Private schools are as varied as the students who walk their halls. They're also an investment. As you embark on your search, remember that there's no such thing as the "best" private school — there's only the best one for you.
Here are some top private schools in California:
Squaw Valley Academy
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Olympic Valley, California
A college-preparatory, coeducational and international boarding school, Squaw Valley Academy (SVA) at Lake Tahoe, California, enrolls students in grades 6-12. With 95 percent boarders and a few day students in a small student body of 80 students, SVA provides a supportive, disciplined structure for its challenging, rigorous academics. Combining passionate teachers with small classes, evening study halls, athletics, and enriching extracurricular activities results in a 100 percent college acceptance rate. Many teachers have advanced degrees. The student-faculty ratio of 6:1 affords all students the personal attention they need.
The academy's staff and faculty know that true self-esteem is earned, not bestowed, requiring students to excel in all academic, athletic, and social aspects of boarding school. Students are required to participate in the outdoor education program, which takes the math, science, and humanities curricula outside the classroom. Founded in 1978, the academy is committed to meeting the individual needs of each and every student. Helping young minds on the journey from inquisitive adolescence to responsible adulthood will always be an integral part of the Squaw Valley Academy mission...
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Idyllwild Arts Academy
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Idyllwild, California
Idyllwild Arts Academy is a boarding and day school located 5,300 feet up in the mountains above Palm Springs in the San Bernardino National Forest. The location places the academy a mere two hours from Los Angeles, a somewhat longer trip from San Diego, and within an hour from Palm Springs. Idyllwild does not have open houses, and prospective students and parents may visit at their convenience. However, the academy does hold National Audition Tours for the different majors.
Idyllwild specializes by offering a disciplined college preparatory program for grades 9 to 12 and post-graduates, one that focuses on arts with world-class training in creative writing, dance, film, video, interdisciplinary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. An audition or portfolio is required for admission. IAA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and students enter such top programs as Juilliard, USC, New York University (Tisch), the Boston Conservatory, San Francisco Art Institute, Curtis Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Eastman, and Stanford University...
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Besant Hill School - Ojai, California
Besant Hill School is a coeducational boarding and day college-preparatory and arts school that primarily serves students with learning disabilities, individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder, and dyslexic students.
The school sits on a 500-acre campus in a small town that borders Los Padres National Forest. Total enrollment is about 100 students, and all are in grades 9-12. 80% of the students are boarding students, while the remaining 20% are day students.
The student to teacher ratio at Besant Hill School is 4:1, and the average class size is 10 students. 22 of the 25 teachers reside on campus, and 13 have advanced degrees.
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