Woodcrest Christian School System Photo - The City of Riverside's Public Works Department and the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce awarded Woodcrest Christian School the 2012 Beautification Award for our care and upkeep of our 30 acre campus.

Best Riverside Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 28 private schools serving 6,977 students in Riverside, CA (there are 104 public schools, serving 71,937 public students). 9% of all K-12 students in Riverside, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The top-ranked private schools in Riverside, CA include La Sierra Academy, St. Francis De Sales School, and Woodcrest Christian School System.
The average acceptance rate is 93%, which is higher than the California private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
50% of private schools in Riverside, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top-Ranked Riverside Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
St. Francis De Sales School
St. Francis De Sales School Photo
(Catholic)
4205 Mulberry Street
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 683-5083
Gr: K-8 | 151 students Avg. class size: 11 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Bethel Christian Schools
(Christian)
2425 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 359-1123
Gr: PK-12 | 541 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Carnegie Schools-riverside
(Christian)
8775 Magnolia
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 687-0077
Gr: PK-12 | 496 students
Harvest Christian School
(Christian)
(4)
6115 Arlington Ave
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 359-3932
Gr: PK-6 | 544 students Sports: 12
La Sierra Academy
La Sierra Academy Photo - La Sierra Academy
(Seventh Day Adventist)
(1)
4900 Golden Ave
Riverside, CA 92505
(951) 351-1445
Gr: K-12 | 547 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 9
Notre Dame High School
(Catholic)
(1)
7085 Brockton Ave
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 275-5896
Gr: 9-12 | 400 students Tuition listed
St. Catherine Of Alexandria School
(Catholic)
7025 Brockton Ave
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 684-1091
Gr: PK-8 | 339 students Avg. class size: 35 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
St. Thomas The Apostle School
(Catholic)
9136 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 689-1981
Gr: PK-8 | 123 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
Woodcrest Christian Day School
(Christian)
3612 Arlington Avenue
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 780-2010
Gr: K-12 | 977 students Avg. class size: 24 students
Woodcrest Christian School System
Woodcrest Christian School System Photo - Of our many classrooms, we have a safety certified biology/chemistry lab with stations and tools that aid our students with hands on learning.
(Christian)
(3)
18401 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92508
(951) 780-2010
Gr: K-12 | 1,076 student Avg. class size: 26 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Canyon Crest KinderCare
Canyon Crest KinderCare Photo - Building
Daycare / Preschool
5445 Canyon Crest Dr
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 683-1626
Gr: NS-PK
Carolyn E. Wylie Center For Children, Youth & Families
Special Education School
7177 Potomac Street
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 784-0021
Gr: NS-5 | 202 students Avg. class size: 12 students Acceptance rate listed
Cottonwood Montessori
Montessori School
4302 Pedley Rd
Riverside, CA 92509
(951) 323-9578
Gr: PK-K | 60 students
Cottonwood Montessori
Montessori School
4174 Mobley Ave
Riverside, CA 92505
(195) 174-1680
Gr: PK-K | 47 students
Eden Lutheran School
Daycare / Preschool (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA))
4725 Brockton Ave
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 683-7001
Gr: NS-PK | 48 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Immanuel Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
5455 Alessandro Blvd
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 682-4211
Gr: PK-6 | 254 students Avg. class size: 25 students Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Islamic Academy Of Riverside
(Islamic)
1038 W Linden St # B
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 682-1202
Gr: PK-8 | 127 students Avg. class size: 15 students Acceptance rate listed
Mission Grove KinderCare
Mission Grove KinderCare Photo - Mission Grove KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
7897 Mission Grove Pkwy S
Riverside, CA 92508
(951) 789-4762
Gr: NS-PK | 127 students
Our Lady Of Perpetual Help School
Our Lady Of Perpetual Help School Photo
(Catholic)
(4)
6686 Streeter Ave
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 689-2125
Gr: PK-8 | 248 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 4 Tuition listed
Riverside KinderCare
Riverside KinderCare Photo - Discovery Preschool Classroom
Daycare / Preschool
7920 Limonite Ave., Ste G
Riverside, CA 92509
(951) 681-1440
Gr: NS-PK
Riverside Montessori Academy
Montessori School
6200 Pachappa Dr
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 682-3380
Gr: K-4 | 45 students
Riverside Montessori Academy
Montessori School
7141 Indiana Ave
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 533-8119
Gr: PK-4 | 146 students
School Times Montessori
Special Program Emphasis
10235 Wells Ave
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 689-1151
Gr: PK-6 | 76 students
Sierra Preschool & Afterschool
Sierra Preschool & Afterschool Photo - Our little learners are hard at work, exploring our theme-based curriculum filled with science, language arts, literacy, math, creative arts, and more! With Montessori elements woven throughout, we're building a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond.
Daycare / Preschool
11077 Whitford Ave
Riverside, CA 92505
(951) 689-9492
Gr: NS-6 | 97 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 5
Somerset Educational Services
Special Education School
(1)
17241 Van Buren Blvd.
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 789-4405
Gr: K-12 | 117 students Avg. class size: 8 students
Temple Beth Elementary Child Development Center
Daycare / Preschool
2675 Central Ave
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 682-7282
Gr: PK-K | 122 students
Uc Riverside Child Development Center
Daycare / Preschool
3333 Watkins Dr
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 827-7454
Gr: K | 15 students
Woodcrest Montessori Education Center
Montessori School
16191 Washington St
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 789-9319
Gr: PK-K | 52 students Avg. class size: 25 students Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Riverside, California

Riverside, California Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
1189 Iowa Ave
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 719-3738
Gr: 1-8 | 10 students
9994 County Farm Rd
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 373-3795
Gr: 1-12 | 63 students
9021 Hastings Blvd
Riverside, CA 92509
(909) 685-6463
Gr: K-6 | 53 students
3532 Monroe St
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 687-0077
Gr: PK-12 | 644 students Avg. class size: 24 students Acceptance rate listed
9265 Audrey Street
Riverside, CA 92503
(909) 688-8021
Gr: PK-K | 19 students
Growing Place (Closed 2014)
Daycare / Preschool
4259 Jurupa Avenue
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 686-8134
Gr: PK-1 | 172 students Avg. class size: 12 students
6696 Via Vista Drive
Riverside, CA 92506
(951) 780-1616
Gr: K-8 | 176 students
Immanuel Baptist School (Closed 2013)
Alternative School (Baptist)
45 Michigan Ave
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 784-1100
Gr: K-12 | 27 students
10493 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA 92505
(951) 359-5437
Gr: PK-3 | 45 students
17355 Mcallister St
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 735-1220
Gr: 3-12 | 6 students
Po Box 52650
Riverside, CA 92517
Gr: 1-12 | 106 students

Overview

This Town (Riverside)
This State (CA)
# Schools
28 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
6,977 Students
665,722 Students
% Average Students of Color
56%
51%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
400 Teachers
55,562 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
40%
59%
Average Class Size
20 students
17 students
Average Number of AP Courses
8 courses
15 courses
Average SAT score
1140
(Out of 1600)
1262
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
27

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$6,737
$18,024
Average % on Financial Aid
15%
29%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,500
$8,935
Average Acceptance Rate
93%
81%
Average Endowment Size
$50 million
$34.01 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.76
0.74
# American Indian Students
37 Students
3,584 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
795 Students
72,174 Students
% Asian Students
11%
11%
# Hispanic Students
1,610 Students
104,627 Students
% Hispanic Students
23%
16%
# Black Students
476 Students
30,466 Students
% Black Students
7%
5%
# White Students
2,514 Students
236,488 Students
% White Students
36%
37%
# Hawaiian Students
60 Students
5,515 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
1,557 Students
190,072 Students
% of Others Students
22%
30%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Riverside, CA?
The top-ranked private schools in Riverside, CA include La Sierra Academy, St. Francis De Sales School, and Woodcrest Christian School System.
How many private schools are located in Riverside?
28 private schools are located in Riverside.
How diverse are private schools in Riverside?
Riverside private schools are approximately 56% minority students, which is higher than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of students in Riverside go to private school?
9% of all K-12 students in Riverside are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Riverside?
50% of private schools in Riverside are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private schools in Riverside are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Riverside include: Carnegie Schools-riverside vs. Bethel Christian Schools

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