CALIFORNIA · BOARDING SCHOOL GUIDE
Southwestern Academy
San Marino · Los Angeles County, California
A coed boarding and day school founded in 1924, enrolling grades 6-12 and PG, with international students making up about three quarters of the student body.
- 1924
- Founded
- 6-12 · PG
- Grades
- About 100
- Students
- 8
- Average class size
About Southwestern Academy
Southwestern Academy was founded in 1924 by Maurice Veronda as Southwestern Military Academy and later dropped its military program. Today it is a nonsectarian, coed boarding and day school in San Marino for grades 6 through 12 and a PG (postgraduate) year. The campus sits on Monterey Road just south of Pasadena, and Lincoln Hall, built by the first students and faculty and completed in 1925, is still in use.
The Fast Facts page reports about 100 students, 80% boarding and 75% international, from up to 14 countries, with four dormitories, an average class of 8 and a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The school runs a three-level English Language Learners (ELL) program, groups classes by achievement rather than age, offers eight AP courses and bases its college-preparatory classes on University of California entrance standards.
| School type | Nonsectarian independent school · Coed · Boarding and day |
|---|---|
| Divisions | Middle school 6-8 / High school 9-12 / PG |
| Entry grades | Grades 6-12 and PG, rolling admission |
| Chinese | No Chinese course listed; world language is Spanish |
| Head of School | Robin Jarchow (Head of School / CEO since 2020) |
| Accreditation | WASC (six-year term granted in 2025) |
| Address | 2800 Monterey Road, San Marino, CA 91108 |
| Phone | (626) 799-5010 |
| SAO school code | 7430 |
| Official Website | southwesternacademy.edu |
Academics and programs at Southwestern Academy
- English Language LearnersSouthwestern Academy offers beginning, intermediate and advanced English classes year-round for non-native speakers, and a novice student typically moves into mainstream classes in 18 to 24 months.
- AP coursesThe school lists eight AP courses: AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Human Geography, AP European History and AP Psychology.
- Grouping by achievementStudents are placed in classes by achievement rather than age, with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class of 8.
- College counselingFrom their first semester, students meet one-on-one with college counselors for college selection, essays and interviews, with SAT, ACT and TOEFL preparation.
- Boarding lifeFour dormitories house 2 to 4 students per room with resident dorm parents, and recreational trips run every weekend; international students may stay on campus over winter and spring breaks at no extra cost with two weeks’ notice.
Southwestern Academy tuition and family budget
Tuition, 2026-27
$62,750/ year · boarding (grades 6-12)
Boarding tuition covers annual tuition, 7-day room and board, college counseling and tutoring
At the current boarding tuition of $62,750, four years of boarding from grade 9 through grade 12 come to $251,000, before the educational resources fee, the international student fee and personal expenses; the tuition page carries no school-year label, so this page lists the rates shown in October 2026.
Southwestern Academy awards financial aid by family need and available funds, and about 35% of students receive aid; the school does not say whether admission is need-blind.
| Boarding tuition (grades 6-12) | $62,750 / year |
|---|---|
| Day tuition (grades 6-12) | $29,300 / year, with hot lunch, college counseling and tutoring |
| Educational resources fee | $3,200 / year: required field trips, textbooks and lab fees, accident insurance, yearbook, WrAP test and PSAT, online resources |
| International student fee | $6,000 / year: documentation, mandatory health insurance, language support, airport transportation and holiday stays |
| Incidental account deposit | Boarding $1,000, day $500 |
| Payment and refunds | Due in full before classes begin; refunded only if a U.S. visa is denied, not on withdrawal or dismissal |
| Financial aid | Need-based grants through Clarity, based on need and available funds; renewed each year |
| Aid timeline | New families by January 31 for February review; returning families by December 15 |
Key dates for the 2027-28 Southwestern Academy admission season
- Fall Open House #1
- Fall Open House #2
- Priority aid deadline for new families
- Winter Open House
Southwestern Academy accepts applications year-round while space is available, with no single deadline; international students usually receive enrollment paperwork within 24 to 48 hours of admission, and the I-20 follows once tuition is paid.
- Fall Open House #1, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Harbor Day / Pegasus High School Information Fair, Corona del Mar, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
- Fall Open House #2, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Winter Open House, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Spring Open House, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Southwestern Academy entrance assessment and SSAT requirements
| Entry grade | Testing |
|---|---|
| Grades 6 to 10 | No SSAT; TOEFL or Duolingo scores encouraged for non-native speakers, used for placement |
| Grades 11 and 12 | No SSAT; non-native speakers need TOEFL 76+ or Duolingo 110+ |
| PG | No separate testing rule listed; ask the admissions office |
| No SSAT required · SAO school code 7430 · Application fee $100 · Rolling admission | |
- Southwestern Academy applications go through the Standard Application Online (SAO) with three years of transcripts, math and English teacher recommendations, student and family information and essays.
- Every applicant interviews, on campus or by Zoom, and students are encouraged to spend a Shadow Day on campus, where the student interview can be completed the same day.
Because Southwestern Academy does not use the SSAT, EDUBUS focuses on the interview and English readiness: non-native speakers applying to grades 11 and 12 plan TOEFL or Duolingo dates backward from the 76 and 110 thresholds, and students also applying to SSAT-requiring boarding schools schedule the SSAT around those schools' deadlines. SSAT prep · Boarding school application guide
Where Southwestern Academy graduates go to college
Colleges53 schools
- American University in Bulgaria
- Arizona State University
- Cal Poly Humboldt
- Cal Poly Pomona
- Cal State Fullerton
- Cal State Long Beach
- Cal State Los Angeles
- California Lutheran University
- Constructor University
- Drake University
- Drew University
- Drexel University
- Fordham University
- Gettysburg College
- Illinois College
- Iowa State University
- Irvine Valley College
- Kingston University - London
- Loyola Marymount University
- Menlo College
- Montana State University
- Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles
- New York School of Interior Design (NYSID)
- New York University
- Paris College of Art
- Pepperdine University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- RIT Kosovo
- Rutgers University
- School of Visual Arts (SVA)
- Skidmore College
- SUNY University at Buffalo
- The American University of Rome
- The New School/Parsons
- The University of Arizona
- UC Berkeley
- UC Davis
- UC Irvine
- UC Merced
- UC Riverside
- UC San Diego
- UC Santa Barbara
- UC Santa Cruz
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- University of the Arts London
- University of Virginia
- University of Washington
- Virginia Tech
- Whittier College
- Willamette University
These are the Class of 2025 college acceptances listed in the 2025-26 School Profile; the school does not separate acceptances from enrollment or give counts. The same profile reports that 85% of the Class of 2025 enrolled in four-year universities and 15% in community colleges; the College Counseling page also lists acceptances for the Classes of 2021 to 2024. Schools marked → link to an EDUBUS admissions guide.
Getting to Southwestern Academy from Irvine
| Northwood | 35.0 mi |
|---|---|
| Woodbury | 36.4 mi |
| Portola Springs | 37.3 mi |
| Turtle Rock | 37.9 mi |
The table shows straight-line distances from Irvine neighborhoods to Southwestern Academy, about 35 to 38 miles, not driving times; test the weekend drive at peak hours once. The school is about 27 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and close to Hollywood Burbank Airport. In 2026-27, winter break runs December 17, 2026 to January 5, 2027 and spring break March 27 to April 4, 2027; international students may stay on campus over breaks at no extra cost with two weeks' notice to the Student Office.
School address: 2800 Monterey Road, San Marino, CA 91108
Southwestern Academy: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Irvine families applying to Southwestern Academy need the SSAT?
Southwestern Academy does not require the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) and publishes no score cutoff. The school bases admission on prior academic record, teacher recommendations, standardized assessments and the applicant's potential to succeed in a college-preparatory program. Non-native English speakers submit English test scores: they are encouraged for grades 6 through 10 and used for class placement, while applicants to grades 11 and 12 need a TOEFL score of 76+ or a Duolingo English Test score of 110+.
How much does a year of boarding at Southwestern Academy cost an Irvine family?
Southwestern Academy's current boarding tuition is $62,750 per year for grades 6 through 12, covering tuition, 7-day room and board, college counseling and tutoring. There is also a $3,200 annual educational resources fee and a $1,000 incidental account deposit for boarders; international students on F-1 visas pay an additional $6,000 international student fee. Tuition is due in full before classes begin and is refunded only if a U.S. visa is denied.
When can Irvine families apply to Southwestern Academy, and is there a deadline?
Southwestern Academy accepts applications throughout the year as long as space is available, so there is no single deadline. Families apply through the Standard Application Online (SAO, school code 7430) with a $100 fee, three years of transcripts, math and English teacher recommendations, student and family information and essays, and every applicant interviews. New families seeking financial aid should apply by January 31, 2027 to be reviewed in February.
Can a child from an Irvine family attend Southwestern Academy as a day student?
Southwestern Academy enrolls both boarding and day students, and current day tuition is $29,300 per year, including hot lunch, college counseling and tutoring. International students on F-1 visas must live on campus. The school is in San Marino, about 35 to 38 miles from Irvine neighborhoods as the crow flies, so a daily round trip is demanding and most Irvine families would consider boarding.
What should Irvine families know about financial aid at Southwestern Academy?
Southwestern Academy awards need-based grants according to family need and available funds, through the Clarity application and supporting documents. New families are encouraged to apply by January 31, and the Financial Aid Committee reviews applications in February; returning families are encouraged to apply by December 15. The school says most of its aid budget goes to families who apply by the deadline, awards must be renewed each year, and the Fast Facts page reports that 35% of students receive aid.
How can Irvine families visit Southwestern Academy?
Southwestern Academy holds four open houses in 2026-27: October 10 and November 14, 2026, and February 20 and April 17, 2027, each from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM with RSVP. Private tours are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, take about 60 minutes and can include the interview; students can also spend a Shadow Day attending classes on campus.
Where do Southwestern Academy graduates go to college, a question many Irvine families ask?
Southwestern Academy's 2025-26 School Profile reports that 85% of the Class of 2025 enrolled in four-year universities and 15% in community colleges. The same profile lists Class of 2025 acceptances including UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, New York University, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia. Every student meets regularly with a college counselor, and the school arranges SAT, ACT and TOEFL preparation.
Sources: the school website and public filings · compiled 2026-10-07 · current policy follows the school's own notice
Sources27 sources · checked 2026-10-07
Compiled from the official Southwestern Academy website and public filings. Tuition and deadlines follow the school's current notice. Enrollment and class size are from the Fast Facts page (100 students, average class of 8, 80% boarding, 75% international). The admissions page says about 100 students with roughly 70% boarding, and the 2025-26 School Profile lists 74 students with 73% boarding; figures differ by source, so follow the school's current numbers. The FAQ gives classes of 8 to 12 and a 6:1 student-teacher ratio.
- southwesternacademy.edu
- southwesternacademy.edu/fast-facts
- southwesternacademy.edu/admissions
- southwesternacademy.edu/apply
- southwesternacademy.edu/tuition-fees
- southwesternacademy.edu/faqs
- southwesternacademy.edu/academics
- southwesternacademy.edu/courses-and-curriculum
- southwesternacademy.edu/english-language-learners-program
- southwesternacademy.edu/college-counseling
- southwesternacademy.edu/our-heritage
- southwesternacademy.edu/head-of-school-welcome
- southwesternacademy.edu/admissions-events
- southwesternacademy.edu/plan-a-visit
- southwesternacademy.edu/annual-calendar-of-events
- southwesternacademy.edu/campus-maps-directions
- southwesternacademy.edu/contact
- southwesternacademy.edu/download-center
- southwesternacademy.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Southwestern-School-Profile-2025-2026.pdf
- fsha.org/admissions/tuition-financial-aid
- fsha.org/admissions/apply-to-fsha
- webb.org/admission/tuition-and-financial-aid
- webb.org/admission/how-to-apply
- oakschristian.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid
- oakschristian.org/admissions/application-process
- reagansecondary.us/admissions
- reagansecondary.us/international-student
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