California Private School Trends (10-Year)

3,908

Private Schools

-7.1% (-300 schools) 10-yr

659,615

Students

+0.9% (+5,756 students) 10-yr

$17,625

Avg. Tuition

+39.6% (+$5,002) 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

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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Private schools down 124 in California, from 4,050 in 2024 to 3,926 in 2025.

# Students

659,615 Students

111,484 Students
avg. per state

View Largest California Private Schools

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Private enrollment down slightly in California, from 673,836 in 2024 to 665,424 in 2025.

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

Grade	California
Nursery	17,722
Pre-K	98,242
Kind	65,863
1	39,911
2	38,762
3	38,188
4	37,725
5	40,943
6	40,144
7	40,147
8	42,804
9	39,608
10	38,156
11	38,244
12	38,173
Not Listed	4,983

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Pre-K largest at 98,242 private school students, far more than any other grade in California.

Average School Size

180 Students

179 Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Students of color steady at 51% in California private schools, up from 49% in 2016 and far above the national 34% in 2025.

Academics

# Teachers

55,836 Teachers

509,242 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

11:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Ratio down 1 student in California private schools, from 13:1 in 2016 to 12:1 in 2025.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

60%

55%

View California Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	14	12
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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AP courses up 2 in California private schools, rising from 12 in 2016 to 14 in 2025, while the national average went from 10 to 12.

Average SAT score

1267

(Out of 1600)

1235

View Average Private School SAT Scores in California

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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SAT score down 150 points in California private schools, from 1411 in 2016 to 1261 in 2025.

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

View Average Private School ACT Scores in California

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

$17,625

$13,779

View California Private Schools By Tuition Cost

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	$17,790	$13,694
2024	$17,351	$13,340
2023	$16,650	$12,825
2022	$15,800	$12,321
2021	$15,412	$12,072
2020	$14,800	$11,784
2019	$14,428	$11,547
2018	$14,111	$11,280
2017	$13,685	$10,994
2016	$13,253	$10,614
2015	$12,623	$10,195

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Tuition up $4,537 in California, rising from $13,253 in 2016 to $17,790 in 2025.

Average Summer Program Cost

$1,072

$1,160

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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Summer cost up 229 dollars in California, rising from $815 in 2021 to $1,044 in 2025.

Average % on Financial Aid

29%

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

$9,632

$7,693

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	84%	85%
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

$18.27 million

$31.69 million

View Average Private School endowment in California

View Data

Endowment Trends (2017-2025)

Year	California (CA) Avg	National
2025	$19 M	$40 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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Endowment up 3 million in California private schools, rising from $16 M in 2017 to $19 M in 2025.

Students by Ethnicity

0.74

0.65

View California Private Schools Minority Statistics

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Diversity score edged up in California private schools from 0.72 in 2016 to 0.74 in 2025, while the U.S. rose from 0.61 to 0.65.

# American Indian Students

3,574 Students

29,810 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

71,777 Students

264,326 Students

% Asian Students

11%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Asian enrollment up 1 point in California private schools, from 10% in 2016 to 11% in 2025.

# Hispanic Students

104,405 Students

506,562 Students

% Hispanic Students

16%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Hispanic share flat at 16% in California private schools from 2019 to 2025, while the national figure was 8% or 9%.

# Black Students

30,221 Students

415,491 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Black student share steady at 5% in California private schools in 2025, matching 2016 and staying below the national 7%.

# White Students

235,730 Students

2,925,942 Students

% White Students

37%

52%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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White share down 6 points in California private schools, from 43% in 2016 to 37% in 2025.

# Hawaiian Students

5,499 Students

20,065 Students

% Hawaiian Students

<1%

# Others Students

188,740 Students

1,473,041 Students

% of Others Students

29%

26%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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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Other-race share up 5 points in California private schools, rising from 24% in 2016 to 29% in 2025.

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 Cate School, The Branson School, and Chadwick School.

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 $17,229 for elementary schools and $23,667 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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