Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart Founded in 1926, Clairbourn School is an independent, coeducational day school for students in preschool through eighth grade.
At all grade levels, classes are designed to motivate, engage, and support students to reach high levels of achievement.
Learning is active, and teaching is a dynamic blend of both traditional and innovative methods. At Clairbourn, we believe in the ability of every student to achieve success.
We strive to impart in our students not only the mastery of academic content, but also the development of intellectual habits and leadership skills, and strong social and cultural competencies. Our students acquire essential skills and intellectual habits of mind that lead to success in school and their future endeavors.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked CA School
- Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
- Enrollment: 283 students
- Average class size: 18 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 14 / Sep. 1
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Clairbourn School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:
Category
Attribute
Student Body
Sports offered
School History
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-8
Year Founded
1926
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
283 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
79%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
31 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
50%
Average Class Size
18 students
List of Courses Offered
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Uniforms / Lands End
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Jan. 14 / Sep. 1
Tuition Notes
Link to Tuition Figures:
www.clairbourn.org
Admissions Director
Marianne Ryan
Sports
Total Sports Offered
11 sports
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
11 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
After School Sports, Animal Encounters, Bricks 4 Kidz, C.A.S.T. Clairbourn Thespians Drama Club, Early Childhood Grades Dance Class, Edu Chess, Homework Help, Kung Fu, Lango, Let's Read, Let's Rock
School Notes
Clairbourn's Core Beliefs:
- That every student has the innate ability to experience academic success.
- That the best education is one that assists the student in developing effective study habits, including active listening, critical thinking, disciplined effort, and collaboration skills.
- That fostering the development of social, ethical, creative, communication, and physical skills is an essential part of a well-rounded education.
- That the education of children is an active partnership between the school and the family.
- That offering students varied leadership opportunities develops the skills necessary to contribute in a meaningful way to their community.
- That the gift of access to a quality education carries with it certain moral obligations for service to others and the broader community.
- That the cultivation of a student`s emotional health builds a foundation for strength, courage, tenacity, humility, gratitude, and integrity.
- That belonging to a strong community that practices compassion and inclusion helps children to develop heart, a positive moral character, and a strong sense of self-worth.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clairbourn School offer a summer program?
Yes, Clairbourn School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does Clairbourn School offer?
Clairbourn School offers 11 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Equestrian, Flag Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball. Clairbourn School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered.
What is Clairbourn School's ranking?
Clairbourn School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Largest student body, Most sports offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Clairbourn School?
The application deadline for Clairbourn School is Jan. 14 / Sep. 1.
School Reviews
5 5/17/2024
My family and I love Clairbourn. We feel so grateful that we are able to send our children to this school. After a brief stint in the Alhambra School District, it was very important for my family to find a school with high academic standards where my children could learn at a developmentally appropriate pace, and Clairbourn ticked all the boxes. The teachers are very cognizant of social emotional learning, and my children have loved all of their teachers. Due to the school's specialist teachers, my fourth grader can now play trumpet, design his own video games, and create stunning art projects. The community of the school is very welcoming, and there are many, diverse opportunities for parents to be involved. The leadership at the school is very accessible and open to dialogue. Clairbourn fulfills all our educational needs and more, providing a welcoming community, outstanding academics, and diverse opportunities, leaving us deeply grateful for our children's schooling experience.
5 4/12/2024
Both of my children have attended Clairbourn School for over 6 years, and they have thoroughly enjoyed their time there. I am immensely grateful that they have developed leadership skills and become proficient public speakers during their time at the school. The supportive and kind staff have played a crucial role in nurturing their confidence. Additionally, Clairbourn offers ample opportunities for students to explore various interests, making it an ideal choice for parents seeking a well-rounded education for their children.
5 3/1/2024
My daughter went to Clairbourn school from JPK, it's been her 6th year in Clairbourn. She loves Clairbourn, the teachers are nice, and every morning, Dr Patzlaff ( president of the school) welcomes kids with her sunny and warm smile. Clairbourn's daily routine morning assembly is very special for kids to practice their speech in front of the public, and Dr. Patzlaff always encourages kids and gives them support to speak loudly and clearly. I love Clairbourn School.
5 9/21/2020
Clairbourn is a fantastic school. Both of my children attended Clairbourn School since kindergarten and I highly recommend it. The school emphasizes more than just strong academics - they help shape a child into a caring, socially well-adjusted and ethical individual. Class sizes are small, the campus is idyllic and some of my own best friends have come from the close parent community. The school welcomes parent involvement and there are many opportunities to participate, in whatever capacity you have. When my kids were in the younger grades, I especially loved the kind teachers, the emphasis on social development in addition to academics, and the fact that they had the opportunity to develop public speaking skills in morning assembly. They are fearless now when it comes to public speaking.I recommend you visit the school yourself, take a tour and talk to some parents.
5 9/21/2020
Clairbourn is truly a school that has it all. Talented committed teachers, state of the art facility, rigorous academics, and a support inclusive community. Our family highly recommends Clairbourn School.
5 9/21/2020
Clairbourn is a very warm and welcoming school. Every morning the headmaster is out front, with a smile on her face, welcoming all the students. It has a beautiful campus and is very family oriented. Clairbourn knows the importance play has in a child's development, but also prepares them academically to be accepted in the top high schools in the area. One of the things I love about Clairbourn, that sets them apart from other schools, is their ethics program. They really do live up to their mission statement, "Creating scholars and leaders with heart."
5 9/21/2020
Clairbourn School is a perfect fit for my family, especially my children. It is a safe and warm environment that has nurtured them since preschool. Furthermore, Clairbourn has made my kids into critical thinkers, problem solvers and, leaders through a climate of rigorous academics amalgamated with an intense emphasis on their code of ethics. I particularly value how Clairbourn fosters students' confidence through various public speaking opportunities since kindergarten and by letting students explore their interest through a myriad of electives and other extra curricular activities such as team sports, ensemble, the annual Shakespeare production, the Winnie the Pooh play, etc. I respect how Clairbourn manages to balance modern technology with interpersonal connections throughout their curriculum.It is not surprising that Clairbourn sends students to the best high schools in the area every year and they continue to thrive there including my son.
5 9/7/2020
This school is the perfect blend of academic rigor and positive core values embraced in a loving and supportive environment. My daughters received individualized attention in their respective classes while sharing a common culture of traditional and classical schooling. They were well-prepared for their high school experiences.
5 4/6/2020
Clairbourn is a gem of a school. I am a current parent of a child that has started in JPK several years and we are still continuing our child's education at this school. Parents are welcomed on campus, which is an interesting experience that I find unique and special. I am thankful that I can stay on campus and be part of a family, not a community. I understand that is not the case for everyone, but I am grateful that I am allowed on campus. Daily school chapel usually starts the day with your kid sitting at the bleachers or with their parents (if they attend). Learn about current sports news, any big happenings, as well as kids sharing their talents. Today is a day that I write a comment to praise this school. A young girl performed an opera song that brought tears to my eyes at 8:15 in the morning. The performance will probably be on their YouTube channel which you can see these great videos of Clairbourn children and their experiences. Chapel is optional for parents to attend and usually starts the day. I look forward to daily chapel, not because of religious reasons but because I get to see happy kids and see good values being taught to children. Kids learn a variety of things which also includes computers, art, music, various sports, etc. It is wonderful seeing kids walking on campus carrying their various instruments. Which brought memories of me being a music major and the amazing experiences I had. What puts me in awe are the kids. I see kids literally being "themselves" and not being ridiculed or judged for what makes them different or unique. Their personality, individualism, or their "identity" has not been compromised. They are making friends, having an enriching education, and just being who they are, kids. But more importantly, your kid is not only being a kid, but being who they are. These kids are brought up with strong good values which resonates throughout the school. Clairbourn School, I salute you for the service you do for the city of Pasadena, teaching my child and providing these great experiences for my child and I. I highly suggest new parents to book a Clairbourn School tour and come visit.
5 8/21/2019
Clairbourn is an amazing school and is every parent and child's treasure! Located in San Gabriel with a beautiful campus, Clairbourn offers a solid foundation, academically, socially and progressively all at the same time. I am an alumna and because Clairbourn has made such a significant positive impact on me, I knew I would only want my children to come to Clairbourn. One strong element that sets Clairbourn apart from other schools is that they position themselves to play a major role in the overall personality and character building of their students. I have observed at Clairbourn that social and emotional learning is emphasized as much as academic learning. I've witnessed my girls learning about values such as fairness, respect, and honesty as part of everyday lessons in and out of the classroom. Even more, they have trained my girls to pick up wonderful work ethics that I am most grateful because it is a habit that is not easy to acquire but Clairbourn does it so effortlessly. As evidenced Clairbourn has earned a great reputation and they have prepared their children academically very well by placing graduating students in the top high schools every year. I can not say enough good things about Clairbourn and what they have given to my girls and myself....a treasure!
5 5/6/2018
Clairbourn, Clairbourn, Clairbourn School....boy, oh boy, what more can I say about this great school nestled on the San Marino/San Gabriel border. This place is wonderfully located on Huntington Drive so it`s convenient to get to wherever you live!This school is very family oriented and a true parent`s dream come true. I love the fact they allow parents on campus because they are all about parent involvement and interaction with their own children. There is Chapel every morning where kids start their day with their parents! That`s the way it should be! When the kids see their parents on campus and how invested their parents are in their school, a light turns on in their head. In fact, they take pride and become more invested in their own education. Everyone wins! The moment I stepped on campus, I knew I wanted my children to be here! White picket fences, just a drop dead beautiful campus!Not to mention, smiling happy children and a well balanced life...let's face it, any kid can study hard and get straight A's but it's the well balanced education and life experiences that truly makes them ideal leaders of their industry!. When my kids came to visit the school, they felt the same way I did!I`m glad to be here and that`s why we`re staying! Look for me when you visit! See you here!
5 7/12/2017
Clairbourn is an excellent learning environment that encourages students to be their best, supports parent involvement, and has a solid foundation in strong, universal values and ethics. It has a beautiful campus, with administrators, teachers, and staff who care and know each and every student. Students earn admission to the best high schools, and are recognized as compassionate, well-rounded, and respectful.
5 6/23/2017
My kids have been going to Clairbourn for the last 10 years (graduating in 2017) and I have to say choosing Clairbourn was one of the best decisions we've ever made.This is exactly what you will experience:Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. Your child will learn a lot through play. You will hear a lot of chatter about "Clairbourn is not academic enough, blah blah blah" - some parents will transfer their kids to different, more "academic" schools.When kids reach 4th and 5th grade, the homework load starts to increase, but they increase at a moderate and manageable amount.When kids reach middle school, they are probably spending 30 minutes to 1.5 hours on homework.I believe this year's graduating class has about 38 kids and 12 or 13 of them are going to Flintridge Prep, and every single child got into great school (Poly, Flintridge, Westridge, Webb, St Francis, La Salle, Maranatha, etc.).Here's what Clairbourn is:- a loving community where parents are encouraged to participate in the growth of their child (parents get to choose to participate as much or as little as they like; no pressure)- A school that makes a strong effort to build character, integrity, and honesty. You will not meet a child who doesn't have a strong moral compass from Clairbourn- A Christian Science School, but you will not feel any awkwardness if your family is not religious. They teach good values.- They prepare the kids well IF you stick with the program. They have their own ways, and you should either buy into it, or go somewhere else. Here's what Clairbourn is not:- "Level up teaching" - meaning, they don't take 3rd-grade material and teach them to 2nd graders. Lots of schools do that and parents would say "gee, my friend's child is doing this, and you're only doing that?" - this is silly. Can you teach a 3-year-old the alphabets? Sure, it might take 6 months - but why force that at 3 when you can spend 2 months and teach them when they're 4? The school knows what they're doing, and parents need to leave teaching to the kids - Clairbourn is a small, private school and is not built for 1-on-1 special-ed teaching. If a child has special needs, he or she may be better served at a specialty or public school system where they have a lot more resourcesLastly, I'd like to leave a note for future parents -> Talk to kids from the schools you're considering and see if they are the young adults you'd like to see your kids grow up to be.Good luck.
5 6/23/2017
Clairbourn is an amazingly supportive learning environment with excellent balance between academics, sports and social activities. Students graduating from Clairbourn are some of the most well rounded and academically strong students you will find in the greater LA area.
5 8/1/2015
Clairbourn has strong academics and sends students along to top area high schools. Most importantly, the community at Clairbourn is wonderful! The kids feel supported, the parents feel included, and it is a very special place to come every day.
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