The Association of Boarding Schools
The Association of Boarding Schools
  • School Catalogs
  • Login
  • |
  • TABS for Families
    • Discover Boarding School
    • Find A School
    • How To Apply
    • News & Events
  • |
  • Go to TABS Member Site
    • Login
    • TABS Member Home
    • Calendar
    • Professional Development
    • Marketing & Admission
    • Research & Resources
  • Associate Members
    • Test Link
    • Test Link2
    • Test Link3
  • Friends in Education
  • Sponsors
  • Charitable Partners
  • Job Board
  • About TABS
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Trustees
    • TABS Staff
    • TABS Calendar
    • Ruzicka Compass Award
    • TABS News
    • Reports & Finances
    • Contact Us
  • Join Us
    • Join Us Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Become an Associate Member
    • Become a Sponsor
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Careers with TABS
  • Discover Boarding School
    • Begin The Adventure of My Life See The Big Picture Read The Fine Print Ready, Set, Apply
  • Find a School
    • Overview Guided Search School Browser Quick Lists Find an Expert
    • Explore Your Options

      Admission Fairs

      Campus Visits

      Summer Programs

      Request School Catalogs

      Request Free Directory

  • How to Apply
    • TABS Application

      Testing

      Expenses & Aid

      International Applicants

      US VISAS | CANADIAN VISAS | OTHER VISAS

  • News & Events

      Recent News

      NEWS SOCIAL KEEPINGTABS BLOG

      Upcoming Events

      TABS Asia Tour

      October 17 - November 4 9 Cities Through Asia

      TABS Latin Tour

      February 2016
    • Summer Programs

      Summer programs, generally taken one or two summers prior to enrollment, enable parents and students to get a taste of the boarding school experience.

      See all Summer Programs

Skip to Section Subnavigation Skip to Page Content

  • FREE NowBoarding Magazine, Directory of Schools, and Map

    Order My Free Copies

About Associate Membership

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.

CURRENT ASSOCIATE MEMBERS BY CATEGORY

  • NON-PROFIT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
  • EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & SCHOOL NETWORKS
  • ELEMENTARY & JUNIOR SCHOOLS
  • COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
  • SUMMER/SEMESTER RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
  • EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS
  • INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENT & EXCHANGE GROUPS
  • GAP YEAR PROGRAMS
  • ACCREDITED PUBLIC BOARDING SCHOOLS
  • INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATION
  • OTHER
Apply For Associate Membership

FRIENDS IN EDUCATION

Peruse a list of professional organizations, networks and advocates all engaged in the support and advancement of the boarding school community.

BOARDING SCHOOL NETWORKS

  • Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS)
  • Catholic Boarding Schools Association (CBSA)
  • Junior Boarding School Association (JBSA)
  • New York Boarding Schools (NYBS)
  • Small Boarding School Association (SBSA)
  • Southeastern Association of Boarding Schools (SABS)
  • Ten Schools Admission Organization (TSAO)
  • Western Boarding Schools Association (WBSA)

SISTER ASSOCIATIONS

  • Australian Boarding School Association (ABSA)
  • Boarding Schools' Association (BSA)
  • Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)
  • Green Schools Alliance (GSA)
  • International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC)
  • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
  • The National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS)

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

  • ASSIST
  • Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS)
  • Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP)
  • Campus Outreach Services (COS)
  • Educational Records Bureau (ERB)
  • Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
  • National Business Officers Association (NBOA)
  • Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB)

FREE NowBoarding Magazine, Directory of Schools, and Map

Order My Free Copies

About Sponsorship

TABS sponsorships come in all shapes and sizes to better serve you, our sponsors, regardless of your target market or budget. View our current Signature and Red Level sponsors.

Signature Sponsors

  • All Aboard Tours & Travel/ US University Tours
  • Blackbaud
  • CardSmith
  • Carney, Sandoe & Associates
  • Charles & Patrick
  • Classbook.com
  • Due West Education
  • Educational Testing Service (ETS)
  • EF, Education First
  • ERB
  • Flik Independent School Dining
  • Max-R
  • REACH Boarding School System
  • SchoolAdmin
  • Shang Learning
  • SSC
  • Student Discoveries
  • Vericant

Red Level Sponsors

Become a Sponsor
  • Our Mission
  • Board of Trustees
  • TABS Staff
  • TABS Calendar
  • Ruzicka Compass Award
  • TABS News
  • Reports & Finance
  • Contact us

FREE NowBoarding Magazine, Directory of Schools, and Map

Order My Free Copies
  • Overview
  • Become a Member
  • Become an Associate Member
  • Become a Sponsor
  • Become a Volunteer
  • Careers with TABS

FREE NowBoarding Magazine, Directory of Schools, and Map

Order My Free Copies

Charitable Partners

Each year, TABS identifies and partners with a charitable organization serving young people in profound, inspiring, and innovative ways.

2014-2015 Partner

NJ SEEDS changes the lives of motivated, high-achieving students from low-income families by transforming their educational opportunities.

2013-2014 Partner

Wishbone, a non-profit helping passionate, low-income students attend after school and summer programs.

Learn more about TABS Charitable Partnerships

Recent Postings

Search All Jobs

TABS

Work for a TABS Member School or Associate Member!

View Jobs
Overview
Guided Search
School Browser
Quick Lists
Print Profile
Previous Next

Besant Hill School

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

view map request catalog

Established in 1946 and situated on 520 acres in the resort town of Ojai, California, our residential community offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with a cornerstone of creative expression and divergent thinking for grades 9-12 and PG. Besant Hill School offers over 20 art electives, AP level courses, competitive athletics, travel and experiential education programs, small class sizes, a 4:1 student teacher ratio and a student body of 100 students from 15 foreign countries and 10 states. Our motto of "Aún Aprendo" reflects our belief that life can be lived in its fullest sense through lifelong efforts towards personal development and growth. We believe we are a model for the way education should occur, where students are taught how to think, not what to think, where our land is a laboratory for a sustainable planet, where rules are replaced with values and principles developed by all of us, where the arts are a foundation for our belief that creative expression is as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. We are a school that believes that life isn’t about finding yourself — it’s about creating yourself.

  • Local Islands, Outdoor Education Trip
  • Art Studio
  • Aquatic Center
  • Besant Hill Basketball Wins Southern California Title!
  • All School Prom
  • Spring Musical
  • Studying Outside
  • Spring Concert Guitar Ensemble
  • Surfing Fitness Class
 

Videos



  • Video Thumbnail for BHS Video
 

8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
Ojai, California, USA 93023

(805) 646-4343

virtual tour request catalog

Director of Admissions: Alex Spence
Admissions Phone:(805) 646-4343 ext. 142Fax:805-646-4371
Email: [email protected] Website:
www.besanthill.org/


  • Application Deadline: Rolling
  • Application Fee: $75
  • International Application Fee: $150
  • Accepts SSAT Standard Application Online (SAO): Yes
  • Accepts Gateway to Prep Schools Application: No
  • FaceBook

Recently Viewed





School Events

There are no events for this school

School News

Application Open for 2021-22

Posted on September 17, 2020
Besant Hill School is currently accepting applications for Fall 2021 and limited spaces are available for Spring 2021. Please contact us if you are interested!
more...

  • at a glance
  • academics
  • campus life
  • arts & athletics
  • college info
  • summer programs
  • Founded: 1946
  • Campus Size: 520 acres
  • Grades Offered: 9th-post-grad
  • Accredited by: WASC, CAIS/CA
Student Body
Boarding
Grades 9th-post-grad
Day
Grades 9th-post-grad
Total
Girls     43 9 52
Boys     42 4 46
Total     85 13 98

Tuition and Financial Aid
  • 7-Day Boarding: $55,000
  • 5-Day Boarding: N/A
  • Day Tuition Fee: $25,095
  • Payment Plans: Offered
  • Need-Based Aid: Offered
  • Students Receiving Aid: 20.00%
  • Average Awarded: $11,000
School Finances
  • Merit Scholarships: Not Offered
  • Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 0.00%
  • Average Merit Scholarship: $0
  • Current Endowment: $2,000,000
  • Per Student Endowment: $20,408
 

Summary: The Academic Program at Besant Hill School emphasizes the school motto, Aún Aprendo, I am still learning. Instilling a lifelong love of learning is the goal of our rigorous college preparatory curriculum. Within a framework of Universal Design, teachers employ multiple best practices in the classroom including, Socratic Method, Mastery Teaching and Cooperative Learning. We value and encourage creativity and the creative mindset in all classes, teaching how to think, not what to think. Academic classes, art classes and physical education classes are all valued equally in the pursuit of educating the whole person.

Department Director: Claire Lowndes

Average Class Size: 10

Full Time Teachers: 25

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 50.00%

Student/Teacher Ratio: 4/1

Summer Programs Offered: Offered

Academic Schedule: Semester

Number of Advanced Placement Courses Offered: 12

Advanced/Enrichment Programs
  • AP Courses
Support Programs
  • ADD/ADHD Support
  • ESL: Beginning
  • ESL: Intermediate
  • ESL: Advanced
  • Learning Differences Support
English:
  • Creative Writing
  • Honors
  • Literature
  • Playwriting
  • Poetry
History:
  • Honors
  • United States History
  • World History
Foreign Languages:
  • French
  • Spanish
Religion/Philosophy:
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Studies
  • World Religions
Humanities/Social Sciences:
  • Economics
  • Sociology
Sciences:
  • Earth Science
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Science
  • Physical Science
  • Physics
  • Physiology
Math:
  • Algebra
  • Calculus
  • Honors Math
  • Geometry
  • Statistics
Computer Studies:
  • Web Design
Music:
  • Band
  • Choral Music
  • Composition
  • Electronic Music
  • History of Jazz
  • History of Music
  • Individual Instructions
  • Music Appreciation
  • Music History
  • Music Theory
  • Orchestra
  • Recording
  • Solfege/Ear Training
  • Songwriting
  • Voice
Performing/Visual Arts:
  • Acting
  • Animation
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Ceramics
  • Dance
  • Debate
  • Design
  • Drama
  • Drawing
  • Fashion Design
  • Fiber Arts
  • Film and Video
  • Graphic Design
  • History of Theater
  • Journalism
  • Lighting Design
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Portfolio
  • Pottery
  • Printmaking
  • Production
  • Screen-printing
  • Screenwriting
  • Sculpture
  • Studio Art
  • Textiles
  • Theater Arts
  • Theater Design
AP Courses Available:
  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • Chemistry
  • Macroeconomics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • French Language
  • Human Geography
  • Physics B
  • Spanish Language
  • Statistics
  • US History
school explorer
guided search
 

Summary: "BHS is a place where you can be yourself. No matter who you are, everyone becomes friends. You're not an outcast EVER. It's a place where teachers aren't JUST your teachers - you build relationships with them. You begin to think of them as good friends rather than teachers ...
It’s not just a school—it’s a community..."

Lily Jensen- BHS '10

Department Director: Megan Walton

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 4

Average Students Per Dorm: 30

No. of Girls Dorms: 2

No. of Boys Dorms: 2

Dorm Amenities:

  • Game Room
  • Laundry Facilities
  • Lounge
  • Wireless Internet
  • Pool table/Foosball/TV/Student Store

Dress Code: Casual

Student Life

Summary: In addition to being an exceptional college-preparatory school, Besant Hill School is a wonderful place to live and learn. Student life at Besant Hill is full of opportunities to enjoy close friendships and discover leadership potential.

Through a co-curricular agenda that encourages participation in student government, athletics, visual and fine arts, music and drama, our students are taught self-reliance, social skills, and responsibility in a supportive and caring environment. The focus of the Besant Hill School residential boarding program is to encourage an atmosphere that supports the academic, creative and personal growth of each student.

All of our programs are designed to help students develop their skills in interpersonal communication and conflict management while always supporting their personal integrity. In essence, our students are preparing for their futures as citizens of the global community.

Facilities

  • Baseball field(s)
  • Basketball court(s)
  • Fitness Center
  • Technology Center
  • Volleyball court(s)
  • Pool

Clubs and Organizations

  • Amnesty International
  • Community Service
  • Dorm Proctors
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Honor Council
  • International Clubs
  • Literary Magazine
  • Photography
  • Student Government
  • Student Publications
  • Yearbook
  • Yoga
school explorer
guided search
 

Arts Department Director: Dan Call

Athletics Department Director: Ahn-Dao Tran

Notable Achievements: 2009/2010 CIF Championship- Basketball

Arts
  • Art Club
  • Dance
  • Drama Club
  • Guitar Ensemble
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Rock Band
  • Stage Band
  • Tech Crew
  • Theater
  • Screenwriting & Film
  • Digital Arts
  • Creative Writing
  • Choral Singing
  • Instrumental Study
  • Ceramics
  • Photography
Interscholastic Sports
  • Basketball
  • Cross-Country Running
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Volleyball
Recreational Sports
  • Camping
  • Dance
  • Hiking
  • Outdoor Education
  • Rock Climbing
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Weight Lifting
 

Summary: Summary: At Besant Hill School, the College Counseling Office works closely with all students and their families from the moment they arrive on campus. As a college preparatory school, BHS provides students with comprehensive guidance about the journey toward higher education, including appropriate course selection, co- and extracurricular enrichment, community service, leadership, standardized testing and preparation, the college search, application drafting, finalization and submission, cultivating effective support documentation, need- and merit-based financial aid advisement, and counsel to determine the best overall undergraduate fit. Students are apprised of their many college options and are supported as they develop the tools necessary to thoughtfully research and successfully apply and transition to the college of their choosing. As more and more colleges move toward test optional policies and a holistic admissions review, we encourage well-roundedness and personal development in our students, in addition to scholastic achievement and excellence.

BHS does not view college admission as "a prize to be won". It is the result of thoughtful self-reflection, research, preparation and execution. Hence, the college counseling process at Besant Hill is highly individualized, the goal being to identify and secure the best possible match between each unique student and college or university optimally suited to meet their needs, strengths and objectives. Our students matriculate to a wide range of institutions, from national liberal arts colleges to public land-grant universities to professional art schools and music conservatories. 100% of Besant Hill graduates gain admission to four-year institutions, and occasionally students opt to defer entry for a year to pursue interim semester or year-long enrichment opportunities.

Department Director: Doug Jessup

College Information

Percentage of Graduates Who Attend College: 100.00%

Colleges attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Brandeis University 3 graduates
California State Polytechnic University- San Luis Obispo 4 graduates
Reed College 3 graduates
Sarah Lawrence College 3 graduates
University of California, Santa Cruz 9 graduates
University of California, Berkeley 3 graduates
University of California, Davis 5 graduates
University of California, Irvine 4 graduates
University of California, Los Angeles 3 graduates
University of Washington 5 graduates

 

Summary: English Language and American Culture: Students will embark on an immersion journey in speaking English, getting to know the BHS campus, and exploring Ojai and California. The Institute will provide students the opportunity to get a head start on the school year. When they arrive in September, students will be familiar with the language, environment, and day-to-day activities that make up their lives here at BHS. New BHS students requiring ESL for the Fall will automatically be enrolled in the Summer Institute.

The students will have a schedule that mirrors many aspects of the school day at BHS. From academic and art classes in the morning to study hall and dorm crew jobs in the evening, they will get used to the duties they will have during the year. In addition, the Institute provides opportunities to have fun and learn about American culture. Outside of classes, students and faculty play games and travel throughout California - from Ojai to Santa Barbara to San Francisco, and many places in between.

All students are welcome to join our Summer Institute. To apply, please submit the application and required forms below by May 15.
SAT Prep and College Application Essay Writing: This program covers every aspect of the college admission process. The SAT Prep course is a comprehensive study of the SAT test and test taking strategies. Utilizing a combination of online and classroom tutorial lessons, students will gain 60 hours of SAT preparation work and 20 hours of application essay writing prep.

BHS Prep program provides tutorial style, small classroom setting with highly trained teachers in the CORE Technology. This technology offers real time evaluation of student work to constant assessment of progress and customized curriculum for maximized improvement. Students will take weekly practice SAT tests during the session. A laptop and a TI-83+ calculator is required for this course.

Department Director: Kristen Kaschub

Summer Institute

June 28, 2020 to July 25, 2020

See above.

Registration Deadline: May 15, 2020
Tuition: $7,500
Financial Aid Available:  Yes
More Details

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:

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

© 2009-2016 The Association of Boarding Schools

  • Legal
  • Sitemap
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • pinterest
  • Google Plus