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The Thacher School

United States, Ojai

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees $68,050 - 84,000
Ages 14 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 261
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1889
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French, Mandarin, Spanish
Typical class size 11
Strengths Outdoor Education, STEM, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Secondary School, High School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

The Thacher School is a private, coeducational boarding high school on a 427‑acre campus in Ojai, California. The bespoke curriculum serves grades 9–12, with ninth and tenth grades building community, academic readiness, confidence, and curiosity, while juniors and seniors pursue interdisciplinary work through student‑designed xBlock electives and senior exhibitions. Language offerings include French, Spanish, and Mandarin, complemented by Advanced or Honors courses as a replacement for AP since 2019. A hallmark is the outdoor and experiential program: the Horse Program with the Barns and Gymkhana Field, two wilderness base camps, miles of trails, backpacking and horse camping. The Thacher Observatory supports astronomy and data science coursework, with NASA‑funded research conducted in collaboration with universities. The campus also houses Valley View Clinic and a robust arts program (Visual Arts, Drama, Music) with performances and exhibitions throughout the year. The school's aims reflect its founder's vision of health, happiness, character, and self‑reliance.

5025 Thacher Road, Ojai, California, 93023, USA

The Essentials

The Thacher School has 261 pupils, typical class sizes of 11, instruction in English.

Location
Ojai, California, United States; 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai, CA 93023

Stages
Grades 9–12; private, college-preparatory boarding high school

Type
Private, coeducational, boarding high school

Additional learning support
Academic Support Office coordinates accommodations and testing accommodations (ACT/College Board); offers organizational and study-skills support; supervised study hall Sunday–Thursday; learning-plan accommodations

Country affiliation
United States

Bus service
The Toad bus provides transportation to town and campus activities; it is Thacher's main transportation and has been the subject of a biodiesel conversion initiative
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Boarding is provided on campus in dormitories. Dorms are organized by grade and gender, including Casa de Piedra for 9th grade girls; Lower School for 9th grade boys; Middle School for sophomore girls; Los Padres for sophomore boys; The Hill for junior and senior girls; Upper School for junior and senior boys; and Sespe for ten juniors and seniors of all genders and allies.

Food Options
Healthy, daily dining in the Dining Hall features a wide variety of foods. Menus are nutritionally balanced and evolve to offer options for every palate, with local, organic produce from Ojai Valley farms, organic milk and chicken, and sustainably sourced seafood.

House System
Dorm life is organized around house/dorm communities led by Prefects. Dorm faculty live nearby to supervise daily life, meals, and activities, and the Meyer Cup is a year-long intra-dorm competition.

Governance and Ownership
Governing authority is a Board of Trustees.
Fees

Annual tuition at The Thacher School ranges from USD 68,050 to USD 84,000 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Domestic application fee: USD 60.00.
- International application fee: USD 120.00.

Annual tuition (2026–27 academic year)

- Boarding tuition (grades 9–12): USD 84,000 per year.
- Day tuition (grades 9–12): USD 68,050 per year.

Tuition by term and by payment installment (calculated amounts)

- Thacher's academic program is organized in fall, winter and spring terms; the per-term examples below are calculated by dividing the annual tuition by three terms and rounded to the nearest cent.
- Boarding — per term (annual ÷ 3): USD 28,000.00 (USD 84,000 ÷ 3).
- Day — per term (annual ÷ 3): USD 22,683.33 (USD 68,050 ÷ 3).

- Thacher offers installment schedules; example payment amounts are shown below (rounded to the nearest cent) and reflect simple arithmetic on the published annual tuition.
- Ten monthly installments (July 1 through April 1):
- Boarding: 10 payments of USD 8,400.00 each (USD 84,000 ÷ 10).
- Day: 10 payments of USD 6,805.00 each (USD 68,050 ÷ 10).
- Two installments (two-thirds due August 1; balance due December 15):
- Boarding: USD 56,000.00 due August 1 (two‑thirds); USD 28,000.00 due December 15 (one‑third).
- Day: USD 45,366.67 due August 1 (two‑thirds); USD 22,683.33 due December 15 (one‑third).
- One installment (tuition paid in full on August 1):
- Boarding: USD 84,000.00 due August 1.
- Day: USD 68,050.00 due August 1.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Payment-plan options available:
- Ten monthly installments: payments scheduled monthly between July 1 and April 1.
- Two installments: two-thirds of tuition due by August 1; remaining one-third due by December 15.
- One installment: full tuition due August 1.
- A 2026–27 Tuition Refund Plan (optional insurance product) is offered; enrollment and premium deadlines and terms are provided during enrollment.

Boarding-specific fees

- Boarding is included in the boarding tuition figure (USD 84,000 per year); there is no separate mandatory “boarding fee” listed in addition to the published boarding tuition for 2026–27.

Other costs and typical additional expenses

- Thacher does not charge recurring mandatory fees beyond tuition, but families should expect approximately USD 1,500 in additional, typical out‑of‑pocket costs for items such as camping and riding gear, books, and other academic supplies.
- Families may purchase optional school apparel and equipment from the Thacher School online store; such purchases are optional and not billed as mandatory school fees.
- For families receiving substantial financial aid, the Olympus Fund may offset costs for books, student and parent travel, camping and riding gear, health insurance, and a monthly student allowance.

Refund information

- A Tuition Refund Plan (administered through A.W.G. Dewar / TuitionRefundPlan.com) provides specified benefit payments to the school in the event a student withdraws, is dismissed, or incurs a medical absence, subject to the plan's terms and exclusions. Key provisions include:
- Medical withdrawal/absence: the plan will pay 75% of the unused yearly insured fees if a student's injury, sickness, or qualifying mental health condition requires withdrawal or an absence of 31 or more consecutive calendar days; benefits are retroactive to the first day of medical absence.
- Withdrawal for non‑medical reasons: the plan will pay 60% of the unused yearly insured fees if the student withdraws after attending more than 14 consecutive calendar days in the academic year.
- Dismissal: the plan will pay 75% of the unused yearly insured fees should a student be dismissed after meeting the plan's attendance requirement.
- Enrollment deadline for the plan and premium payment timing are specified in the enrollment materials (written notification/enrollment deadline by July 1; premium due within ten days after the first class day, per the plan brochure).

Fee payment options and contacts

- The school publishes the available installment schedules (ten, two, or one payment option) and offers the Tuition Refund Plan; specific methods for making payments (for example: electronic ACH/online portal, wire transfer, credit card) are handled by the school's billing process and business office at the time of billing and enrollment.
- Business-office / general contact for billing or payment‑method details: Tel: +1 (805) 646-4377; Email: info@thacher.org. Use these contacts for instructions on accepted payment methods, international‑payment processing, or to request billing documentation.

Summary points for parents

- Published 2026–27 tuition: Boarding USD 84,000; Day USD 68,050.
- Application fees: USD 60 (domestic) / USD 120 (international).
- Typical out‑of‑pocket extras (camping/riding gear, books): approximately USD 1,500.
- Optional tuition insurance (Tuition Refund Plan) details, coverage percentages, exclusions, and enrollment timing are described in the plan brochure administered by A.W.G. Dewar.
Academics

The Thacher School teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 14 to 18.

Curriculum
Thacher is a college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12. The 9th and 10th grade curriculum introduces foundational work and centers on four goals: community and belonging, academic readiness and curiosity, confidence, and excitement. In the junior and senior years, students demonstrate mastery by pursuing interdisciplinary interests across disciplines and applying skills to real-world problems. The program includes student-designed xBlock electives and senior exhibitions as vehicles for exploration and independent projects. Language offerings include Mandarin I and other world languages as part of a broad curriculum.

Higher Education Progression
On average, a Thacher senior applies to 8–12 schools, and the College Counseling staff notes that seniors submit applications to about 150 colleges and universities annually. The Class of 2026 matriculated to a wide range of institutions, including Amherst College, Barnard College, Brown University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Harvey Mudd College, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Thacher supports social and emotional development through a wellness-focused approach. The health center is fully staffed and available 24/7, with professional counselors providing confidential services, and weekly yoga and meditation sessions are offered to the community. The Wellness Center opened in the 2021-2022 school year, and a full-time Director of Counseling and Wellness joined in the summer of 2023 to coordinate student support and wellbeing initiatives. All students receive training from counseling and wellness staff on healthy ways to navigate stress and access support resources.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Thacher provides academic accommodations for students with documented learning needs. The Director of Academic Support coordinates accommodations and testing accommodations with ACT/College Board. Available accommodations include up to 50% extended time, computer use with spell check, a 4-function calculator, use of assistive technology, access to a quiet proctored testing environment, and language waivers for language-based learning disabilities. Thacher does not provide psychoeducational testing on campus and may refer external providers; documentation is required to access accommodations, and accommodations do not alter curriculum or basic pedagogy or guarantee success.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through a 24/7 health center and a range of wellness resources, including professional counselors with confidential services and regular yoga and meditation sessions. The School offers a variety of wellness and therapeutic options, with counselors who have diverse backgrounds and who visit campus or provide telehealth sessions to meet students individually or in groups. A full-time Director of Counseling and Wellness coordinates mental-health initiatives, and staff and students receive training on stress management and when to involve an adult. The Wellness Center opened in 2021-2022 and continues to expand community programming in support of mental health and wellbeing.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding policies and procedures have been strengthened, including boundary guidelines and harassment/sexual misconduct policies, with an expanded reporting process that allows third-party and anonymous reporting. Mandatory reporting obligations for employees have been clarified, and supportive measures are provided to students reporting misconduct. A student safety team, chaired by the Director of Counseling and Wellness, collaborates with the Directors of Student Life, Studies, Academic Support, DEI, and the Health Center to support at‑risk students. A standing Board committee on Student Safety provides ongoing oversight, and the School conducts periodic campus climate surveys to measure progress in prevention and response. The School works with external partners (e.g., Learning Courage, Praesidium, Relation-Shift, RAINN) and maintains resources for reporting and support, including the Ventura County Family Justice Center and national hotlines.
Parent Experience

History
Sherman Day Thacher arrived in Ojai in 1887 to tutor a friend's son, and in 1889 began The Thacher School. He turned the mountains and meadows of the Ojai Valley into a vast classroom, with horses serving as teachers. The founder described aims for the place: health and happiness; unselfish character; and self-reliant habits of thought and study. Today Thacher continues that vision with a demanding program and a dedicated faculty, supported by modern facilities and programs.

Community
Thacher's community is anchored in traditions that connect students, faculty, alumni, and families. The Thacher Traditions celebrate the year with ceremonies and routines, including beginning the year with the closing lines of Holmes's poem The Chambered Nautilus and ending major banquets with The Banquet Song. The school hosts community events and family weekends to connect alumni, parents of current students, and other members with campus life, both on campus and around the country. Fall Family Weekend features activities such as a Performing Arts Showcase and Riding Exhibitions.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Thacher connects parents through the myThacher portal and the Office of Parent Relations. The portal provides a directory, campus news, a detailed school calendar, athletic schedules, and other resources for families. Thacher hosts regional events across the country and family weekends to build community among parents and the campus. Volunteer opportunities and fundraising efforts include the Thacher Annual Fund, the Senior Parent Gift, and the Walker Bell Challenge. Affinity groups for families exist as part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program, supported by Parent Relations and including the Asian Families Network, Black Families Network, Jewish Families Network, and Latinx Families Network. Parent representatives participate in the Board of Trustees via the DEI initiatives.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Thacher School sits on a 427‑acre campus in Ojai, California, at the foothills of the Los Padres National Forest. The Barns house upwards of 120 horses, with a Gymkhana Field, riding arenas, and a trails network that connects the campus to the Los Padres National Forest. Two wilderness base camps support backpacking and horse camping: Patton's Cabin in the Sespe Wilderness and the Golden Trout Wilderness School in the southern Sierra Nevada. The Thacher Observatory was renovated in 2016 and is robotic and used for astronomy and data science coursework, with NASA‑funded research in collaboration with universities. The campus also features the Valley View Clinic, a health facility established on campus for testing and isolation as needed.

Sports Facilities
Gymkhana Field has been used for riding practice and competition since 1889. The Barns are a barn complex that houses upwards of 120 horses across nine buildings, with trails linking the campus to the Los Padres National Forest, and riding arenas of various shapes and sizes for horsemanship. A network of Trails connects the campus to surrounding riding areas, and Pack Station serves as the starting point for annual horse camping trips.

Academic Facilities
The Science Department offers small class sizes and modern, computerized laboratories with ready access to equipment. The Thacher Observatory, renovated in 2016, is a robotic, research‑grade facility used for astronomy and data science courses, and NASA‑funded research on eclipsing binaries and exoplanets is conducted in partnership with Harvard University, Boston University, and UC Santa Cruz. The Veterinary Medicine class benefits from hands‑on care of horses and pigs on campus, and environmental science and conservation work utilizes outdoor spaces such as creek beds, beehives, solar fields, and composting facilities, with collaboration from Turtle Conservancy.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Outdoor Adventures & Challenges encompasses backpacking, rock climbing, winter camping, sea and river kayaking, and other backcountry trips. Thacher maintains two base camps (Patton's Cabin in the Sespe Wilderness and the Golden Trout Wilderness School in the Sierra Nevada) to support backpacking and horse camping programs, with hundreds of miles of Trails and an Indoor Climbing Wall on campus. Extra‑Day Trips (EDTs) and other off‑campus excursions extend the outdoor learning experience. The Horse Program offers Big Gymkhana, Horse Packing, Extreme Cowboy, and the Equestrian Team, with riding facilities including Gymkhana Field, The Barns, Riding Arenas, and Trails. Astronomy and data science activities are supported by the Thacher Observatory, which hosts NASA‑funded research partnerships.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Thacher's academic program emphasizes intellectual curiosity, risk-taking, creativity, and growth. Small class sizes support personalized learning and close relationships between students and teachers. From ninth grade onward, students engage in student-designed xBlock electives and senior exhibitions, connecting coursework to real projects. Thacher replaced Advanced Placement with Advanced or Honors courses in 2019, and maker spaces and a professional-grade woodshop support hands-on inquiry.

Arts & Creative
Thacher provides Visual Arts, Drama, and Music, with every student taking at least two years of arts courses. The ninth grade introduces Introduction to the Arts, rotating through studio arts, performance studies, and music, before continuing with more specialized offerings. Students regularly perform and exhibit work on campus and off, and visiting artists lead weekend workshops and lectures. The program spans ceramics, film and digital photography, wood design, and independent projects, supported by facilities such as the Milligan Performing Arts Center.

Cultural & Language
The Language Department offers French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese with immersion to build proficiency and cultural competency. Courses go beyond basic comprehension to emphasize nuanced language use and cultural understanding. Students may spend their junior year at School Year Abroad programs in France, Spain, and China.

Social & Hobbies
Clubs and organizations on campus are diverse, including debate, film, environmental action, affinity groups, and student journalism; students may propose new clubs with faculty sponsorship. Extra-Day Trips and weekend activities provide ongoing social and recreational opportunities, along with performing arts and athletics that extend beyond the classroom. The Afternoon Program and various student-led initiatives offer additional avenues for personal interests and social engagement.

Community & Service
Nearly 70 percent of Thacher students volunteer through the Community Service Program, engaging in Weekday/Weeknight, Weekend, and Afternoon Program opportunities to serve the local Ojai community and beyond. Community Service Day brings the entire school together for service projects, with ongoing involvement by students and faculty each year.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership is embedded in daily life at Thacher. Seniors direct many aspects of the School's program through Senior Leadership, Student Government, and the Honor Council; there are between 100 and 130 head positions, with roles across dorms, teams, arts, and service. Leadership development is reinforced through mentorship, training, and opportunities to lead clubs and campus initiatives.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing is central to Thacher's culture, with the Outdoor Program offering week-long backcountry trips near the Los Padres National Forest and other wilderness experiences that build mindfulness, resilience, and teamwork. The Range of Light Wilderness Immersion Program extends wilderness study over three weeks, with students assuming roles such as Poet, Historian, and Naturalist. The Ninth-Grade Foundations Program supports social-emotional growth and sense of community, complemented by campus wellness initiatives.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught are French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese; instruction emphasizes proficiency and cultural understanding; program supports language learning through immersion and offers School Year Abroad opportunities in France, Spain, and China.

Immersion Programs
Full-immersion language instruction in French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese; the target language is used in the classroom to develop linguistic proficiency and cultural competency at all levels; students invested in language studies may spend their junior year at School Year Abroad programs in France, Spain, and China.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Inquiry form (required). Submit an inquiry to receive updates about the admission process and begin the next steps. The school welcomes applications for students entering grades 9-11 and uses the inquiry to initiate the process. 2) Campus visit (optional). Campus visits are encouraged, and tours run from September through January to help applicants experience Thacher firsthand. 3) Interview (required). An in-person or virtual interview is required; the interviewer becomes the main contact throughout the process. Interviews must be completed by January 22, 2027. 4) Standardized testing (required). Submit scores from SSAT or ISEE; PSAT is acceptable for 10th and 11th grade applicants. English language proficiency testing is required for applicants whose first language is not English, with scores from TOEFL or the Duolingo English Test accepted. SSAT (code 7648) and ISEE (code 052265) scores can be sent directly. SSAT on-campus testing is offered on November 14, 2026 and December 12, 2026. 5) Online application (required). Apply through Standard Application Online (SAO), Gateway to Prep Schools, or Finalsite; application fees are $60 for domestic applicants and $120 for international applicants; due by January 15, 2027. Application components include Student & Family Biographical Information, Student Questionnaire, Parent Questionnaire, current transcripts, current year English and mathematics teacher recommendations, with additional optional materials. The timeline continues September–January for campus visits and interviews by January 22, 2027; Financial Aid Deadline is February 15, Decisions are announced March 10, and Accepted Candidates must reply by April 10.

Scholarships
The school does not offer merit-based, academic, or talent scholarships. Financial aid is need-based and determined using the Clarity methodology to estimate a family's contribution toward educational expenses, with the total aid pool allocated among all children in tuition-charging schools. International students may apply for need-based financial aid, and citizenship does not affect eligibility. Financial aid awards are annual and require reapplication each year. Financial aid does not cover living or other non-academic calendar expenses.
School Events
The school has not added events
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