Montessori Harbor Mesa School Photo

Best Costa Mesa Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 17 private schools serving 3,171 students in Costa Mesa, CA (there are 41 public schools, serving 20,692 public students). 13% of all K-12 students in Costa Mesa, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The top-ranked private schools in Costa Mesa, CA include Christ Lutheran Church and School, Mariners Christian School, and St. Joachim Elementary School.
The average acceptance rate is 85%, which is higher than the California private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
41% of private schools in Costa Mesa, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Top-Ranked Costa Mesa Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Christ Lutheran Church and School
Christ Lutheran Church and School Photo - Building confidence through encouragement, students study the life and teachings of Jesus and realizing He not only made an impact on the worldHe changed the world, forever! Through His birth, death and resurrection, He paid the price for our sins and promised eternal life to all who believe.
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
760 Victoria St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 548-6866
Gr: NS-8 | 348 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
International Christian Montessori Academy
Montessori School (Christian)
2950 Mcclintock Way
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 966-0303
Gr: PK-6 | 90 students Avg. class size: 20 students
Mariners Christian School
Mariners Christian School Photo
(Christian)
(6)
300 Fischer Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 437-1700
Gr: PK-8 | 744 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Page Academy
Page Academy Photo - Page provides student and family centered education offering resources to studetns such as on-campus library, on-campus pool, computer lab and athletic field.
657 Victoria Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 642-0411
Gr: PK-8 | 119 students Tuition listed
St. Joachim Elementary School
St. Joachim Elementary School Photo - St. Joachim 's Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Extended Day group
(Catholic)
1964 Orange Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 574-7411
Gr: PK-8 | 272 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
St. John The Baptist Catholic School
St. John The Baptist Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
1021 Baker St
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 557-5060
Gr: K-8 | 553 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
Waldorf School Orange County
Waldorf School Orange County Photo - 6th Grade field trip to Death Valley
Special Program Emphasis
(1)
2350 Canyon Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 574-7775
Gr: PK-12 | 466 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
Back Bay Montessori
Montessori School
398 University Dr
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 548-3771
Gr: K-1 | 24 students
The Childs-pace Foundation, Inc.
Alternative School
1860 Anaheim Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(714) 557-7777
Gr: PK-6 | 116 students
Christian Montessori School-costa Mesa
Montessori School (Christian)
2950 Mcclintock Way
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 966-0303
Gr: PK-6 | 57 students Avg. class size: 10 students
Frontiers Academy
Frontiers Academy Photo - Frontiers Academy is a private, independent school in Orange County, California that offers a rigorous trilingual program in Mandarin, Spanish, and English to students from age 2 to grade 8.
102 Baker Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 930-6638
Gr: NS-8 | 137 students Avg. class size: 16 students Tuition listed
Giant Step Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
758 Saint Clair St
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540-1775
Gr: PK-K | 44 students
2032 Orange Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 764-9433
Gr: NS-4 Avg. class size: 24 students Tuition listed
International Christian Montessori School Of Newport
Montessori School (Christian)
(2)
2591 Irvine Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 631-9785
Gr: PK-K | 36 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Montessori Harbor Mesa School
Montessori Harbor Mesa School Photo
Montessori School
(2)
3025 Deodar Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 549-3803
Gr: K-6 | 32 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
The Susan Phillips Day School
Daycare / Preschool
381 University Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 645-1949
Gr: PK | 21 students Tuition listed
Woodland Child Devt Center
Special Program Emphasis
2025 Garden Ln
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 650-3256
Gr: PK-5 | 112 students
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Costa Mesa, California

Costa Mesa, California Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
261 Monte Vista Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 645-5171
Gr: K-8 | 62 students
650 Hamilton St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 642-9181
Gr: K-2 | 22 students

Overview

This Town (Costa Mesa)
This State (CA)
# Schools
17 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
3,171 Students
665,722 Students
% Average Students of Color
38%
51%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
245 Teachers
55,562 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
73%
59%
Average Class Size
20 students
17 students
Average Number of AP Courses
5 courses
15 courses

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$12,961
$18,024
Average Summer Program Cost
$400
$1,043
Average % on Financial Aid
24%
29%
Average Acceptance Rate
85%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.74
# American Indian Students
8 Students
3,584 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
247 Students
72,174 Students
% Asian Students
8%
11%
# Hispanic Students
378 Students
104,627 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
16%
# Black Students
29 Students
30,466 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
1,295 Students
236,488 Students
% White Students
43%
37%
# Hawaiian Students
18 Students
5,515 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
1,059 Students
190,072 Students
% of Others Students
35%
30%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Costa Mesa, CA?
The top-ranked private schools in Costa Mesa, CA include Christ Lutheran Church and School, Mariners Christian School, and St. Joachim Elementary School.
How many private schools are located in Costa Mesa?
17 private schools are located in Costa Mesa.
How diverse are private schools in Costa Mesa?
Costa Mesa private schools are approximately 38% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of students in Costa Mesa go to private school?
13% of all K-12 students in Costa Mesa are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Costa Mesa?
41% of private schools in Costa Mesa are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).
Which private schools in Costa Mesa are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Costa Mesa include: Montessori Harbor Mesa School vs. Waldorf School Orange County

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