Providence School is an independent Christian school serving Preschool–Grade 12. The school’s central and compelling mission is to provide students an environment and program in which they can flourish academically, socially, and spiritually.
The school draws on more than 60 years of history serving the Santa Barbara community, providing academically excellent education in an atmosphere that fosters the development of faith, values, and character.
Providence is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the College Board and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).
Average class size | 13
Student to faculty ratio | 6 to 1
Total enrollment, PS – 12 | 325
Graduates accepted by a four-year college | 100%
Providence School prepares students for lives of purpose, equipped with the knowledge, wisdom, and character found in God’s unchanging truth.
“Pursuing Truth, Beauty, and Excellence”
Our motto encapsulates the ideals guiding us. Pursuing truth, beauty, and excellence is woven into everything we do.
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.
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.
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%
Explore employment opportunities currently available at Providence School
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.
While we teach from a Christian worldview and seek to instill a deep knowledge of God’s love, 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, “habits of the mind,” to be developed in their children: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, resilience, compassion for others, service, personal responsibility, and a passion for pursuing truth, beauty, and excellence.
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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.
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.
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Program Highlights:
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.
