Private School Review - Established 2003
Santa Cruz Montessori School
Orchard School

Aptos Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 private schools serving 940 students in Aptos, CA, 23% of all K-12 students in Aptos, CA are educated in private schools versus public schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The average acceptance rate is 90%, which is higher than the California private school average acceptance rate of 80%.
40% of private schools in Aptos, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 5
  • # Students Served: 940
  • Average Tuition: $13,257
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 24%
  • Average Class Size: 20 students
  • % Students of Color: 15%
  • View Aptos, CA School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 5
  • # Students Served: 940
  • Average Tuition: $13,257
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 24%
  • Average Class Size: 20 students
  • % Students of Color: 15%
  • View Aptos, CA School Trends

Top Ranked Aptos Private Schools (2026-27)

Map of Twin Lakes Christian School
Twin Lakes Christian School
Gr: K-8 | 403 students
Avg. class size: 23 students
Sports: 7
Christian
2701 Cabrillo College Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 465-3301
(1)
View Profile
Map of Magic Apple School
Magic Apple School
Gr: 2-6 | 46 students
Specialized Curriculum
2120 Trout Gulch
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-1753
(3)
View Profile
Orchard School Photo
Orchard School
Gr: K-6 | 59 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Alternative School
2288 Trout Gulch Rd
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-1074
View Profile
Map of St. Abraham's Classical Christian Academy
St. Abraham's Classical Christian Academy
Gr: K-12 | 185 students
Christian
1940 Bonita Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 239-4657
(2)
View Profile
Santa Cruz Montessori School Photo
Santa Cruz Montessori School
Gr: PK-9 | 247 students
Avg. class size: 21 students
Montessori School
6230 Soquel Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 476-1646
View Profile

Aptos, CA Private School Trends (10-Year)

5
Private Schools
940
Students
+28.4% (+208 students) 10-yr
$13,257
Avg. Tuition
-6.1% (-$863) 10-yr
20
Avg. Class Size
15%
Students of Color
-51.6% (-16.0 pp) 10-yr
12:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Aptos)
This State (CA)
# Schools
5 Schools
3,911 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearAptos, CA Total Schools
20255
20245
20235
20224
20214
20204
20194
20184
20174
20165
20155
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# Students
940 Students
659,573 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
2025188180179
2024188175172
2023188181174
2022169189185
2021169185180
2020169179171
2019180179175
2018180173172
2017179179180
2016146173178
2015146162167
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% Students of Color
15%
52%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202515%51%34%
202415%51%34%
202315%50%33%
202214%48%33%
202114%48%32%
202014%48%32%
201912%48%31%
201812%47%31%
201728%50%32%
201631%49%32%
201531%49%32%
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0.50
0.74

Diversity Score Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
20250.500.740.65
20240.500.740.65
20230.500.740.65
20220.420.730.64
20210.420.730.64
20200.420.730.64
20190.530.730.63
20180.530.730.63
20170.510.720.61
20160.470.720.61
20150.470.720.61
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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
3 Students
3,575 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
20191%2%1%
20181%1%2%
20171%1%1%
20161%1%1%
20151%2%1%
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# Asian Students
19 Students
71,836 Students
% Asian Students
2%
11%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
20252%11%5%
20242%11%5%
20232%11%5%
20223%10%4%
20213%10%4%
20203%10%4%
20191%10%4%
20181%10%4%
20171%10%4%
20162%10%4%
20152%10%4%
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# Hispanic Students
65 Students
104,429 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
16%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
20257%16%9%
20247%16%9%
20237%16%9%
20227%16%8%
20217%16%9%
20207%16%9%
20196%16%8%
20186%17%8%
20174%17%8%
20164%17%8%
20154%17%8%
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# Black Students
19 Students
30,223 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
20252%5%7%
20242%5%7%
20232%5%8%
20222%4%7%
20212%5%7%
20202%5%8%
20191%4%7%
20181%4%7%
20171%5%7%
20161%5%7%
20151%5%8%
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# White Students
632 Students
235,809 Students
% White Students
67%
37%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202567%37%52%
202467%37%52%
202367%38%52%
202275%40%54%
202175%40%54%
202075%40%54%
201963%41%56%
201863%41%56%
201763%43%58%
201669%43%58%
201569%43%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
5,499 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
197 Students
188,502 Students
% of Others Students
21%
29%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202521%29%26%
202421%29%26%
202321%28%25%
202213%28%25%
202113%27%25%
202013%27%24%
201928%26%24%
201828%26%23%
201730%24%22%
201623%24%22%
201523%23%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
80 Teachers
55,645 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202512:112:111:1
202412:112:111:1
202312:112:111:1
202212:112:111:1
202112:113:111:1
202012:113:112:1
201913:112:112:1
201814:112:112:1
201714:113:112:1
201612:113:112:1
201512:113:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
45%
59%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2017-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202545%59%55%
202445%58%54%
202345%58%54%
202248%59%54%
202148%59%54%
202048%58%54%
201948%58%53%
201875%58%53%
201775%58%53%
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Average Class Size
20 students
17 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
2025201715
2024201715
2023201715
2022181715
2021181715
2020181715
2019181715
2018181715
2017201715
2016201715
2015201715
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$13,257
$18,344

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
2025$12,557$18,076$15,012
2024$12,557$17,195$13,254
2023$11,757$16,660$12,626
2022$11,123$15,979$12,187
2021$11,123$15,298$11,800
2020$11,123$14,748$11,512
2019$11,123$14,369$11,293
2018$10,657$13,813$11,017
2017$10,685$13,422$10,708
2016$14,120$12,852$10,356
2015$14,120$11,932$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
24%
29%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202525%29%34%
202425%29%34%
202325%29%34%
202228%28%33%
202128%28%33%
202028%28%32%
201928%27%31%
201828%27%30%
201733%27%30%
201645%26%29%
201545%25%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,200
$9,066

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2017-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
2025$2,200$8,932$7,073
2024$2,200$8,712$6,930
2023$2,200$8,186$6,469
2022$1,800$8,205$6,289
2021$1,800$7,081$6,055
2020$1,800$6,794$5,921
2019$1,800$6,413$5,795
2018$920$5,977$5,456
2017$1,800$5,752$5,319
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Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
90%
80%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2017-2025)

YearAptos, CA AvgCalifornia (CA)National
202590%80%81%
202490%84%85%
202390%84%85%
202290%84%85%
202190%84%85%
202090%84%85%
201990%84%85%
201890%84%85%
201790%85%85%
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Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Aptos, CA?
The top ranked private schools in Aptos, CA is Twin Lakes Christian School.
How many private schools are located in Aptos?
5 private schools are located in Aptos.
How diverse are private schools in Aptos?
Aptos private schools are approximately 15% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 52%.
What percentage of students in Aptos go to private school?
23% of all K-12 students in Aptos are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Aptos?
40% of private schools in Aptos are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian).

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