Besant Hill School
| Besant Hill School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Ojai, CA United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Boarding, Day |
| Religious affiliation(s) | No religious affiliation |
| Established | 1946 |
| Head of School | Randy R. Bertin, Ed.D. |
| Faculty | 23 |
| Enrollment | 104 |
| Average class size | 9 students |
| Student to teacher ratio | 4:1 |
| Campus | 520 acres (2.1 km2) |
| Color(s) | Navy Blue and Green |
| Mascot | Coyote |
| Nickname | Happy Valley |
| Average SAT scores (2013) | 1760 |
| Website | http://www.besanthill.org |
Besant Hill School of Happy Valley, formerly the Happy Valley School, is an American private, coeducational boarding school and day school in Ojai, California. The school has approximately 100 students and about 35 faculty and staff, all of whom live on or near campus. The faculty to student ratio is 1:4 and the average class size is 10. Currently there are 62 courses available, including AP and STEM courses. Classes are taught using the Socratic method. In the 2015/16 school year there are 12 states and 17 countries represented in the student body.[1] The school is best known for its beautiful location, a strong sense of community, and an expansive arts program. An environmental science and sustainability program is coupled with a working garden/farm on campus and many fruiting trees.
History
The school was envisioned by Annie Besant, Guido Ferrando, Aldous Huxley, J. Krishnamurti, and Rosalind Rajagopal. The school is on 520 acres (2.1 km2) of land that was bought in 1927 by Besant.[2] It first opened its doors in Fall 1946 as the Happy Valley School with Dr. Ferrando serving as the first Head of School. The school was later renamed in July 2006 in Besant's honor.
Notable founders/faculty members
- Rosalind Rajagopal - Main Founder of the school and long-time Director.
- Aldous Huxley - Main Founder of the school (along with Rosalind) - author of Brave New World, and many other novels
- Jiddu Krishnamurti - An Indian speaker and writer on philosophical and spiritual subjects.
- Franklin Lacey - Long-time faculty member and Head of School - co-wrote the famous musical The Music Man
- Beatrice Wood - Long-time faculty member - A famous artist and studio potter involved in the Avant Garde movement in the United States
Notable alumni
- Alex J. Mandl - Chairman of Gemalto, board member of Dell Computers, former Chairman of AT&T
- Tom Pollock - Co-founder of The Montecito Picture Company and former Chairman of Universal Studios and producer of Juno, Up in the Air and Hitchcock
- Kaffe Fassett - An American-born artist who is best known for his colourful designs in the decorative arts.
- Cheryl Crane - Writer and daughter of Lana Turner
- Lisa Marie Presley - Daughter of Elvis Presley
References
External links
Coordinates: 34°26′22″N 119°11′10″W / 34.4395°N 119.1860°W