Featured School: Pilgrim School
Los Angeles, CA
Our Purpose: To inspire and challenge students to better themselves and the world around them. Our Promise: By nurturing passion, empathy, and integrity in our students, we ensure that they will adapt to and thrive in a rapidly evolving future. Our Core Values Individuality and Community: We celebrate the uniqueness of every individual, and expect that they are working towards the betterment of our community. Kindness: We demonstrate kindness and respect for each other and ourselves. Inclusion: We welcome all individuals in our community while celebrating differences and seeking understanding and belonging. Service: We commit ourselves to act in the service and support of others. Innovation: We focus on the future and how we can improve and make positive changes in our community and beyond.PlayWe embrace intellectual, physical, and conceptual play as fundamental parts of learning.
St. Mary's School Photo

Top 20 Best California Private Preschools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 102 private preschools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) serving 38,542 students in California. You can also find more schools membership associations in California.
The top ranked private preschools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in California include BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, Francis Parker School, and BASIS Independent Fremont.
The average tuition cost is $28,573, which is higher than the California private preschool average tuition cost of $13,626.
26% of private preschools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in California are religiously affiliated (most commonly Episcopal and Catholic).

Top Ranked Private Preschools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in California (2025)

School
Location
Grades
Students
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
Grades: PK-8
| 420 students
BASIS Independent Fremont
BASIS Independent Fremont Photo
(1)
3300 Kearney Street
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 722-1056
Grades: PK-12
| 678 students
1290 Parkmoor Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
(669) 766-1001
Grades: PK-12
| 1,239 students
Berkeley Hall School
Berkeley Hall School Photo - House Days are fun days for different age groups to get together to complete challenges around campus.
(9)
16000 Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 476-6421
Grades: NS-8
| 262 students
Clairbourn School
Clairbourn School Photo
(17)
8400 Huntington Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91775
(626) 286-3108
Grades: NS-8
| 283 students
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
Grades: NS-8
| 438 students
Hillbrook School
Hillbrook School Photo - Hillbrook's campus features an array of outdoor learning spaces including gardens, stately oak trees, and a creek.
(2)
300 Marchmont Dr
Los Gatos, CA 95032
(408) 356-6116
Grades: PK-12
| 441 students
Hollywood Schoolhouse
Hollywood Schoolhouse Photo
(1)
1233 North McCaddden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 465-1320
Grades: PK-6
| 277 students
3261 Overland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 836-3464
Grades: NS-12
| 734 students
Phillips Brooks School
Phillips Brooks School Photo
(2)
2245 Avy Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 854-4545
Grades: NS-5
| 306 students
Pilgrim School
Pilgrim School Photo
(4)
540 S Commonwealth Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 355-5204
Grades: PK-12
| 374 students
2060 Tapscott Ave / 960 Avis Drive
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 809-9001
Grades: PK-8
| 458 students
2636 Latham Drive
Sacramento, CA 95864
(916) 481-8811
Grades: PK-12
| 597 students
St. Anne School
St. Anne School Photo
(Catholic)
(3)
32451 Bear Brand Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 276-6700
Grades: PK-8
| 534 students
St. Mary's School
St. Mary's School Photo
(Christian)
(2)
7 Pursuit
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(949) 448-9027
Grades: NS-8
| 702 students
5401 Beethoven Street
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 574-8650
Grades: NS-8
| 598 students
755 Ashbury Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 661-5232
Grades: NS-5
| n/a students
St. Patricks Episcopal Day School
St. Patricks Episcopal Day School Photo - St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, a CAIS and WASC-accredited KR-8 school, inspires and equips students to transform the world. We welcome families of all faiths and emphasize academics, leadership, public speaking, and a spiritual foundation to nurture well-rounded, confident, and compassionate students.
(Episcopal)
(6)
1 Church Rd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
(805) 497-1416
Grades: PK-8
| 160 students
Shu Ren International School, Berkeley
Shu Ren International School, Berkeley Photo - We use Inquiry to provoke curiosity, creative thinking and problem solving.
Special Program Emphasis
(1)
2125 Jefferson Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 841-8899
Grades: NS-8
| n/a students
Alverno Heights Academy
(Catholic)
(2)
200 N Michillinda Avenue
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 355-3463
Grades: PK-12
| 320 students
Barnhart School
Barnhart School Photo - In addition to yearly plays, there are numerous opportunities for students to practice their public speaking skills.
(8)
240 W Colorado Blvd
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 446-5588
Grades: PK-8
| 185 students
Belmont Oaks Academy
Belmont Oaks Academy Photo - A string quartet performs for elementary students on the porch of the lower elementary building.
2200 Carlmont Dr
Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 593-6175
Grades: PK-5
| 392 students
The Carey School
The Carey School Photo
1 Carey School Lane
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 345-8205
Grades: NS-5
| 278 students
Children's Day School
333 Dolores Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 861-5432
Grades: PK-8
| 511 students
The Childrens School
The Childrens School Photo - We know children learn best by doing, so our play-based preschool classrooms are rich environments where students explore activity centers and develop emergent interests.
(4)
2225 Torrey Pines Lane
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-0184
Grades: NS-8
| 262 students
Chinese American International School
Chinese American International School Photo - Chinese New Year
Special Program Emphasis
3250 19th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 865-6084
Grades: PK-8
| 555 students
The Country School
(5)
5243 Laurel Canyon Blvd
Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 752-1546
Grades: PK-8
| 200 students
Curtis School
Curtis School Photo - Established in 1925, Curtis School offers a balanced program in academics, the arts, and athletics. Our unique campus affords children wide spaces to stretch out and run and play in.
(2)
15871 Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 889-3700
Grades: PK-6
| 494 students
Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley
Ecole Bilingue De Berkeley Photo
(3)
1009 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 809-0641
Grades: NS-8
| 431 students
Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew
Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew Photo - Empowering today's learners to become tomorrow's leaders.
(Episcopal)
16 Baldwin Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 274-0775
Grades: PK-8
| 326 students
Escuela Bilingüe Internacional
Escuela Bilingüe Internacional Photo
Special Program Emphasis
(1)
410 Alcatraz Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 653-3324
Grades: PK-8
| 301 students
Francis Parker School
(2)
6501 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-7900
Grades: PK-12
| 1,313 students
1060 Suncast Lane
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
(916) 933-0100
Grades: PK-8
| 168 students
The Gillispie School
The Gillispie School Photo - Students at Gillispie are excited about learning, and this excitement can be seen and felt on campus each day. Lessons are interactive and engaging, questions are encouraged, and students and teachers alike are excited to share their lessons with other on campus.
(3)
7380 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 459-3773
Grades: PK-6
| 369 students
International School Of Los Angeles - Los Feliz
Special Program Emphasis
(4)
4155 Russell Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-4526
Grades: NS-5
| 424 students
Show 67 more private schools in California (out of 102 total schools)
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