The Thacher School Photo #9 - "Come west. Breathe deep. Let these books and these hills and these horses be your teachers." -Sherman Day Thacher

The Thacher School

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The Thacher School Photo #1 - "Education is not merely the making of scholars. It is the making of men and women. It is the training of the younger generation in the art of living for their own greatest good and the greatest good of their fellow citizens." -Sherman Day Thacher
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The Thacher School Photo #1 - "Education is not merely the making of scholars. It is the making of men and women. It is the training of the younger generation in the art of living for their own greatest good and the greatest good of their fellow citizens." -Sherman Day Thacher
The Thacher School Photo #2 - In courses designed for intellectual and creative expansion, students and teachers meet in seminar circles, studios, and laboratories to create a learning environment that is vigorous and supportive, galvanizing and nurturing.
The Thacher School Photo #3 - Thacher's 427 acres sit at the foot of the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California's idyllic Ojai Valley. Here, members of the girls' varsity soccer team stretch before an afternoon practice.
The Thacher School Photo #4 - Team sport offerings include football, volleyball, cross-country, tennis, basketball, soccer, track and field, lacrosse, and baseball. Students can also choose to participate in yoga, dance, rock climbing, and riding.
The Thacher School Photo #5 - Twice a year, the entire school packs up and heads into the wilderness for a week of adventure, challenge, and bonding. Leaders offer a variety of trips focusing on activities such as backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, and sailing.
The Thacher School Photo #6 - Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before lunch, the community gathers outdoors for Assembly, a time reserved for announcements, presentations, and acknowledgements. The spontaneous spirit of Assembly usually becomes fodder for discussion later in the day.
The Thacher School Photo #7 - State-of-the-art dormitories incorporate as much of Thacher's beautiful outdoor space as possible.
The Thacher School Photo #8 - Though most new students have had little or no experience with horses, each ninth grader spends the first year learning to care for and ride a horse. A long-standing tradition and central part of a Thacher education, the program teaches responsibility, problem solving, and grit in addition to riding skills and rewards participants with heightened self-confidence and awareness.
The Thacher School Photo #9 - The Milligan Center for Performing Arts, a 450-seat auditorium, hosts three major stage productions each year as well as multiple performances by the dance ensemble, jazz band, Chamber Singers, and string orchestra. Thacher's vibrant studio art program offers courses in two and three-dimensional art, photography, ceramics, and wood design.
The Thacher School Photo #10 - "Come west. Breathe deep. Let these books and these hills and these horses be your teachers." -Sherman Day Thacher
Founded in 1889, The Thacher School is a coeducational boarding high school located 85 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California. The School serves academically talented students who will benefit from a rigorous college preparatory experience.
The faculty and students live and work closely together in a community in which cooperation, trust, honesty, and respect are the cornerstones of school life.
Together, we commit to the belief that demands in the academic classroom, when combined with those of mountains and horses, of sports and the arts, produce independent minds, strong bodies, and powerful character.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Top Ranked CA School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 259 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $74,530
  • Acceptance rate: 13%
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Thacher School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

Category
Attribute
Sports offered
School History
School Resources

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Year Founded
1889
School Calendar
First Day of School
Fri. Aug 15, 2025
School Motto
Striving for Excellence in Every Facet of Life
School Mascot
Toad

Student Body

Total Students
259 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
28%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
The Thacher School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
60 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
4:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
74%
Average Class Size
11 students
List of Courses Offered
Average SAT score
1421
(Out of 1600)
Average ACT score
31
(Out of 36)
Average Percentile SSAT
92%
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
School Colors
Green, Orange

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
Jan. 15
Yearly Tuition Cost
% on Financial Aid
31%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$61,450
Acceptance Rate
13%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Bill McMahon
Admissions Associate
Anne Gregory
Endowment Size
$206 million

Sports

School Notes

  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • David Sedaris, Author and Humorist -
    • John Muir Laws, Naturalist and Artist -
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Thacher School cost?
The Thacher School's tuition is approximately $74,530 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of The Thacher School?
The acceptance rate of The Thacher School is 13%, which is lower than the national average of 84%. The Thacher School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in California with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from The Thacher School?
The Thacher School famous alumni include: David Sedaris, Author and Humorist and John Muir Laws, Naturalist and Artist.
What sports does The Thacher School offer?
The Thacher School offers 13 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Equestrian, Football, Lacrosse, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball. The Thacher School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered.
What is The Thacher School's ranking?
The Thacher School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Highest average SAT score, Highest average ACT score, Lowest average acceptance rates, Most sports offered, Oldest founding date and Largest endowments.
When is the application deadline for The Thacher School?
The application deadline for The Thacher School is Jan. 15.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Top Ranked CA School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 259 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $74,530
  • Acceptance rate: 13%
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Ojai, CA is $21,076 for elementary schools and $35,343 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Ojai, CA is 58% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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