The Athenian School

Athenian School, founded in 1965, is situated on 75 acres at the foot of Mount Diablo in Danville, California, making it the only non-sectarian boarding high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is just 32 miles from San Francisco, approximately a 32-minute drive away. Athenian's mission is to inspire students to live lives of purpose and meaning, with its education built upon six pillars: internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, adventure, leadership, and service. For over a decade, Athenian has engaged students in building airplanes, with approximately 55 students participating in the aviation program each year. The school provides an on-campus aircraft assembly room where students can partake in everything from riveting wings to installing engines. To date, students have successfully built two real, NASA-certified flyable aircraft and are currently working on a third. Athenian's robotics team is an award-winning group, mentored by professional engineers, and participates annually in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Through building robots, students gain hands-on experience in design, project management, and programming, and have opportunities to earn college scholarships. The school boasts an impressive Maker Studio, fully equipped with manufacturing equipment and tools, where students can work on their ideas any time after classes, bringing their concepts to life with teacher guidance. The school also offers wilderness experiences, where 11th-grade students, in March and August, temporarily set aside their roles and responsibilities in the campus community to explore the beauty and allure of mountain ranges or the Death Valley desert in small groups.

Data for Athena High School: 535 students, student-to-teacher ratio 1:9, international students 14%, boarding rate 17%, teachers with advanced degrees 74%. Athena High School boasts a very strong faculty, with a group of excellent teachers who are rich in teaching experience and profound in knowledge. These teachers come from all over the world, bringing diverse cultural backgrounds and linguistic habits. They not only possess professional subject knowledge but also effectively guide students to think deeply in class and provide abundant teaching examples. These characteristics make it easier for students to build self-confidence and academic interest. Athena High School encourages students to pursue academic excellence while also focusing on cultivating their humanistic qualities, artistic abilities, and social skills. The school provides students with various educational resources, such as specialized humanities subjects, art courses, and social practice projects, aiming to help them achieve all-round development. Furthermore, Athena High School also emphasizes fostering students' leadership skills and teamwork awareness. Students can participate in various activities such as student councils, volunteer organizations, and sports teams to hone their team spirit and leadership talents. These features make it easier for students to adapt to future professional and social environments, leading to success and a bright future.

Athena High School, located at the foot of Mount Diablo, spans 75 acres and is the only non-religious boarding high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. We received excellent feedback from enrolled students last year. Almost 100% of the school's students are admitted to universities. The school emphasizes community service, wilderness survival training, international exchange, and special courses like aircraft construction projects and robotics. The school's features are as follows:

1. Innovation Lab: The school has its own innovation studio, including an industrial arts area and a computer/CAD/3D printer space. Students engage in the use and innovation of robots, electric vehicle projects, 3D printers, computer-controlled routers, laser cutters, and a range of tools, electronics, and other manufacturing equipment.

2. Entrepreneurship Courses: Students will learn skills including building financial models, focus group research, customer discovery, marketing, pitching, and iteration. Combining entrepreneur case studies from various industries applied in entrepreneurial competitions, students will help Athenians host the live presentations of the Diamond Challenge, a global business competition sponsored by the University of Delaware.

3. Athena students, as members of our international community, develop important cross-cultural skills and international understanding by participating in our Round Square program. Students engage in international exchanges, traveling to Canada, the UK, and Colombia. By graduation, nearly 80% of Athena High School students participate in international experiences, with recent destinations including India, Canada, Colombia, Germany, the UK, Peru, and South Africa. These opportunities support Athena's commitment to nurturing self-aware and engaged global citizens.

Student feedback regarding this school is very positive, but its geographical location is a bit remote. In the first week after arrival, school teachers organize various activities for all students, such as a 3-day camping trip. These activities allow students and teachers to get acquainted in advance, helping students integrate more quickly.

Regarding mobile phones, the network blocks games from Monday to Friday. The network officially opens on Saturdays and Sundays. From 7-9 PM, mobile phones are not allowed, and students must go to the library for self-study.