If you're looking for boarding schools in California, you're in luck. California has a wide variety of boarding schools. There are all-boy boarding schools in California, plus all-girls schools, military schools, Catholic schools and more. Each school has a unique philosophy and approach to education, with some specializing in the arts, like Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild. In Carlsbad, the Army and Navy Academy prepares secondary school students for life in active military duty, with uniforms and a ranking system similar to the armed forces. There are also California boarding schools with a rigorous academic standards to prepare students for post-secondary education.

Some areas in California have a really high concentration of boarding schools. In the Ojai area, for example, there's the Besant Hill School, a co-ed school that used to be called Happy Valley School. The Ojai Valley School is unique in that it houses students as young as third grade. In the High School level, there's the Thacher School and the Villanova Preparatory School, both of which specialize in preparing students for college, and boast high acceptance and scholarship rates. Also in Ojai is the beautiful campus of the Oak Grove School. Nearby, in Carpinteria, is the Cate School.

In the San Fransisco Bay area, there are several more private boarding schools, many of which are religious, like the co-ed Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville. The Santa Catalina School in Monterey and the San Domenico School in San Anselmo are both for girls only. In Pebble Beach, there's the prestigious co-ed Stevenson School and in Portola Valley, the Woodside Priory School is also co-ed and has a fantastic reputation. The Athenian School in Danville is co-ed and has a classical curriculum. Further South, in Los Olivos are the co-ed Dunn School and Midland School.

Closer to the Los Angeles area, the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is a Catholic boarding school for girls only, located in La Canada - Flintridge. The Southwestern Academy in San Marino offers a middle school program, in addition to high school. The Webb Schools, a nationwide private boarding school company has a facility in Claremont that houses students in grades 9-12. Their other locations offer programs for younger students, though.

Many California boarding schools offer private residential programs for college preparation, whether you're looking for an all girl's school, an all boys school or a co-ed environment. Additionally, you can often find therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment centers to help kids with learning disabilities, ADD, ADHD, or other behavioral disorders. A boarding school environment is a great way to immerse kids in a learning environment and ensure their safety and security. Boarding schools are less expensive than many people assume and many schools offer financial planning, scholarships and payment plans. Be sure to contact the school you've chosen early, since many schools have waiting lists. Be sure to take the time to find the school that's best for your student, since each school has its own unique environment and every person needs a different kind of learning environment to thrive.

Here are additional resources you might be interested in:

American Boarding Schools Directory

How much are Private Boarding Schools?

Information Teenage Boarding School