Name: Besant Hill School
Address: PO Box 850, Ojai, CA 93024
County: Ventura County
Phone Number: 805-646-4343
Fax: 805-646-4371
Web site: http://www.besanthill.org/
Email: admission@besanthill.org
Head of School: Paul Amadio (Head of School)
Type of School: Private, Boarding/Day, International
Founded: 1946
Ages/Grades: Grades 9-12
Setting: Located on 450 acres of land, ninety minutes north of Los Angeles, the Besant Hill School features a quiet, rural setting of unusual beauty. Surrounded by spectacular panoramic views of the Topa Topa Mountains and the Ojai Valley, the Besant Hill School provides a serene, natural environment in which students can pursue their educational goals
School Size: 100 students or less
Classroom Size: 10
Student/Teacher ratio: 4:1
Tuition: Day 19,900; Boarding 38,800 + Book and Activity Fee 1,950. ESL fees 2,500-6,500. Learning Support 7,000
Financial Aid: Yes
Departments: http://besanthill.org/academic_departments
Support Services: Yes, Learning support, ESL support
Camp Programs: No
Afterschool Programs: Yes
School Clubs: Amnesty International, Environmental Club
Admissions Requirements: Complete application packet

Besant Hill offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for grades 9 through 12. Based on the Socratic method of teaching, classes are facilitated by generating questions, which arouses a sense of inquiry and interest, and encourages students to develop logical assessment skills for problem-solving. Click the links below for an in-depth look at our curriculum.

BHS was founded by a community of educators and philosophers who were convinced of the need for new approaches to education. They envisioned an educational climate that would foster the overall intellectual and emotional development of each student in every aspect of daily life. A community whose members would be held together by an ethical and profoundly spiritual bond, regardless of individual backgrounds and beliefs.

The mission of Besant Hill School is the development of each individual's intellectual and artistic abilities. Through awakening the spirit of inquiry, we encourage each student to pursue integrity and excellence. Our non-competitive community builds honesty, respect, compassion and responsibility. Our goal is to develop a lifelong habit of learning as embodied in our school's motto Aun Aprendo , I am still learning.

Our mission is achieved through:

• A rigorous College Preparatory Program
• An intensive Fine Arts Program
• A school of no more than one hundred students with small classes
• A community that values both formal and informal mentoring
• An integrated International Student Program
• A nurturing Residential Program with full time staff
• Outdoor Education and Athletic Activities
• A Human Development Program
• An appreciation for nature with respect, compassion and responsibility for all forms of life
• Fostering a sense of appreciation for the worldviews, arts, and histories of diverse cultures
• Creating a community that celebrates individual backgrounds and beliefs

The Besant Hill School philosophy is drawn from the vision of our founders, who believed that the environment which encourages the fullest development of student potential is one that affords the opportunity to explore creative as well as intellectual abilities. We believe in working together in a spirit of cooperation, not conformity, seeking to cultivate and express what is excellent in each.

Intellectual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry are the activating factors in the educational process, while active participation in school community builds caring and responsible individuals, promoting lives of integrity, awareness, and purpose.

Our motto of "Aun Aprendo" reflects our belief that life can be lived in its fullest sense through lifelong efforts toward personal development and growth.