico School
1500 Butterfield Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 258-1990
Grades: 9-12
K-12 (day)
| 680 students
Santa Catalina School
Santa Catalina School Photo - Come visit our beautiful campus in Monterey, California! Call the admission office at 831.655.9356 or email admission@santacatalina.org to schedule your visit.
(Catholic)
(1)
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-9356
Grades: 9-12
| 200 students
Stevenson School
Stevenson School Photo
(11)
3152 Forest Lake Road
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(831) 625-8309
Grades: 9-12
PK-12 (day)
| 510 students
The Thacher School
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.
(26)
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Grades: 9-12
| 255 students
The Webb Schools
The Webb Schools Photo - Welcome to Webb!
(29)
1175 West Baseline Road
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214
Grades: 9-12
| 405 students
Woodside Priory School (Priory)
Woodside Priory School (Priory) Photo - School spirit is huge at Priory. More than 30 club and activity choices are available to High School students. Clubs provide opportunities to discover passions, develop strengths, apply academic knowledge in a practical way, develop self-knowledge, and learn to make the choices necessary to manage a busy schedule independently.
(Catholic)
(2)
302 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-8223
Grades: 9-12
6-12 (day)
| 425 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding schools are located in California?
There are 16 college-preparatory boarding schools located in California.
What is the average tuition cost of boarding school in California?
The average California boarding school tuition cost is $73,446 per year.
What is the oldest boarding school in California?
San Domenico School, founded in 1850, is the oldest boarding school in California.
What boarding school in California has the lowest acceptance rates?
The Thacher School has the lowest boarding school acceptance rate (15%) in California.
What boarding school in California has the highest average SAT scores?
The Webb Schools has the highest average SAT scores (1510) in California.
Which boarding schools in California are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

How To Pay For Boarding School
How To Pay For Boarding School
Because paying for boarding school involves so much money, it makes sense to look at all the options available to you.
Boarding School Admissions: International Students
Boarding School Admissions: International Students
A comprehensive guide for international students and their families on navigating the admissions process for American boarding schools, covering benefits, application tips, visa requirements, and preparation for boarding school life.
Parents' Concerns about Sending Their Child to Boarding School
Parents' Concerns about Sending Their Child to Boarding School
Explore the comprehensive world of American boarding schools, from academic excellence to holistic development. This in-depth guide covers key concerns for parents, including financial considerations, safety, and specialized programs, providing essential insights for families considering this transformative educational experience.

Featured Schools

Featured Schools

Quick Links