Challenger School - Sunnyvale Photo

Best California Private Daycares & Preschools (2025-26)

For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2,247 private daycares & preschools serving 364,551 students in California.
The top ranked private daycares & preschools in California include BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, BASIS Independent Fremont, and Grace Christian School.
The average tuition cost is $15,687, which is lower than the California average tuition cost of $17,996.
41% of private daycares & preschools in California are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian). Learn more about how daycare centers and preschools work.

Top Ranked California Private Daycares & Preschools (2025-26)

School
Location
Quick Facts
3500 Amber Dr
San Jose, CA 95117
(408) 248-2464
Gr: PK-8 | 551 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus
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.
Special Program Emphasis
(3)
180 Fair Oaks Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-2240
Gr: PK-8 | 144 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Almaden Country Day School
Almaden Country Day School Photo - Our dedicated faculty deliver personalized instruction to students embracing each student as an individual. Lessons are engaging, inquiry-focused, hands-on, and highly collaborative to prepare students for high school and beyond. Teachers are not solely focused on delivering instruction; rather, they are focused on each child feeling seen and care for, and teaching children to be lifelong learners.
(20)
6835 Trinidad Drive
San Jose, CA 95120
(408) 997-0424
Gr: PK-8 | 420 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Alta Loma Christian School
Alta Loma Christian School Photo - Not a school you attend. A family you belong to.
(Brethren)
9974 19th Street
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
(909) 989-2804
Gr: PK-8 | 305 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
BASIS Independent Fremont
BASIS Independent Fremont Photo
(1)
3300 Kearney Street
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 722-1056
Gr: PK-12 | 698 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 31 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1290 Parkmoor Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
(669) 766-1001
Gr: PK-12 | 1,248 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 83 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
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
(3)
6115 Riverside Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 442-1255
Gr: PK-8 | 216 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
California Crosspoint Academy
California Crosspoint Academy Photo - Our firm belief and practice is that all students can excel given the right environment and opportunity. All of our students have many opportunities and the support needed to find their passion and God-given calling for their lives.
(Christian)
25500 Industrial Blvd
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 995-5333
Gr: NS-12 | 642 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 30 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Calvary Christian Academy
Calvary Christian Academy Photo - CCA is founded on three pillars which are Servant Leadership, Superior Academics, and Simply Jesus.
(Christian)
(7)
1771 E Palomar Street
Chula Vista, CA 91913
(619) 591-2260
Gr: PK-8 | 465 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
Capistrano Valley Christian Schools
Capistrano Valley Christian Schools Photo - Since 1973, Capistrano Valley Christian Schools has been dedicated to providing a high standard of college preparatory education, set within the framework of Christ-centered instruction and example. Our staff is committed to partnering with an extremely supportive school community to offer a truly unique educational experience.
(Christian)
(15)
32032 Del Obispo St
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 493-5683
Gr: PK-12 | 710 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
3880 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-8245
Gr: PK-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 24 students
Clairbourn School
Clairbourn School Photo
(17)
8400 Huntington Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91775
(626) 286-3108
Gr: NS-8 | 283 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition listed
Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto
Emerson Montessori School - Palo Alto Photo - * Individualized, self-paced core curriculum *Chinese, Spanish, art, music, and PE for all *Year-round, full-day program for grades 1-8 *Cultivation of thinking skills and ethical values *Emphasis on personal goal setting
Montessori School
(3)
2800 West Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-1267
Gr: NS-8 | 3,710 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Foothill Country Day School
Foothill Country Day School Photo - Field Day and Art Walk is a tradition that dates back to our school's founding. Since our school was founded around a 1954 Kentucky Derby winner named Determine, we hold a day of races and fun each year on Derby Day. Our kids are superheroes!
(11)
1035 Harrison Ave
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 626-5681
Gr: NS-8 | 438 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Grace Christian School
Grace Christian School Photo
(Christian)
(2)
4545 Myra Ave
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 761-5200
Gr: NS-8 | 579 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Hephatha Lutheran Church and School
Hephatha Lutheran Church and School Photo - Students attend chapel every week in K-8th, and every other week in Early Childhood. Jesus Time is a daily part of circle time in the EC classroom, and Religion is a part of the K-8th curriculum, as well as Fine Arts, Electives, Academies, Music and PE.
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
5900 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road
Anaheim, CA 92807
(714) 637-0887
Gr: PK-8 | 278 students Avg. class size: 23 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 19 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Heritage Oak Private School
Heritage Oak Private School Photo
Special Program Emphasis
16971 Imperial Hwy
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(425) 386-7853
Gr: PK-8 | 635 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition listed
Highlands Christian Schools
Highlands Christian Schools Photo
(Christian)
1900 Monterey Dr
San Bruno, CA 94066
(650) 873-4090
Gr: NS-8 | 467 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Hollywood Schoolhouse
Hollywood Schoolhouse Photo
(1)
1233 North McCaddden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 465-1320
Gr: PK-6 | 277 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Holy Family Catholic School
Holy Family Catholic School Photo - Now accepting applications for the 2025 - 2026 School Year. Visit: school.holyfamily.org/admissions
(Catholic)
(23)
1301 Rollin St
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(626) 799-4354
Gr: PK-8 | 310 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 15 Tuition listed
Imagination Lab School
Imagination Lab School Photo
(5)
4050 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 460-8940
Gr: PK-8 Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Katherine Michiels School
Katherine Michiels School Photo
Alternative School
(1)
1335 Guerrero Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 821-0130
Gr: PK-5 | 80 students Avg. class size: 12 students Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
3261 Overland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 836-3464
Gr: NS-12 | 734 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 20 Tuition listed
Legacy Christian School
Legacy Christian School Photo
(Christian)
420 Allegan Circle
San Jose, CA 95123
(408) 225-5976
Gr: NS-8 | 317 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Marin Christian Academy
Marin Christian Academy Photo - Kindergarten celebrating Thanksgiving
Alternative School (Assembly of God)
1370 S Novato Blvd
Novato, CA 94947
(415) 892-5713
Gr: NS-12 | 268 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
2600 V Street
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 347-4934
Gr: NS-8 | 400 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Merryhill Elementary School
Merryhill Elementary School Photo
(2)
750 N Capitol Ave, Bldg D
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 443-3237
Gr: NS-5 | 303 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
1500 Yosemite Dr.
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 413-1471
Gr: NS-8 | 503 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 Tuition listed
Mission Basilica School
Mission Basilica School Photo - MBS has two technology labs
(Catholic)
31641 El Camino Real
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-1385
Gr: NS-8 | 265 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
11255 Central Ave.
Ontario, CA 91762
(909) 999-0025
Gr: PK-12 | 218 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Park Day School
Park Day School Photo - Studying renewable energy and building solar powered home models
(29)
360 42nd St
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 653-0317
Gr: PK-8 | 342 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 19 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Phillips Brooks School
Phillips Brooks School Photo
(9)
2245 Avy Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 854-4545
Gr: NS-5 | 306 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 2 Tuition listed
Pilgrim School
Pilgrim School Photo
(9)
540 S Commonwealth Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 355-5204
Gr: PK-12 | 373 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 10 Tuition listed
2060 Tapscott Ave / 960 Avis Drive
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 809-9001
Gr: PK-8 | 458 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Rhoades School
The Rhoades School Photo
(1)
141 S Rancho Santa Fe Road
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 965-3155
Gr: NS-8 | 666 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Show 100 more private schools in California (out of 2,247 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private daycares & preschools in California?
The top ranked private daycares & preschools in California include BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, BASIS Independent Fremont, and Grace Christian School.
How many private daycares & preschools are located in California?
2,247 private daycares & preschools are located in California.
How much do private daycares & preschools cost in California?
The average tuition cost is $15,687, which is lower than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,996.
How diverse are private daycares & preschools in California?
California private daycares & preschools are approximately 50% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of private daycares & preschools are religiously affiliated in California?
41% of private daycares & preschools in California are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

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