For the 2026 school year, there are 16 college-prep and junior boarding schools serving 4,982 students located throughout California.
You can also browse our full boarding school directory or specify additional search criteria.
Best California Boarding Schools (2026)
Top California Boarding Schools (2026)
Gr: 7-12 | 275 students
Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
Avg. class size: 15 students
Acceptance rate: 73%
Tuition listed
All-boys (secular)
2605 Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(888) 762-2338
Gr: 9-12 | 6-12 (day) | 535 students
Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Avg. class size: 15 students
Tuition listed
2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd.
Danville, CA 94506
(925) 362-7223
Gr: 9-12, PG | 100 students
Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
Avg. class size: 8 students
Acceptance rate: 50%
Tuition listed
non-sectarian
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-4343
Gr: 9-12 | 311 students
Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Avg. class size: 10 students
Acceptance rate: 17%
Tuition listed
1960 Cate Mesa Road, P.O. Box 5005
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Gr: 9-12 | 6-12 (day) | 249 students
Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Avg. class size: 10 students
Acceptance rate: 45%
Tuition listed
P.O. Box 98, 2555 W. Highway 154
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(800) 287-9197
Gr: 9-12 | 265 students
Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
Avg. class size: 13 students
Acceptance rate: 85%
Tuition listed
1505 E Howard St.
Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 507-9223
Idyllwild, CA
Gr: 9-12, PG | 320 students
Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Avg. class size: 12 students
Acceptance rate: 65%
Tuition listed
52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 468-7223
Gr: 9-12, PG | 70 students
Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
Avg. class size: 7 students
Acceptance rate: 80%
Tuition listed
255 Olympic Valley Road | P.O. Box 2180
Olympic Valley, CA 96146
(245) 582-8690
Los Olivos, CA
Gr: 9-12 | 82 students
Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
Avg. class size: 10 students
Acceptance rate: 40%
Tuition listed
PO Box 8 / 5100 Figueroa Mountain Road
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-5114
Ojai, CA
Gr: 3-12 | PK-12 (day) | 300 students
Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
Avg. class size: 12 students
Acceptance rate: 64%
Tuition listed
723 El Paseo Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-1423
San Anselmo, CA
Gr: 9-12 | K-12 (day) | 680 students
Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
Avg. class size: 18 students
Tuition listed
1500 Butterfield Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 258-1990
Gr: 9-12 | 200 students
Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
Avg. class size: 11 students
Tuition listed
All-girls (Catholic)
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-9356
Gr: 9-12 | PK-12 (day) | 510 students
Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Avg. class size: 12 students
Tuition listed
3152 Forest Lake Road
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(831) 625-8309
Gr: 9-12 | 255 students
Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
Avg. class size: 11 students
Acceptance rate: 16%
Tuition listed
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Gr: 9-12 | 405 students
Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
Avg. class size: 14 students
Acceptance rate: 17%
Tuition listed
1175 West Baseline Road
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214
Gr: 9-12 | 6-12 (day) | 425 students
Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
Avg. class size: 13 students
Acceptance rate: 30%
Tuition listed
Catholic
302 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-8223
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 $76,270 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 (16%) 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?
Popular comparisons of boarding schools in California include: The Thacher School vs. Cate School, Woodside Priory School (Priory) vs. Stevenson School, The Webb Schools vs. Cate School
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Quick Facts (2026)
- # Boarding Schools: 16
- # Students Served: 4,982
- Average Tuition: $76,270
- Average Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Average Class Size: 12 students
- % Students Boarding: 65%
- % International Students: 23%
- % Students of Color: 39%
- % Students on Financial Aid: 34%
- Average SAT Score: 1,286
- % Faculty w/Advanced Degree: 73%
Featured Schools
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- Boarding school directory (282)
- All-girls boarding schools (22)
- All-boys boarding schools (31)
- Military boarding schools (16)
- LD boarding schools (164)
- Junior boarding schools (116)
- Arts boarding schools (4)
- Summer boarding programs (220)
- Dual language immersion programs (19)
- Schools with openings for Fall 2026
