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ABOUT

Providence School prepares students for lives of purpose, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and character found in God’s unchanging truth.

MISSION

Drawing on more than 60 years of serving the Santa Barbara community, our central mission is to provide students with an environment and program in which they can flourish academically, socially, and spiritually. We provide a private Christian education to students from preschool to grade 12.

Average class size | 13
Student to faculty ratio | 6 to 1 
Total enrollment, PS – 12 | 325
Graduates accepted by a four-year college | 100%

Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Member of College Board and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)

MOTTO & MOTTO STATEMENT

“Pursuing Truth, Beauty, and Excellence”

We weave the pursuit of truth, beauty, and excellence into every aspect of the student experience.

Truth, as revealed by God through the Bible and his creation, provides the foundation on which knowledge and wisdom are built.

As a part of God’s creation, we recognize the beauty in our world and the work of our maker; we strive to mirror that in our own endeavors.

Excellence originates in God’s character; therefore, we choose to offer God our very best, using our individual God-given gifts to further his work on earth.

ACCREDITATION & CREDENTIALS

  • Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
  • Complies with the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice  

STUDENT BODY

Students come to Providence from Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, the Santa Ynez Valley, and international locations. Our school is a welcoming, close-knit community that feels like a home away from home. Providence students represent a diverse mix of cultural, ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds.

While we teach from a Christian worldview, Providence is open and welcoming to students regardless of their religious affiliation. The school is comprised of families who desire a common set of character traits to be developed in their children:  love, integrity, humility, care for others, and a passion for making the world a better place.

Our students are the greatest testimonial for our school; those who are with us now, those who are excelling in higher education, and those who have become contributing, productive, and happy adults.

FACULTY & STAFF DIRECTORY

The core of Providence School is a talented faculty and staff, mature in Christian faith, excellent in their disciplines, skilled in the art of teaching, passionate about helping students succeed, and committed to the school’s mission. We have no doubt our faculty is among the best you’ll find anywhere in the nation.

Providence teachers nurture, inspire, encourage, and challenge students on a daily basis.

Families who choose Providence are choosing teachers who will know and love their children, who inspire a joy in learning, and who encourage and challenge students to pursue excellence in all that they undertake.

Total faculty members | 65
Faculty members who hold master’s degrees | 45%

Join our team. WORK AT PROVIDENCE SCHOOL

Explore employment opportunities currently available at Providence School.

LEADERSHIP

A dedicated board of directors stewards the mission of the school. The head of school holds the responsibility for day-to-day operations and leading the faculty and staff.

Meet the Providence Board of Directors

Meet the Head of School

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY

READ MORE:

Providence Statement of Faith

A Blueprint for a Distinctly Christian Education

Portrait of a Graduate / List of 16 Habits of the Mind

HISTORY

The school has one set of roots in a nursery school begun in 1958 at El Montecito Presbyterian Church. The school grew to become El Montecito School, offering excellent foundational education with a strong Christian focus for Preschool through Grade 6.

Simultaneously, another set of strong roots were taking hold at Santa Barbara Christian School, begun in 1959 with the purpose to provide an excellent, faith-centered education for Kindergarten through Grade 8.

Parents from both institutions saw the value of a school where students are encouraged to develop a deep love of learning about the world and our Creator, experience the love of Jesus, and grow in wisdom and character. Over the years, parents gathered to pray for and consider the formation of a Christian secondary school that would be very strong academically and unapologetically committed to the historic Christian faith. Those prayers were answered when Providence Hall opened in 2007, providing college-preparatory education for Grades 9–12; eventually expanding to offer Grades 7–12.

Providence School today was born out of a 2013 merger between Santa Barbara Christian School and Providence Hall, resulting in a seamless K–12 experience called Providence, A Santa Barbara Christian School, and further enriched in 2018 by a merger with El Montecito School, resulting in the strong, sustainable Preschool through Upper School program we offer today. 

Since 1958, the core purpose and philosophy of the school has not changed. Providence School exists to prepare students for lives of purpose, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and character found in God’s unchanging truth.

SCHEDULE

Classes meet daily, Monday–Friday, in person, late August through early June.

General school hours are 8:15 am–3:15 pm, with staggered starts and release times by division. (For example, Middle School and Upper School begin at 8:10 am and end the school day at 2:45 pm, with athletics practices after school.)

Extended day care is offered at the Preschool and Lower School levels.

HIGHLIGHTS

Academic Recognitions

  • Accredited at the highest level by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Member California Junior Scholarship Federation and California Scholarship Federation
  • 100% percent of our graduates are accepted by a four-year college or university program.
  • Member California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (athletics)
  • SAT scores 200 points higher than the national average

Community Recognition:

  • Voted best private school by Santa Barbara News-Press readers five years in a row

Program Highlights:

  • Christian faith integrated into all subject areas
  • Extensive educational travel opportunities Grades 4 – 12, including Sacramento, Monterey Bay, Washington, D.C., outdoor adventures, and international travel
  • Upper School academies for engineering and digital design or fine arts (plus a hybrid option)
  • Upper School liberal arts honors program, Libertas Scholars
  • TRIAD (Travel, Research, Investigate, Art, Discover) two-week spring program to pursue special interests for Grades 7–12
  • International student program
  • Outdoor education with exciting adventure activities for Grades 7–12
  • Learning Greek and Latin word roots and holding Socratic discussions begins in Lower School
  • Robust performing arts program for all students
  • Leadership and service program for all students
  • Weekly chapel services for all students
  • Annual spiritual retreats for Grades 4–12

Providence admits students regardless of sex, race, color, or national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, tuition assistance programs, athletic, and other school administered programs.

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