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High school in Pasadena
EF Academy's international boarding school in California
Where tradition meets innovation
All parents want their children to be happy and successful. That’s what we want too. So we started a new kind of high school in Pasadena. This allowed us to take the best of the past and fuse it with the best of the future. At its core is total immersion. We’ve redesigned every aspect of the high school experience so that learning is highly individualized, totally hands-on, and in a global community of 30+ nationalities–the EF Academy difference.
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Spectacular campus setting a new standard in immersion learning
Our new $200 million high school campus in sunny California is purpose-built for immersion, with state-of-the-art academic facilities, spaces for creativity and collaboration, an impressive range of leisure facilities, and full-service student residences.
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A truly global high school in California: with classmates from 30+ countries
Few other schools can match the “mini-UN” vibe of the EF Academy high school in Pasadena. Virtually every class, activity, and event becomes “global studies.” You’re constantly expanding your worldview with multiple perspectives while sharing your own culture and traditions.
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Personalized education—one size never fits all
Every student is unique—that’s why every learning journey at our private school in Pasadena must be unique. We craft a custom pathway just for you, based on your talents and and strengths. We help you set personalized growth goals with your advisors and develop a plan for achieving them with courses and co-curricular activities you actually care about.
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Cash found personalized time with his teachers...
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Mastery of skills, not memorization of facts
Here you learn how to think—the real secret to success. All your courses are designed around the skills and knowledge you will need to flourish in life, not just facts and figures to pass the next test. Because it’s not the knowledge itself that’s important—it’s how you use it.
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Our Academics
Expand your perspective in a multicultural environment while getting your hands dirty with real-world challenges.
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Learn how Karoline is doing real-life learning...
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Teachers who are experts
A great education always starts with great teachers. Over 90% of our faculty members have advanced degrees.
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Customized counseling
Applying to university can be overwhelming. One-to-one advising with a professional counselor helps you get into your dream school.
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Learning beyond textbooks
The best way to learn is to roll up your sleeves and make your own discoveries—in and outside the classroom.
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Innovation & Impact program
All EF Academy students in Pasadena work in multi-cultural teams to solve real-world problems in our signature Innovation & Impact Program. During your time at our boarding school, you design meaningful, community-driven solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Study fewer subjects at a time
We’ve reimagined the school schedule to prioritize time for real-life learning and field study.
Meet our Advisory Council
An esteemed group of visionary educators helping us build a great school for today's world.
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Dr. Fernando Reimers
Professor of International Education
Harvard University
Author Educating Students to Improve the World
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Dr. Mukul Kumar
Chief Innovation Office
Hult International Business School
Professor, Harvard University
Former President, United World College
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Dr. Laurie Santos
Professor of Psychology at Yale University
“The Science of Well-being”
Host of The Happiness Lab podcast
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Daily mentorship & 24/7 support
House Parents, advisors, and teachers work as one team to ensure your well-being and success. You also join an advisory group led by your Advisor multiple times per week.
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Where you can be you
Our welcoming campus community empowers you to come as you are and become who you want to be. Together, we create an inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
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Ready to take the next step?
Request a brochure
Receive a brochure for an in-depth look at our programs and campuses
Request a consultation
Our international team of advisors are ready to answer your questions
Start your application
Apply now for the spring or fall start dates for our most popular programs
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Bertil Hult founded EF in 1965 with the belief that people learn best through immersion and hands-on experiences. He struggled with traditional classroom learning as a high school student with dyslexia in Sweden, and he realized during a summer job in England that he was picking up English effortlessly by living the language, not studying it. This led him to become one of the early founders of immersion learning.
FAQ – High school at EF Academy Pasadena
EF Academy Pasadena students can enjoy all that Pasadena and its surroundings have to offer. Our EF Academy high school campus is located in Pasadena, a city in California just a 20-minute drive away from downtown Los Angeles. In the heart of Pasadena lies Old Pasadena, renowned for its Victorian and art deco buildings. The strikingly modern Norton Simon Museum houses notable European and Asian art alongside a sculpture garden. Students can readily explore the beautiful surroundings including Angeles National Forest with its waterfalls and hiking trails.
The best way to learn is to roll up your sleeves and make your own discoveries—in and outside the classroom. We keep class sizes small so you focus on building skills and knowledge through group projects that bring concepts to life. During your time at our Pasadena boarding school you also tackle real challenges and find real solutions through field study and service learning. We've reimagined the school schedule to prioritize time for real-life learning and field-study so you can delve deeper into what you are most passionate about.
Yes! You can attend EF Academy Pasadena as a full-boarder, a weekly boarder, and a day student. Consult with your Enrollment Advisor to discuss these options.
There are a variety of after-school activities students can participate in from sports to cooking club. Just to name a few, we offer Astronomy club, Model United Nations, Pickle Ball and STEAM club. You can discuss with your advisors to participate in the ones you are most passionate about!
You can compete in varsity sports with other local league schools. For fall, you have cross country, volleyball and soccer. For winter, basketball and soccer. For spring, badminton and volleyball. There are also boys and girls varsity sports where you can compete with other schools in our league. There are more sports clubs you can join as well!
Accreditations & memberships
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