Cate School, founded in 1910, is a co-educational boarding and day school on a 1,100-acre prairie campus with a 40-acre mountain campus near Santa Barbara. Offering grades 9-12 with Harkness-style discussions, a culture of inquiry, and the motto 'Servons' (Let us Serve), it features extensive arts, mountain sports, and equestrian programmes.
Location
1960 Cate Mesa Road, Carpinteria, CA 93013. Near Santa Barbara, 90 minutes from Los Angeles.
Stages
Grades 9-12.
Type
A co-educational boarding and day school.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Students from multiple US states and countries.
Additional learning support
Peer mentoring through learning labs.
Boarding Arrangements
Residential programme with 10 adobe houses. Faculty and students live and learn together.
House System
10 residential adobe houses.
Curriculum
Culture of inquiry with Harkness-style discussions. Interdisciplinary, hands-on lessons with guided independent research. Senior Capstone research projects.
Higher Education Progression
College counselling programme.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Focus on character and compassion development.
History
Founded in 1910. Over a century of education on the California coast.
Community
Faculty and students live together. Weekly Public Service Night. Diverse student body.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Alumni engagement programmes.
Facilities Overview
1,100-acre Prairie campus and 40-acre Mountain Campus. 10 residential adobe houses. Library, theatre, arts studios.
Sports Facilities
Athletics facilities, climbing walls, mountain biking trails, equestrian centre.
Academic Facilities
Library, Alcazar Theatre, modern academic buildings.
