Schools of the Ojai Valley The Ojai Valley used to be California’s best-kept secret. But lately the word’s gotten out, and it’s no wonder — with its miles of hiking trails, quaint Spanish revival downtown, and stop-you-in-your-tracks sunsets, it’s a perfect little slice of rural California that’s quickly disappearing.
Besant Hill School
Although it’s best known as a tourist destination, it’s also a fantastic place to go to school. Educators have been coming here for decades — in some cases, as far back as the 1800s. The valley’s natural beauty and its proximity to large metropolises like L.A. make it an ideal place to build a school. Folks are often surprised to learn just how many private schools this little valley of 30,000 people actually contains. From infant care to college prep, day to boarding schools, sports to the arts, there’s a lot to choose from in this little mountain town.
Besant Hill School of Happy Valley
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd, Ojai besanthill.org; (805) 646-4343 • Grades offered: 9 through 12, and post-graduate year • Founded: 1946 • Boarding offered: Yes (approximately 85 percent of student population) • What distinguishes Besant Hill from the other Ojai schools? At a maximum of 100 students, we offer a rigorous college-prep curriculum with consistent mentorship to holistically develop resilient young adults, eager to continue learning. • What are some of Besant’s hallmark programs and/or classes? Portrait of a Graduate, Senior Capstones, ePortfolios, expert “Masterclasses” taught by visiting professionals • Are advanced placement, IB, or similar accelerated classes
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offered? Yes, 10 AP courses • Sports offered: Surfing, swimming, tennis, cross country, outdoor education, soccer, basketball, volleyball, yoga, dance, golf, weightlifting, aquatics • Fine and performing arts programs offered: Ceramics, studio arts, digital arts, music, drama • Tell us about Besant Hill’s college counseling program Over the past few years, our students have averaged over five acceptances per student and enrolled at some of the top colleges and universities around the world (Stanford, Berklee School of Music, St. Andrews). Each student meets with our Director of College Counseling starting as a freshman to develop their college admissions profile. College counseling is an active program at Besant Hill, and as a result, the students have a strong “collegebound culture” on campus. • What’s new at Besant Hill? In 2020: new ceramics studio, faculty housing, and maintenance buildings; 2021: new digital arts studio computers • Tell us more about Besant Hill For 75 years, we have been providing an elite education as a small boarding school concentrated on strong academics, arts, and holistic student development. Our faculty is completely committed to the success of every student, and through consistent mentorship they help students realize their maximum potential. Our 520-acre campus in Upper Ojai boasts incredible views, and we also have a rare vernal pool on campus that our science classes love to visit after a few rain showers. • Do you offer summer programs? Not in 2021 Summer 2021
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