Boarding
San Domenico Boarding: Live Where You Learn
Founded in 1850 as the first independent school in California, San Domenico’s K-12 campus is located in Marin County, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco. At SD, you’ll become a part of a long legacy of students inspired by innovative, purpose-driven learning and our unwavering commitment to academic excellence.
We have 140 high school students living in our boarding school program who come from across the Bay Area and all around the world. With more than 20 countries represented in our dorms, living among such a wide range of international perspectives fosters within our students a global awareness, empathy, and the ability to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and with varying viewpoints.
Here at SD, you will learn where you live, find your community, and forge lifelong friendships. All while soaking up the California sun, enjoying the natural beauty of Marin County, and experiencing the vibrant city of San Francisco just across the Golden Gate Bridge!
Discover the Benefits of Boarding at San Domenico
515 Acres You Can Call Home
Your new backyard: Our expansive and peaceful campus offers multiple sources for exploration, reflection, and fun! Safely nestled in the hills of San Anselmo, flanked by redwood trees and a seasonal creek, the opportunity to hike, mountain bike, trail run, or simply reflect in nature are everywhere… just outside your dorm room! With most facilities open until 10:00 pm every night, campus is vibrant into the evening and on the weekends. You can socialize, cook, watch movies, play games in our Mercedes Lounge, enjoy weekend BBQs and late-night snacks around the firepit, and play ping-pong and cornhole at Mercedes Court. Or choose to join our open gym workouts in the fitness center, swim in our gorgeous pool, and play tennis or beach volleyball. For a creative outlet, stroll down to the digital arts lab, film studio, or visual arts and ceramics studios. Dancers and musicians will appreciate the Hall of the Arts (HOTA), where you’ll find 30 rehearsal rooms, a professional stage, and a 2,000 square-foot dance studio. It’s up to you to choose!
Your new room: Comfortable and functionally designed rooms accommodate two or three students, and each has a view of the iconic redwood trees and rolling hills that surround campus. Additional amenities include lounges on each floor with a large-screen TV, computers/printers/WIFI, kitchens, and laundry facilities. You’ll form close bonds with your hallmates and experience supportive staff and student prefects to help you feel right at home.
Dorm News
![Boarding students celebrating birthdays with cake]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1737140835/sandomenico/ijc772knk8wbxp7np2dx/DormNews011725-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1737140835/sandomenico/ijc772knk8wbxp7np2dx/DormNews011725-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1737140835/sandomenico/ijc772knk8wbxp7np2dx/DormNews011725-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1737140835/sandomenico/ijc772knk8wbxp7np2dx/DormNews011725-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Students kick off the new semester with rock climbing, mindfulness, and savoring senior privileges.
![Campus on a sunny winter day]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736532951/sandomenico/zxisk9sc3r9ghngandds/DormNews-Campus-011025-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1736532951/sandomenico/zxisk9sc3r9ghngandds/DormNews-Campus-011025-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1736532951/sandomenico/zxisk9sc3r9ghngandds/DormNews-Campus-011025-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736532951/sandomenico/zxisk9sc3r9ghngandds/DormNews-Campus-011025-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Students return to campus renewed, recharged, and ready for the new semester.
![Holiday fun in the dorms]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1734630270/sandomenico/mz9nrhvjeyjyebnirj7k/DormNews121924Holidays-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1734630270/sandomenico/mz9nrhvjeyjyebnirj7k/DormNews121924Holidays-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1734630270/sandomenico/mz9nrhvjeyjyebnirj7k/DormNews121924Holidays-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1734630270/sandomenico/mz9nrhvjeyjyebnirj7k/DormNews121924Holidays-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Students savor their favorite things, finish up finals, and prepare to head home for the holidays.
![Boarding students socializing in Mercedes]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1734126432/sandomenico/vdc3y9lggqu4ltjrpalg/DormNews1213224-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1734126432/sandomenico/vdc3y9lggqu4ltjrpalg/DormNews1213224-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1734126432/sandomenico/vdc3y9lggqu4ltjrpalg/DormNews1213224-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1734126432/sandomenico/vdc3y9lggqu4ltjrpalg/DormNews1213224-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Students prep for midterms, step on stage for Tableaux, and revel in other holiday festivities.
![Boarding students & resident faculty making pizza in Mercedes]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733507722/sandomenico/jkisnokymcbezbjlopbx/DormNews120624-pizzainMercedes-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733507722/sandomenico/jkisnokymcbezbjlopbx/DormNews120624-pizzainMercedes-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733507722/sandomenico/jkisnokymcbezbjlopbx/DormNews120624-pizzainMercedes-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733507722/sandomenico/jkisnokymcbezbjlopbx/DormNews120624-pizzainMercedes-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
After a restful Thanksgiving break, students are prepping for end-of-semester exams and celebrating their peers and mentors.
![Boarding students in Something Rotten!]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1732295810/sandomenico/jcdc2nae8v3h4wifg5ay/DormNews-SomethingRotten112224-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1732295810/sandomenico/jcdc2nae8v3h4wifg5ay/DormNews-SomethingRotten112224-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1732295810/sandomenico/jcdc2nae8v3h4wifg5ay/DormNews-SomethingRotten112224-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1732295810/sandomenico/jcdc2nae8v3h4wifg5ay/DormNews-SomethingRotten112224-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Students dazzle their audiences with creativity, talent, and joy.
![Chef Aivn at the barbeque]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1731697370/sandomenico/ylpvatixdsoihilmm1qh/DormNews-aivn-111524-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1731697370/sandomenico/ylpvatixdsoihilmm1qh/DormNews-aivn-111524-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1731697370/sandomenico/ylpvatixdsoihilmm1qh/DormNews-aivn-111524-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1731697370/sandomenico/ylpvatixdsoihilmm1qh/DormNews-aivn-111524-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Rock climbing, cooking, college apps, and daily routines mark the road towards Thanksgiving break.
![Boarding students dressed up for Halloween]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1731084066/sandomenico/vb6z0hbm4valpinkmwjf/DormNews-Halloween-110824-thmb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1731084066/sandomenico/vb6z0hbm4valpinkmwjf/DormNews-Halloween-110824-thmb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1731084066/sandomenico/vb6z0hbm4valpinkmwjf/DormNews-Halloween-110824-thmb.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1731084066/sandomenico/vb6z0hbm4valpinkmwjf/DormNews-Halloween-110824-thmb.jpg","width":810}])
Students celebrated Halloween and Dia de los Muertos with costumes, spooky lights, and remembering our dear departed.
A Day in the Life
With so many activities on campus to choose from, every day at San Domenico is unique! From an early morning bike ride to lights out at night, there’s plenty of time for academics, friendship, and fun. Here’s what your typical school day might look like when you live at SD.
6:30 AM - Wake up and seize the day! Enjoy a sunrise hike, run, or bike ride in the hills surrounding campus; or head to the campus fitness center for an early morning workout.
7:30 AM - Take a two-minute walk to breakfast in our dining hall. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and oatmeal are just a few of our tasty breakfast choices. All our food is made in-house, locally sourced, healthy, and cooked from scratch. There is always a grab-and-go breakfast option for those who like to sleep in!
8:10 AM - 3:10 PM - Head to class! You’ll follow a block schedule, allowing you to engage with your classmates and teachers with enough time to delve deeply into subjects and projects. Your weekly schedule also features assemblies, workshops, club meetings, and extracurriculars.
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM - After the last bell rings, you’ll head home to Mercedes Lounge with day and boarding students to enjoy a hearty snack before you engage in after-school activities.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Get involved! Join your classmates after school for athletic practices at our pool, gym, and fields, or in our Hall of the Arts for theatre, dance, and music rehearsals. You can also join an off-campus trip to the local shops for school supplies and dorm room snacks. Or you can stay on campus to workout in the gym, catch up on homework in the library, attend math or writing labs, or enjoy games and activities back at Mercedes Lounge.
6:00 PM - 6:45 PM - Dinner is served! Enjoy a rotating menu of hearty, delicious meals made with fresh and seasonal ingredients every night of the week. Day students, faculty, and staff are invited to Community Dinner in the Dining Hall twice a month, where boarding students share their unique experiences, food, and culture with guests.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Every Monday through Thursday evening, you’ll join your classmates in supervised study halls, which provide a quiet place to complete your homework and collaborate on group projects.
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Before lights out, expel your last bit of energy in the gym, dance studio, Mercedes Lounge kitchen, or the Music Conservatory. Or relax by the fire pit with friends while enjoying s’mores and delicious baked goodies from the kitchen.
10:30 PM - 11:00 PM - It’s time to get some rest for another exciting day ahead! Sunday through Thursday nights, freshmen “lights out” is at 10:30 pm. Sophomores and juniors have until 11:00 pm. For seniors, lights out are at their own discretion.
Explore Your Bay Area Backyard
To go to school in the San Francisco Bay Area is to experience the best of both worlds. Known for its sunshine and breathtaking nature; world class art, music, food scenes; and easy access to San Francisco, Berkeley, and Palo Alto; the San Francisco Bay Area is a remarkable place to live and learn. Here, you’ll quickly embrace the California lifestyle, soaking in the culture, discovering endless hiking and biking trails, strolling pristine beaches, and even skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains!
Students living in the Bay Area draw inspiration from the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley, the cultural diversity of San Francisco, and the academic legacy of nearby Stanford and University of California Berkeley campuses. Our residential staff regularly plan activities to keep your weekends vibrant and busy!
More Time For Everything
Whether you come from just a few miles away or the other side of the world, living with your friends at San Domenico means no more time wasted driving to and from school—and more time spent doing the things you love. With everything SD has to offer, you can spend more time playing sports, practicing performing arts, studying, going for a hike, or simply hanging out.
It's also a chance to find your community among students like you who are eager to fully immerse themselves in their high school experience. You’ll learn invaluable life skills, experience the freedom and independence of living away from home, and undoubtedly grow into your best self as you live and learn among a diverse and vibrant group of students from around the world.
“Being a regional boarder allows me to experience San Domenico in a way few students can; I focus on school work during the week, living with students from around the world, and head home on some weekends. It has given me the tools I need to become a global citizen.”
Milo from San Francisco, Class of 2020
Thrive in a supportive environment
With health and wellness as our top priority, our campus nurse and school counselors offer support and programming to help you grow and navigate teen and boarding life. Additionally, our student prefect program offers peer-to-peer leadership to enhance the support you receive from our expertly trained residential faculty. Nightly study halls provide academic support so you feel ready for class the next day.
Meet the Team
Mark Churchill
Athletic Director, Resident Faculty, Coach - Varsity Track & Field and Cross Country
School:
415-258-1990 ex1801
Mary Churchill
Science Teacher, Resident Faculty Member, Coach - Upper School Cross Country, Coach - Lower & Middle School Cross Country & Track
School:
415-258-1900
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any activities on the weekends?
Activities vary from weekend to weekend and reflect the desires of the boarding students and opportunities that arise in the community. There are activities on campus (e.g. basketball games, open gym, hiking, movies, games) and off campus (e.g. trips to San Francisco, the beach, local malls, museums). Day students are welcome to join weekend activities.
Are there mandatory weekends when students must remain on campus?
There are no mandatory weekends when students must remain on campus.
Can Boarding students stay on campus during school holiday breaks like Christmas? Will the school help arrange alternate living arrangements for students if they cannot travel home during that time?
The dorms at San Domenico are open during Thanksgiving break, February break, and Spring break. Boarding students can stay in the dorms during those times and a daily fee is charged to those who stay there. The dorms are closed for Christmas and Summer break, and all students must depart. San Domenico strongly recommends that parents/guardians plan alternative living arrangements with a friend, relative, or guardian when the dorms are closed. All breaks are published on the school calendar.
Do boarding students have roommates?
Yes. Most students will have one or two roommates, as most of our dorm rooms are doubles and triples.
How do I get around if I don’t own a car?
The Residential Program offers planned trips to different locations during the week and on weekends, so boarding students don't need a car. The School provides transportation for medical/dental appointments arranged by the School on behalf of a student. If you are part of a school-sanctioned team or club, transportation will be provided to and from practice. Outside of this, school transportation for individual student requests is limited. Students may use taxis and Uber to get around if they have parental approval. Resident Faculty will work with a student to secure a taxi or other transportation should it be necessary.