Most Selective Private Schools in California (2018-2019)

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(492) All Schools
(492)  High Schools
(177) High Schools
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(432) Elementary Schools
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(292) Preschools
(292) 
  • The average private school acceptance rate in California is approximately 84% per year.
  • 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 (2018-2019)

  • School Acceptance Rate Grades Location
  • John Thomas Dye School
    Acceptance Rate: 7%
    Grades: K-611414 Chalon Road
    Los Angeles, CA 90049
    (310)476-2811
  • 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
  • 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: PK-627 10th Ave
    San Mateo, CA 94401
    (650)340-1230
  • Hayden Child Care Center
    Hayden Child Care Center Photo - Hayden Child Care Center: Educating for Life with the mind and heart of Christ
    Daycare / Preschool (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 10%
    Grades: NS-K819 Buena Vista St
    Duarte, CA 91010
    (626)359-9592
  • 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
  • The Thacher School
    The Thacher School Photo - Though most new students have had little or no experience with horses, each ninth grader spends the first year learning to care for and ride a horse. A long-standing tradition and central part of a Thacher education, the program teaches responsibility, problem solving, and grit in addition to riding skills and rewards participants with heightened self-confidence and awareness.
    Acceptance Rate: 13%
    Grades: 9-125025 Thacher Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)640-3210
  • Cate School
    Cate School Photo - Class discussion
    Acceptance Rate: 14%
    Grades: 9-121960 Cate Mesa Road
    Carpinteria, CA 93013
    (805)684-4127
  • San Francisco Friends School
    (Friends)
    Acceptance Rate: 15%
    Grades: K-8250 Valencia Street
    San Francisco, CA 94103
    (415)565-0400
  • Write Start Learning Center
    Daycare / Preschool
    Acceptance Rate: 15%
    Grades: NS-44453 Precissi Lane
    Stockton, CA 95207
    (209)956-5437
  • 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
  • Sequoyah School
    Sequoyah School Photo - Sequoyah School High School 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
  • Peninsula School
    Peninsula School Photo - Peninsula School's Core Values include: Authentic Interactions; Community; Equity; Freedom and Responsibility; Meaningful Academics and Play.
    Acceptance Rate: 21%
    Grades: NS-8920 Peninsula Way
    Menlo Park, CA 94025
    (650)325-1584
  • 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: 24%
    Grades: 9-121175 West Baseline Road
    Claremont, CA 91711
    (909)482-5214
  • New Covenant Academy
    New Covenant Academy Photo
    (Christian)
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: K-123119 W. 6th Street
    Los Angeles, CA 90020
    (213)487-5437
  • Sierra Canyon School
    Sierra Canyon School Photo - Our Lower Campus ranges from Pre-K-6th grade students.
    (4)
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: PK-1211052 Independence Ave.
    Chatsworth, CA 91311
    (818)882-8121
  • Dunn School
    Dunn School Photo - A view of Boone House, a boys' dorm, on the beautiful Dunn School campus from the outdoor assembly amphitheater.
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: 6-12Po Box 98 2555 W Highway 154
    Los Olivos, CA 93441
    (805)688-6471
  • Katherine Michiels School
    Katherine Michiels School Photo - Exploring
    Alternative School
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: PK-51335 Guerrero Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)821-0130
  • The Nativity School
    (Roman Catholic)
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: PK-8P O Box 9180
    Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
    (858)756-6763
  • St Monica School
    (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: K-85950 Geary Blvd
    San Francisco, CA 94121
    (415)875-1956
  • Woodside Priory School - The Priory
    Woodside Priory School - The Priory Photo - Priory students put on two theater productions each year in Rothrock Performance Hall, a 400 seat proscenium theater with a large stage and state of the art lighting, sound and audience seating.
    (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: 6-12302 Portola Road
    Portola Valley, CA 94028
    (650)851-8223
  • Francis Parker School
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 35%
    Grades: PK-126501 Linda Vista Rd
    San Diego, CA 92111
    (858)596-7900
  • Crane Country Day School
    Crane Country Day School Photo - Upper School students develop a strong conceptual understanding through experiential learning and hands-on lessons and programs.
    Acceptance Rate: 40%
    Grades: K-81795 San Leandro Lane
    Santa Barbara, CA 93108
    (805)969-7732
  • Seven Arrows Elementary School
    Seven Arrows Elementary School Photo
    Acceptance Rate: 40%
    Grades: K-615240 La Cruz Drive
    Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
    (310)230-0257
  • 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
  • Stevenson School - Pebble Beach Campus
    Stevenson School - Pebble Beach Campus Photo
    Acceptance Rate: 43%
    Grades: 9-123152 Forest Lake Road
    Pebble Beach, CA 93953
    (831)625-8300
  • Alverno High School
    (Roman Catholic)
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: 9-12200 N Michillinda Avenue
    Sierra Madre, CA 91024
    (626)355-3463
  • The Athenian School
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: 6-122100 Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd
    Danville, CA 94506
    (925)837-5375
  • Children's Day School
    Acceptance Rate: 47%
    Grades: PK-8333 Dolores Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)861-5432
  • Highland Hall Waldorf School
    Highland Hall Waldorf School Photo - Students experiment with the sciences in our state-of-the-art Science Lab.
    Special Program Emphasis
    (5)
    Acceptance Rate: 48%
    Grades: PK-1217100 Superior Street
    Northridge, CA 91325
    (818)349-1394
  • Woodland Hills Private School - Oxnard St. Campus
    Woodland Hills Private School - Oxnard St. Campus Photo - Exclusive on-site Science & Nature Center with over 70 animals, a reptile house and an aviary. The school is known for its Animal & Nature Studies Program.
    Acceptance Rate: 49%
    Grades: NS-522555 Oxnard St
    Woodland Hills, CA 91367
    (818)348-6563
  • Besant Hill School
    Besant Hill School Photo - The Besant Hill School open house is a great opportunity to tour the campus, attend an assembly, meet teachers, attend classes and sample Chef Juana's cuisine! Randy Bertin, Head of School, greets a perspective student.
    Special Program Emphasis
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: 9-128585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd or PO Box 850
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)646-4343
  • 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
  • The Marin School
    The Marin School Photo - Students are engaged in unique TMS art and technology electives, including Public Art, 3D Animation, Robotics, Innovation Studio and more!
    Alternative School
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: 9-12150 N. San Pedro Road
    San Rafael, CA 94903
    (415)339-9336
  • Meadows-livingstone School
    Special Program Emphasis
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: 1-61499 Potrero Ave Ste 1
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)695-7735
  • Millbrae Montessori School
    Montessori School
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: NS-PK797B Santa Margarita Ave
    Millbrae, CA 94030
    (650)588-2229
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