Our Story Through Time

Our school began in 1981, but our buildings go back even further.

In the shadow of Santa Barbara’s history stands our school. Our main building once housing a hospital, then a junior college, our location at 814 Santa Barbara Street has roots that run deep.

An ambitious group of students and parents from Santa Barbara Middle School had a vision for a new independent school. They wanted an educational experience steeped in hands-on and active learning, robust academics, and outdoor adventuring. So in 1981 Anacapa School opened its doors.

Since then, our school has made its mark in the Santa Barbara community. Today we have a thriving student body, a high college acceptance rate, continuing accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the lowest student-to-teacher ratio of any secondary school in Santa Barbara County.