Frequently Asked Questions

How do you select students for admission?
Admission to Laguna Blanca School is competitive. We strive to make the best match between a student and the School. We believe it is important that a young person make the most of his or her academic potential as well as enjoy the many opportunities available outside the classroom. Above all, we want to enroll students who have the potential to be successful and happy at Laguna.

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How many students are admitted at each grade level?
There are three major entry points for admission to Laguna Blanca School: kindergarten, seventh grade, and ninth grade.

In kindergarten, we strive for a class size of 20. For seventh grade, we admit approximately 25 new students. For ninth grade, we admit approximately 15-18 new students.

In grades outside of the major entry years, a few spaces can open due to changes in family circumstances or unexpected attrition. We do accept applications for these positions.

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Do siblings and alumni children have preference in the admission process? 
We realize that many current or past parents and our alumni have positive feelings about Laguna Blanca and wish for their children to share the same educational experiences they have come to value. Such familial loyalty is vital to a healthy and supportive independent school. It is important, however, to realize that what constitutes a good “fit” for one child is not necessarily the right choice for another. The purpose of our admission process is to determine if the student will thrive and find success at Laguna, with the same evaluation criteria applied for each candidate. As Laguna is committed to current members of the School community, our admission committee does give special consideration to qualified siblings and children of alumni.

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Educational Testing: How important is it?
Test scores are just one piece of a student’s profile. They provide us with a standardized measure that is used in conjunction with all of the information gathered about a student. We neither admit nor deny a student solely on the basis of test scores, and we have no cutoffs or minimum scores. We realize that there are limitations inherent to any exam of this kind as standardized tests fail to measure a student’s motivation, work ethic, creativity, and character. Testing such as the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) does, however, provide a means for objectively assessing our applicants, especially as students come from a variety of schools and educational backgrounds.

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Do I have to reapply for each division?
Laguna Blanca School offers a K-12 program that is divided into three divisions: Lower School (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and Upper School (9-12). The progression from grade to grade and division to division is contingent upon similar criteria—reasonable mastery of the academic requirements and fulfillment of the community’s expectations regarding citizenship. As long as these criteria are met, students progress through the divisions and no further application is required.

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How large are the classes at Laguna?
In the Lower School (K-4), we strive for class sizes of 20, with one section per grade and a total enrollment approaching 100 students.

The Middle School (5-8) maintains one section of approximately 20 students in both the fifth and sixth grades. In the seventh and eighth grades, most of the subject-specific class sections have 12-15 students, with a maximum of 18 students in a class. Total enrollment in the Middle School is approximately 120 students.

Class sizes in the Upper School (9-12) vary significantly as students move into higher-level courses. The maximum class size is 18 students, but many classes can have as few as eight students. Total enrollment in the Upper School is about 210 students.

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How would you characterize your faculty?
Our teachers are highly trained, enthusiastic, experienced, and caring. More than half of our faculty have advanced degrees and combine both youth and the wisdom of many years of teaching. Our faculty are more than teachers as many of them also serve as coaches and advisors and assist students as sponsors to their clubs and activities, all while remaining available to tutor or counsel students in need. Laguna is able to attract and retain its high quality faculty members through competitive compensation and professional development programs.

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What foreign languages do you offer? 
Lower School students are taught Spanish; our fifth and sixth graders take French; Latin is required for all seventh graders; and at eighth grade, students elect to continue in one of four languages: Chinese, French, Latin, or Spanish. Students frequently carry this foreign language into their high school careers.

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Are there “cuts” in the interscholastic sports programs?
There is a spot on our teams for any student who makes the commitment to put forth his or her best effort and attitude throughout the season. Laguna’s sports programs operate under a “no cut” policy, with players on the Middle School and junior varsity teams offered an equal opportunity for playing time. Members of varsity level teams earn playing time according to their practice and work ethic and skill level at the sport.

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What is your college counseling program? 
Laguna’s college counseling program encompasses all four years of a student’s high school experience and includes individually tailored course planning; advice on co-curricular electives, extracurricular activities and summer enrichment; and strategic standardized test guidance. The Director of College Counseling meets with members of the junior class both individually and in groups to discuss issues and trends in selective college admissions and to construct a list of prospective colleges for each student. In the senior year, the college counselor advises students in the filing of applications to their final selection of colleges and ensures that these applications are effectively presented to reflect the best of each student’s ability. Laguna Blanca graduates typically are admitted to and attend some of the nation’s finest colleges and universities, usually one of their top choice schools.

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Is there a commitment to community service?
The School believes that a raised consciousness regarding service to others is beneficial to all students in our community. Service learning begins in kindergarten and carries throughout a student’s career at Laguna. Students participate in a variety of lessons and activities that cultivate an increased awareness of the world beyond.

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Is there a uniform or dress code? 
In kindergarten through grade four, a uniform is worn. In the Middle and Upper Schools (5-12) no uniform is required, but students are expected to dress in a manner that is appropriate to and will not detract from the tone of the learning environment.

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Do you have a cafeteria?
Laguna makes available to students a catered fresh lunch program on a subscription basis. The program is offered three days a week in the Lower School and five days a week on the Middle/Upper School campus. Laguna does not have its own cafeteria.

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Do you provide transportation?
We offer a shuttle service for a fee between the Lower and Middle/Upper campuses in the morning and afternoon. There also is a fee-based, scheduled bus service from the Santa Ynez Valley in the morning only. Many families opt to form carpools, and the Laguna Blanca Parents’ Auxiliary can assist families in this process.

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Is after school care available?
An Extended Day Program for Lower School children is presently under consideration. At the moment, however, Laguna Blanca does not offer after school care.

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What opportunities are there for parental involvement?
Laguna believes that a student’s education is best served when the school and family work in partnership. Parents are encouraged to become integral, active members of the Laguna community, and there are many opportunities for involvement. All parents are automatically members of the Laguna Blanca School Parents’ Auxiliary, which sponsors and hosts many school events and activities.

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Are families asked to contribute beyond tuition?
Laguna Blanca School’s phenomenal success has been made possible by decades of charitable gifts received from generous parents, faculty and staff, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, trustees, and friends of the School. As with most other independent schools, tuition covers approximately 80 percent of the cost of educating a child a Laguna. The Laguna Blanca Annual Fund constitutes the most important source of funds outside of tuition and augments faculty salaries, classroom materials, financial aid, new equipment, facilities maintenance, and the athletic and art programs. Periodically the School undertakes captial campaigns to enhance programs and facilities as well as to augment endowment funds. All families are encouraged to contribute appropriate to their resources to the Annual Fund each year and to capital initiatives as they occur. Every gift is important and makes a difference.

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