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Best California Nonsectarian Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 1,741 nonsectarian private schools in California. You can also find more religiously affiliated schools in California.
The top-ranked nonsectarian private schools in California include Hollywood Schoolhouse, The Harker School Upper School, and Oakwood School.

Top-Ranked Nonsectarian Private Schools in California (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Action Day Elementary School
Action Day Elementary School Photo
(1)
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 | 425 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 20 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
Basis Independent Fremont Upper School
39706 Mission Blvd
Fremont, CA 94539
(510) 298-8042
Gr: 6-10 | 276 students Tuition listed
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Photo
(1)
1290 Parkmoor Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
(669) 766-1001
Gr: PK-12 | 1,269 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 83 Tuition listed
Cambrian Academy
Cambrian Academy Photo - Cambrian Academy students have been accepted by the world's best universities.
(13)
4340 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118
(408) 833-7050
Gr: 6-12 | 107 students Avg. class size: 8 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Challenger School - Middlefield
Challenger School - Middlefield Photo
3880 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 213-8245
Gr: PK-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 24 students
The Child's Primary School
The Child's Primary School Photo - First day of school for our Kindergartners!
(20)
3811 Mount Acadia Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 576-2120
Gr: K-8 | 100 students Avg. class size: 10 students Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Clairbourn School
Clairbourn School Photo
(18)
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
Drew School
Drew School Photo - We know that teenagers learn better and achieve more when they're in an environment where their happiness, well-being and ideas are taken into account. That's why we've spent years developing a unique and supportive culture that removes barriers to learning, boosts confidence, and sets students up to be the best learners they can be.
(4)
2901 California St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 430-3737
Gr: 9-12 | 300 students Avg. class size: 14 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
Dunn School
Dunn School Photo - The outdoor education program at Dunn School fosters greater self-awareness through physical challenges and leadership experiences in the outdoors.
(5)
2555 West Highway 154
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-6471
Gr: 6-12 | 256 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 12 Tuition & acceptance rate 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
Excelsior School
Excelsior School Photo - School Front View
(2)
41 W Santa Clara Street
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 623-6339
Gr: 9-12 | 81 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 8 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!
(12)
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
Fusion Academy Aliso Viejo
Fusion Academy Aliso Viejo Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher. Teachers personalize content and act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.
120 Vantis Dr, Suite 100
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Fusion Academy Irvine
Fusion Academy Irvine Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher. Teachers personalize content and act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.
Alternative School
(3)
17875 Von Karman, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92614
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 4-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
Fusion Academy Marin
Fusion Academy Marin Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more.
Alternative School
1600 Los Gamos Drive Lobby D, Suite 380
San Rafael, CA 94903
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 | 58 students Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Fusion Academy Walnut Creek
Fusion Academy Walnut Creek Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.
Alternative School
3003 Oak Road, Suite 150
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 | 52 students Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Harker School Upper School
The Harker School Upper School Photo - Harker's Eagle Buddies program matches upper school students with lower school students for three years. The buddies meet 3 times per year for fun and food!
500 Saratoga Ave
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 249-2510
Gr: K-12 | 798 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 15 | Extracurrculars: 27 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
Hollywood Schoolhouse
Hollywood Schoolhouse Photo
(1)
1233 North McCaddden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 465-1320
Gr: PK-6 | 267 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 13 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
Laurel Springs School
Laurel Springs School Photo - Group photo at 2025's Year-End Celebration
(6)
302 El Paseo Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(866) 702-4777
Gr: K-12 | 3,080 students Avg. class size: 20 students Extracurrculars: 41 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles
Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles Photo - Homecoming!
(6)
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
Leport Montessori Irvine Westpark
Leport Montessori Irvine Westpark Photo - Happy Montessori preschool student
Montessori School
1055 San Marino
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 833-8474
Gr: K | 5 students Avg. class size: 22 students Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
LePort Schools - Irvine Spectrum North Campus
LePort Schools - Irvine Spectrum North Campus Photo - Montessori childcare for infants
1 Technology Drive, Building A
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 427-3968
Gr: PK-8 | 220 students Avg. class size: 12 students Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Los Encinos School
Los Encinos School Photo - Delivering instruction in creative, unconventional ways is a gift our teachers bring to keep their students engaged with a love of learning!
(2)
17100 Ventura Blvd
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 990-1006
Gr: K-6 | 182 students Avg. class size: 26 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Merryhill Elementary & Middle School in Midtown
Merryhill Elementary & Middle School in Midtown Photo
(1)
2600 V Street
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 347-4934
Gr: NS-8 | 355 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
Merryhill Preschool, Elementary & Middle School
Merryhill Preschool, Elementary & Middle School Photo
1500 Yosemite Dr.
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 413-1471
Gr: NS-8 | 503 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 Tuition listed
Oakwood School
Oakwood School Photo
(4)
11230 Moorpark Street/11600 Magnolia Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91602
(818) 732-3150
Gr: K-12 | 822 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 21 | Extracurrculars: 45 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Orion International Academy
Orion International Academy Photo - Cross-Country Team
11255 Central Ave.
Ontario, CA 91762
(909) 999-0025
Gr: PK-12 | 236 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Pacific Academy
Pacific Academy Photo - Rose Zhang, Class of 2021; AJGA World No. 1 Women Amateur Golfer; 2020 U.S Woman's Amateur Champion; Stanford University
(9)
4947 Alton Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92604
(949) 398-5288
Gr: K-12 | 164 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 25 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Pacific Ridge School
Pacific Ridge School Photo - HARKNESS LEARNING: Students build critical communication skills and critical thinking through student-centered discussion-based learning.
(6)
6269 El Fuerte St
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 448-9820
Gr: 6-12 | 695 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 16 | Extracurrculars: 47 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
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