About

Welcome from the Head of School

What’s unique about Webb? Our interdisciplinary approach to academics for students in grades 9–12 and the outstanding learning opportunities that our location in Southern California offers!
    • Dr. Theresa Smith

      Theresa Smith, Ph.D

Webb Mission and Values

Since 1922, Webb students have been guided by our mission to:
  • Think boldly, mindfully, and creatively.
  • Act with honor and moral courage.
  • Lead with distinction.
  • Serve with a generous spirit. 
These values shape every aspect of our program, preparing students to lead lives of purpose and meaning.
With southern California as an extension of our campus, Webb’s program taps into the real world. From Silicon Beach to Hollywood, Los Angeles is a diverse, global city with world-renowned art museums, cutting-edge aerospace and tech industries, and esteemed academic centers, from USC and UCLA to the Huntington Library and the Claremont Colleges, right up the street. It is the perfect location for a school committed to preparing students for a quickly changing world, and our academic partnerships enable our students to engage as unbounded thinkers in this broad landscape.

Our academic excellence is rooted in our history and focused on the future. Our core program emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and unique experiential learning, providing students with foundational skills and the freedom to design their own high school experience.

Webb’s vibrant boarding school community is made up of passionate faculty, staff, and students, a century of meaningful traditions, and a whole lot of fun. From convocation to commencement, from our start-of-the-year honor pledge ceremony to our senior trips to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, life at Webb is an exciting educational adventure where memories are made that last a lifetime.

When I first stepped onto the Webb campus, I was captivated by the engaged and curious students and the talented teachers. The California architecture and the unique Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology added to the charm. From that moment, I knew Webb was a remarkable place to live and learn. I can't wait for you to see it, too!

Theresa Smith, Ph.D.
Head of School

Dr. Smith’s Top 10 Favorite Places in the Los Angeles Area

Webb
At a Glance

Head of School Theresa Smith, Ph.D.

Theresa Smith, Ph.D. holds a Bachelor of Arts in history with a minor in Spanish from UC Berkeley, a Master of Arts in history from UC San Diego, and a Ph.D. in history from UC San Diego with focuses in early modern European history, modern European history and colonial Latin American history. She is the author of The Emerging Female Citizen: Gender & Enlightenment in Spain, published by UC Press in 2006.

Dr. Smith has over 20 years of experience leading innovative educational programs. She became Assistant Head of Schools in 2017 and Associate Head of Schools in 2020.
    • Dr. Smith walking with girl and boy students through the quad

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