Besant Hill School

It is ranked #9 in California and #73 nationally among the best boarding high schools.

Nice location with peaceful environment

My son joined the school as a boarding freshman from China. It is a small school where each kid get more attention from faculties in both educational guidance and living care. Three trips per week for kids to access different areas of great LA and shopping, food, etc. A rarely beautiful campus with great scenes and animals. Happy valley happy school!

My son, now a grade 11 student, attended Besant Hill School in 2024. Situated in the beautiful and safe city of Ojai, Besant Hill School has provided an exceptional educational experience. The teachers and staff are not only dedicated to academic growth but also supportive in daily life, fostering a nurturing environment. Moreover, the school's dining facilities offer delicious meals, often praised by my son as among the best in the US. Additionally, the school organizes a variety of weekend activities, including visits to museums, skiing trips, and city tours, which enhance the students' overall experience. Besant Hill School truly excels in providing a well-rounded education and a vibrant community culture.

It is really funny to be at a such small community, students can experience meaningful and interesting activities. Especially during weekends, there is opportunities for volunteering, The faculties are all really friendly and supportive.Being at school you can also enjoy the beautiful nature there, it is really cool and relaxing.

As a parent, I have been consistently impressed by the care and support shown by the teachers and staff at Besant Hill School. My child has grown academically, creatively, and personally in a warm, inclusive community that encourages every student to thrive.

Attracted by the title of a top 64 boarding high school in the U.S., I felt its value during the school visit – the entire campus is an 'academic paradise' with a strong scholarly atmosphere. A student-teacher ratio as low as 1:4 is rare in the U.S., meaning every student receives high attention, which is very friendly for international students. The school offers excellent quality in both academic programs and extracurricular activities. For college admissions, there's also the California Junior Class program that can accelerate the university process, and the admission results are consistently good every year.

1. One of the top 100 boarding private schools in the U.S., with excellent on-campus dormitory support.
2. Abundant advanced course options, plus dual-credit courses available for aiming at top universities.
3. Graduates are favored by prestigious UC universities.
4. Stunning, resort-like campus environment.

A Top 64 boarding school in the U.S., located in California, offering rich educational and cultural resources along with a beautiful campus environment. The school provides a dual-credit program that can save up to 2 years of time and university tuition fees, suitable for international students aiming for UC admission (as a safety) or aspiring to enter higher-ranked universities.

Besant Hill School is a top-100 ranked boarding private school in the U.S., located in the scenic Ojai Valley, California. Its modern campus, integrated with nature, offers an unparalleled American high school experience. The school boasts a rich selection of AP courses and dual-enrollment programs, allowing students to take university courses and earn college credits while still in high school, accelerating their study path, saving time and costs.

?【California Art School | Besant Hill School - The Cradle of Hollywood Directors, A Utopia for Creatives】?
? California's only boarding high school dedicated to art innovation
80 years of heritage and craftsmanship, 100% art college acceptance rate
✨ Five Unique Advantages:
✅ University-level art resources
Hollywood collaborative film studio + Apple-certified media center
Professional-grade theater/recording studio/darkroom/pottery workshop
Monthly masterclasses with Oscar winners
✅ Innovative academic curriculum
"Art + Academia" interdisciplinary learning model
100% pass rate for AP Art History/Studio Art
Environmental science program with a 200-acre natural laboratory
✅ Impressive university admissions results
2023 admissions include:
Rhode Island School of Design (12 offers)
Parsons School of Design (9 offers)
USC School of Cinematic Arts (6 offers)
Berklee College of Music (5 offers)
✅ Personalized growth path
1:5 student-teacher ratio, personalized portfolio guidance for everyone
4 hours of 1-on-1 professional art training per week
Graduation requirement: complete a personal art curation project

Besant Hill School is a small but excellent private art high school in California. It is located in the town of Ojai. In addition to AP courses, the school has also just launched a university preparatory program, allowing students to earn college credits in advance. Its academics are rigorous, and its art programs are also quite good!

This school's philosophy is education for lifelong learning and self-discovery. I am very satisfied with sending my two children here. The student-teacher ratio is 1:4, creating a very family-like atmosphere, and there are many excellent teachers who emotionally support the children like parents. Students are trained to think deeply and present their ideas three-dimensionally in all subjects, including English, philosophy, history, and mathematics. The newly appointed Academic Director and College Counselor provide significant support for the children's academics and college admissions.

To parents and students considering boarding school abroad, I want to emphasize that it is crucial to consider whether students can lead an emotionally healthy life, in addition to the school's ranking and college admissions prospects. Emotional stability is key to performing well in studies, extracurricular activities, and achieving positive outcomes in college admissions. An overly competitive or large school might be overwhelming for young students.

The unique location of Ojai, a short flight to LA, delicious school food, and a relatively high proportion of Asian students are all advantages for Korean international students. I hope that Korean international students considering boarding school abroad will consider Besant Hill School.

The school cares greatly about students' academic progress and well-being. Children can improve their studies with the help of teachers at school; the daily supervision of evening self-study is very responsible. The school emphasizes sports, and students choose their favorite activities themselves.

Besant Hill School

1. The school is located on a 520-acre expansive campus in the Ojai Valley, California, a 1.5-hour drive northwest of Los Angeles, with direct flights available from China.
2. ESL Courses: The school has a separate ESL department in addition to its English department, offering three levels to meet students' diverse needs.
3. This is a small-scale school, with only about 100 students in total, offering a very high level of attention to students.
4. Signature Programs: Portrait of a Graduate, 12th Grade Capstone Project, Outdoor Education Program, Experiential Learning, Ecological Literacy Education, Academic Support Program.
5. The school's academic level is generally average, suitable for students of moderate ability. Chinese students have previously been admitted to the University of Washington.

Besant Hill School

1. The school is located on a massive 520-acre campus in California's Ojai Valley, 1.5 hours northwest of Los Angeles by car, with direct flights available from China.
2. ESL Program: The school has a dedicated ESL department separate from its English department, offering three levels to meet the diverse needs of students.
3. This is a small-scale school, with only about 100 students in total, allowing for very high attention to students.
4. Special Programs: Portrait of a Graduate, 12th Grade Capstone Project, Outdoor Education Program, Experiential Learning, Ecological Literacy Education, Academic Support Program.
5. The school's academic level is generally average, suitable for students of moderate ability. Chinese students have previously been admitted to the University of Washington.

Hello: Besant Hill School, founded in 1946, aims to inspire students' potential and cultivate a lifelong love for learning as its educational mission, making it a medium-level boarding school. We once had a student attend this school who then graduated and went to the University of Washington. They gave the school excellent reviews, describing it as a small but excellent school. If you hope for students to receive more attention, this high school could be a good choice.

During my high school years, I attended Besanthill School. The teacher-student ratio was quite favorable, and the school atmosphere was excellent.

My three nephews all graduated from BHS between 2012 and 2016, and subsequently studied their preferred majors at prestigious universities in the United States. As their guardian, I had many opportunities to interact with the BHS community then, and have continued to do so ever since.

In my opinion, BHS is an excellent college preparatory school. Its main strengths lie in: (1) fostering creativity through a strong arts program, (2) cultivating a lifelong learning mindset, and (3) offering a balanced curriculum among sports, arts, and numerous college preparatory courses.

I highly recommend it to any student who wishes to develop into an independent and happy thinker with lifelong pursuits.

The high school I attended for four years laid a solid foundation for my future life and studies. With a teacher-student ratio of 1:4, every teacher paid great attention to the students, making the school often feel like home.

Just like the school's name, it’s a happy valley.

I graduated from Besant Hill in 2016 and then went to New York University to study filmmaking. My study and life experience at Besant Hill gave me a very unique high school experience, cultivated my interest in film art, and also solidly prepared me for my subsequent university academic courses. Besant Hill's campus is very beautiful, and it was very fortunate to be able to study there. The school's art and environmental science courses are excellent. I received great artistic exposure there and also learned a lot about the natural environment. Especially with the campus being situated in beautiful nature, I developed an unprecedented affection and reverence for the natural environment. I highly recommend this school!

Besant Hill School is one of the most renowned high schools in the United States, focusing on art education. It's located in California, and its graduates have excellent college placements. We collaborated on a summer program, and after returning to China, the children were even invited to participate in the recording of Beijing TV's 'Growth Conference' program, sharing their wonderful experiences at Besant Hill School.

1. Besant Hill School is a boarding high school located in California, and its arts program is excellent.
2. The school boasts an excellent geographical location. Situated in a famous tourist destination in California, the school spans 520 hectares and is surrounded by beautiful valleys, offering students a quiet, natural, and pleasant learning environment with its serene pastoral scenery. Additionally, the school is only a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles.
3. The school also offers a rich variety of music and arts courses, and every year students are admitted to prestigious music and arts universities.
4. Although Besant Hill School is a small elite high school with just over 100 students, it boasts a beautiful 520-hectare campus and luxurious teaching facilities, and its array of activities is also very rich.
5. The 18 members of the Class of 2020 have received 103 admission offers, with an average of 6 offers per student.

The school has a small student body but a large and very beautiful campus. All art classes are good, but fewer AP classes are offered. The quality of core classes depends on the teacher and luck; some are good, while others are quite lax/not very demanding.

Besant Hill School evolved from Happy Valley School (established in 1946), changing its name to Besant Hill in 1971. Located in Ojai, California, it is a boarding school focused on fostering creativity. The school hopes students will explore themselves and discover their potential through academics, music, art, sports, and other fields. The school provides a safe and intimate community, giving students space for free expression. The school curriculum includes academic subjects, music, film arts, drama, photography, and more. Outdoor education, community service, and sports programs are also important components of the curriculum.

Besant Hill School evolved from Happy Valley School (established in 1946), changing its name to Besant Hill in 1971. Located in Ojai, California, it is a boarding school focused on fostering creativity. The school aims for students to explore themselves and discover their potential through academics, music, art, sports, and other fields. The school provides a safe and intimate community, giving students space for free expression. The curriculum includes cultural studies, music, film arts, drama, photography, and more. Outdoor education, community service, and sports programs are also important components of the curriculum.

1. The school spans 520 hectares, surrounded by beautiful valleys, offering students a peaceful and natural pastoral learning environment. 2. The school values the development of each student, with a student-teacher ratio of 1:4. Small class sizes are adopted, with an average of about 10 students per class, allowing students ample opportunities for interaction with teachers during lessons. Bassan Hill Secondary School offers 8 AP and 2 Honor courses. 3. In addition to comprehensive academic programs, the school also offers a variety of exquisite art courses, covering three aspects: performing arts, visual arts, and production and exhibition. 4. The school provides OEP travel programs (Outdoor Education Program), including: ropes courses, kayaking, hiking, yoga, etc., aiming to enhance students' abilities through continuous challenges.