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Our Associate Membership program is designed for those individuals and organizations - not eligible for traditional membership - which serve, study, or otherwise are deeply involved in the TABS community of schools.

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BOARDING SCHOOL NETWORKS

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Cate School

Carpinteria, California, USA
Co-Ed, No Religious Affiliation

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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.

  • Literature Class
  • Girls Volleyball
  • Football
  • Surfing
  • Dance
  • Outdoors
 

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1960 Cate Mesa Road, PO Box 5005
Carpinteria, California, USA 93014

(805) 684-4127

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Director of Admissions: Lisa Spengler
Admissions Phone:(805) 684-4127 ext. 217Fax:805-684-2279
Email: [email protected] Website:
www.cate.org


  • Application Deadline: January 15
  • Application Fee: $85
  • International Application Fee: $125
  • Accepts SSAT Standard Application Online (SAO): Yes
  • Accepts Gateway to Prep Schools Application: Yes
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  • at a glance
  • academics
  • campus life
  • arts & athletics
  • college info
  • summer programs
  • Founded: 1910
  • Campus Size: 150 acres
  • Grades Offered: 9th-12th
  • Accredited by: WASC
Student Body
Boarding
Grades 9th-12th
Day
Grades 9th-12th
Total
Girls     113 25 138
Boys     114 23 137
Total     227 48 275

Tuition and Financial Aid
  • 7-Day Boarding: $62,900
  • 5-Day Boarding: N/A
  • Day Tuition Fee: $49,700
  • Payment Plans: Offered
  • Need-Based Aid: Offered
  • Students Receiving Aid: 28.00%
  • Average Awarded: $50,500
School Finances
  • Merit Scholarships: Not Offered
  • Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 0.00%
  • Average Merit Scholarship: $0
  • Current Endowment: $97,400,000
  • Per Student Endowment: $354,182
 

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 activities
at 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 in
the 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 you
established 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 required
courses 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 assume
leadership 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

Advanced/Enrichment Programs
  • Honors and Advanced Courses.
Support Programs
  • College Counseling
  • Evening Study Assistance
  • Peer Tutoring
  • Study Skills Assistance
  • Subject Tutoring
  • Technology Center
English:
  • Classics
  • Creative Writing
  • Honors
  • Literature
  • Playwriting
  • Poetry
History:
  • Asian History
  • Classical History
  • European History
  • Honors
  • United States History
  • World History
  • African History
Foreign Languages:
  • Chinese-Mandarin
  • French
  • Japanese
  • Spanish
Humanities/Social Sciences:
  • Economics
Sciences:
  • Anatomy
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Science
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Science
  • Genetics
  • Geology
  • Health
  • Marine Biology
  • Oceanography
  • Physics
Math:
  • Algebra
  • Calculus
  • Honors Math
  • Geometry
  • Probability
  • Statistics
  • Trigonometry
  • Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus
Computer Studies:
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Science
  • Web Design
Performing/Visual Arts:
  • 3-D Design
  • Acting
  • Animation
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Ballet
  • Ceramics
  • Choreography
  • Dance
  • Debate
  • Design
  • Directing
  • Drama
  • Drawing
  • Film and Video
  • Graphic Design
  • Modern Dance
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Portfolio
  • Printmaking
  • Public Speaking
  • Publications
  • Sculpture
  • Studio Art
  • Theater Arts
  • Theater Design
  • Jazz Band
  • Orchestra
  • Art Relay
Special Programs:
  • Community Service
  • Exchange Programs
  • Independent Study
  • Leadership
  • Outdoor Education
  • Study Abroad:
AP Courses Available:
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science A
  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • French Language
  • French Literature
  • US Government & Politics
  • Physics B
  • Physics C
  • Spanish Language
  • Spanish Literature
  • Statistics
  • Studio Art
  • US History
  • World History
  • Advanced and Honors courses
  • Environmental Studies
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Department Director: Peter Mack

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 9

Average Students Per Dorm: 25

No. of Girls Dorms: 4

No. of Boys Dorms: 5

Dorm Amenities:

  • Laundry Facilities
  • Lounge
  • Wireless Internet

Dress Code: Casual

Student Life

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 some
would 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 and
support 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

  • All-weather track
  • Baseball field(s)
  • Fitness Center
  • Technology Center
  • Volleyball court(s)
  • Football field
  • Indoor basketball court(s)
  • Pool
  • Squash Courts
  • Softball Field
  • Gymnasiums (2)

Clubs and Organizations

  • Community Service
  • Computer Club
  • Debate Club
  • Drama Club
  • Environmental Club
  • Foreign Language Clubs
  • Gardening
  • International Clubs
  • Literary Magazine
  • Math Club
  • Model UN
  • Newspaper
  • Peer Tutoring
  • Photography
  • Student Activities
  • Student Government
  • Student Publications
  • Surfing
  • Theater
  • Yearbook
  • Yoga
  • Round Square International and Multicultural Club
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Summary: Imagine competing against some of the best high school athletes in the country. Imagine incorporating an ocean swim or a mountain run
into your training routine—year round. Imagine playing a new sport—or maybe any sport—for the first time and finding out you’re good at
it. 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 to
help them out on the field. That’s the Cate athletic experience.
Cate fields 22 varsity athletic teams, and our quality of play
is so high—seven titles and championships in 2011-2012, eight in
2012-2013—that we’re entering the more competitive Tri-County
Athletic Association in 2014. There are junior varsity and even 3rds teams for many sports, allowing less experienced players to try new
sports without the pressure of intense competition. Cate also offers intramural options like dancing and surfing, so no matter what your
interests 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 you
reach your performance goals. If you’re trying team sports for the very first time, they’ll be patient teachers, eager to share their love of
the 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

Arts
  • A Cappella Group
  • Art Club
  • Chamber Choir
  • Chamber Ensemble
  • Chamber Orchestra
  • Choral Music
  • Dance
  • Drama Club
  • Improvisation Group
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Pep Band
  • Rock Band
  • Stage Band
  • String Ensemble
  • Tech Crew
  • Theater
Interscholastic Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross-Country Running
  • Football
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
Recreational Sports
  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Dance
  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Martial Arts
  • Mountain Biking
  • Outdoor Education
  • Rock Climbing
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Weight Lifting
 

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 start
thinking about college in earnest, you’ll be able to make wise and
well-informed decisions about your next step.
You and your advisor will begin laying the groundwork for your
college exploration during freshman and sophomore years. You’ll be
able to start that exploration during our Fall College Night series,
which brings representatives from nearly 100 colleges and universities
to campus to describe their programs and meet Cate students.
The formal college counseling process begins in your junior
year, when you’ll start taking “college classes” run by the college counseling staff. In the winter you’ll
begin meeting individually with one of Cate’s college counselors to
discuss 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 from
as many as 40 competitive colleges and universities to learn how
the admission process works and how schools evaluate candidates.
When you leave for summer break, your counselor will reinforce your
progress with a letter that summarizes the college criteria you have discussed, lists the schools that best fit those criteria, and outlines the
steps 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

College Information

Percentage of Graduates Who Attend College: 100.00%

Colleges attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Barnard College 9 graduates
Bowdoin College 10 graduates
Claremont McKenna College 8 graduates
Colorado College 9 graduates
Columbia University 7 graduates
Georgetown University 8 graduates
New York University 15 graduates
Santa Clara University 7 graduates
Stanford University 15 graduates
University of Chicago 8 graduates
University of Michigan 10 graduates
University of Pennsylvania 14 graduates
University of Southern California 8 graduates
University of St. Andrews 8 graduates

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores

25th percentile 75th percentile
Critical Reading 650 730
Mathematics 640 770
Writing 33 39

Notable Alumni

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


Quotes from Alumni

"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

Cate Summer Institute

June 14, 2020 to June 27, 2020

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, 2020
Tuition: $1,875
Financial Aid Available:  Yes
More Details

Cate Sports Academy

July 08, 2020 to August 02, 2020

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, 2020
Tuition: $400-850
Financial Aid Available:  Yes
More Details

Cate Summer Outdoors

July 06, 2020 to July 31, 2020

Welcome to CSO, featuring Outdoor Adventure & Urban Hiking! Outdoor Adventure campers will enjoy activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, ocean kayaking, hiking, & our ropes course. Campers enrolled in urban hiking will learn about urban planning, street art & the flâneur lifestyle.

Registration Deadline: June 01, 2020
Tuition: $795-995
Financial Aid Available:  Yes
More Details

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Association of Boarding Schools
One North Pack Square, Suite 301, Asheville NC 28801, USA
828 258 5354   [email protected]
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