The Besant Hill academic experience is characterized by a thoughtful and intentional approach blending intellectual challenge with individualized instruction catered to the specific needs of each learner. Our faculty grounds their pedagogy within a Universal Design for Learning framework, leveraging our small class sizes to evaluate the needs of their students and adjust instruction and assessment accordingly. This approach results in classrooms that abound with creative and collaborative energy directed towards learning developmentally-appropriate skills, content, and meta-cognitive approaches we hope students will carry with them long after they leave Besant Hill.

The Besant Hill curriculum similarly reflects our intention to create individualized and learner-centered classroom experiences. Blending opportunities for access to unlimited Advanced Placement (AP) courses, contemporarily relevant elective courses across all disciplines, and expansive offerings in the arts, our students are able to, each year, craft a schedule that suits their passions and interests while adhering to the University of California’s A-G graduation requirements. Additionally, our STEAM program provides students opportunities to engage in discipline-specific studies of subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Biology among others, while also creating experiences that allow students to engage in cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies blending these related fields of study.

The result of this blend of curricula and pedagogy is classrooms brimming with intellectual creativity and risk-taking. Our students are asked to actively engage in challenging and relevant work that seeks to value and grow the whole learner, nurturing the intellectual and the social-emotional self, while privileging the learning process. In short, our goal is to help students discover how to learn, not what to learn, with the goal of creating life-long learners who will embody our community of Aun Apredo, or “I am still learning.”

The Post-Graduate (PG) year at Besant Hill School is designed for students who have completed high school and want additional time to prepare for the academic and social challenges of college. This year is an opportunity to strengthen English language skills, improve SAT scores, and explore a wider range of college options. The curriculum is personalized to meet each student’s needs, whether that means refining writing skills, boosting English fluency, or developing an art portfolio for college admissions. The program also aligns with the University of California graduation requirements, ensuring a seamless transition to higher education. PG students receive the benefit of our intensive college counseling program with on-campus college counseling support. Additionally, students learn to live independently in our dorms with a supportive adult presence and gain the skills necessary to live away from home. With tailored support, students gain the confidence and academic foundation necessary for success in college and beyond.

Key Features:

• Senior Capstone Project: An intensive research project, presented to faculty.
• College Counseling: Extensive support and university visits for interviews, empowering students to take charge of their college journey.
• ESL Program: Full-spectrum English as a Second Language support.