Private Boarding / Day School in Los Angeles, CA Area

Besant Hill School of Happy Valley, Los Angeles:
Besant Hill School of Happy Valley is an accredited boarding school and day high school for boys and girls, with a college preparatory program, and English language programs for grades 9 through 12. Our school sits atop 450 acres of beautiful land just outside of the town of Ojai, 90 minutes north of Los Angeles in Plumas County, CA and provides challenging academic classes, music, studio art, theater and photography, with an emphasis on creative expression. Outdoor education, community service and athletics are an important component of the educational experience. With small classes, mentor student / teacher relationships, and a quiet, rural setting we provide a safe, peaceful environment for learning, study, contemplation and self-expression.

Academics:
Besant Hill offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for grades 9 through 12. Based on the Socratic method of teaching, classes are facilitated by generating questions, which arouses a sense of inquiry and interest, and encourages students to develop logical assessment skills for problem-solving. We also offer an outstanding Experiential Education program and renowned Fine Arts and Performing Arts department.

Typical Academic Course Sequence:
- GRADE 9:  Humanities I, Algebra I or Geometry, Environmental Science (Fall), Introductory Physics (Spring), Spanish I/II or French I.

- GRADE 10:  Humanities II, Geometry or Algebra II, Biology, Spanish II/III or French I/II.

- GRADE 11:  English III or English III Honors, Algebra II or Precalculus, U.S. History and two of the following electives: Spanish III or French I/II, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Astronomy, Marine Biology, 20th Century Arts of the Western World, Art History, Music Theory, Psychology, and Geology.

- GRADE 12:  English IV or AP English and four of the following electives: Precalculus or AP calculus, Spanish III/IV or French II, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Astronomy, Marine Biology, 20th Century Arts of the Western World, Art History, Music Theory, Psychology, and Geology.

The Arts:
With more than 30 offerings in music, performing arts, visual arts and digital arts, the arts at BHS involve the whole person and affect the whole community. Rich in artistic history, BHS has a long lineage of teachers who are professionals in the stage, film, music and visual art world in this country. Imagine being taught musical theatre by one of the stars of a national television show? Or learning guitar and jazz music from one of the area's greatest guitarists? Or performing on stage next to an actor you saw in a commercial or movie? You get the picture. Because of our location and proximity to Los Angeles and the town of Ojai, home to many writers, actors, directors, musicians and artists, we have a smorgasbord of guest artists.

Experiential Education:
Experiential Education is a practice that engages students in active, hands-on learning, integrating curricular goals with practical and consequential real-life experiences.

Experiential Education encompasses a broad variety of learning activities, including outdoor education, adventure learning, service projects, internships, group-based learning projects, world travel and cross-cultural collaboration. This educational approach begins in the classroom, expands to the community and eventually takes the learning process into the world at large. Building on our mission to actively engage learners in progressive education models, students will have the opportunity to travel regionally, nationally and internationally for Experiential Education projects.

Athletics:
Athletics and physical activity are integral parts of student life at Besant Hill School. Our school strives to provide meaningful athletic activities that will instill a passion for lifelong health and wellness in our students.

The school offers interscholastic opportunities in Cross Country Running, Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball and Baseball. Intramural activities that we offer include: dance, surfing, hiking, and tennis.