Private · Santa Barbara
Anacapa School
Home of the Island Fox
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- Students
- 52
- Grades
- 7-12 (high-school grades 9-12)
- Founded
- 1981
- Student–teacher
- ~6:1
- Mascot
- Island Fox
- Head of school
- Dr. Mari Talkin, Head of School
- Phone
- (805) 965-0228
- Website
- www.anacapaschool.org
About
Anacapa School is a small, independent, secular junior-high and high school (grades 7-12) founded in 1981 in downtown Santa Barbara, housed in a historic building that previously served as a WWII hospital, the Anna S.C. Blake School, and Santa Barbara Junior College. Known for very small class sizes, an outdoor-education program, and strong college placement, Anacapa caps enrollment at roughly 72 students.
Academics & public data
Academic indicators
- Faculty
- 17 classroom teachers, 75% with advanced degrees (2026, PrivateSchoolReview)
- Endowment
- $22 million (2026, PrivateSchoolReview)
- Acceptance / admission
- Rolling, year-round admission (2026, PrivateSchoolReview)
Funding
- Tuition
- ~$25,350 (recent, PrivateSchoolReview/Niche)
- Title I status
- Private (not Title I); does not report CA state academic data
Data as of recent.
AP & advanced coursework
Very small secular seminar-style college-prep (grades 7-12, enrollment cap ~72). Average class size 12, student-teacher ratio ~3:1 (2026, PrivateSchoolReview). Known for outdoor/experiential education and strong 4-year college placement. No published AP catalog. Mascot = Island Fox (2026, Wikipedia).
Admissions & key dates
- How to apply
- Submit the application with school transcript, a recommendation letter, an application essay, and an interview (interview often optional but strongly recommended). For 2026-27 Anacapa is adding a 6th grade; it serves grades 6/7-12 with an enrollment cap around 72. (2026, PrivateSchoolReview; anacapaschool.org)
- Tuition & aid
- Tuition ~$25,350–$29,000 depending on grade/source (2025-26, PrivateSchoolReview/Niche). Aid specifics/deadlines not published online — confirm with the school (Anacapa reports a ~$22M endowment).
- Open house / tours
- Tours/visits arranged through the admissions office; a virtual tour is also available on the school site. Check anacapaschool.org/events for scheduled admission events. (2026, anacapaschool.org)
- Application deadline
- No fixed deadline — Anacapa uses year-round ROLLING admission; once an application is complete, decisions typically follow within about two weeks. (2026, PrivateSchoolReview; anacapaschool.org)
Athletics
Fall
Cross Country
Coed
Boys and girls cross country listed on the MaxPreps profile.
Girls Volleyball
Girls
Girls volleyball listed on the MaxPreps profile.
Winter
Boys Basketball
Boys · Varsity
Boys basketball tracked on MaxPreps; no win-loss record obtained. Note: Anacapa is a very small (7-12, ~48-72 students) school; team availability fluctuates.
Girls Basketball
Girls · Varsity
Girls basketball tracked on MaxPreps; no win-loss record obtained.
Soccer
Soccer listed among Anacapa's interscholastic sports in third-party profiles (PrivateSchoolReview/Niche); not confirmed with a current MaxPreps team page.
Intramural sports
Small interscholastic athletics program as a CIF member in the Condor League (Basketball, Cross Country, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Volleyball), plus outdoor electives like hiking, surfing, and yoga. No large intramural system given the small enrollment.
Compare across schools: Volleyball · Basketball · Soccer · Cross Country
Championship history
Every team title we can source for Anacapa School — CIF State, CIF Southern Section, and league championships — newest first.
- 1
- League titles
2021
- LeagueGirls Cross Country — Condor League · Won the team title at the Condor League Championships at Midland School in Los Olivos with 19 points; Julia Minor placed second overall and the Island Foxes' scoring pack finished in the top 10. (The Anacapa boys team was second.)(source)
Clubs & activities
Academic
A five-day immersive experiential learning unit where students choose from several faculty-led off-campus topics, do hands-on work, and deliver formal presentations.
How to join: All-school participation; select a topic track.
Arts
Electives in digital media and the arts available to students.
How to join: Enroll via elective selection.
Outdoor
Academically integrated outdoor education with hiking, surfing, and yoga electives, plus all-school trips (Fall Campout and Spring Expedition to destinations like Zion, Big Sur, the Grand Canyon, and Costa Rica) and marine/coastal studies.
How to join: Open to all students as part of the school program; sign up through the school.
Service
Year-round internship partnership giving students hands-on experience across a variety of fields tied to historic preservation in downtown Santa Barbara.
How to join: Apply through the school's partnership program.
Students engage in community service as part of school life.
How to join: Through school-organized service activities.
Special Interest
Interscholastic athletics as a CIF member in the Condor League, competing against small Santa Barbara/Ventura County schools. Offerings include Basketball, Cross Country, Rock Climbing, Soccer, and Volleyball.
How to join: Try out / sign up by season.
Facilities
- Classrooms
- Arts/digital media space
- Historic downtown campus— Located in a historic building at 814 Santa Barbara Street in downtown Santa Barbara; small urban campus.
Leadership opportunities
- Community service leadership
- Club/activity involvement
- Internship roles via Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
College & career support
Anacapa provides individualized college advisory support to all juniors and seniors, meeting regularly with students to identify opportunities matched to their interests. Graduates have matriculated to a range of well-regarded colleges and universities, including multiple UC campuses (Berkeley, Davis, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc.) and selective institutions such as Colgate, Vassar, Kenyon, Reed, and Whitman. (Specific four-year placement percentages are not published; college list current through Class of 2025.)
College outcomes
- Local pipeline
- Offers dual-enrollment college courses; matriculation skews toward four-year colleges rather than the local SBCC pipeline.
- Notable colleges
- College acceptances for Anacapa classes through 2025 include UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, Columbia, Vassar, Colgate, Kenyon, William & Mary, Northeastern, Case Western, Reed, Lewis & Clark, Whitman, University of Puget Sound, Colorado State, Oregon State, Montana State, and San Diego State, among 70+ institutions (through 2025, anacapaschool.org college-acceptances).
- College-going rate
- 100% of graduates attend a four-year college; 100% of students are accepted to college (2026, Niche).
- Four-year vs two-year
- Reported 100% to four-year colleges (2026, Niche).
Community
Parent–Teacher Association
No formal parent-teacher association was verifiable on official sources for this very small school.
Athletic boosters
No athletic booster organization verifiable.
Tuition
$29,000 (upper grades) / $28,000 (lower) (2025-26, PrivateSchoolReview)
Frequently asked questions
- What grades does Anacapa School serve?
- Anacapa School serves grades 7-12 (high-school grades 9-12).
- How many students attend Anacapa School?
- Anacapa School enrolls approximately 52 students, based on the most recent published figures.
- Is Anacapa School a public or private school?
- Anacapa School is a private high school.
- What is Anacapa School's mascot?
- Anacapa School's mascot is the Island Fox.
- When was Anacapa School founded?
- Anacapa School was founded in 1981.
- What sports does Anacapa School offer?
- Anacapa School fields 6 sports teams. See the Athletics section above for the full list by season.
- How much is tuition at Anacapa School?
- Anacapa School's tuition is $29,000 (upper grades) / $28,000 (lower) (2025-26, PrivateSchoolReview). Confirm the current figure and what it includes directly with the school.
- Where is Anacapa School located?
- Anacapa School is located at 814 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.
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