Besant Hill School

Besant Hill School of Happy Valley, formerly the Happy Valley School, is an American private, coeducational boarding school and day school in Ojai, California.[1][2] 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. In the 2017/18 school year there are 13 states and 22 countries represented in the student body.[3] The school is best known for its scenic location, sense of community, rigorous academics, and expansive arts program. An environmental science and sustainability program is coupled with a working garden/farm on campus.

Besant Hill School of Happy Valley
Location
Ojai
,
CA

United States
Coordinates34.4395°N 119.1860°W / 34.4395; -119.1860
Information
TypePrivate, Boarding, Day
Established1946
Head of schoolPortia Johnson
Faculty26
Enrollment104 (90% Boarding)
Average class size9 students
Student to teacher ratio4:1
Campus size520 acres (2.1 km2)
Color(s)Navy Blue and Green
MascotCoyote
NicknameHappy Valley, Besant Hill
Websitewww.besanthill.org

History

An educational community was envisioned by Annie Besant, which later took the form of a secondary school that was founded by Guido Ferrando, Aldous Huxley, J. Krishnamurti, and Rosalind Rajagopal. The school is on 520 acres (210 ha) of land that was bought in 1927 by Besant.[4][5] It opened on October 1, 1946 as the Happy Valley School with Dr. Ferrando serving as the first Head of School.[6] The school was later renamed in July 2007 in Besant's honor. In 2017, the school celebrated its 70th year.[7]

Notable founders/faculty members[8]
  • Annie Besant – Main Founder of the school, prominent women's rights activist and president of the theosophical society
  • 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

References
  1. "Besant Hill School of Happy Valley". business.ojaichamber.org. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  2. "Besant Hill School of Happy Valley - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education)". www.cde.ca.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2014-09-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "WBSA | Besant Hill School of Happy Valley". www.wbsa.net. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  5. "Besant Hill School of Happy Valley Homepage". Besanthill.org. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  6. "Besant Hill School of Happy Valley - The Association of Boarding Schools - TABS". www.boardingschools.com. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  7. "Celebrate 70 – The Campaign for Besant Hill School of Happy Valley". Celebrate70.com. 1946-10-01. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  8. GregoryGraphics.com. "Besant Hill School of Happy Valley". www.happyvalleyfdn.org. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  9. Keller, John J. (December 16, 1994). "Tough Newcomer: Alex Mandl Is Crafting Aggressive Strategy For Future of AT&T --- His `Fat Minutes' Campaign Is Plumping Up Profits With a Slimmer Staff --- Loading the Digital Pipeline". The Wall Street Journal.
  10. "Tom Pollock HVS '60 - (4/10/43 - 08/01/2020)". www.besanthill.org. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  11. Crane, Cheryl (1988). Detour: A Hollywood Story. New York: Arbor House/William Morrow. p. 207. ISBN 0-87795-938-2.
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