Most Selective Private Schools in California

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  • The average private school acceptance rate in California is approximately 84% per year (2018-19).
  • 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 (2018-19)

  • School Acceptance Rate Grades Location
  • 1.
    John Thomas Dye School
    Acceptance Rate: 7%
    Grades: K-611414 Chalon Road
    Los Angeles, CA 90049
    (310)476-2811
  • 2.-5.
    Camelot Kids Preschool
    Camelot Kids Preschool Photo - Silverlake Farms Field trip
    Daycare / Preschool
    Acceptance Rate: 10%
    Grades: NS-K2880 Rowena Avenue
    Los Angeles, CA 90039
    (323)662-2663
  • 2.-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.
    Montessori School
    Acceptance Rate: 10%
    Grades: NS-627 10th Ave
    San Mateo, CA 94401
    (650)340-1230
  • 2.-5.
    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
  • 2.-5.
    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
  • 6.
    The Thacher School
    The Thacher School Photo - "Come west. Breathe deep. Let these books and these hills and these horses be your teachers." -Sherman Day Thacher
    Acceptance Rate: 13%
    Grades: 9-125025 Thacher Road
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)640-3210
  • 7.
    Cate School
    Cate School Photo - Math class
    Acceptance Rate: 14%
    Grades: 9-121960 Cate Mesa Road
    Carpinteria, CA 93013
    (805)684-4127
  • 8.-9.
    San Francisco Friends School
    (Friends)
    Acceptance Rate: 15%
    Grades: K-8250 Valencia Street
    San Francisco, CA 94103
    (415)565-0400
  • 8.-9.
    Write Start Learning Center
    Daycare / Preschool
    Acceptance Rate: 15%
    Grades: NS-44453 Precissi Lane
    Stockton, CA 95207
    (209)956-5437
  • 10.
    The Webb Schools
    The Webb Schools Photo - Webb offers introductory and advanced level courses in art, music and theater. Along with our recently constructed Copeland-Donahue Theater and Digital Media Studio, our campus is home to a newly-renovated Susan A. Nelson Performing Arts Center.
    Acceptance Rate: 19%
    Grades: 9-121175 West Baseline Road
    Claremont, CA 91711
    (909)482-5214
  • 11.-12.
    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
  • 11.-12.
    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
  • 13.
    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
  • 14.-16.
    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
  • 14.-16.
    New Covenant Academy
    New Covenant Academy Photo
    (Christian)
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: K-123119 W. 6th Street
    Los Angeles, CA 90020
    (213)487-5437
  • 14.-16.
    Sierra Canyon School
    Sierra Canyon School Photo - Lower Campus computer lab where students receive specialized instruction in computer skills, broadcast and coding.
    (6)
    Acceptance Rate: 25%
    Grades: PK-1211052 Independence Ave.
    Chatsworth, CA 91311
    (818)882-8121
  • 17.-21.
    Dunn School
    Dunn School Photo - Girls living in Loy Dorm at Dunn School enjoy a beautiful view of the campus overlooking Munger Common.
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: 6-12Po Box 98 2555 W Highway 154
    Los Olivos, CA 93441
    (805)688-6471
  • 17.-21.
    Katherine Michiels School
    Katherine Michiels School Photo - Learning together.
    Alternative School
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: PK-51335 Guerrero Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)821-0130
  • 17.-21.
    The Nativity School
    (Roman Catholic)
    (3)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: PK-8P O Box 9180
    Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
    (858)756-6763
  • 17.-21.
    St Monica School
    (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: K-85950 Geary Blvd
    San Francisco, CA 94121
    (415)875-1956
  • 17.-21.
    Woodside Priory School - The Priory
    Woodside Priory School - The Priory Photo - Our classes are intentionally small and last between an hour and an hour and fifteen minutes, allowing students and teachers to engage deeply in intellectual discourse, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
    (Roman Catholic)
    Acceptance Rate: 30%
    Grades: 6-12302 Portola Road
    Portola Valley, CA 94028
    (650)851-8223
  • 22.
    Francis Parker School
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 35%
    Grades: PK-126501 Linda Vista Rd
    San Diego, CA 92111
    (858)596-7900
  • 23.-26.
    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
  • 23.-26.
    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
  • 23.-26.
    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
  • 23.-26.
    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
  • 27.
    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
  • 28.-29.
    Alverno High School
    (Roman Catholic)
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: 9-12200 N Michillinda Avenue
    Sierra Madre, CA 91024
    (626)355-3463
  • 28.-29.
    The Athenian School
    Acceptance Rate: 45%
    Grades: 6-122100 Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd
    Danville, CA 94506
    (925)837-5375
  • 30.
    Children's Day School
    Acceptance Rate: 47%
    Grades: PK-8333 Dolores Street
    San Francisco, CA 94110
    (415)861-5432
  • 31.
    Highland Hall Waldorf School
    Highland Hall Waldorf School Photo - Our classrooms contain furniture made of natural materials and slate chalkboards.
    Special Program Emphasis
    (5)
    Acceptance Rate: 48%
    Grades: PK-1217100 Superior Street
    Northridge, CA 91325
    (818)349-1394
  • 32.
    Woodland Hills Private School - Oxnard St. Campus
    Woodland Hills Private School - Oxnard St. Campus Photo - The campus includes a library, story room, computer lab, art/science lab, & much more.
    Acceptance Rate: 49%
    Grades: NS-522555 Oxnard St
    Woodland Hills, CA 91367
    (818)348-6563
  • 33.-43.
    Besant Hill School
    Besant Hill School Photo - Catching an Ojai Valley sunset.
    Special Program Emphasis
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: 9-128585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd or PO Box 850
    Ojai, CA 93023
    (805)646-4343
  • 33.-43.
    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
  • 33.-43.
    The Marin School
    The Marin School Photo - The Marin School provides an experiential education with interactive classes, creative projects, and curriculum-related field trips.
    Alternative School
    (2)
    Acceptance Rate: 50%
    Grades: 9-12150 N. San Pedro Road
    San Rafael, CA 94903
    (415)339-9336
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