Phillip EdwinThe Los Angeles region offers a remarkable array of boarding school options, ranging from innovative public college-preparatory academies to prestigious private institutions with century-old traditions. While Los Angeles County itself has relatively few traditional boarding schools, the surrounding areas—including Pasadena, Ojai, and the broader Southern California region—are home to some of the nation’s most respected residential educational programs.
These schools provide students with immersive academic experiences, diverse communities, and the opportunity to develop independence and lifelong skills within supportive residential environments. This guide highlights twenty of the best boarding schools in and around Los Angeles, based on academic reputation, program offerings, and unique strengths.
Top 20 Boarding Schools in the Los Angeles Area
1. SEED School of Los Angeles County
SEED LA is the county’s first college-preparatory public boarding school, opening its doors in August 2022 with 125 ninth graders . The school provides a pathway to college and career readiness through engagement in computer sciences, engineering, and studies of systems and societies via transportation infrastructure.
Scholars are on campus Sunday through Friday, with a highly trained team of teachers, advisors, and staff providing academic and residential support . The 147,000-square-foot state-of-the-art campus includes 20 classrooms, an art studio, science labs, a maker space lab, and a gymnasium. Students live in separate dorms for boys and girls, with typically two to three students per room.
2. EF Academy Pasadena
EF Academy Pasadena is a private day and boarding high school located on a spectacular 19-acre campus just a 30-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles. The school features a purpose-built $200 million campus designed for immersion learning, with state-of-the-art academic facilities, spaces for creativity and collaboration, and full-service student residences.
With students from 60+ nationalities, EF Academy offers a truly global community experience. The school boasts a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, with 90% of faculty holding advanced degrees, and 92% of graduates are accepted into their first or second choice university.
3. Army and Navy Academy
Located in Carlsbad, the Army and Navy Academy is a WASC-accredited nonprofit boarding and day school for boys in grades 7-12. The college-preparatory and STEM-focused school offers a rigorous academic program alongside 18 sports and leadership development opportunities.
Situated on a beachfront property in the safe coastal village of Carlsbad, the academy challenges students to realize their potential inside and outside the classroom. Graduates have been accepted to all UC campuses, all service academies, Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Georgetown, NYU, USC, and MIT.
4. The Webb Schools
Located in Claremont on a 150-acre campus in the San Gabriel foothills, The Webb Schools is a coeducational boarding and day school serving grades 9-12 . Guided by a mission to think boldly, act with honor, and lead with distinction, Webb combines rigorous coursework with interdisciplinary inquiry and hands-on research.
The school features the renowned Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, offering distinctive opportunities for fieldwork, fossil preparation, research, and publication. Tuition for boarding students is $87,430, with 64% of students boarding and a $58,825 average financial aid grant.
5. Cate School
Founded in 1910, Cate School is a coeducational, college-preparatory boarding school in Carpinteria, serving 300 students in grades 9-12. One of the most selective boarding schools in the nation, Cate accepts under 20% of applicants annually.
The school features an experienced teaching faculty with 82% holding advanced degrees, including 18% with PhDs. Sixty percent of the most recent graduating class attend the country’s 25 top-ranked colleges and universities, and 18% went to Ivy Leagues and Stanford . Tuition for boarding students is $74,975.
6. The Thacher School
Located in Ojai, 85 miles north of Los Angeles, The Thacher School is a coeducational boarding high school founded in 1889. Serving 255 academically talented students in grades 9-12, the school offers a rigorous college-preparatory experience on a 427-acre campus. The school’s unique program combines academic demands with outdoor experiences involving mountains and horses, producing independent minds, strong bodies, and powerful character. With an acceptance rate of 15% and average class size of 11, Thacher is highly selective, with tuition for boarding students at $77,880.
7. Besant Hill School of Happy Valley
Located in Ojai, 90 minutes northwest of Los Angeles, Besant Hill School is a coeducational private college-preparatory boarding school serving grades 9-12. The school honors individuality, critical thinking, creative passions, global citizenship, and environmental activism. With a focus on small size, committed faculty, and a beautiful location in the Ojai Valley, Besant Hill offers a unique educational experience for all students . Day school options are also available.
8. Bishop Montgomery High School
Bishop Montgomery High School is a private high school with boarding services in Los Angeles, offering an academically rigorous curriculum that includes 100+ honors, AP, and college-prep courses . The school’s innovative STEAM program enables students to explore career fields in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. With 30 extracurricular clubs, students can craft their own high school experience and pursue their passions. Notably, 100% of graduates go on to attend college and university.
9. San Domenico School
While located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Domenico School is one of California’s most prominent boarding schools and a valuable reference for families exploring options in the state . As the oldest independent school in California and the only K-12 day and boarding school in the Bay Area, San Domenico offers a 515-acre campus with 140 boarding students from 18+ countries . The school is rooted in over 175 years of values-driven tradition, cultivating curiosity, courage, and character in students from kindergarten through grade 12.
10. Oakwood School
Oakwood School is a K-12 institution in Studio City and North Hollywood, founded in 1951 by a group of parents. Tuition ranges from $45,990 for K-6 to $55,070 for grades 7-12. Oakwood draws families who appreciate the continuity of a K-12 education and has a student-teacher ratio of 11:1 for grades K-6 and 9:1 for grades 7-12. Alumni include Chris Pine and Lily-Rose Depp, and the school is building a new Da Vinci Lab and Classroom Complex with a maker space and STEAM lab.
11. The Buckley School
Buckley School is a K-12 institution in Sherman Oaks with tuition ranging from $48,250 for K-5 to $56,800 for grades 6-12. The school’s Four-Fold Plan gives equal emphasis to academics, arts, athletics, and ethical education. Buckley has a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 and has worked to renew its mission following past challenges. Alumni include Laura Dern, Paris Hilton, and Bret Easton Ellis.
12. Loyola High School of Los Angeles
Loyola High School is a premier Jesuit college preparatory school for boys in Los Angeles, founded in 1865 and serving grades 9-12. The school has 1,260 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, earning an A+ Niche grade. Loyola emphasizes “Cura Personalis” through rigorous academics, spiritual development, and community service, with a 99% college attendance rate. The school is known for its strong brotherhood and commitment to forming men of faith, character, and leadership.
13. Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is a prestigious all-girls Catholic boarding and day school in La Cañada Flintridge, serving grades 9-12. The school has 384 students and a student-teacher ratio of 10:1, earning an A+ Niche grade. The school is known for its deep commitment to academic excellence, faith formation, and an empowering sisterhood. It offers both boarding and day options for students seeking a values-based education.
14. Viewpoint School
Viewpoint School is a coeducational school in Calabasas serving grades K-12, with 1,102 students and a student-teacher ratio of 7:1. The school offers a comprehensive college-preparatory program with strong offerings in arts, athletics, and technology. The school is known for its well-rounded education and commitment to academic excellence.
15. Polytechnic School
Polytechnic School is a highly ranked K-12 private school in Pasadena, known for its rigorous academics and supportive community. The school ranks #7 in the Los Angeles area according to Niche. Polytechnic emphasizes critical thinking, independence, and intellectual growth, with strong programs in mathematics and science. The school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 7:1 and has a reputation for preparing students for competitive college admissions.
16. Brentwood School
Brentwood School is a K-12 institution with campuses in Brentwood, offering a breadth of academic offerings, robust sports program, and state-of-the-art facilities. Tuition ranges from $47,545 for K-5 to $55,700 for grades 6-12. The school features the Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership, focusing on design and entrepreneurship. Brentwood has a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 for grades 6-12 and is known for its diverse and accomplished student body.
17. Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences
Crossroads School is a prestigious K-12 school in Santa Monica known for its progressive, arts-focused education, with tuition ranging from $46,694 for K-5 to $55,489 for grades 6-12. Founded in 1971, Crossroads has a long list of notable alumni including Kate Hudson, Jack Black, and Snap founder Evan Spiegel. Crossroads emphasizes authentic learning, creativity, and social responsibility, maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 7:1.
18. Sierra Canyon School
Sierra Canyon School is a private coeducational school in Chatsworth serving grades PreK-12 with tuition of $48,600. The school is ranked among the top 10 private high schools in Los Angeles County. Sierra Canyon is known for its strong athletic programs and college-preparatory academics, with a student-teacher ratio of 9:1. The school has gained attention for its high-profile student body and impressive college placement.
19. The Archer School for Girls
Archer is a prestigious all-girls school in Brentwood serving grades 6-12 with tuition of $52,720 and additional fees of $4,600. With a motto of “ambitious, joyful learning,” the school offers more than 150 course offerings, 11 varsity sports teams, and its own film festival dedicated to empowering female filmmakers. Archer has a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 and strong Hollywood support.
20. Harvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School is a premier coeducational college-preparatory day school serving grades 7-12, ranked as the #1 Best Private High School in the Los Angeles Area. It has two campuses: a middle school in Los Angeles and an upper school in Studio City. The school offers over 300 courses with 14 AP and 43 Honors options, with a 96% AP pass rate and average SAT score of 1470. Tuition is approximately $54,900 per year, and 20% of students receive financial aid averaging 72% of costs.
Comparison Table
| School | Location | Type | Grades | Tuition (Boarding) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEED LA | Los Angeles County | Public Boarding | 9–12 | Free (Public) |
| EF Academy Pasadena | Pasadena | Private Coed | 9–12 | $71,700 |
| Army and Navy Academy | Carlsbad | All-boys | 7–12 | Varies |
| The Webb Schools | Claremont | Private Coed | 9–12 | $87,430 |
| Cate School | Carpinteria | Private Coed | 9–12 | $74,975 |
| The Thacher School | Ojai | Private Coed | 9–12 | $77,880 |
| Besant Hill School | Ojai | Private Coed | 9–12 | Varies |
| Bishop Montgomery | Los Angeles | Private Coed | 9–12 | Varies |
| San Domenico School | San Anselmo | Private Coed | K–12 | Varies |
Tips and Other Useful Information
Public vs. Private Boarding: SEED LA offers a unique public boarding school option at no cost for Los Angeles County residents. Private boarding schools like EF Academy Pasadena, The Webb Schools, and Cate School offer premium facilities and global communities but come with significant tuition costs.
Five-Day vs. Seven-Day Boarding: SEED LA operates on a five-day boarding model where students stay on campus Sunday through Friday and return home on weekends. Most private boarding schools, such as Cate School and The Webb Schools, offer traditional seven-day boarding with weekend activities and community programming.
Acceptance Rates: Some schools, like Cate School, are highly selective with acceptance rates under 20%. The Thacher School has a 15% acceptance rate . It is recommended to begin the application process early for the most competitive boarding schools.
Diversity and Global Community: EF Academy Pasadena boasts students from 60+ nationalities , while Cate School has 54% students of color and 17% international students . Many schools emphasize global perspectives and cultural exchange as central to their mission.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles area and its surrounding regions offer a diverse array of boarding school options, from the innovative public model of SEED LA to the prestigious private institutions of The Webb Schools, Cate School, and The Thacher School. Whether you are seeking an immersive international community at EF Academy Pasadena, a leadership-focused military academy experience at Army and Navy Academy, or a progressive college-preparatory environment at Besant Hill, the region provides outstanding opportunities for students to pursue academic excellence, personal growth, and lifelong independence. With options ranging from free public boarding to premium private programs, there is a boarding school in the Los Angeles area for every student’s needs and aspirations.