Set on 427 acres in the Ojai Valley, The Thatcher School is California’s oldest boarding college preparatory school for ninth through twelfth grades. Founded in 1889, the school remains committed to founder Sherman Day Thacher’s belief that the most valuable education combines vigorous academic life with rugged outdoor activities.
Thacher has one of the lowest attrition rates of any boarding school in the U.S. With an average class size of 11 students, rigorous academic classes prepare students for higher education. The school offers an optional Junior Year Abroad Program in Spain, France or China.
The school experience includes single term XBlock electives, and students and teachers work together to explore topics and projects outside of core curriculum.
At Thacher, the classroom extends to the outdoors with horseback riding, rock-climbing and day trips. Ninth grade orientation begins with a week-long wilderness experience.
Dorm life is an essential part of the Thacher experience, as senior prefects work closely with faculty to support students. Faculty doors are always open, whether helping with a challenging assignment or hosting a group dinner at their homes.
The second highest rated private boarding high school in California, Thacher is also ranked as the best private high school in Ventura County.
The Thacher School
Private High School
|
Grade 9-12
5025 Thacher Rd,
Ojai, CA
259
Students
A+
School Details
Student Teacher Ratio
4:1
Average SAT Score
1440
Average ACT Score
33
Average GPA
3.74
Graduation Rate
100%
Annual Tuition
$77,880
Boarding Program
Offers Boarding
Niche Grade
A+
A+
A+
A+
A
B-
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Average GPA
3.74
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
4:1
Teachers
68
Full Time Teachers
59
Part Time Teachers
9
College Prep
Average SAT
1440
Math
720
Verbal
720
Average ACT
33
Math
31
English
34
Reading
34
Science
32
Four-Year Matriculation Rate
100%
GreatSchools Rating Details
Student Diversity
Female
50.6%
Male
49.4%
White
53.2%
Asian or Pacific Islander
16.1%
Two or more races
12.2%
Black
10.2%
Hispanic
8.3%
Interested in learning more about homes nearby? Reach out to Keven Stirdivant, an agent with experience near this school.
School Rankings
#2
Best Boarding HS in California
#7
Best College Prep Private High Schools in California
#12
Best HS For Stem in California
Specialty School Programs
Athletics Program
Colleges Students are Considering
Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
Stanford University
62 Students
University of California - Los Angeles
61 Students
University of California - Berkeley
57 Students
University of Southern California
53 Students
Brown University
52 Students
Harvard University
42 Students
Yale University
42 Students
Dartmouth College
42 Students
Columbia University
38 Students
Cornell University
37 Students
What Students Want to Study
Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Business
45 Students
Political Science and Government
36 Students
Computer Science
35 Students
Biology
34 Students
Psychology
32 Students
Economics
30 Students
Environmental Science
23 Students
Pre-Medicine Studies
19 Students
Engineering
19 Students
English
19 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
11/24/2024
In 20 years, when people look back on Thacher, they will mark the naming of Jeff Hooper as head of school as a clear turning point in the school's trajectory. There is a clear demarcation: Before Jeff Hooper and after. Under his leadership, this already great school just keeps getting better and better and it's clear that its best days are still ahead.
10/12/2023
If I could give 6 stars for academics, sciences, facilities, I would. Amazing place for your child. They will learn teamwork. They will learn grit. They will learn honor and fairness. There is no cutting corners here, and the kids are geniunely the nicest kids ever. When a student is elitist, racist, sexist, the Honor Code kicks in to high gear. Bad behavior and bad actors really are not given a break.
8/24/2021
Two of my children attended Thacher, and they had very different experiences. The bottom line is that neither of them had the experience promised to them through the admission process. The administration changed three years ago and is now at the core of a culture of division and poor mental health. Many teachers have left this year due to the 91-page MTO report of sexual misconduct that was made public this summer. I don't believe the school fosters its core values of honesty, fairness, kindness, and truth or that the administration cares much about the students at all. A significant number of students suffered extreme consequences last year due to an unhealthy peer culture and poor leadership. In addition, most students only ride horses during their Freshman year, student schedules are so busy that they become stressed out and tend to lack sleep, AP courses are not offered, and my children didn't even receive a yearbook. On a positive note, some of the teachers were really wonderful.
GreatSchools Reviews
3/16/2021
Perfectly politically correct. Barely a shadow of its former self.
11/20/2017
Superb, unique, diverse community that is incredibly warm and welcoming. Academics are challenging, teachers are supportive. There is really nothing like it anywhere.
4/7/2016
Thacher is a very stressful school, and I worry about the kids I know that go there because they get so stressed. I think its a great oppurtunity to get to go, but there is hardly any diversity. Families that I've met there all dress matching and color coded with sweater's hanging from their shoulde...
3/4/2016
Now a Junior, our daughter looks back on the freshman year western horseback riding program and realizes that it bonded her class together more strongly and positively than she could have imagined. Thacher's commitment to, and support of, a healthy residential life program is reflected in the presen...
Agents Specializing Near This School
-
Keven Stirdivant
Keven Stirdivant
Kase Real Estate
(424) 201-2851
337 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$3,250,000 Price
-
Larry Krogh
Larry Krogh
LIV Sotheby's International Realty
(805) 586-9558
149 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$4,745,000 Price
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Tiffany Rochelle
Tiffany Rochelle
Compass
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80 Total Sales
2 Near This School
$1.2M - $3M Price Range
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Tonya Peralta
Tonya Peralta
Keller Williams West Ventura County
(805) 303-2986
165 Total Sales
9 Near This School
$1.7M - $4.2M Price Range
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Patricia Waltcher
Patricia Waltcher
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(805) 394-2768
59 Total Sales
7 Near This School
$1.7M - $6.2M Price Range
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E W
E W
LIV Sotheby's International Realty Ojai
(805) 749-5367
88 Total Sales
5 Near This School
$1.4M - $6.4M Price Range
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