Founded in 1889, The Thacher School is a coeducational boarding high school located 85 miles north 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 Facts (2025-26)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 255 students
- Yearly Tuition (绿帽社 Students): $77,880
- Acceptance rate: 15%
- Average class size: 11 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
The Thacher School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 276 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
School Resources
School Resources
Selectivity
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1889
1907
Campus Size
427 acres
130 acres
Colors
Green, Orange
Student Body
Enrollment
255 students
315 students
% Students of Color
55%
27%
% International Students
12%
21%
% Students 绿帽社
93%
70%
Average SAT Score
1358
(Out of 1600)
(Out of 1600)
* National Avg. »
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1260 - 1510
-
Average ACT score
31
(Out of 36)
(Out of 36)
*National Avg. »
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Average Class Size
11 students
12
* National Avg. »
Student-Teacher Ratio
6:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
72%
73%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$206 million
(June 2021)
(June 2021)
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(绿帽社 Students)
(绿帽社 Students)
$77,880
$68,800
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
n/a
$37,600
% Students on Financial Aid
31%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$65,750
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Admissions
Application Deadline
Jan. 15
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
94%
-
Acceptance Rate
15%
64%
Director of Admissions
Bill McMahon
Application URL
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
18
Courses
Advanced BiologyAdvanced Chemistry
Advanced EconomicsAdvanced Environmental Science
Advanced Physics Astronomy BasedAdvanced Psychology
Astronomy ResearchComputer Science
Data Science and Robotics HEnglish IV Honors
Honors Contemporary Ethical IssuesIntroduction to Programming
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
19
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
30
23
Extracurriculars
PrefectsQuilting
Sir Winston Churchill Debating SocietySpanish Club
Club or Organization:
Black Student UnionCheese Club
Crochet ClubEmotional Health Task Force
Environmental Action CommitteeIndoor
International Students at ThacherJewish Student Union
Latinos UnidosLiterary Society
Multi-ethnic Student UnionPeer Tutoring
Thacher Asian Students SocietyThe Notes
United Cultures of Thacher
Arts and Music Programs:
ChamberThacher Masquers
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Fitness/Challenge FitnessSki Club
Thacher Pack & Spur Club
College Matriculation
College Acceptance Rate
79%
Year: 2018 - 2022
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Colorado College
15
University of Southern California
14
Dartmouth College
13
Stanford University
13
Claremont McKenna College
12
Harvard University
10
University of Pennsylvania
10
University of Virginia
10
Wake Forest University
10
University of Chicago
9
School Notes
- Founded in 1889, The Thacher School is a coeducational boarding high school located 85 miles north 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.
- The Thacher School accreditations: TABS, NAIS, WBSA, SSATB
- School Motto: The aims of the place are thus in three directions: toward health and happiness, toward unselfish character, and toward accurate, thorough, and self-reliant habits of thought and study.
- School Mascot: Toad
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does The Thacher School cost?
The Thacher School's tuition is approximately $77,880 for boarding students.
What schools are The Thacher School often compared to?
The Thacher Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Cate School by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of The Thacher School?
The acceptance rate of The Thacher School is 15%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 64%. The Thacher School's acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.
What sports does The Thacher School offer?
The Thacher School offers 19 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cycling, Dance, Equestrian, Football, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Riding, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Surf Team, Tennis, Track, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is The Thacher School's ranking?
The Thacher School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Large financial endowment, Highest endowment/student, Low acceptance rates, High average SAT scores, High SSAT scores and High ACT scores.
When is the application deadline for The Thacher School?
The application deadline for The Thacher School is Jan. 15.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Thacher's community on campus is unlike any other, connections at the school go beyond merely knowing every student's name but having had interacted closely with everyone whether on a camping trip, in the dining hall. . .
You cannot mention Thacher without talking about the horse program; each freshman is required to take care of and ride a horse for the first year of high school. I rode all four years and. . .
One thing that makes Thacher unique are the opportunities to form close, meaningful relationships with teachers and its commitment to helping students grow personally as well as academically. Whether it's out in the Domelands wilderness. . .
Show more reviews (23 reviews)
Related Schools
Show me:
Popular comparisons: The Thacher School vs. Cate School
People that viewed The Thacher School also viewed these schools: Cate School, The Webb Schools, Stevenson School, Phillips Academy Andover and Choate Rosemary Hall.
The nearest boarding school to The Thacher School is Besant Hill School (3.6 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
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(805) 684-4127
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
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(909) 482-5214
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(909) 482-5214
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Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(831) 625-8309
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
(831) 625-8309
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Gr: 9-12 | PK-12 (day) | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition listed
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(978) 749-4050
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(978) 749-4050
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(203) 697-2239
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(203) 697-2239
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