How to Apply

Begin Your Admission Journey

We want students to share with us what’s extraordinary about themselves. A sense of adventure and a curiosity about the natural world are essential, as well as hearing about your pursuit of varied interests and how you learn to celebrate the victories and embrace the challenges. We welcome applications for students entering grades 9-11 and are excited to learn all of the things that make you distinctive.

The Application Process

List of 5 items.

  • Inquiry form (required)

    Please join our mailing list to receive updates about the admission process and begin your next steps.

  • Campus visit (optional)

    While campus visits are optional, we strongly encourage students and families to visit and experience Thacher firsthand. We offer tours from September-January. Click here for more information and to register for a visit.
    Read More

  • In-person or virtual interview (required)

    Thacher values relationships, and an important one begins with the admission interview, as your interviewer becomes your main contact point throughout the application process.

    Interviews are conducted either in-person or virtual and must be completed by January 20, 2026.

  • Standardized testing (required)

    Thacher requires all applicants to submit scores from either the SSAT or ISEE. The PSAT is acceptable for 10th and 11th grade applicants. All testing must be taken during the same academic year in which the student is applying.

    To submit test scores directly to us, please use the following codes:
    • SSAT code: 7648 
    • ISEE code: 052265
     
    English language proficiency testing is required for applicants whose first language is not English, unless they have attended an American or international school (where English is the primary language of instruction) for the past three years. We accept scores from TOEFL or the Duolingo English Test (DET).

    To submit test scores directly to us, please use the following codes/instructions:

  • Online application (required)

    To apply to The Thacher School, you must submit an application via the Standard Application Online (SAO) or the Gateway to Prep Schools common application. There is no preference between these options. 

    • Application fee: $75 for domestic applicants | $125 for international applicants
    • Due by January 15, 2026

    Application components include:

    • Student & Family Biographical Information (required)
    • Student Questionnaire (required)
    • Parent Questionnaire (required)
    • Current and Previous Year Transcripts (required)
    • Current year English Teacher Recommendation (required)
    • Current year Mathematics Teacher Recommendation (required)
    • Personal Recommendation (optional)
    • Principal/Counselor Recommendation (optional)

Admission Process Timeline

List of 5 items.

  • September - January

    Campus visits, virtual events, and Thacher on the road. Interviews (required) must be conducted by January 20

  • January

    Application Deadline: January 15

  • February

    Financial Aid Deadline: February 15

  • March

    Candidates Notified of Decisions: March 10

  • April

    Accepted Candidates Reply Deadline: April 10

Additional Information

To learn more, please click on the links below. 

List of 7 items.

  • Math Requirement

    It is expected that every entering ninth grader will have completed a comprehensive Algebra 1 course that includes quadratics.

    Students enrolling who have only taken Pre-Algebra (Math 8 or equivalent) or Basic First Year Algebra (Math 1 or equivalent, which does not include extensive study of rational expressions, irrational numbers, and quadratic equations) will need to cover the required material in the spring or summer.

  • Academic Support and Accommodations

    Click here for more information about Thacher's accommodations policy and the services available through the Office of Academic Support.
    Read More

  • Day Students

    Approximately 20 day students attend Thacher. Given the demands of our program, our recommendation is that day students live within a 20 mile radius of our campus.

  • Homeschooled Applicants

    We welcome homeschooled applicants and encourage them to complete the standard application process. We also ask that they submit the following:
    • One or two additional letters of recommendation from adults or teachers other than the student’s parents
    • A statement of educational philosophy pertaining to the student’s specific homeschooling curriculum, including any state law guidelines
    • A 1-2 page course description or syllabi, similar to a transcript, for the last two years of homeschooling

  • International Applicants

    Thacher is proud to enroll students from around the world and actively welcomes applications from international students. International students should follow our standard application process listed above.

    English language proficiency testing is required for applicants whose first language is not English, unless they have attended an American or international school (where English is the primary language of instruction) for the past three years. We accept scores from TOEFL or the Duolingo English Test (DET).

    To submit test scores directly to us, please use the following codes/instructions:
    *Please note: In order to be eligible to apply for financial aid, a family's entire household income and assets must be reflected on a U.S. tax return.

  • Applicants Interested in Repeating a Grade

    Based on current California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) regulations, students repeating a grade at a California high school—including Thacher—are likely to be ineligible to compete in CIF competitions during their senior year. Please notify your admission officer if this applies to you.

  • Applicants Transferring from Another High School

    Based on current California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) regulations, students transferring from one California high school to another—including Thacher—who play on a varsity team will be able to practice from the start of the season but will likely need to wait six weeks from the start of the season before they can participate in a varsity game. Please notify your admission officer if this applies to you.

Contact Us

Have questions? Email us at admission@thacher.org or call us at +1 (805) 640-3210.

Admission at Thacher

We invite you to leap into an education unlike any other, where high-achieving academic rigor and uplifting community go hand in hand.
A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, California, 93023
Tel: 805-646-4377 Fax: 805-646-9490 Email: info@thacher.org 
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.