California Private School Trends (10-Year)

3,908

Private Schools

-7.1% (-300 schools) 10-yr

658,975

Students

+0.8% (+5,116 students) 10-yr

$17,574

Avg. Tuition

+37.1% (+$4,754) 10-yr

Avg. Class Size

52%

Students of Color

+6.1% (+3.0 pp) 10-yr

12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

-7.7% (-1.0) 10-yr

Enrollment & Diversity

Category

This State (CA)

# Schools

3,908 Schools

671 Schools
avg. per state

View Data

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools
Year	California (CA) Total	US Avg per State
2025	3,926	671
2024	4,050	703
2023	3,818	665
2022	3,645	612
2021	3,788	637
2020	3,908	684
2019	3,821	665
2018	3,945	677
2017	3,768	631
2016	3,943	644
2015	4,208	683

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# Students

658,975 Students

111,476 Students
avg. per state

View Largest California Private Schools

View Data

Trends in Total Number of Private School Students
Year	California (CA) Total	US Avg per State
2025	665,424	111,945
2024	673,836	113,628
2023	657,794	108,484
2022	647,565	104,892
2021	659,439	106,817
2020	661,870	109,411
2019	642,553	108,956
2018	647,349	109,868
2017	635,385	106,255
2016	649,597	107,443
2015	653,859	108,505

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View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	California
Nursey	17,705
Pre-K	98,255
Kind	65,894
1	39,911
2	38,760
3	38,169
4	37,700
5	40,894
6	40,148
7	40,103
8	42,737
9	39,534
10	38,068
11	38,072
12	38,042
Not Listed	4,983

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Average School Size

180 Students

179 Students

View Data

Trends in Average School Size
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	180	179
2024	175	172
2023	181	174
2022	189	185
2021	185	180
2020	179	171
2019	179	175
2018	173	172
2017	179	180
2016	173	178
2015	162	167

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% Average Students of Color

52%

34%

View Data

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	51%	34%
2024	51%	34%
2023	50%	33%
2022	48%	33%
2021	48%	32%
2020	48%	32%
2019	48%	31%
2018	47%	31%
2017	50%	32%
2016	49%	32%
2015	49%	32%

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Academics

# Teachers

55,630 Teachers

508,651 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

11:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	12:1	11:1
2024	12:1	11:1
2023	12:1	11:1
2022	12:1	11:1
2021	13:1	11:1
2020	13:1	12:1
2019	12:1	12:1
2018	12:1	12:1
2017	13:1	12:1
2016	13:1	12:1
2015	13:1	12:1

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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

59%

55%

View California Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

View Data

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	59%	55%
2024	58%	54%
2023	58%	54%
2022	59%	54%
2021	59%	54%
2020	58%	54%
2019	58%	53%
2018	58%	53%
2017	58%	53%
2016	57%	52%
2015	57%	52%

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Average Class Size

17 students

16 students

View Data

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	17	15
2024	17	15
2023	17	15
2022	17	15
2021	17	15
2020	17	15
2019	17	15
2018	17	15
2017	17	15
2016	17	15
2015	17	15

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Average Number of AP Courses

15 courses

13 courses

View California Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

View Data

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	15	13
2024	14	12
2023	13	11
2022	13	11
2021	13	11
2020	13	11
2019	13	11
2018	13	11
2017	12	10
2016	12	10
2015	11	10

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Average SAT score

1264

(Out of 1600)

1234

View Average Private School SAT Scores in California

View Data

SAT Score Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	1261	1233
2024	1248	1230
2023	1246	1228
2022	1250	1229
2021	1249	1229
2020	1244	1226
2019	1239	1226
2018	1237	1226
2017	1252	1233
2016	1411	1306
2015	1381	1258

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Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

View Average Private School ACT Scores in California

View Data

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	27	26
2024	27	26
2023	27	26
2022	27	26
2021	27	26
2020	26	25
2019	26	25
2018	26	25
2017	26	25
2016	26	25
2015	25	25

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Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$17,574

$13,752

View California Private Schools By Tuition Cost

View Data

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	$18,076	$15,012
2024	$17,621	$14,622
2023	$16,909	$14,057
2022	$16,046	$13,504
2021	$15,652	$13,232
2020	$15,031	$12,915
2019	$14,653	$12,656
2018	$14,331	$12,363
2017	$13,898	$12,049
2016	$13,459	$11,633
2015	$12,820	$11,174

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Average Summer Program Cost

$1,072

$1,157

View Data

Summer Program Cost Trends (2018-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	$1,044	$1,152
2024	$999	$1,128
2023	$1,039	$1,156
2022	$934	$1,102
2021	$815	$1,125
2020	$882	$1,217
2019	$928	$1,305
2018	$982	$1,108

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Average % on Financial Aid

29%

35%

View Data

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	29%	34%
2024	29%	34%
2023	29%	34%
2022	28%	33%
2021	28%	33%
2020	28%	32%
2019	27%	31%
2018	27%	30%
2017	27%	30%
2016	26%	29%
2015	25%	28%

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Average Financial Aid Grant

$9,521

$7,425

View Data

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	$8,932	$7,073
2024	$8,712	$6,930
2023	$8,186	$6,469
2022	$8,205	$6,289
2021	$7,081	$6,055
2020	$6,794	$5,921
2019	$6,413	$5,795
2018	$5,977	$5,456
2017	$5,752	$5,319
2016	$5,279	$5,105
2015	$5,100	$5,030

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Average Acceptance Rate

83%

85%

View Most Selective Private Schools in California

View Data

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	80%	81%
2024	84%	85%
2023	84%	85%
2022	84%	85%
2021	84%	85%
2020	84%	85%
2019	84%	85%
2018	84%	85%
2017	85%	85%
2016	84%	85%
2015	84%	85%

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Average Endowment Size

$17.51 million

$31.46 million

View Average Private School endowment in California

View Data

Endowment Trends (2017-2025)
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	$31 M	$39 M
2024	$17 M	$39 M
2023	$16 M	$39 M
2022	$18 M	$40 M
2021	$17 M	$40 M
2020	$16 M	$40 M
2019	$15 M	$40 M
2018	$12 M	$43 M
2017	$16 M	$45 M

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Students by Ethnicity

0.74

0.65

View California Private Schools Minority Statistics

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	0.74	0.65
2024	0.74	0.65
2023	0.74	0.65
2022	0.73	0.64
2021	0.73	0.64
2020	0.73	0.64
2019	0.73	0.63
2018	0.73	0.63
2017	0.72	0.61
2016	0.72	0.61
2015	0.72	0.61

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# American Indian Students

3,574 Students

29,812 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	1%	1%
2024	1%	1%
2023	1%	1%
2022	1%	2%
2021	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%
2019	2%	1%
2018	1%	2%
2017	1%	1%
2016	1%	1%
2015	2%	1%

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# Asian Students

71,778 Students

264,410 Students

% Asian Students

11%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	11%	5%
2024	11%	5%
2023	11%	5%
2022	10%	4%
2021	10%	4%
2020	10%	4%
2019	10%	4%
2018	10%	4%
2017	10%	4%
2016	10%	4%
2015	10%	4%

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# Hispanic Students

104,405 Students

506,594 Students

% Hispanic Students

16%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	16%	9%
2024	16%	9%
2023	16%	9%
2022	16%	8%
2021	16%	9%
2020	16%	9%
2019	16%	8%
2018	17%	8%
2017	17%	8%
2016	17%	8%
2015	17%	8%

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# Black Students

30,221 Students

415,557 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	5%	7%
2024	5%	7%
2023	5%	8%
2022	4%	7%
2021	5%	7%
2020	5%	8%
2019	4%	7%
2018	4%	7%
2017	5%	7%
2016	5%	7%
2015	5%	8%

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# White Students

235,736 Students

2,927,501 Students

% White Students

37%

52%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	37%	52%
2024	37%	52%
2023	38%	52%
2022	40%	54%
2021	40%	54%
2020	40%	54%
2019	41%	56%
2018	41%	56%
2017	43%	58%
2016	43%	58%
2015	43%	58%

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# Hawaiian Students

5,499 Students

20,065 Students

% Hawaiian Students

n/a

# Two or more races Students

n/a

% of Two or more races Students

n/a

# Others Students

188,105 Students

1,472,620 Students

% of Others Students

29%

26%

View Data

Other Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	29%	26%
2024	29%	26%
2023	28%	25%
2022	28%	25%
2021	27%	25%
2020	27%	24%
2019	26%	24%
2018	26%	23%
2017	24%	22%
2016	24%	22%
2015	23%	21%

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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars & Sports

Average Number of Extracurriculars

9 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

7 sports

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in California?

The top-ranked private schools in California include The Branson School, Cate School, and The Webb Schools.

How many private schools are located in California?

There are 3,908 private schools are located in California.

How much do private schools cost in California?

The average private school tuition in California is $17,172 for elementary schools and $23,579 for high schools

How diverse are private schools in California?

Approximately 52% of students in California private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).

What percentage of students in California go to private school?

10% of all K-12 students in California attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).

What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in California?

48% of private schools in California are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Which private schools in California are often viewed compared to one another?

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