York School Photo - Our campus is situated on the sunny York hilltop.

Best Monterey Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private schools serving 1,027 students in Monterey, CA (there are 6 public schools, serving 3,872 public students). 21% of all K-12 students in Monterey, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The top-ranked private schools in Monterey, CA include Santa Catalina School, York School, and San Carlos School.
The average acceptance rate is 95%, which is higher than the California private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
67% of private schools in Monterey, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top-Ranked Monterey Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
York School
York School Photo - Our campus is situated on the sunny York hilltop.
(1)
9501 York Road
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 372-7338
Gr: 8-12 | 170 students Avg. class size: 14 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
San Carlos School
(Catholic)
450 Church St
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 375-1324
Gr: PK-8 | 290 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School
Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School Photo
(Catholic)
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-9337
Gr: PK-8 | 260 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Santa Catalina School
Santa Catalina School Photo - The Marine Ecology Research Program on their summer trip to Hawaii.
All-girls (Catholic)
(6)
1500 Mark Thomas Dr.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 655-9300
Gr: 9-12 | 200 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 17 | Extracurrculars: 40 Tuition listed
Ryan Ranch Childrens Center Preschool
Daycare / Preschool
2 Justin Ct
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 647-9556
Gr: PK-K | 19 students
Trinity Christian High School
Trinity Christian High School Photo - The Franklin Street Voices is our Honors Choir group which performs throughout the Monterey Peninsula.
(Christian)
(2)
680 Belden St.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 656-9434
Gr: 5-12 | 88 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed

Overview

This Town (Monterey)
This State (CA)
# Schools
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,027 Students
665,053 Students
% Average Students of Color
45%
51%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
121 Teachers
55,539 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
67%
59%
Average Class Size
14 students
17 students
Average Number of AP Courses
13 courses
15 courses
Average SAT score
1234
(Out of 1600)
1263
Average ACT score
30
(Out of 36)
27

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$23,901
$18,165
Average % on Financial Aid
41%
29%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$12,750
$8,934
Average Acceptance Rate
95%
81%
Average Endowment Size
$56.45 million
$34.11 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.74
# American Indian Students
6 Students
3,577 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
128 Students
72,119 Students
% Asian Students
14%
11%
# Hispanic Students
147 Students
104,514 Students
% Hispanic Students
17%
16%
# Black Students
40 Students
30,286 Students
% Black Students
4%
5%
# White Students
507 Students
236,085 Students
% White Students
58%
37%
# Hawaiian Students
23 Students
5,500 Students
% Hawaiian Students
3%
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
25 Students
189,122 Students
% of Others Students
3%
29%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
14 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
11 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Monterey, CA?
The top-ranked private schools in Monterey, CA include Santa Catalina School, York School, and San Carlos School.
How many private schools are located in Monterey?
6 private schools are located in Monterey.
How diverse are private schools in Monterey?
Monterey private schools are approximately 45% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of students in Monterey go to private school?
21% of all K-12 students in Monterey are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Monterey?
67% of private schools in Monterey are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private schools in Monterey are often viewed compared to one another?

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