Since 1959, York School has offered an award-winning college-prep program that promotes intellectual curiosity and self-discovery to develop confident and authentic leaders. Known for its academic excellence, York blends experiential and classroom-based programming, encouraging students to better understand their place in the world, cultivate personal integrity, and seek to effect positive change. Our high-quality, dedicated faculty and staff support the 180 students in grades 8-12 who join us from public and independent middle schools in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties—as well as around the world—by guiding them through the challenges of their high school journey, helping them discover themselves and reach their potential.
Our beautiful park-like campus located on a sunny hilltop is the perfect place for our welcoming, inclusive, and diverse community to thrive. With a wide variety of advanced courses, award-winning STEM and arts programs, a robust athletics program, global study opportunities, and over 40 experiential learning and club offerings to choose from, there are new paths for every Falcon to try as they embark on the journey to become their best selves.
Awards & Accolades
OUR MISSION
We inspire and prepare a diverse community of creative, independent thinkers.
OUR VALUES
Honesty. Respect. Responsibility.
We believe teaching and empowering students to be curious, to ask questions, and to engage in conversation prepares them for higher education and fulfilling lives. With an open and inquisitive mindset, York Students can discover the most about themselves and the world.
SUSTAINABILITY
We believe in being environmentally conscious consumers and producers. About 50% our energy needs are met through solar power blocks found on rooftops around campus. The students and faculty are encouraged to print less, using online resources like Google Suite and Canvas Learning Management System to submit papers and assignments. In 2008, York was the first school to be named a Monterey County Green Business, in part because of the construction of our environmentally sustainable Science Building, which was the first green building in Monterey County with 25+ elements of environmentally-sensitive, sustainable technology. In addition, our daily “work job” tradition gets students involved in sustainable practices like recycling, resource conservation, and natural habitat restoration.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY
We believe having a student body and faculty diverse in talents, viewpoints, and backgrounds creates the highest-quality learning experience while fostering local and global connections through the sharing of multiple perspectives, heritages, and voices. An open dialogue in which students feel safe to express themselves is cultivated through our principle values: honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion.
Additionally, to help foster our well-rounded community, approximately 60% of our students—more than twice the national average for independent schools—are supported by a strong need-based financial aid program.
York School values and admits students of any national or ethnic origin, race, religion, ancestry, family makeup, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities available to students at the School, and the School does not discriminate on the basis of these factors in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid program, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
