MENU LONG STORY SHORT. KEEP SCROLLING Home > About > Quick Facts Quick Facts Founded in 1910, Cate is a four-year, coeducational college preparatory boarding school in Southern California. We look for exceptional and motivated students who want to fully immerse themselves in a challenging educational experience. Our mission: Through commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service, each member of the Cate community contributes to what our founder called: “the spirit of this place…all compounded of beauty and virtue, quiet study, vigorous play, and hard work.” 1910 YEAR FOUNDED 276 STUDENTS 56% STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA 5:1 STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO 149 CLASSES 46 HONORS & ADVANCED COURSES Inclusive Campus Cate School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all 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, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship, athletic, and other school-administered programs. LEARN MORE Student Body Total students: 298 (229 boarders / 69 day) Boarding students from outside California: 56% Boarding students from abroad: 17% Students of color: 54% Students who receive need-based financial aid: 25% Financial aid allocated for 2019-20: $4,500,000 16 foreign nations represented in student body 2019-20: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, El Salvador, Ghana, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand. 25 states represented in student body: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming Location Carpinteria, CA 150-acre campus 5 minutes to the beach 15 minutes to Santa Barbara 90 minutes to Los Angeles Academics and Colleges 23% of the Class of 2020 are either National Merit Commended Scholars or National Merit Finalists Mean SAT of Class of 2020: 1398 Mean ACT of Class of 2020: 33 Student-teacher ratio is 5:1 153 courses offered 51 advanced and honors courses offered Average class size: 10 students Directed studies courses support interests outside or beyond the established curriculum Admissions Inquiries received yearly for admission: 2,000 Interviews conducted yearly for admission: 600 Applications submitted yearly for admission: 700 New students enrolled yearly: 75-80 General median SSAT total percentile of new students: 85th For over 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. 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. Donate Upcoming Events Parent Portal Calendar General Inquiries Admission Inquiries INQUIRE NOW 1960 Cate Mesa Road, Carpinteria, California 93013 School Store Giving Directory Employment Campus Map BACK TO TOP