Most Selective Private Schools in California

All Schools
(504) All Schools
(504)  High Schools
(182) High Schools
(182)  Elementary Schools
(405) Elementary Schools
(405)  Preschools
(321) Preschools
(321) 
  • The average private school acceptance rate in California is approximately 84% per year (2019-20).
  • The most selective private schools are listed below (where sufficient data available).
  • The most selective school in California is currently John Thomas Dye School, with an acceptance rate of 7%.

Most Selective Private Schools in California (2019-20)

  • School Acceptance Rate Grades Location
  • Rank: #11.
    John Thomas Dye School
    Acceptance Rate: 7%
    Grades: K-611414 Chalon Road
    Los Angeles, CA 90049
    (310)476-2811
  • Rank: #2-42.-4.
    Camelot Kids Preschool
    Camelot Kids Preschool Photo - water day, summer program
    Daycare / Preschool
    Acceptance Rate: 10%
    Grades: NS-K2880 Rowena Avenue
    Los Angeles, CA 90039
    (323)662-2663
  • Rank: #2-42.-4.
    Centennial Montessori School
    Centennial Montessori School Photo - A natural play yard for our 3 to 6 year olds provides a multi sensory and creative experience. The children use the space to garden, dance, jump, play games, run, twirl, build, dig and create masterpieces in our art area, mud kitchen, and music area.
    Montessori School
    Acceptance Rate: 10%
    Grades: NS-627 10th Ave
    San Mateo, CA 94401
    (650)340-1230
  • Rank: #2-42.-4.
    One Fifty Parker Avenue School
    One Fifty Parker Avenue School Photo - The Little Red School Bus
    Daycare / Preschool
    Acceptance Rate: 10%
    Grades: NS-PK150 Parker Avenue
    San Francisco, CA 94118
    (415)221-0294
  • Rank: #55.
    The Thacher School
    The Thacher School Photo - "Education is not merely the making of scholars. It is the making of men and women. It is the training of the younger generation in the art of living for their own greatest good and the greatest good of their fellow citizens." -Sherman Day Thacher
    Acceptance Rate: 11%
    Grades: 9-125025 Thacher Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)640-3210
  • Rank: #66.
    Cate School
    Cate School Photo - Sunset Bench
    Acceptance Rate: 14%
    Grades: 9-121960 Cate Mesa Road
    Carpinteria, CA 93013
    (805)684-4127
  • Rank: #7-87.-8.
    San Francisco Friends School
    (Friends)
    Acceptance Rate: 15%
    Grades: K-8250 Valencia Street
    San Francisco, CA 94103
    (415)565-0400
  • Rank: #7-87.-8.
    Write Start Learning Center
    Daycare / Preschool
    Acceptance Rate: 15%
    Grades: NS-44453 Precissi Lane
    Stockton, CA 95207
    (209)956-5437
  • Rank: #99.
    The Webb Schools
    The Webb Schools Photo - Webb is a school community that lives and learns together. You will make friends from across the country and around the world. This year we have students from 12 states and 19 countries.
    Acceptance Rate: 19%
    Grades: 9-121175 West Baseline Road
    Claremont, CA 91711
    (909)482-5214
  • Rank: #10-1110.-11.
    St. James' Episcopal School
    St. James' Episcopal School Photo - Students at St. James' engage with reading throughout the year, once a year on Read Across America Day we drop everything and read!
    (Episcopal)
    (5)
    Acceptance Rate: 20%
    Grades: NS-6625 S. St. Andrews Place
    Los Angeles, CA 90005
    (213)382-2315
  • Rank: #10-1110.-11.
    Sequoyah School
    Sequoyah School Photo - Sequoyah School K-8 Campus
    (4)
    Acceptance Rate: 20%
    Grades: K-12K-8: 535 S. Pasadena Ave/High School: 301 N. Orange Grove Boulevard
    Pasadena, CA 91105
    (626)795-4351
  • Rank: #1212.
    Peninsula School
    Peninsula School Photo - Peninsula School creates a space where children thrive and develop their full promise as confident contributors in the world. Here they learn about themselves and others, discovering their passions and growing intellectually in an inclusive community rich with choices, exploration, and play.
    Acceptance Rate: 21%
    Grades: NS-8920 Peninsula Way
    Menlo Park, CA 94025
    (650)325-1584
  • Rank: #13-1513.-15.
    The Academy of 21st Century Learning
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: NS-81671 E. Monte Vista Ave., Suite N-106
    Vacaville, CA 95688
    (707)474-4710
  • Rank: #13-1513.-15.
    New Covenant Academy
    New Covenant Academy Photo
    (Christian)
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: NS-123119 W. 6th Street
    Los Angeles, CA 90020
    (213)487-5437
  • Rank: #13-1513.-15.
    Sierra Canyon School
    Sierra Canyon School Photo - Our Upper Campus is home to our Middle and Upper School students, grades 7-12.
    (7)
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: PK-1211052 Independence Ave.
    Chatsworth, CA 91311
    (818)882-8121
  • Rank: #16-2116.-21.
    Dunn School
    Dunn School Photo - Dunn School students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills through an inspired curriculum that provides the individual attention needed to achieve personal goals while engaging the student as a member of the larger Dunn community.
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: 6-122555 West Highway 154
    Los Olivos, CA 93441
    (805)688-6471
  • Rank: #16-2116.-21.
    Katherine Michiels School
    Katherine Michiels School Photo - Our Students!
    Alternative School
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: PK-51335 Guerrero Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)821-0130
  • Rank: #16-2116.-21.
    The Nativity School
    (Roman Catholic)
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: PK-86309 El Apajo
    Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
    (858)756-6763
  • Rank: #16-2116.-21.
    Pinewood School
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: K-1226800 Fremont Rd
    Los Altos, CA 94022
    (650)209-3010
  • Rank: #16-2116.-21.
    St Monica School
    (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: K-85950 Geary Blvd
    San Francisco, CA 94121
    (415)875-1956
  • Rank: #16-2116.-21.
    Woodside Priory School - The Priory
    Woodside Priory School - The Priory Photo - The Priory is a Benedictine Catholic, independent college preparatory school for grades 6-12.
    (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: 6-12302 Portola Road
    Portola Valley, CA 94028
    (650)851-8223
  • Rank: #2222.
    Francis Parker School
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 35%
    Grades: PK-126501 Linda Vista Rd
    San Diego, CA 92111
    (858)596-7900
  • Rank: #2323.
    Stevenson School - Pebble Beach Campus
    Stevenson School - Pebble Beach Campus Photo - Located on the Pebble Beach Campus, the Rosen Family Student Center provides the opportunity to enjoy a mocha, visit with your college advisor, buy a Stevenson sweatshirt, sit in front of a fire on a comfy couch, organize your schedule, surf the internet on your laptop... all of this can be done in the Rosen Center. The Rosen Family Student Center is also home to our Technology Center, student radio station, the Student Activities Center, classrooms, and the photography lab.
    Acceptance Rate: 38%
    Grades: PK-123152 Forest Lake Road
    Pebble Beach, CA 93953
    (831)625-8300
  • Rank: #24-2724.-27.
    Brookfield School
    Brookfield School Photo - Brookfield has been educating students in the Sacramento area for over 50 years. Our graduating students are regularly accepted to their first choice of high school.
    Special Program Emphasis
    Acceptance Rate: 40%
    Grades: NS-86115 Riverside Blvd.
    Sacramento, CA 95831
    (916)442-1255
  • Rank: #24-2724.-27.
    Crane Country Day School
    Crane Country Day School Photo - 7th Grade QED Project allows students to pursue their interests and passions through a 16-week independent study with an expert mentor.
    Acceptance Rate: 40%
    Grades: K-81795 San Leandro Lane
    Santa Barbara, CA 93108
    (805)969-7732
  • Rank: #24-2724.-27.
    Seven Arrows Elementary School
    Seven Arrows Elementary School Photo - Seven Arrows 6th grade STEAM
    Acceptance Rate: 40%
    Grades: K-615240 La Cruz Drive
    Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
    (310)230-0257
  • Rank: #24-2724.-27.
    The Wesley School
    The Wesley School Photo - Kindergarten field trip
    Acceptance Rate: 40%
    Grades: K-84832 Tujunga Ave
    North Hollywood, CA 91601
    (818)508-4542
  • Rank: #28-3028.-30.
    Alverno High School
    (Roman Catholic)
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: 9-12200 N Michillinda Avenue
    Sierra Madre, CA 91024
    (626)355-3463
  • Rank: #28-3028.-30.
    The Athenian School
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: 6-122100 Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd
    Danville, CA 94506
    (925)837-5375
  • Rank: #28-3028.-30.
    Turning Point School
    Turning Point School Photo - We teach the whole child by addressing their unique cognitive, social, emotional, physical, ethical, and creative development.
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: PK-88780 National Blvd
    Culver City, CA 90232
    (310)841-2505
  • Rank: #3131.
    Children's Day School
    Acceptance Rate: 47%
    Grades: PK-8333 Dolores Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)861-5432
  • Rank: #3232.
    Highland Hall Waldorf School
    Highland Hall Waldorf School Photo - High School Main Lesson Book - Greek Art and History
    Special Program Emphasis
    (5)
    Acceptance Rate: 48%
    Grades: PK-1217100 Superior Street
    Northridge, CA 91325
    (818)349-1394
  • Rank: #33-4533.-45.
    Adda Clevenger School
    Adda Clevenger School Photo - The Adda Clevenger School is an independent elementary school providing an accelerated academic and arts curriculum to San Francisco Bay Area students grades TK-8 since 1980.
    Special Program Emphasis
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: PK-8180 Fair Oaks Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)824-2240
  • Rank: #33-4533.-45.
    Besant Hill School
    Besant Hill School Photo - Besant Hill School is located in the Ojai Valley, on 500 acres of private land with beautiful vistas in every direction. Facilities include four dormitories, outdoor sports facilities including a new aquatic center, indoor theater, atelier, and classrooms nestled along winding paths and oak trees. We also have an eight acre organic farm.
    Special Program Emphasis
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: 9-128585 N Ojai Rd
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)646-4343
  • Rank: #33-4533.-45.
    Evergreen Montessori School
    Evergreen Montessori School Photo - Yerba Buena Rd School, San Jose
    Montessori School
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: K3122 Fowler Rd
    San Jose, CA 95135
    (408)238-4001
Recent Articles
Admissions 101
Admissions 101
Here is an overview of the private school admissions process, as well as the steps needed to find the right private school for your child.
What Do Teachers Earn?
What Do Teachers Earn?
What do teachers earn? Teachers' salaries vary from state to state, indeed, from school to school.
Contract Cheating
Contract Cheating
Contract cheating is more common than most of us realize. Finding somebody online to write essays or term papers is fairly easy to do. The way we parents counter immoral behavior like this is to discuss it frequently with our children.
Quick Links
Most Popular Articles