The Best Boarding Schools in California

Discover the best Boarding Schools in California in this 2025 guide. Explore top-rated schools, tuition costs, parent reviews, and more.

The Best Boarding Schools in California

Students attending California boarding schools will discover a state brimming with diverse landscapes and experiences. From the grandeur of the redwood forests to the peaceful beaches of the Pacific Ocean, from the lively urban cities to the serene coastal beaches, California offers a wealth of contrasts and contradictions. Throughout history, California has been a land of opportunities, promising a better life and possible riches, just like it did during the Old West gold rush.

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Why choose a boarding school in California?

There are numerous reasons why American schools are regarded as some of the best in the world. California has one of the most diverse economies in the United States, with dynamic science, technology, engineering, and math industries. The state is home to Silicon Valley and scientific powerhouses such as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, as well as exceptional academic universities throughout the state. This makes California an ideal location for STEM students from San Diego to Sacramento.

California holds a unique place in the cultural identity of the United States and has made significant contributions to music, movies, art, and literature. From the Wild West gold rush to the glamour of Hollywood, few places capture the imagination quite like California. Students attending boarding schools in California have a unique opportunity to explore the state's rich cultural heritage.

The state of California boasts breathtaking natural landmarks. From the colossal redwood forests of NorCal to Death Valley and the Mojave deserts of SoCal, from the picturesque beaches along the Pacific coast to the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the fertile lands of Napa Valley in between, California offers limitless opportunities to explore and connect with nature. Students attending boarding schools in California can experience the state's natural beauty and diversity firsthand.

If you're looking for the best boarding schools in California, you've come to the right place. Our selection of boarding schools is thoughtfully curated to help you find the perfect fit for your child's academic and personal needs. Each school profile provides a wealth of information, including details on curriculum, extracurricular activities, campus facilities, and more. You can also read reviews from real students and parents to get a firsthand account of their experiences. If you have any questions or want to learn more, you can contact the admission directors directly. We're here to help you decide and find the best boarding school for your child's education and future success.

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Top rated Boarding Schools in California 2025

This Boarding Schools list is informed by World Schools data—we consider parents and students reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
These schools match your search and are located in usa.

IB Boarding Schools in California

US Curriculum Boarding Schools in California

British Curriculum Boarding Schools in California

How much do Boarding Schools in California cost?

According to World Schools data, the yearly tuition fee for Boarding Schools in ranges between $60000 and $60000. However, the cost varies significantly depending on various factors such as the school curriculum, extracurricular activities, location, and facilities, and can go up to $61500.

The average yearly cost is $60800, around $6100 per month, and can go up to the maximum monthly cost of $6200.

Additionally, most schools will also charge a one-time registration fee, and you also need to count an extra budget during the year for extracurricular trips, holiday camps, etc.

If you would like to explore Boarding Schools in with yearly fee filters, please use our advanced search filters.

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Parent and Student Reviews of Boarding Schools in California

  • Our 2 children have been at the school for almost 8 years. The caring, nurturing environment alongside rigorous academics, allowed my daughter to access a top university in UK while my son joined a boarding school in UK.
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    Written October 20, 2024
  • When my wife became seriously ill, I took my children out of prep school and enrolled them at Wendover, where they stayed for 3 years. At prep school, they had been very average academically, but their time at Wendover transformed them—they developed a real love for learning. We later moved to Spain and decided to place them in an international school, thinking it would help us integrate. They are now top of their respective years academically and still often talk about how much they miss Wendover. I can’t recommend Wendover highly enough, and my children would be happy to share their experiences with anyone who’s interested.
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    Written October 16, 2024
  • A great place with great people. Friendly, family atmosphere and high level of education.
    Written September 27, 2024
  • Our 2 children have been at the school for almost 8 years. The caring, nurturing environment alongside rigorous academics, allowed my daughter to access a top university in UK while my son joined a boarding school in UK.
    Written October 20, 2024
  • When my wife became seriously ill, I took my children out of prep school and enrolled them at Wendover, where they stayed for 3 years. At prep school, they had been very average academically, but their time at Wendover transformed them—they developed a real love for learning. We later moved to Spain and decided to place them in an international school, thinking it would help us integrate. They are now top of their respective years academically and still often talk about how much they miss Wendover. I can’t recommend Wendover highly enough, and my children would be happy to share their experiences with anyone who’s interested.
    Read more
    Written October 16, 2024
  • A great place with great people. Friendly, family atmosphere and high level of education.
    Written September 27, 2024
  • Awesome teachers and lovely classmates.
    Written September 26, 2024
  • The school guarantees a high level of education. I recommend it.
    Written September 23, 2024
  • I am so excited that U-Tech is now bringing the experience of JIA to students outside of Michigan! My time at JIA was pivotal to my success later in life. The unique structure of the program allowed me the flexibility to tailor my education to fit my individual needs, which was a game-changer for me. I took advantage of my flexible schedule to enroll in college courses and collaborate with JIA/U-Tech staff to create custom curriculum that aligned with my post-high school goals.
    The tools and strategies I gained during my time at JIA equipped me to excel in graduate school and now in my career as a Data Scientist at Garmin. The emphasis on critical thinking and self-directed learning has proven invaluable. I cannot recommend JIA/U-Tech enough!
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    Written September 20, 2024
  • Before Istarted at Nisai I had quite a few bad experiences with teachers. A lot of it was due to my absences or not turning in homework, and often ended up with being shouted at or told off in front of the class or privately told I should drop down onto a simpler course because I wasn’t capable of doing the subject at a higher level. While my anxiety and nerves due to these experiences still hasn’t gone away completely, the teachers at Nisai, and especially your class, have slowly lessened that fear instilled by my previous teachers. It’s sort of surreal to me that I haven’t been told off or shouted at or told I wasn’t trying hard enough or smart enough even once. But instead you’ve been really encouraging and understanding and it’s really really helped me get over some of those fears—which is why I managed to start going to live lessons—and also built my confidence back up a lot. 
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    Written September 19, 2024
  • Teachers adapt teaching methods to the student’s individual needs.
    Written August 31, 2024
  • Great place, the building is spacious and modern.
    Written August 28, 2024
  • Its been great experience till date with my lil one in PYP3 and going through great learning process
    Written August 28, 2024
  • We have discussed education at this school with my child, Eva, and she’s really excited to study here. Teachers are really well-educated. They’re experts in their fields. Some of the students may need some help with certain subjects, and they will do their best to help you. The headteacher always comes to lessons to make sure everything is running properly.

    For example, if some students can’t attend or their family circumstances make it impossible for them to attend, you can replay recordings of the lessons.

    We are really thankful to LEO School for their work!
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    Written August 13, 2024
  • Excellent qualified teachers, high level of teaching, excellent approach to children, interesting lessons, my daughter enjoys going to school.
    Written August 13, 2024