CALIFORNIA · BOARDING SCHOOL GUIDE
Villanova Preparatory School
Ojai · Ventura County, California
A co-ed Catholic school founded in 1924 for grades 6-12, with boarding only in grades 9-12, on a 130-acre campus in the Ojai Valley.
- 1924
- Founded
- 6-12
- Grades
- 266
- Students
- 8.9:1
- Student-teacher ratio
About Villanova Preparatory School
Villanova Preparatory School was founded in Ojai by the Catholic Augustinian order in October 1924. It is a co-ed school for grades 6-12 on a 130-acre campus. The middle school, grades 6-8, enrolls day students only, while the boarding program serves high school grades 9-12, and the website says boarders come from 17 countries. The school became co-educational in the early 1970s and began admitting young women as boarders in the early 1980s.
The entire curriculum is college preparatory; the 2026-27 Curriculum Guide lists 18 AP courses, and an English Support Program serves non-native English speakers. Entrance testing is optional: SSAT or HSPT scores are not considered in admission decisions and are used only for scholarships. Boys live in Cantwell Hall, a heritage building more than 100 years old, girls live in Glynn Hall, and credentialed teachers supervise evening study hall. James Link is President and Daniel Annarelli is Principal.
| School type | Augustinian Catholic · Co-ed · Boarding and day |
|---|---|
| Divisions | Grades 6-12; boarding only in high school grades 9-12 |
| Main entry grades | Boarders: grades 9, 10 and 11 (space permitting); middle school from grade 6, day only |
| Mandarin | Yes: introductory Mandarin I |
| Head of school | James Link (President); Daniel Annarelli (Principal) |
| Accreditation | Not listed on the website; NCES lists NCEA and NAIS membership |
| Address | 12096 N. Ventura Ave., Ojai, CA 93023 |
| Phone | (805) 646-1464 |
| NCES ID | 00071592 |
| Official Website | www.villanovaprep.org |
Academics and programs at Villanova Preparatory School
- AP and honors coursesThe 2026-27 Curriculum Guide lists 18 AP (Advanced Placement) courses, the website cites 27 advanced and honors courses in total, and students generally take no more than four AP courses a year.
- English Support ProgramNon-native English speaking international students take the TOEFL ITP and a writing test on arrival, and those below the threshold are placed in ELD (English Language Development) and EIS (English Immersion with Support) classes for an additional $5,000 a year.
- Augustinian traditionFour years of theology are required, Mass is offered daily, every grade goes on an annual retreat, and each student completes 20 hours of Christian service a year.
- Clare Boothe Luce ProgramIn 1989 the school received an endowed Clare Boothe Luce scholarship, which still supports young women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics); activities also include a robotics team, Mock Trial and Model UN.
- Boarding houses and exchangeBoarding houses and international exchange: Boarders belong to six houses of about 10 students each, guided by house parents, and the school runs exchange and travel programs with schools in Spain, Japan, Germany and Argentina.
Villanova Preparatory School tuition and family budget
Tuition, 2026-27
$77,500/ year · seven-day boarding
Published 2026-27 high school seven-day boarding fee, covering tuition, room and board
At the 2026-27 seven-day boarding rate, four years of high school boarding total $310,000, before the dorm activity fund, health insurance and travel.
Financial aid at Villanova Preparatory School is need-based, and aid applications are reviewed separately from admission applications; the school notes that its budget may not cover a family's full need, and the website states that 60% of students receive scholarships or financial aid.
| Seven-day boarding (tuition, room and board) | $77,500 |
|---|---|
| Five-day boarding (tuition, room and board) | $57,500 |
| High school day tuition | $29,000, plus fees of $710 to $935 |
| Other boarding costs | Dorm activity fund $2,000 (balance returned or rolled over); new resident orientation $1,300; health insurance required, $1,600 if purchased through the school |
| English Support Program | $5,000 (based on placement testing) |
| Payment | Payment plan chosen at enrollment; international payments through Flywire; no refund on withdrawal or dismissal |
| Merit Scholarships | New ninth graders on the HSPT or SSAT: 99th national percentile $15,000, 96th-98th $10,000, 90th-95th $5,000 |
| Augustinian Scholarships | For promise in a particular field; average $1,000 to $5,000; renewed each year of attendance |
| Need-based aid | Domestic families apply through SSS (school code 7949), international families on the school's form; the committee reviews in February, and aid is reassessed annually |
Key dates for the 2027-28 Villanova Preparatory School admission season
- Open House
- On-campus SSAT and HSPT
- First-round deadline
- Decisions in early March
Applications for 2027-28 opened on September 1, 2026, and boarding places are offered only in the high school grades. Applications submitted by January 31 are reviewed in the first round, with decisions in early March; after that, the school admits on a rolling basis as space allows. Unaccompanied new boarders can be met at Los Angeles International Airport; in 2026-27, new residents arrived on August 14.
- Info Night
- HSPT prep course begins (Thursdays through Nov 19)
- Open House
- On-campus SSAT and HSPT
- On-campus SSAT
- On-campus HSPT (grade 9 applicants only)
Villanova Preparatory School entrance assessment and SSAT/HSPT requirements
| Entry grade | Testing |
|---|---|
| Grade 9 | Optional: Upper Level SSAT or HSPT (High School Placement Test, an entrance exam common at Catholic high schools) |
| Grades 10 and 11 | Optional: Upper Level SSAT |
| Non-native English speakers | Required: TOEFL or Duolingo English Test (expected TOEFL 60+ or Duolingo 100+) |
| SSAT code 7949 · TOEFL code 8967 · Scores not considered for admission · On-campus SSAT 2026.12.12 / 2027.01.09 | |
- The school is test-optional for the SSAT and HSPT: scores do not affect admission and are used only for Merit Scholarships for new ninth graders. If a student takes both, the higher score counts, based on the best of the first two attempts.
- The HSPT is open only to eighth graders applying for grade 9; on-campus dates are December 12, 2026 and January 23, 2027, and the fee is $35. The school also runs an HSPT prep course on Thursdays from October 29 to November 19.
EDUBUS plans backward from the January 31 first-round deadline. Villanova's test scores do not affect admission, but they set the level of a grade 9 Merit Scholarship. In the fall of grade 8, a free SSAT mock exam establishes a baseline, targeted practice follows before November, and the student then sits for the on-campus SSAT on December 12 or January 9; grade 9 applicants can also prepare for the HSPT, since the higher score counts. SSAT/HSPT prep · Boarding school application guide
Where Villanova Preparatory School graduates go to college
The school's website does not publish a college admission or matriculation list; it states only that every graduate is admitted to a university, and the Class of 2025 had 53 graduates. Families can ask the college counseling office for recent matriculation lists during a visit. Schools marked → link to an EDUBUS admissions guide.
Getting to Villanova Preparatory School from Irvine
| Northwood | 99.1 mi |
|---|---|
| Turtle Rock | 99.5 mi |
| Woodbury | 100.6 mi |
| Portola Springs | 102.0 mi |
These are straight-line distances from Irvine, not driving times. The resident handbook states that campus is at least a two-hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport, and Amtrak stops in nearby Ventura. Boarders who leave for the weekend must return by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday; the dorms close for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter breaks, and the school helps arrange shuttles to and from Los Angeles International Airport. The school also offers five-day boarding (Five-Day Resident) at $57,500.
School address: 12096 N. Ventura Ave., Ojai, CA 93023
Villanova Preparatory School: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Irvine family applying to Villanova Preparatory School for grade 9 need the SSAT?
Villanova Preparatory School is test-optional for the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) and the HSPT (High School Placement Test, an entrance exam common at Catholic high schools), and scores are not considered in admission decisions. The school still encourages applicants to submit scores, because new ninth graders who score at or above the 90th national percentile can receive a Merit Scholarship. The SSAT school code is 7949, and on-campus SSAT dates are December 12, 2026 and January 9, 2027.
Which grades can an Irvine student board in at Villanova Preparatory School?
Villanova Preparatory School offers boarding only to high school students in grades 9 through 12; the middle school, grades 6 through 8, enrolls day students only. Applications for 2027-28 opened on September 1, 2026, and the published boarding fees and new-resident arrival schedule apply only to the high school. Boys live in Cantwell Hall, with roommates in grades 9 to 11 and a single room in grade 12; girls live two to a room in Glynn Hall.
What does boarding at Villanova Preparatory School cost in 2026-27, and what should Irvine families budget for?
Villanova Preparatory School charges $77,500 for seven-day boarding (tuition, room and board) in 2026-27, $57,500 for five-day boarding, and $29,000 for high school day tuition. Boarders also pay into a $2,000 dorm activity fund (the balance is returned or rolled over), a $1,300 new resident orientation fee, and required health insurance ($1,600 if purchased through the school); students who need English support pay an additional $5,000 a year. The school states that tuition is not refunded upon withdrawal or dismissal.
Can an Irvine family receive scholarships or financial aid at Villanova Preparatory School?
Villanova Preparatory School offers both need-based financial aid and scholarships, and the website states that 60% of students receive scholarships or financial aid. Merit Scholarships go to new ninth graders: $15,000 for the 99th national percentile on the HSPT or SSAT, $10,000 for the 96th to 98th, and $5,000 for the 90th to 95th. Augustinian Scholarships are awarded for promise in a particular field, average $1,000 to $5,000, and continue each year of attendance. Domestic families apply for aid through SSS (school code 7949), and the Financial Aid Committee reviews applications each February.
Does a student attending school in Irvine need the TOEFL to apply to Villanova Preparatory School?
Villanova Preparatory School requires applicants who are non-native English speakers to take an English proficiency test such as the TOEFL or the Duolingo English Test, and it expects at least 60 on the TOEFL or 100 on Duolingo. The website does not say whether students with several years in American schools are exempt, so families who have lived in Irvine for a long time should confirm with the admission office. Non-native English speaking international students also take the TOEFL ITP and a writing test on arrival, and those below the threshold join the English Support Program at $5,000 a year.
How should an Irvine family arrange a visit and interview at Villanova Preparatory School?
Villanova Preparatory School offers three bookings: an on-campus tour, an on-campus interview, and an online interview through Zoom; a campus tour takes about 30 to 45 minutes. In fall 2026, Info Night is on October 22 and the Open House is on November 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and both require registration on the website. Families driving from Irvine can combine the tour, the interview and the December 12 on-campus SSAT in a single trip.
How does an Irvine student travel to and from Villanova Preparatory School on weekends and holidays?
Villanova Preparatory School is about 97 miles from Irvine in a straight line, and the resident handbook states that campus is at least a two-hour drive from Los Angeles International Airport. Boarders who leave for the weekend must return by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The dorms close for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter breaks, students must leave campus, and the school helps arrange shuttles to and from Los Angeles International Airport. The school also offers five-day boarding (Five-Day Resident) at $57,500; families can confirm its departure arrangements with the school.
Sources: the school website and public filings · compiled 2026-10-07 · current policy follows the school's own notice
Sources26 sources · checked 2026-10-07
Compiled from the official Villanova Preparatory School website and public filings. Tuition and deadlines follow the school's current notice. Enrollment of 266 and the 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio come from the NCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS) for 2023-24; the school's website does not publish enrollment or average class size. Boarding is limited to high school grades 9-12.
- villanovaprep.org
- villanovaprep.org/admission
- villanovaprep.org/admission/application-process
- villanovaprep.org/admission/placement-testing
- villanovaprep.org/admission/tuition-and-fees
- villanovaprep.org/admission/financial-aid
- villanovaprep.org/admission/scholarships
- villanovaprep.org/admission/admissions-events
- villanovaprep.org/admission/campus-visits
- villanovaprep.org/about/our-history
- villanovaprep.org/about/our-campus
- villanovaprep.org/boarding/life-and-culture
- villanovaprep.org/boarding/house-system
- villanovaprep.org/boarding/visa-information
- villanovaprep.org/academics/college-counseling
- villanovaprep.org/academics/english-immersion-with-support-esi-program
- villanovaprep.org/villanova-international-student-exchange-program
- villanovaprep.org/alumni-newsletters/jun-2025-alumni-newsletter
- villanovaprep.org/zh
- cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b98ab2be3d7c5e1d0285d7/69f17ec7bebd31366ef8b54f_2Villanova.curriculum.guide.web.2026-27.pdf
- cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b98ab2be3d7c5e1d0285d7/69a60975d3f879adbb08306f_VillanovaPrep_Calendar2026-27.pdf
- cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b98ab2be3d7c5e1d0285d7/6a7e25991534ac62bf4b5a67_Resident%20Life%20Handbook%202026-2027.pdf
- cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b98ab2be3d7c5e1d0285d7/6a7952c2f1f89bc9d76ac8cb_VPS%20High%20School%20Student%20Handbook%202026-27.pdf
- cdn.prod.website-files.com/64b98ab2be3d7c5e1d0285d7/6a06467bbf1bad889ac5c8bf_Important%20Dates%20-%20Newly%20Accepted%20HighSchool%20Resident%20Students_26-27.pdf
- nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&ID=00071592
- niche.com/k12/search/best-boarding-high-schools/s/california
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