Merit Academy (Top Ranked 草榴社区 School for 2026-27)

Q: Does Merit Academy offer a summer program?

Yes, Merit Academy offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked CA School
School Type: Alternative School
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 24 students
Yearly Tuition: $50,000
Acceptance rate: 100%
Average class size: 1 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: 鉁�Verified school update

School Rankings

Merit Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for:

School Facts

School Type

Alternative School

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Merit Academy
9	6
10	6
11	6
12	6

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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Learning Programs Supported

All

Year Founded

1994

Summer School Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

Last Day of School

Fri. Jun 4, 2027

School Motto

鈥淓ducation for Excellence.鈥�

Student Body

Total Students

24 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

75%

State avg.: 52%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers

24 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

1:1

National avg.:

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

50%

Average Class Size

1 students

Average SAT score

1400

(Out of 1600)

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Number of AP Courses

37 courses

List of Courses Offered

Advanced Courses

AP Art 2DAP Art 3D

AP Art HistoryAP Biology

AP Calc ABAP Calc BC

AP ChemistryAP Chinese

AP Comp Sci AAP Comp Sci P

AP CompGovAP Drawing

AP English LangAP English Lit

AP Environmental SciAP Euro History

AP FrenchAP German

AP Human GeoAP Italian

AP JapaneseAP Latin

AP MacroAP Micro

AP Music TheoryAP Physics 1

AP Physics 2AP Physics C1

AP Physics C2AP Psychology

AP Spanish LangAP Spanish Lit

AP StatisticsAP US GovP

AP US HistoryAP World History

Aquaponics 1010ASL 910-930

CHI 1010-1030CHI 1110-1130H

CHI 1210-1230HCHI 910-930

ENG 1010-1030 HonorsENG 1110-1130 Honors

ENG 1210-1230 HonorsENG 910-930 Honors

FR 1010-1030FR 1110-1130H

FR 1210-1230HFR 910-930

HEB 1010-1030HHEB 910-930H

HIS 1010-1030 HonorsHIS 1110-1130 Honors

HIS 1210-1230 HonorsHIS 910-930 Honors

JPN 1010-1030JPN 1110-1130

JPN 1210-1230JPN 910-930

LIT 1010-1030 HonorsLIT 1110-1130 Honors

LIT 1210-1230 HonorsLIT 910-930 Honors

MATH 1010-1030 HonorsMATH 1110-1130 Honors

MATH 1210-1230 HonorsMATH 910-930 Honors

MUS 910SCI 1010-1030

SCI 1110-1130 HonorsSCI 1210-1230 Honors

SCI 910-930 HonorsSPA 1010-1030 Honors

SPA 1110-1130 HonorsSPA 1210-1230 Honors

SPA 910-930 Honors

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$50,000

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Students can enroll in one to six courses per semester. $50000 is based on full enrollment and educational/college advisory.

Acceptance Rate

100%

National avg.: 82%

College Acceptance Rate

100%

Admissions Director

Susan Tatsui-D'Arcy

Admissions Associate

Jaclyn D'Arcy

Sports

Total Sports Offered

7 sports

Sports

Alpine SkiingBallet

DanceDiving

GymnasticsMartial Arts

Weightlifting

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

4 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

History and Literature ClassesKids 4 Hydrogen

projectMeritTravel Abroad with English

School Notes

At Merit Academy, there is one student per class.
Teachers teach directly to that one student, so there's no way to slip through the cracks.
The classes move at a level appropriate for each student. You won't have to wonder whether your child is participating in class discussions or whether the teacher is engaging your child; these concerns are nonexistent at Merit.
Merit's teachers and director keep close tabs on each student's progress.
Teachers report directly to Merit's Director about each student's work.
The director meets with each student once per week to ensure that the student is making good progress, enjoying their classes, and using their time wisely.
If a student looks like they might fall behind, they are able to receive extra tutoring.
No one gets lost in the shuffle at Merit.
At the same time, we employ rigorous standards to fully prepare students to be successful at even the most selective universities.
Our dedicated teachers, who are experts in their fields, offer exciting lectures and individualized support. Students not only take a full load of accelerated classes, but they also get experience with life outside the classroom-holding internships, working on special projects, and performing community service.
As students approach college, they receive guidance with the admissions process.
Although the workload might seem heavy for some students, we offer the support they need to get it done.

Academic requirements for High School Graduation with Honors: 4 years of English Grammar (36 essays and articles per year) 4 years of World Literature (36 books per year) 4 years of Mathematics (including calculus) 4 years of Science (with labs) 4 years of History/Economics/Civics/Psychology/World Religions (3 comprehensive research papers per year) 4 years of Foreign Language 4 years of Contract Physical Education 2 years of Fine Arts or Electives 12 Professional Internships 1 College-prep Project (Minimum 2 years)
Academic requirements for High School Graduation: 4 years of English Grammar (18 essays and articles per year) 2 years of Literature (18 books per year) 4 years of Mathematics 4 years of Science 3 years of History/Economics/Civics (2 research papers per year) 4 years of Foreign Language 4 years of Contract Physical Education 2 years of Fine Arts or Electives 3 Professional Internships 1 Community Service Project (Minimum 1 month)

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Merit Academy cost?

Merit Academy's tuition is approximately $50,000 for private students.

What schools are Merit Academy often compared to?

Merit Academy is often viewed alongside schools like Kirby School by visitors of our site.

What is the acceptance rate of Merit Academy?

The acceptance rate of Merit Academy is 100%, which is higher than the national average of 80%.

Does Merit Academy offer a summer program?

Yes, Merit Academy offers a summer program. Visit their for more information.

What sports does Merit Academy offer?

Merit Academy offers 7 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Ballet, Dance, Diving, Gymnastics, Martial Arts and Weightlifting.

What is Merit Academy's ranking?

Merit Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Highest average SAT score and Most AP courses offered.

When is the application deadline for Merit Academy?

The application deadline for Merit Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (4 reviews)

5 8/25/2023

Alex has really made progress with Alicia, Spencer, and John. Thanks to Susan & everyone for their work. Alex has made great progress in both math and writing. He took a math placement assessment and is ready to start school today. Yay for a great team! It is a pleasure working with Merit's team of specialists! Please use any of my statements on your website. You deserve rave reviews for your work and dedication to learners and their families! Thank you, Nancy

- Posted by Parent - Nancy Deitchman

5 5/17/2016

Merit Academy came to our rescue! Our son was failing high school math , we did not know what to do. We found Merit and with the help of Kimberly my son's teacher he turned his grade into a B plus. We are forever grateful and my son is thriving. Can't say enough about the personalized attention my son has received.

- Posted by Parent - 4reva

5 7/24/2015

Before we decided to attend Merit Academy my daughter was overwhelmed with pressure and hours of homework. My child is now thriving and extremely happy. I am grateful for the flexibility and nurturing of the wonderful and professional staff at Merit Academy.

- Posted by Parent - polly

5 5/23/2013

Merit Academy is a truly unique school. I attended Merit Academy for all of my pre-college education. The one-on-one class environment allowed me to customize my curriculum to meet my development needs. There are theater opportunities and dance training integration programs that facilitated my dual passion for academics and competitive dancing. Susan offers customized college advisory programs to support every student at Merit Academy. Because of Merit Academy and the guidance and direction from Susan, I was accepted into one of the top colleges in America and landed a job at a major electronics company after college that supports and furthers my career ambitions. I attribute all of my academic and artistic/athletic success to Merit Academy.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - jtdar

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Santa Cruz County, CA is $17,758 for elementary schools and $29,726 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Santa Cruz County, CA is 90% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).