The average private school acceptance rate in California is 80% per year (2025).
The most selective school in California is West Covina KinderCare, with an acceptance rate of 1%.
Acceptance Rate Range: 1%
25%
Avg. Acceptance Rate: 18%
Most Selective Private Schools in California (2025)
School
Acceptance Rate
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
West Covina KinderCare![West Covina KinderCare Photo - Building]( "West Covina KinderCare Photo - Building")
Daycare / Preschool
Acceptance Rate: 1%
Grades: NS-PK
3443 S. Nogales St.
West Covina, CA 91792
(626) 965-9611
West Covina, CA 91792
(626) 965-9611
Rank: #22.
Seton School, Inc.
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 3%
Grades: K-12
44751 Date Ave.
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 948-8881
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 948-8881
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights![Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights Photo - water day, summer program]( "Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights Photo - water day, summer program")
Daycare / Preschool
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Grades: NS-PK
2880 Rowena Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 662-2663
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 662-2663
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
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.]( "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: PK-6
27 10th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 340-1230
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 340-1230
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Montessori Academy-Glendale
Montessori School
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Grades: PK-K
1920 W Glenoaks Blvd
Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 841-9096
Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 841-9096
Rank: #66.
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Grades: NS-5
1 Carey School Lane
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 345-8205
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 345-8205
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Grades: K-12
1200 Villa Street, Suite 100
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 489-0071
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 489-0071
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Grades: PK-12
151 Laura Ln
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 251-8500
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 251-8500
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Grades: 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Grades: 9-12
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Grades: 7-12
11350 Palms Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 391-7127
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 391-7127
Rank: #12 - 1512. - 15.
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: K-12
548 Market Street, No 41193
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 938-4934
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 938-4934
Rank: #12 - 1512. - 15.
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: K-8
250 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 565-0400
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 565-0400
Rank: #12 - 1512. - 15.
Trinity School![Trinity School Photo]( "Trinity School Photo")
(Episcopal)
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: NS-5
2650 Sand Hill Rd
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 854-0288
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 854-0288
Rank: #12 - 1512. - 15.
Write Start Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: NS-4
4453 Precissi Lane
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 956-5437
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 956-5437
Rank: #1616.
The Webb Schools![The Webb Schools Photo - Welcome to Webb]( "The Webb Schools Photo - Welcome to Webb")
Special Program Emphasis
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Grades: 9-12
1175 West Baseline Road
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 9-12
39 Fernhill Avenue
Ross, CA 94957
(415) 454-3612
Ross, CA 94957
(415) 454-3612
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
Carden Hall
(2)
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: PK-8
1541 Monrovia Ave
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 645-1773
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 645-1773
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 7-12
3700 Coldwater Canyon Avenue
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-6692
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-6692
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 6-12
1201 Ortega Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-5232
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-5232
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 2-8
17 Buena Vista AveMill Valley, CA 94941
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 462-5657
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 462-5657
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Chinese American International School![Chinese American International School Photo - Chinese New Year]( "Chinese American International School Photo - Chinese New Year")
Special Program Emphasis
Acceptance Rate: 22%
Grades: PK-8
3250 19th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 865-6084
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 865-6084
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
The Hamlin School
All-girls
Acceptance Rate: 22%
Grades: K-8
2120 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 922-0300
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 922-0300
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Grades: 6-8
201 Polhemus Rd
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 548-1500
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 548-1500
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Grades: 9-12
3065 Jackson St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 447-3100
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 447-3100
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Grades: PK-12
5600 W. Tulare Ave.
Visalia, CA 93277
(559) 734-2684
Visalia, CA 93277
(559) 734-2684
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
St. John Notre Dame School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Grades: K-8
309 Montrose Drive
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 985-4129
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 985-4129
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Appleseed Montessori School
Montessori School
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-K
1302 Warner Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 245-7338
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 245-7338
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 9-12
245 El Divisadero Ave
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 945-6464
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 945-6464
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: NS-8
16000 Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 476-6421
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 476-6421
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 1-12
762 Cypress St
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 599-1227
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 599-1227
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Crean Lutheran High School![Crean Lutheran High School Photo]( "Crean Lutheran High School Photo")
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 9-12
12500 Sand Canyon Ave.
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 387-1199
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 387-1199
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
De Toldeo High School
(Jewish)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 9-12
22622 Vanowen St.
West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 348-0048
West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 348-0048
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Foothills Adventist Elementary School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: K-8
711 Sunnyside Rd
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-3546
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-3546
Rank: #28 - 7028. - 70.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-12
12515 Combie Rd
Auburn, CA 95602
(530) 269-1540
Auburn, CA 95602
(530) 269-1540
Show 100 more private schools in CA (out of 823 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California average private schools acceptance rate?
The California average private schools acceptance rate is 80% for 2025.
What are the most selective private schools in California?
The top ranked private schools in California include West Covina KinderCare, Seton School, Inc. and Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights.
What is the most selective high school and elementary school in California?
The most selective private high school in California is Seton School, Inc., with an acceptance rate of 3%. The most selective private elementary school is Seton School, Inc., with an acceptance rate of 3%.
Recent Articles
Podcasts That Will Change the Way You Think About Education
This article highlights a curated selection of podcasts that offer thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and innovative ideas on various aspects of education. From exploring new teaching methods and technologies to discussing policy changes and social issues, these podcasts provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in education. Each podcast is briefly described, highlighting its unique focus and tone.
For-profit vs. Not-for-profit Schools
This comprehensive guide explores the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit private schools, discussing their organizational structures, advantages, and key considerations for parents. It emphasizes that a school's success is determined by its educational quality and management rather than its profit status.
2023-24 Best SSAT Prep Courses Reviewed
This article reviews the top SSAT prep courses, including Test Innovators, Enrollment Management Association (EMA), Princeton Review, Ivy Global, and Kaplan. Each course is evaluated based on its price, in-person and online services, officially licensed materials, instant normative scoring, and free trial options. We'll dive into the features and benefits of each course, helping you understand which one best fits your student's needs and learning style.
