Skip to Main Content
Private School0

Cate School

#2 in Best Boarding High Schools in California
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Private, Boarding
  • 9-12
  • Carpinteria, CA
  • 34 reviews
Apply NowVisit Campus
A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Diversity
    A
  3. Teachers
    A+
  4. College Prep
    A+
  5. Clubs & Activities
    A+
  6. Sports
    B
Address
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Telephone
(805) 684-4127
Website
cate.org

Applying

Application Deadline
January 15
Application Fee
$85
Interview Required
Yes
Required/Recommended Tests
SSAT, ISEE, TOEFL

Tuition

Yearly Tuition
$49,700
Tuition is for the highest grade offered and may have changed for the current school year. For more information, please contact the school.
Boarding (Tuition + Boarding)
$62,700
Received Financial Aid
28%
Average Financial Aid
$49,021
From Cate School

For more than 100 years, Cate has been combining the best of East Coast tradition and West Coast energy and innovation in the service of highly motivated, independent-minded kids — those who are comfortable in the company of adults, who believe in themselves and their own education, and who want something more than they can get anywhere else. They come to this place of eucalyptus trees and Newtonian mechanics, this place of sunsets, ceramics, and Salinger, this mesa between the mountains and the sea, and find it is the place for them. Maybe it is the place for you.

Cate School Rankings

Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.

Academics

Average Graduation Rate
100%
Average SAT
1390
120 responses
Average ACT
32
25 responses
Niche College Admissions Calculator
Popular Colleges

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges.

Culture & Safety

Poll
100%
of students agree that they feel safe at their school.6 responses
Poll
100%
of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there.6 responses
Poll
What are your favorite school events or traditions?
Based on 26 responses
Report
  • Outdoors trips
    19%
  • Square dance
    19%
  • Spring fling
    15%
  • Thanksgiving in chapel
    15%
  • Secret santa
    12%
  • All
    4%
  • Homecoming
    4%

    Boarding

    Students Boarding
    82%
    Boarding Days Per Week
    7-day
    Top Countries
    China, Ghana, Hong Kong, Korea, Republic of, Saudi Arabia
    International Boarding Students
    18%

    Students

    Diversity
    A
    Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
    Students
    280
    38%
    of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive.8 responses
    63%
    of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy.8 responses
    75%
    of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic.8 responses

    Teachers

    Student-Teacher Ratio
    6:1
    National
    17:1
    Poll
    100%
    of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons.8 responses
    Poll
    100%
    of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students.8 responses
    Poll
    100%
    of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom.8 responses

    Clubs & Activities

    Clubs & Activities
    A+
    Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.
    Girls Athletic Participation
    —
    Boys Athletic Participation
    —
    88%
    of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in.8 responses
    75%
    of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need.8 responses
    88%
    of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations.8 responses

    Cate School Reviews

    34 reviews
    All Categories
    ‘02 - I loved my time as a student at Cate - perhaps among the most rigorous and rewarding experiences of my life. I was exposed to so many new experiences, ideas and people. Most of my extended family attended (East coast) boarding schools and I think they wish they could’ve had a SoCal winter instead of a New Hampshire one! Highest recommendation. Servons
    Start Your Review of Cate School
    Rate It!
    My experience at Cate was nothing short of phenomenal. As a young adult, my ideas and thoughts, still budding and changing, were honored. My own understanding of the world was molded significantly by every unique individual that I met, each having their own values and judgements. I am always proud to be able to tell others that I have friends from at least twenty different states and over fifteen different countries. The teachers at Cate were genuine, kind, intelligent, and dedicated adults. Each and every one of them valued the power of education and gave their undivided attention to every student at any time of the day. I learned some of the most significant lessons in my life, lessons that taught me about hard work, respect, kindness, and most importantly, self-love, something that, as humans, we do not practice enough. I watched myself over four years become the woman I have dreamt of being my entire life and for that, nothing has made me more content.
    I have loved my time at Cate and highly recommend it to anyone looking at boarding school. Cate has taught me so much in and out of the classroom. I now know how to surf, paddle board, and I am scuba certified! My teachers are some of the most caring interesting people I know. I can't imagine going anywhere else and feel so blessed to have spent my high school years here.