Private School Review - Established 2003
Stone Ridge Christian Elementary
Stone Ridge Christian School
St. Paul School

Best Merced County Private Preschools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 10 private preschools serving 1,767 students in Merced County, CA.
The average acceptance rate is 96%, which is higher than the California private preschool average acceptance rate of 83%.
90% of private preschools in Merced County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 10
  • # Students Served: 1,767
  • Average Tuition: $8,320
  • Acceptance Rate: 96%
  • Average Class Size: 16 students
  • % Students of Color: 46%
  • View Merced County, CA School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 10
  • # Students Served: 1,767
  • Average Tuition: $8,320
  • Acceptance Rate: 96%
  • Average Class Size: 16 students
  • % Students of Color: 46%
  • View Merced County, CA School Trends

Top Ranked Merced County Private Preschools (2026-27)

Our Lady Of Fatima School Photo
Our Lady Of Fatima School
Gr: PK-8 | 206 students
Catholic
1625 Center Avenue
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-2709
View Profile
Map of Our Lady Of Mercy School
Our Lady Of Mercy School
Gr: PK-8 | 360 students
Catholic
1400 E 27th St
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 722-7496
View Profile
Map of St. Anthony School
St. Anthony School
Gr: PK-8 | 121 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Catholic
1801 Winton Way
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 358-3341
View Profile
Stone Ridge Christian Elementary Photo
Stone Ridge Christian Elementary
Gr: PK-5 | 251 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 1 | Extracurriculars: 1
Christian
2738 Dan Ward Rd
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 386-0322
View Profile
Stone Ridge Christian School Photo
Stone Ridge Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 320 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 12
Christian
2769 Dan Ward Road
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 386-0322
(1)
View Profile
Map of Fruitland Christian Preschool
Fruitland Christian Preschool
Gr: NS-6 | 116 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Daycare / Preschool (Church of God)
2100 Fruitland Ave
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 358-7981
(3)
View Profile
Map of Harest Christian School
Harest Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 45 students
Christian
161 E 16th St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 384-0770
View Profile
Map of Merced Montessori School
Merced Montessori School
Gr: PK-K | 65 students
Daycare / Preschool
436 W 21st St
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 722-9823
View Profile
Map of Our Lady Of Miracles
Our Lady Of Miracles
Gr: PK-8 | 140 students
Catholic
370 Linden Ave
Gustine, CA 95322
(209) 854-0017
View Profile
St. Paul School Photo
St. Paul School
Gr: PK-6 | 143 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 1
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
2916 Mckee Road
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 383-3302
View Profile
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Merced County, California

Merced County Private Preschools (Closed)

Map of Acts Christian School
Acts Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 50 students
Pentecostal
2745 E Hwy 140
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 722-6331
View Profile
Map of Planada Christian Academy
Planada Christian Academy
Gr: 1-12 | 11 students
9182 E Stanford Po Box 1047
Planada, CA 95365
(209) 382-1009
View Profile
Map of St. Luke's Episcopal School
St. Luke's Episcopal School
Gr: PK-5 | 66 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Episcopal
350 W Yosemite Avenue
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 723-3907
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (CA)
US
# Schools
10 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Preschools

YearMerced County Total Schools
202510
202410
202310
202210
202111
202012
201910
201810
20178
201610
201510
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Note: 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. See our Terms of Service.

# Students
1,767 Students
362,590 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private Preschool

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
2025177174191
2024177169187
2023174173185
2022152174188
2021145170184
2020127166179
2019141168182
2018141164181
201792166183
201696163181
201596152173
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Note: 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. See our Terms of Service.

% Average Students of Color
46%
50%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202546%50%32%
202446%49%32%
202342%50%32%
202234%48%31%
202133%48%32%
202034%47%31%
201938%48%31%
201838%47%30%
201728%48%31%
201631%48%31%
201533%47%31%
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Note: 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. See our Terms of Service.

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
103 Teachers
26,882 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
14:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202517:114:112:1
202417:114:112:1
202317:114:112:1
202217:114:112:1
202116:114:112:1
202015:114:112:1
201916:114:112:1
201816:114:112:1
201714:114:112:1
201614:114:112:1
201515:114:113:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
77%
58%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202577%58%51%
202477%57%51%
202371%55%51%
202262%56%51%
202162%56%50%
202062%55%50%
201933%56%50%
201833%54%50%
201733%54%49%
201633%53%49%
201533%51%48%
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Average Class Size
16 students
18 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
2025161816
2024161816
2023161816
2022161816
2021151816
2020151816
2019131816
2018121816
2017121816
2016121816
2015121716
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Average Number of AP Courses
9 courses
12 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202591211
202491110
202391110
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$8,320
$15,717

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
2025$8,320$15,764$12,988
2024$8,320$13,486$10,159
2023$7,975$12,933$9,500
2022$7,517$11,654$8,989
2021$7,013$11,328$8,661
2020$6,854$10,673$8,383
2019$6,632$10,366$8,266
2018$6,223$9,953$7,888
2017$6,223$9,748$7,628
2016$5,903$9,284$7,230
2015$6,105$8,988$6,984
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Average % on Financial Aid
35%
25%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2020-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202535%25%31%
202435%25%30%
202335%25%30%
202240%26%29%
202140%25%29%
202030%24%29%
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Average Acceptance Rate
96%
83%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202596%82%83%
202496%87%88%
202396%87%88%
202295%86%88%
202194%86%88%
202094%86%88%
201992%86%88%
201890%87%88%
201790%87%88%
201690%86%88%
201590%88%88%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.71
0.70

Diversity Score Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
20250.710.700.65
20240.710.710.65
20230.700.710.65
20220.660.710.64
20210.660.710.64
20200.660.710.64
20190.680.720.64
20180.680.710.64
20170.640.710.62
20160.650.710.62
20150.670.710.62
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# American Indian Students
5 Students
1,696 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a

Percentage of Private Preschool Students of American Indian Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
20161%1%1%
20151%1%2%
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# Asian Students
96 Students
30,478 Students
% Asian Students
5%
9%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
20255%9%4%
20245%9%5%
20236%9%5%
20225%9%5%
20215%9%5%
20205%9%4%
20195%9%5%
20185%9%5%
20173%9%3%
20163%9%3%
20153%9%3%
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# Hispanic Students
408 Students
43,618 Students
% Hispanic Students
23%
13%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202523%12%8%
202423%13%8%
202320%13%8%
202213%13%8%
202113%13%7%
202014%13%7%
201917%14%7%
201817%13%7%
201713%13%6%
201616%13%7%
201516%13%6%
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# Black Students
16 Students
12,275 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
20251%4%6%
20241%4%6%
20231%4%6%
20221%4%6%
20211%4%7%
20201%3%7%
20191%3%6%
20181%3%6%
20171%4%6%
20162%4%6%
20152%4%6%
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# White Students
571 Students
112,977 Students
% White Students
32%
33%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202532%32%48%
202432%33%48%
202333%33%48%
202239%36%50%
202141%35%50%
202042%35%51%
201941%36%52%
201841%36%52%
201745%38%54%
201649%38%54%
201545%38%54%
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# Hawaiian Students
9 Students
2,015 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
663 Students
143,253 Students
% of Others Students
38%
41%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearMerced County AverageCalifornia (CA) AverageNational Average
202538%42%34%
202438%40%33%
202340%39%33%
202242%37%31%
202140%37%31%
202038%38%31%
201936%36%30%
201836%37%30%
201738%35%30%
201629%35%29%
201533%35%29%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
1 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private preschools in Merced County, CA?
The top ranked private preschools in Merced County, CA include Our Lady Of Mercy School, Stone Ridge Christian School, and Our Lady Of Fatima School.
How many private preschools are located in Merced County?
10 private preschools are located in Merced County.
How diverse are private preschools in Merced County?
Merced County private preschools are approximately 46% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Merced County?
90% of private preschools in Merced County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private preschools in Merced County are often viewed compared to one another?

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