Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus 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.

Most Selective Private Schools in California

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
Daycare / Preschool
Acceptance Rate: 1%
Grades: NS-PK
3443 S. Nogales St.
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
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights
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
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.
Montessori School
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Grades: PK-6
27 10th Ave
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
Rank: #66.
The Carey School
The Carey School Photo
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Grades: NS-5
1 Carey School Lane
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 345-8205
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Khan Lab School
Khan Lab School Photo - Commencement Ceremony!
(Friends)
(3)
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Grades: K-12
1200 Villa Street, Suite 100
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 489-0071
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Silicon Valley International School
Special Program Emphasis
(2)
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Grades: PK-12
151 Laura Ln
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 251-8500
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
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: 13%
Grades: 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Cate School
Cate School Photo - Sunset Bench
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Grades: 9-12
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Windward School
Windward School Photo
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Grades: 7-12
11350 Palms Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 391-7127
Rank: #12 - 1512. - 15.
The Compass School
The Compass School Photo - The Compass School is an online K12 School. We offer hundreds of live online courses with expert faculty (over 95% of our teachers have a Masters Degree or Higher). Our affordable homeschool program gives students a flexible high quality schooling option that can be taken from anywhere.
(10)
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: K-12
548 Market Street, No 41193
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
Rank: #12 - 1512. - 15.
Trinity School
Trinity School Photo
(Episcopal)
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: NS-5
2650 Sand Hill Rd
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
Rank: #1616.
The Webb Schools
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
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
The Branson School
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 9-12
39 Fernhill Avenue
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
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 7-12
3700 Coldwater Canyon Avenue
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
Rank: #17 - 2117. - 21.
North Bridge Academy
North Bridge Academy Photo - NCA offers a four-year Spanish program.
Special Program Emphasis
(2)
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Grades: 2-8
17 Buena Vista AveMill Valley, CA 94941
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 462-5657
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Chinese American International School
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
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
The Hamlin School
All-girls
Acceptance Rate: 22%
Grades: K-8
2120 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 922-0300
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Odyssey School
Odyssey School Photo - Odyssey School Every step takes us on a new adventure, to the oceans, to the mountains, to theater or classroom, and to the lessons to be learned there. Join us!
(7)
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Grades: 6-8
201 Polhemus Rd
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
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Central Valley Christian Schools
(Christian)
(1)
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Grades: PK-12
5600 W. Tulare Ave.
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
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Appleseed Montessori School
Montessori School
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-K
1302 Warner Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 245-7338
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Berean Christian High School
Berean Christian High School Photo
(Baptist)
(4)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 9-12
245 El Divisadero Ave
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 945-6464
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Canyon View School
Canyon View School Photo
Special Education School
(4)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 1-12
762 Cypress St
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 599-1227
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Crean Lutheran High School
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
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
De Toldeo High School
(Jewish)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 9-12
22622 Vanowen St.
West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 348-0048
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Foothills Adventist Elementary School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: K-8
711 Sunnyside Rd
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-3546
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Forest Lake Christian School
(Christian)
(3)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-12
12515 Combie Rd
Auburn, CA 95602
(530) 269-1540
Rank: #28 - 6928. - 69.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: K-6
4201 Randolph
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 298-9110
Show 100 more private schools in CA (out of 822 total schools)
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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%.

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