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Boarding schools in State of California

Current page last update date: 2025-09-03
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Boarding schools in California are unique educational institutions that combine tuition and accommodation for children. Such schools offer a full package of services, including not only academic programs, but also extracurricular activities, sports sections, cultural programs, and much more.

The location of California boarding schools in picturesque places, often near the mountains or the ocean, creates a special atmosphere for learning and personal development. The characteristics of boarding schools in California include a high level of education that meets the most stringent international standards, and many basic "norms" and far exceed. The teaching staff consists of highly qualified specialists who actively use modern teaching methods.

California boarding schools offer a wide range of programs of study, ranging from general education to specialized programs such as business schools or art schools. Boarding schools in California will be an excellent choice for those who seek to get a quality education and develop their personality in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere.

Types of California Boarding Schools

There are different types of boarding schools in California that offer a wide range of educational programs and accommodations.

  • Traditional: usually offer a full cycle of education, from elementary school to high school. They provide students with everything they need to live and learn on campus, including housing, meals, and extracurricular activities.
  • Specialized: focus on specific areas of knowledge, such as science, art, or sports. They offer special programs and resources to develop students' talents and abilities in their chosen field, such as training professional-level athletes.
  • International: Attract students from all over the world and offer English-language study programs, provide opportunities for cultural exchange and international cooperation.
  • Private: offer high-quality education and comfortable accommodation. They often have stricter admission requirements, but offer higher academic standards.
  • Religious: Offer programs of study based on religious principles. Often, admission to such schools is only possible for locals who support the religion established by the school, and even requires a recommendation from the local priest. However, more and more religious schools are moving away from strict canons and offer secular education based on traditional commandments and values, without mandatory worship and other things.

Each type of boarding school in California has its own unique features and benefits, so the choice depends on the individual needs and interests of the student and their family.

Examples of the Best Boarding Schools in the State of California

  • Webb Boarding Schools,
  • Justin-Siena High School,
  • The Thacher School,
  • EF Academy Pasadena,
  • Amerigo Los Angeles — Bishop Montgomery High School.

Benefits of California Boarding Schools

  • Respected, prestigious American education: Residential schools in the state of California have well-equipped grounds, inspiring environments, qualified teachers and active extracurricular activities. Their diplomas are highly valued, and their names are known both in the United States and around the world.
  • Further access to universities with global influence: boarding school graduates often go on to well-known institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton.
  • A variety of educational programs and certificates: training is conducted according to international standards, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), and the American Diploma of Secondary Education (Honors, AP). These certificates are highly valued by university admissions committees because they ensure that the student is prepared for a challenging curriculum.
  • Partnerships with well-known educational institutions and organizations: California boarding schools actively cooperate with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Juilliard School, UNICEF, and large corporations to develop professional skills and provide students with additional opportunities.

Features of boarding schools in California

California is known for its educational institutions recognized as global educational leaders, the state "owns" one of the most diverse economies in the United States with rapidly developing fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. California is home to such famous science and technology centers as Silicon Valley and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, as well as outstanding universities. This affects the state's attractiveness for students interested in science, AI, IT, engineering, and mathematics, from San Diego to Sacramento.

Boarding schools in California differ from regular schools in that they require students to live on campus. In these schools, children spend most of their time together, doing homework, eating lunch and living in the same place4 during the summer holidays and on weekends, some allow students to return home to spend time with their families.

Boarding schools take into account the individual needs of each student, there is practically no general educational program for everyone, since each student has unique abilities, interests and requirements. A personalized curriculum is developed for everyone, based on entrance tests that help determine the optimal level of difficulty of subjects and learning goals.

Boarding schools in California are equipped with modern campuses, including science laboratories, creative centers, sports facilities and much more.

One of the key aspects of boarding schools is the development of students' critical thinking, soft skills and universal values: here children learn to think, analyze large amounts of information and formulate individual conclusions.

How does a foreigner get into a California boarding school?

For an international applicant to get into the best boarding school in California, the following steps should be taken:

  1. Study the requirements and criteria for admission to the chosen school - our professional consultant will help you here.
  2. Gather all the necessary documents, including a report card with current grades, certificates and awards, letters of recommendation from teachers, and proof of English proficiency. The selected school is always ready to clarify a specific list of documents.
  3. Prepare a motivation letter – this is almost always required.
  4. Pass an interview if it is required by the admission procedure.

Contact Smapse experts who will help you prepare for admission, draw up documents and adapt your child to life abroad!

Advantages and disadvantages of English schools

Advantages Disadvantages
The opportunity to enter the best universities in England, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Europe, the world Expensive
High quality of education and academic standards Strong workload
Perfect English after graduation The need to change the social environment; it takes time to adapt
Useful contacts The difficulty of choosing the most suitable school for the child, requires a qualified specialist

Top 35 best schools in the USA - 2026 Smapse rankings

1 North Broward Preparatory School
2 Phillips Academy Andover
3 The Storm King School New York
4 Red Bank Catholic High School
5 Windermere Preparatory School
6 Shattuck St Mary's School
7 Cheshire Academy
8 Cate School
9 Ross School
10 Deerfield Academy
11 The Village School
12 Amerigo Los Angeles – Bishop Montgomery High School
13 Webb Schools
14 Kent School USA
15 The Winchendon School
16 Darlington School
17 Marian Catholic High School Amerigo Education
18 Grier School
19 The MacDuffie School
20 CATS Academy Boston
21 The Cambridge School of Weston
22 Milton Academy
23 Amerigo Education Napa Valley
24 American Hebrew Academy
25 Northfield Mount Hermon School
26 Mater Dei Catholic High School San Diego Amerigo Education
27 American University Preparatory School Los Angeles
28 Webb Schools
29 Kent School USA
30 Groton School
31 Maine Central Institute
32 The Lawrenceville School
33 Grand River Academy Ohio
34 Saint John Paul II Academy
35 Chicago North Shore

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4 Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz
5 Saint-Charles Collège et Lycée
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8 Aiglon College Switzerland
9 Institut Le Rosey School
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11 Champittet College
12 Brillantmont International School
13 Surval Montreux
14 Ecole Pre Fleuri
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