With distinctive meaningful programs, The Athenian School goes far beyond preparing talented and diverse students for outstanding colleges.
Athenian empowers its graduates to become world citizens with lives of purpose and personal fulfillment.
Athenian's distinguishing features include: an exciting and challenging academic curriculum, required community service, a required wilderness course, and extraordinary international experiences.
Other signature programs include: town meeting, an airplane construction project, an award-winning robotics team, and many international opportunities (exchange, service projects, annual conferences, and faculty-led educational and service trips).
Located on 75 beautiful acres at the base of Mt. Diablo, Athenian is the San Francisco Bay Area's only nonsectarian school with a high school boarding program.
Virtually 100% attend 4-yr. universities, from all the Univ. of CA campuses, to USC, Stanford, Ivy League campuses, outstanding liberal arts colleges, and a wide range of others.
Athenian encourages students to find the colleges or universities that best fit them, and many students gain admission to their first-choice college.
Most importantly, Athenian students develop a deep understanding of themselves, extraordinary skills for achievement, and the compassion to make a positive difference in the world.
AB Calculus AP, AP Computer Science, BC Calculus AP, French IV AP, Honors History Seminars (8+), Honors Literature Seminars (10+), Honors Science Courses (6+), LIteratuare AP, Spanish IV AP, Spanish V AP, Statistics AP
Club or Organization: Affinity Groups--cultural/ethnic, Airplane Construction, and international, Debate--Interscholastic competitions, Interim trips--local, International Community Service, International Conferences, International Exchange--study abroad, Interweave--Gay/Straight Alliance, Investment Club, regional, Robotics, Town Meeting--democratic community forum
Arts and Music Programs: Advanced Band--instrumental ensembles, Advanced Chorus, Band, Chorus, Dance, Round Square International Club, Theater, Theater Tech
Athenian's superb curriculum extends far beyond academic
subjects with distinctive programs which develop students as world
citizens for successful, meaningful, and purposeful lives. The
academic curriculum offers: interdisciplinary literature and
history courses in grades 9 and 10, followed by diverse seminars in
history and literature; hands-on and applied science options,
including an airplane construction project, applied science,
engineering design, and computer science courses, and an
award-winning robotics team; extensive mathematics offerings beyond
our two years of calculus courses to statistics and more; extensive
offerings in the arts, including drawing, painting, pottery,
photography, graphic design, architecture, theatre, dance, and
chorus, Advanced Honors courses across the curriculum; superb
college counseling with an individual plan for each student and
counselors dedicated only to college advising. Students develop
cross cultural communication, problem solving and empathy through
meaningful required community service, extraordinary international
opportunities through the Round Square Consortium of 60 schools on
six continents. International programs include study abroad
exchanges, international community service projects, and annual
international student conferences Participation in
school-governance through town meeting allows all to get involved.
All students benefit from guidance from a residential community of
faculty who live on campus with their families. Faculty know
students well, offering advice and support as mentors for each
student. The Athenian Wilderness Experience is required of all 11th
grade students (a meaningful program developing independence,
leadership, and teamwork). Athenian`s amazing an advantageous
location offers a beautiful 75-acre campus at the base of Mt.
Diablo as well as easy access to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Faculty not only teach academic subjects but mentor students
individually as academic advisors, residential program advisors,
dormitory parents, coaches, club sponsors, community service trip
leaders, and March Term trip leaders. Such programs happen on
campus, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and on international trips
to such places as Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe. ALUMNI &
PARENTS SAY: "With the perfect balance of challenge and nurturing,
Athenian teachers encourage you to experience and connect with your
studies. I enjoyed academics, athletics, and the arts. I pursued my
passions, graduating more certain of myself. I felt intellectually
confident in my first college class. Athenian changes lives, and
it's graduates affect change in the world." --Sarah Ames, Athenian
Class of 2005, Vassar College "Athenian's inclusive environment
enables every student to make a mark--whether in academics,
performance and art, or clubs and sports. Athenian consistently
produces bright, engaging, and confident young adults who are
keenly aware that they are citizens of the world." --Deepak and
Sherry Kamlani, current parents "Athenian encourages maturation as
a full person and student. Athenian created a passion for learning
in my son. He attended a Round Square conference in South Africa
that profoundly affected him. He wants to help better the world.
Jason now attends Stanford. The excitement about ideas ignited at
Athenian shone through in his Stanford application. --Tina Levy,
alumni parent (Jason, Athenian Class of 2004) "Athenian contributed
to my growth as an intellectual and individual. The Athenian
community helped me understand my role as a citizen of the world. I
will be able to contribute to the greater society thanks to
Athenian's rich ideals and supportive atmosphere. I will always
cherish and stay connected to this amazing place." --Carmen
Jimenez-Robbins, Athenian Class of 2005, Brown Univ. "Athenian
teachers respect students, saying, "I not only see your children as
they are now, but as what they can become." In my daughter, I now
see a strong student, a self-motivated learner, and a well-rounded
young lady with the desire to serve and take full responsibility
for her life." --Margaret Bam, boarding student parent, South
Africa "At Athenian you can do so many things--like start a club or
propose a change. The avenues are open for you to explore.
Personally, Athenian teachers are open to conversation outside of
the classroom, and you get to know people really well. I have
learned so much, both inside and outside the classroom. Many
students leave Athenian and find college writing easy; Athenian
prepared them well." --Kevin Burke, Athenian Class of 2005,
University of Pennsylvania School accreditations: WASC, NAIS, CAIS,
TABS, SSAT, ERB Sample of notable school alumni: Phillip Bennett -
Geology Professor, Univ. of Texas, Austin; Benjamin Brandzel -
MoveOn.org Student Action Founder; Greg Sherwood Cohalen - Emmy
Award-Winning Public Broadcasting Anchor; Craig Debro - KTVU 2,
Oakland, Television News Reporter; Joan Haratani - Attorney, San
Francisco Bar Association President; Carol Moldaw - Noted Poet,
Winner of the Field Prizer; Jackie Thomas real estate entrepreneur,
former Nike Executive and Athenian School Trustee; Andrew Wistrich
- United States District Magistrate Judge; Keenan Wyrobek Zipline
co founder, autonomous drone aircraft medical delivery
company.
Decades ago private schools could have been accused of being elitist. You had to have money to attend. The student populations were fairly homogeneous. Fortunately that has changed.
The average private school tuition in Contra Costa County, CA is $15,231 for elementary schools and $21,257 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
