The Kirby School

The Kirby School is a day school in Santa Cruz, California, enrolling about 150 students in grades 6 through 12. Located on the Central Coast, the school serves a region known for environmental access and cultural diversity. Unlike boarding schools, day schools release students by late afternoon, giving faculty time for family, graduate work, or personal pursuits each evening.

The school's defining feature is equal weight for arts and academics. Most college-prep schools treat arts as electives. At The Kirby School, studio instruction runs alongside rigorous coursework with real integration between them. Faculty teach Spanish, Latin, American Sign Language, and English as an Alternative Language—roles that naturally cross disciplines and serve students from many backgrounds. This structure means arts teachers are not separate from the academic mission; they shape it.

Financial health supports this vision. The school maintains net assets above $2.7 million and annual revenue near $8 million. That stability funds competitive salaries, professional development, and the resources needed for strong studio facilities. Faculty culture emphasizes collaboration and inclusive practice grounded in how students actually learn.

The Kirby School hires year-round for teaching positions, administrative roles, and support staff. Most faculty openings appear before fall and spring semesters. Candidates thrive here if they value high academic standards, believe arts matter to student growth, and commit to inclusive community practice. For day school teachers seeking a place where studio work is central—not peripheral—to the educational mission, this Santa Cruz school offers a genuine fit.