Apply Donate
Three EACPA students leading saddled horses down the barn aisle
Enrollment · Cohort 01 · Fall 2026

The doors open September 30, 2026.
42 seats. 345 families waiting.

Equis Amare™ College Preparatory Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit college-preparatory academy for grades 9 to 12. Tuition is $35,000 a year, horse care included. Applications open for the founding cohort.

345 families on the waitlist · Rolling review · priority by submission date
Cohort 01 · State of play As of May 2026
42
Founding cohort seats
Grades 9 to 12
345
Families on the waitlist
Confirmed · May 2026
$35K
Annual tuition · horse care included
$2,900 per month
Fall '26
Cohort 01 opens
Soft launch · Penn Valley campus
01 Who EACPA is for
The equestrian student.

For the student who learns faster with a horse than in a chair.

The pattern
Sharp, restless, built for the barn not the bell. Brilliant in the saddle. Adrift in a classroom that never saw them.
The student
Grades 9 to 12. Riders, future veterinarians, breeders, equine business owners. Or kids who simply learn better when an animal is in the room.
The fit
College-bound. UC a-g portfolio complete. Industry-recognized credentials. Five professional tracks: Equine Science, Equine Business, Equine Law, Reproduction & Genetics, Biotechnology.
Not for
Students seeking a traditional bell-schedule academic environment, or families looking for an after-school riding program. The barn is the classroom here.
Campus entrance

The doors open 2026. Forty-two seats. One conversation at a time.

Cohort 01 · Fall 2026 · Penn Valley, CA
Tuition · 2026 to 2027

One number. Horse care included.

No surprise bills for boarding, lessons, or barn time. The animal is part of the education, not a line item.

$35,000
Per academic year
$2,900 per month

What tuition covers

  • 27 certified courses across five professional tracks
  • WASC-accredited high school curriculum
  • Daily mounted instruction & barn skills
  • Horse care, feed, tack, and stall use
  • Equine-assisted wellness curriculum
  • Industry credentialing: USEF, USHJA, ARIA, RACE
  • UC a-g portfolio support & college counseling
  • 200 service hours coordination for college applications

Not included (Including but not limited to)

  • ·Personal horse boarding (school horses provided)
  • ·USEF show entries & travel
  • ·Student owned horses beyond boarding
  • ·Custom tack and show attire
  • ·Off-campus tutoring, test prep
  • ·Residential boarding (announced before opening)
  • ·Travel for off-site competitions
How to apply

Four steps. Rolling review.

Priority is given to early applicants. Notifications return within 14 days.

Step 01
15 minutes

Inquiry & family conversation.

Submit the inquiry form. Schedule a 15-minute call with Laura to discuss your student's training schedule, academic goals, and fit.

Step 02
Within 7 days

Submit the full application.

Student-written application, current grades, two references (one academic, one equestrian), and a parent statement of intent.

Step 03
2 to 3 hours

Campus &
barn visit.

Tour the 37.9-acre campus. Student rides with the head trainer and meets faculty. Family meets the board.

Step 04
Within 60 days

Decision &
enrollment.

Admission notification by email and call. Tuition deposit secures the seat. Onboarding begins Fall 2026.

The waitlist counts as Step 01. Submit early.

Step 01 · Inquiry & waitlist

Tell us about your rider.

A few details to start the conversation. Laura reads every one. Submitting places you on the priority waitlist.

Private. Never sold. Used only to follow up about enrollment.
Frequently asked

Questions families actually ask.

Does my student need to own a horse to apply?

No. School horses are part of tuition. We pair students with horses based on temperament, riding level, and the track they choose. Students who own their own horse are welcome to board on campus, with separate boarding rates announced before opening.

Is EACPA accredited?

EACPA is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation with full 501(c)(3) federal recognition (EIN 39-2918392). The WASC accreditation and UC a-g portfolios are complete, the pathway is active, with submissions expected this summer 2026. Industry credentialing partnerships in motion: USHJA, RACE, ARIA, and USEF.

How does the daily schedule work?

The day is structured around the saddle, not the bell. Morning barn rotation at 7:15 AM. Academic block 8:00 to 11:30. Track-specific labs after lunch. Riding instruction 3:00 to 6:30. Dismissal at 6:30. The full schedule is on the campus page.

What does "five professional tracks" mean?

Every student picks a primary track in their sophomore year. Each track is 27 certified courses with CTE (Career Technical Education) credentials and UC a-g portfolio alignment. The tracks are:

Equine Science · Equine Business · Equine Law · Reproduction & Genetics · Biotechnology in Sport

Graduates leave with credentials the industry recognizes and college applications that look unlike any other applicant in the pool.

Is financial aid available?

We will have a scholarship program available in the near future. It will be need-based aid. Contact enroll@eacpa.academy to discuss aid alongside your application.

Is boarding available, or is EACPA a day school?

Cohort 01 opens as a day school. Students commute from the Bay Area equine corridor and Nevada County. Residential boarding is planned for Cohort 02 (Fall 2027); details and waitlist priority announced to current families before opening.

Why Penn Valley?

The 37.9-acre property in Penn Valley includes an established working equestrian facility: 4,000 sq ft barn, 140 × 280 ft covered arena, 16 stalls, and 14 grassy turnouts. The Bay Area equine corridor extends north through Nevada County, putting the campus inside one of the strongest year-round riding climates in the country.

What if my student isn't sure about a career in horses?

The bond is the curriculum. Many students arrive thinking they will pursue a non-equestrian career and find a track that holds them. Others arrive set on becoming a veterinarian and graduate with an academic scholarship and go on to study economics at their chosen university. The point is rigor, not destination.

Cohort 01 · Fall 2026

We open the doors with the founding cohort. Be one of them.

Fifteen minutes. One conversation. Laura answers every question families ask before they choose this school.

Laura Bruner
Founder & Executive Director
Every dollar restricted by donor intent. Capital firewall provision in every donor agreement. Legal counsel · AALRR