Cate School

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Cate School

Private High School | Grade 9-12
1960 Cate Mesa Rd,  Carpinteria, CA
4.5
4.0
308 Students
A+
Niche Grade

School Details

Head of School
Mrs. Sandi Pierce
Student Teacher Ratio
5:1
Average SAT Score
1440
Average ACT Score
31
Average GPA
3.75
Graduation Rate
100%
Annual Tuition
$67,290
Boarding Program
Offers Boarding

Niche Grade

A+
Academics
A+
Teachers
A+
College Prep
A+
Resources/Facilities
A+
Clubs and Activities
B+
Sports
Source: Niche
Niche Grades

Niche grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. Niche data scientists and user researchers rigorously analyze data and user opinions to assess the key aspects of K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live. Every month, millions of students and families use the Niche grades and report cards to find the right school or neighborhood.

Niche Grade Details

Academics
Average GPA
3.75
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
5:1
Teachers
60
Full Time Teachers
60
Part Time Teachers
0
College Prep
Average SAT
1440
Math
720
Verbal
720
Average ACT
31
Math
29
English
32
Reading
32
Science
31
Four-Year Matriculation Rate
100%
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Very High
Boys Athletic Participation
Very High

GreatSchools Rating Details

Student Diversity

Female
50.5%
Male
49.5%
White
61.2%
Asian
17.1%
Hispanic
10.7%
Black
8%
Two or more races
2.7%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
<1%

School Rankings

#1 Best Boarding HS in California
#3 Best Private HS in California
#9 Best College Prep Private High Schools in California
Source: Niche

Specialty School Programs

Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
Athletics Program

Colleges Students are Considering

Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
University of California - Los Angeles 65 Students
University of California - Berkeley 55 Students
New York University 55 Students
Stanford University 54 Students
University of Southern California 52 Students
Brown University 49 Students
Columbia University 46 Students
University of Pennsylvania 44 Students
Yale University 42 Students
University of Chicago 37 Students

What Students Want to Study

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Business 42 Students
Psychology 37 Students
Computer Science 34 Students
Political Science and Government 31 Students
Economics 30 Students
Biology 25 Students
International Relations 21 Students
Philosophy 20 Students
English 19 Students
History 19 Students

This School’s Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.5 52 Reviews
5.0 Freshman
1/10/2026
I absolutely love Cate. The community in the dorms is unlike anything I have seen. Every student enrolls in after-school sports, and weekend activities are abundant.
5.0 Parent
12/11/2025
Although no school is perfect, Cate School offers an inclusive, challenging, robust experience, teaching students to exercise independence while building strong relationships with peers and adults. The setting is stunning. Parents are offered opportunities to engage with the school and be involved where and when they can. There is no other school like Cate. 10/10
5.0 Parent
11/21/2024
Cate is an extraordinary place. It's so much more than an exceptional school with stellar academics and robust sports -- it's a home, a connected community, and a supportive place of growth. My son has truly blossomed here thanks to the faculty and staff. Ms. Salcedo, Deeg (!!!), Drs. Santetos and Moore, M. Pouye, Coach Hansen -- all have been transformative in his life, and we could not be more grateful or pleased. The deep friendships forged here will last a lifetime. The campus is gorgeous, there are shuttles to Santa Barbara and Carp for weekend fun, outings week changed my indoorsy kid into a hiker, dorms are well-kept, and there are tons of opportunities for clubs, music, theater, sports and more. The key to Cate is that, yes, they hold the bar very high like other top boarding schools, but they also provide the tools and support to get there. There is pressure to achieve, but it is not a pressure cooker. We had choices among a few schools, and we are so happy we chose Cate.
GreatSchools Reviews
4.0 7 Reviews
5.0 student
6/2/2017
Best years of my teenage life. I have developed and become more mature in every way possible. Almost every single teacher on this campus is dedicated to your development, that is if you seek for help. Those who do well are those who acknowledge their weaknesses and are not afraid to seek outside hel...
5.0 parent
4/3/2015
I cannot say enough about how wonderful Cate is. The facilities are absolutely amazing. The teachers across the board are engaging and outstanding. The demands they place on their students prepare them well for college. Most importantly, the combination of scholarship, athletics, and social activiti...
1.0 student
3/6/2015
I am currently a student at Cate School and my experience has been terrible. I transferred in to the school hoping that it would give me a competitive academic environment and a group of great friends. The school tells all students that it has a "community feel" and "close tight-knit family". These...
5.0 parent
1/29/2013
Cate School is an incredible community of learners. Since the December 13, 2012 poster has taken up the academic issues raised by the May 17, 2011 poster, I will take on the "permissiveness" issue. Cate School artfully balances structure and freedom. There are many rules in place well-tailored to th...

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Cate School is a private school for students in grades 9-12 located at 1960 Cate Mesa Rd in Carpinteria, in the Carpinteria neighborhood. Annual tuition is $67,290. The school has a total enrollment of 308 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 5:1. Cate School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of A+. The average GPA is 3.75, the graduation rate is 100%, and average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1440 and an ACT score of 31. The average home value in this area is $1,733,805. Discover additional schools in the area, like Carpinteria Senior High School, The Howard School, Carpinteria Middle School, and more. Learn more about what Carpinteria has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near Cate School.

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