Boarding schools in California
Throughout the years, the US became one of the main study destinations for international students in Boarding schools in California. Parents and children tend to choose the US for many reasons, such as high-quality education, diverse community, and networking opportunities. Among the most popular places of study is California, which welcomes 160,000 international students every year. By the way, one-third of them decide to study at boarding schools in California.
This type of school focuses on rigorous educational programs and the personal development of students through extracurricular activities, such as arts and athletics. Keep reading to learn more about the state, the overview of boarding schools in California, the top schools in the state, and their tuition fees for international students.
State Overview & Boarding schools in California
California, or the Golden State, is in the west of the US. It borders Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, and the Mexican state of Baja California. Due to its location, the state has a coastline of 1,352 km along the Pacific Ocean to the west. California has an extremely diverse geography, from the Mojave Desert in the southeast to the Douglas fir forests in the northwest, from the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east to the metropolitan areas in the west.
Its total area is 423,970 km2, and its total population is 39,185,605 residents, making California the most populous and the third-biggest state in the US. Its capital is Sacramento, while Los Angeles is the most populated city in the state and the second one in the country. According to the latest data, citizens of California identify themselves as White, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian. Though English is the official language in the state, the other spoken languages are Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Korean.
Many international students decide to find boarding schools in California due to its warm climate, Hollywood neighborhood, hundreds of beaches, fascinating national parks, and numerous attractions. Indeed, the most popular tourist destinations in the state are the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, Death Valley National Park, Big Sur, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Palm Spring Aerial Tramway, to name a few.
Types of Boarding Schools in California
Now, it is time to discuss the main types of boarding schools in California. As a rule, schools fit more than one type, and it is important to know their peculiarities.
Among international students, the most popular type is the college preparatory institution. These boarding schools in California prepare students for admission to top-rated colleges by offering Advanced Placement (AP) classes, an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and numerous extracurricular activities. In addition, there are junior boarding schools in California that accept international students for Grades 7-9 with a boarding component.
Fine Arts boarding schools prepare international students for higher education and careers in the arts. Since they focus on the artistic development of the students, their study programs may be less rigorous. The same situation is within sports boarding schools that train elite athletes.
There are also religious boarding schools, including Anglican, Catholic, Christian, Quaker, Baptist, Episcopalian, and non-denominational. All boarding schools in California have freedom of religion, but some schools can be focused on a certain faith.
By the way, boarding schools in California can be coeducational or gender specific. In other words, some schools admit only girls, only boys, or students of all genders.
Main Features of Boarding Schools in California
The best boarding schools in California provide everything in one well-crafted package: the academics, the arts, the sports, the extracurriculars, and the supervision. Still, there are some unique features of boarding schools.
The first feature is the Code of Conduct. The rights of the international students are outlined in detail in the contract, which signs parents and the school. Hence, codes of conduct are one of the reasons why international students are safe in boarding schools in California.
The next feature is dormitories, where international students live. In boarding schools in California, teachers also live in the dorms and supervise all the students in their care.
The third feature is the uncommon sports offerings and state-of-the-art amenities. In addition to popular sports, such as basketball, some boarding schools in California offer mountain skiing, surfing, horse riding, and mountain biking, to name a few.
The Best Boarding Schools in California
Once the types and features of schools are discussed, it is time to distinguish the three best boarding schools in California.
Lake Tahoe School is among the top-rated boarding schools in California, which provide quality education to local and international students. It is a private, coeducational college preparatory day and boarding Grade 9-12 school in Olympic Valley. The school has a unique curriculum, which is approved by the University of California. Also, Lake Tahoe School has 15 AP classes. During the study, international students benefit from the robust curriculum, small class size, and individualized learning. Moreover, Lake Tahoe School graduates get admission to the best colleges and universities in the world.
The school also has state-of-the-art facilities and amenities, which allow students to take part in any type of arts or sports activities. It has a comprehensive Fine Arts Program, which includes music classes and visual arts courses. By the way, an Olympic-level ski resort is just minutes from the campus, and students can ski or snowboard seven days per week during winter months. Lake Tahoe School is also the only boarding school to offer big mountain skiing.
One of the best boarding schools in California is EF Academy. It is a private, coeducational college preparatory day and boarding Grade 9-12 school in Pasadena. EF Academy is a truly international school with students from 75 countries and more than 15 states. Through the flexible course selection process and support from pathway managers, students can customize their studies to help them reach their goals. The university advising and preparation for the ACT and SAT are also built into the US High School Diploma program.
After-class clubs and activities at the EF Academy complement in-class learning and teach international students how to work together and solve problems. With the modern sports facilities and proximity to the sea and mountains, students benefit from a wealth of athletic opportunities. Some of the sports activities include surfing, tennis, mountain biking, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. EF Academy also has more than 30 clubs, such as a film club, STEAM club, entrepreneurship club, dance club, and Model UN, to name a few.
Army & Navy Academy is also among the high-rated boarding schools in California. It is a private, boys-only college preparatory day and boarding school in Carlsbad. The academy offers a high school education for boys in Grades 9-12, as well as a junior boarding school program for Grades 7-8. The school focuses on international, professional, and modern education with military features. Still, students do not need to pursue a military career after graduating. Most graduates from the academy do not apply to military universities. They are admitted to high-ranking universities in the US and become professionals in different spheres, using their military experience.
During study at the Army & Navy Academy, international students take college preparation classes that follow the most rigorous college entrance requirements, advance their learning in AP and Honors classes, and improve their English in the specialized ESL (English as a Second Language) program. Students can also take career-oriented electives in their areas of interest. Army & Navy Academy offers more than 12 different types of sports, such as surfing, water polo, football, and various clubs, including a painting club, a forensics club, and an aviation club.
Average Tuition Fees for International Students in Boarding schools in California
The tuition fees in boarding schools in California vary from $52,800 to $69,500 per year. For instance, Army & Navy Academy charges $52,800 per year for Grades 7-9 and $55,200 per year for Grades 10-12. The total cost of tuition and 7-day boarding at the Lake Tahoe School is $55,000 per year. EF Academy charges $69,500 per year.
In case, if you need help with finding good boarding schools for your children in California, please fill in application below or contact us directly.
