Top California Private Schools

For the 2021 school year, there are 3,882 top private schools in California, serving 661,668 students.
The average private school tuition is $11,734 for elementary schools and $20,099 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The average acceptance rate is 84% (view national acceptance rates).
Minority enrollment is 45% and the student:teacher ratio is 12:1.
50% of schools are religiously affiliated (most commonly Roman Catholic and Christian).
There are 75 Blue Ribbon schools, 63 all-girls schools, 49 all-boys schools, 479 Montessori schools, 1,063 schools offering summer programs and 2,310 Preschools/Day Care schools.

Top California Private Schools by County (2021)

Popular cities: Los Angeles (249 schools), San Francisco (120 schools), San Diego (104 schools), San Jose (99 schools), Sacramento (66 schools).
  • County
    # Schools
    # Students
    % Minority
  • Alameda County
    211 Schools
    30,871 Students
    53% Minority
  • Amador County
    2 Schools
    114 Students
    16% Minority
  • Butte County
    15 Schools
    1,334 Students
    22% Minority
  • Calaveras County
    2 Schools
    98 Students
    4% Minority
  • Colusa County
    2 Schools
    83 Students
    48% Minority
  • Contra Costa County
    135 Schools
    19,162 Students
    43% Minority
  • Del Norte County
    2 Schools
    85 Students
    19% Minority
  • El Dorado County
    15 Schools
    1,478 Students
    19% Minority
  • Fresno County
    37 Schools
    6,559 Students
    48% Minority
  • Glenn County
    2 Schools
    133 Students
    5% Minority
  • Humboldt County
    12 Schools
    792 Students
    21% Minority
  • Imperial County
    13 Schools
    1,743 Students
    93% Minority
  • Inyo County
    3 Schools
    66 Students
    34% Minority
  • Kern County
    42 Schools
    6,444 Students
    38% Minority
  • Kings County
    6 Schools
    1,018 Students
    39% Minority
  • Lake County
    7 Schools
    268 Students
    19% Minority
  • Lassen County
    5 Schools
    60 Students
    12% Minority
  • Los Angeles County
    1,138 Schools
    198,981 Students
    53% Minority
  • Madera County
    5 Schools
    407 Students
    61% Minority
  • Marin County
    50 Schools
    8,349 Students
    19% Minority
  • Mariposa County
    1 Schools
    7 Students
    - Minority
  • Mendocino County
    9 Schools
    681 Students
    41% Minority
  • Merced County
    17 Schools
    1,940 Students
    34% Minority
  • Modoc County
    1 Schools
    17 Students
    - Minority
  • Mono County
    1 Schools
    32 Students
    - Minority
  • Monterey County
    22 Schools
    4,150 Students
    41% Minority
  • Napa County
    28 Schools
    4,208 Students
    19% Minority
  • Nevada County
    11 Schools
    596 Students
    12% Minority
  • Orange County
    398 Schools
    72,327 Students
    38% Minority
  • Placer County
    37 Schools
    3,959 Students
    25% Minority
  • Plumas County
    1 Schools
    91 Students
    3% Minority
  • Riverside County
    163 Schools
    24,618 Students
    44% Minority
  • Sacramento County
    131 Schools
    19,596 Students
    43% Minority
  • San Benito County
    6 Schools
    370 Students
    39% Minority
  • San Bernardino County
    145 Schools
    20,610 Students
    49% Minority
  • San Diego County
    315 Schools
    57,485 Students
    39% Minority
  • San Francisco County
    120 Schools
    27,969 Students
    46% Minority
  • San Joaquin County
    49 Schools
    8,433 Students
    47% Minority
  • San Luis Obispo County
    31 Schools
    3,294 Students
    15% Minority
  • San Mateo County
    102 Schools
    18,146 Students
    39% Minority
  • Santa Barbara County
    37 Schools
    5,994 Students
    41% Minority
  • Santa Clara County
    258 Schools
    58,465 Students
    47% Minority
  • Santa Cruz County
    29 Schools
    4,855 Students
    25% Minority
  • Shasta County
    14 Schools
    1,936 Students
    13% Minority
  • Siskiyou County
    7 Schools
    155 Students
    10% Minority
  • Solano County
    32 Schools
    4,700 Students
    62% Minority
  • Sonoma County
    64 Schools
    6,375 Students
    22% Minority
  • Stanislaus County
    26 Schools
    3,907 Students
    35% Minority
  • Sutter County
    5 Schools
    333 Students
    36% Minority
  • Tehama County
    4 Schools
    279 Students
    31% Minority
  • Tulare County
    21 Schools
    3,005 Students
    34% Minority
  • Tuolumne County
    5 Schools
    493 Students
    10% Minority
  • Ventura County
    95 Schools
    22,356 Students
    29% Minority
  • Yolo County
    17 Schools
    2,248 Students
    30% Minority
  • Yuba County
    2 Schools
    195 Students
    23% Minority
Recent Articles
Single-Sex Education: An Overview
Single-Sex Education: An Overview
Sending your child to a single-sex school is one of several options you have when it comes to private schools.
Do I Need to be Certified?
Do I Need to be Certified?
Each state sets its own teacher certification requirements. While many private schools do not require you to be certified, it is in your best interests to obtain certification. This article includes contact information for state education offices so you can begin the process.
5 Easy Steps To Marketing Your School
5 Easy Steps To Marketing Your School
Marketing the small private school can be done affordably and effectively. We suggest five easy steps to make that happen.
Quick Links
Most Popular Articles