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Summer programs, generally taken one or two summers prior to enrollment, enable parents and students to get a taste of the boarding school experience.
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Carpinteria, California, USA Co-Ed, No Religious Affiliation
For over 100 years, Cate has been combining the best of East Coast tradition and West Coast energy and innovation in the service of highly motivated, independent-minded kids. Residential life is structured to develop well-being and leadership through the practice of self-discipline and service. In addition to an inquiry-driven curriculum designed to elicit the greatest possible growth in every student, all students participate in an extracurricular program that includes athletics, drama, music, dance, community service, and an extensive outdoor program. With more than 50 honors and advanced courses, the Cate curriculum can meet the demands of the most ambitious students. A typical applicant to Cate has impeccable character, a history of high academic achievement, and is mature, curious, adventurous, and willing to assume responsibility and independence.
1960 Cate Mesa Road, PO Box 5005Carpinteria, California, USA 93014 (805) 684-4127
Director of Admissions: Lisa Spengler Admissions Phone:(805) 684-4127 ext. 217Fax:805-684-2279 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cate.org
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Summary: Any school—including Cate—can offer you a devastatingly challenging calculus class. Our goal is to get you to tackle challenges beyond calculus, to discover the variety of disciplines and activitiesat which you might excel, and to explore how your diverse talents and interests can be combined in an education that is unique to you.Freshman year is designed to introduce you to living and learning in a residential setting. Your courses will focus on honing your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills while exposing you to the broad expanse of human thought and endeavor. The goal is to get you asking questions and to provide you with the intellectual foundation you need to find the answers.By sophomore year you will know how to manage the challenges of Cate’s academic program and the responsibilities of living inthe Cate community. You will have the freedom to choose some of your own courses and the opportunity to take high-level classes in different disciplines. Toward the end of the year, you will begin a series of conversations with your faculty advisor about your interests and talents and what you want to have achieved by the time you graduate.In junior year, you begin to take charge of your own education.Working closely with your advisor and relying on the framework youestablished at the end of your sophomore year, you will begin selecting courses based on your unique goals and interests and start your college preparation.Senior year is when you realize the full benefit of the Cate curriculum. You will have completed most, if not all, of the requiredcourses and can choose from among Cate’s many challenging electives to create your own “year of personal inquiry.” Many seniors also take on faculty-mentored research projects and assumeleadership positions on campus.
Department Director: Lisa Holmes
Average Class Size: 12
Full Time Teachers: 57
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 82.00%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Academic Schedule: Trimester
Saturday Classes: Some
Number of Advanced Placement Courses Offered: 51
Department Director: Peter Mack
Number of Dorms: 9
Average Students Per Dorm: 25
No. of Girls Dorms: 4
No. of Boys Dorms: 5
Dorm Amenities:
Dress Code: Casual
Summary: You may never live in a place more beautiful than Cate. Several dorms overlook the ocean. The beach is close enough for a morning swim or surf. There’s a special bench just for watching sunsets, though somewould argue that the views from the "Pizza Lawn" are just as spectacular. Behind campus a series of trails lead you to the splendor of the Los Padres National Forest. And you share this space—150 acres of trees and light—with fewer than 350 other people. It’s like having a world all to yourself.You’ll live in one of eight remarkably home-like dorms. In addition to your bedroom, there will be places to study, play games,watch movies, and just hang out. Faculty members and their families live in the dorms as well, so you’ll always have an adult to talk to, or the occasional kitchen table to do your homework. You’ll also have a senior prefect—a kind of big brother or sister—to offer guidance andsupport as you get the hang of living in your home away from home.But the dorms at Cate are more than a place to live, they’re also a place to learn and grow. In fact, your interactions with your dorm parents and prefects and the talks and activities they plan for you are an integrated part of the curriculum. We call it PARK—Persistence, Awareness, Responsibility, and Kindness—and it’s all about learning how to cooperate and collaborate with others.And then there’s the food. The chefs at Raymond Commons prepare meals from scratch and buy as much of their produce, meat, and dairy as possible from local farmers. There’s always a waffle bar at breakfast, sandwich and salad bars at lunch and dinner, as well as frequent theme nights—Italian, Mexican, Breakfast for Dinner. There are always bowls of fruit out for snacking, and many students (and faculty) find themselves wishing for the occasional cold snap just for the pleasure of sitting by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate.
Facilities
Clubs and Organizations
Summary: Imagine competing against some of the best high school athletes in the country. Imagine incorporating an ocean swim or a mountain runinto your training routine—year round. Imagine playing a new sport—or maybe any sport—for the first time and finding out you’re good atit. Imagine heading from the fields to the dining hall with teammates,sweaty and laughing. Imagine becoming a team leader—someone to whom younger players look for advice and who coaches trust tohelp them out on the field. That’s the Cate athletic experience.Cate fields 22 varsity athletic teams, and our quality of playis so high—seven titles and championships in 2011-2012, eight in2012-2013—that we’re entering the more competitive Tri-CountyAthletic Association in 2014. There are junior varsity and even 3rds teams for many sports, allowing less experienced players to try newsports without the pressure of intense competition. Cate also offers intramural options like dancing and surfing, so no matter what yourinterests or current level of play, you’ll find opportunities to have fun and improve your skills. If you’re already a seasoned athlete, Cate’s coaches will help youreach your performance goals. If you’re trying team sports for the very first time, they’ll be patient teachers, eager to share their love ofthe game. And Cate’s athletic requirement ensures that every student at every level is always trying—and learning—something new.
Arts Department Director: Patrick Collins
Athletics Department Director: Wade Ransom
Summary: Cate’s college counselors have an easy job. Cate’s small size and tight-knit community allows them to know your needs and interests well, and Cate’s strong, vibrant, academic and extra-curricular programs will allow you to explore and excel in a variety of subjects and activities. By the time you startthinking about college in earnest, you’ll be able to make wise andwell-informed decisions about your next step.You and your advisor will begin laying the groundwork for yourcollege exploration during freshman and sophomore years. You’ll beable to start that exploration during our Fall College Night series,which brings representatives from nearly 100 colleges and universitiesto campus to describe their programs and meet Cate students.The formal college counseling process begins in your junioryear, when you’ll start taking “college classes” run by the college counseling staff. In the winter you’llbegin meeting individually with one of Cate’s college counselors todiscuss your academic and extracurricular interests, learning style,and career goals. In the spring you’ll attend our Case Studies program,during which you’ll meet in small groups with admission deans fromas many as 40 competitive colleges and universities to learn howthe admission process works and how schools evaluate candidates.When you leave for summer break, your counselor will reinforce yourprogress with a letter that summarizes the college criteria you have discussed, lists the schools that best fit those criteria, and outlines thesteps you can take to hit the ground running. During your senior year, you'll continue to receive regular guidance from your counselor as you narrow choices, complete applications, and receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers. The intent of all this preparation and attention is to have you find and attend a college that is the perfect fit for your unique needs and interests.
Department Director: Tamar Adegbile
Percentage of Graduates Who Attend College: 100.00%
Colleges attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores
David Crosby Singer/Songwriter
Garrett Lisi Notable Physicist
Billy Steinberg Musician/Songwriter
Warren Briedenbach III Pioneering Surgeon
Sir John R.H. Bond Financier/Banker
Mona Khalil United Nations
Dr. William New Physician and Inventor
"The Cate community helped me develop a strong sense of self-confidence that has been invaluable in college."
-Katie Kinnear , Class of 2005, Princeton University
Summary: Wake up to a delicious breakfast in the dining hall, spend a day filled with excitement and challenge, and relax after dinner in the Community Center with your new friends from around the world.No matter what summer program you sign up to attend, you’ll get to experience a taste of Cate – the rigor of East Coast prep schools with the adventurous spirit of the West Coast.Where else will you sleep in dorms overlooking the Pacific, walk to class or the sports field with the Los Padres National Forest as a constant backdrop, or build a genuine connection with yet another teacher or coach?Cate is a special place. Come join us in the summer and you’ll agree.
Department Director: Jessica Seriano
June 16, 2019 to June 29, 2019
Cate’s teaching philosophy and core mission come together in its innovative residential summer institute for rising 7th and 8th graders (11-13 years old). A week devoted to academics, leadership, and outdoors, CSI features small classes taught by experienced Cate faculty.
Registration Deadline: June 01, 2019 Tuition: $1,850-1875 Financial Aid Available: Yes More Details
July 08, 2019 to August 02, 2019
CSA offers day, extended day and overnight camp options for current 6th through 11th grade students, placing an emphasis on both athletic advancement and personal development. Our family is comprised of motivated, and experience coaches, trained counselors, and diligent athletic trainers.
Registration Deadline: July 01, 2019 Tuition: $400-850 Financial Aid Available: Yes More Details
Summary: