The Thacher School
- Ojai, CA
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Thacher educates students for lives of leadership and service. Students enjoy a profoundly engaging intellectual life and develop a foundation for lifelong learning. Graduates also attribute their preparation to qualities cultivated outside the classroom: the resourcefulness and responsibility developed through camping and riding; the integrity that comes from living by an Honor Code; the sense of purpose found in community engagement and leadership. At the core of Thacher’s intellectual community lies the relationship between students and teachers, nurtured and supported by our Honor Code, which is exemplified by unproctored examinations in the 11th and 12th grade, and our student-led Honor Council.
Academic Program:
In September 2019, Thacher implemented a new curriculum that no longer included Advanced Placement courses. The 17 offerings formerly designated as AP were redesigned as Advanced or Honors courses. This curriculum is the result of a multi-year effort to develop a program grounded in a broader, more expansive definition of rigor and mastery; it is anchored by Foundational Studies in 9th and 10th grade, and followed by Advanced Studies in 11th and 12th grade. The latter involves deeper dives into various subjects, interdisciplinary courses, opportunities for independent study and project-based learning. The academic program continues to culminate with the Senior Exhibition—a capstone, independent research project. By stepping away from the AP, Thacher is confident we are better nurturing the learning liveliness of our students, their talents, passion, drive, and intensity of focus.
College Admissions Highlights:
Over the past four years, the most commonly attended schools by recent Thacher graduates include: University of Southern California (13), Colorado College (12), Dartmouth (12), Claremont McKenna (9), Brown (8), Stanford (8), UPenn (8), Columbia (7), Pomona (7), Santa Clara (7), and the University of Chicago (7).