St. Columba School Photo

Best San Diego Private Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 70 private elementary schools serving 15,249 students in San Diego, CA.
The top-ranked private elementary schools in San Diego, CA include The Cambridge School, Francis W Parker Lower School, and Cal Coast Academy.
The average tuition cost is $16,576, which is lower than the California private elementary school average tuition cost of $17,458.
53% of private elementary schools in San Diego, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top-Ranked San Diego Private Elementary Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
The Child's Primary School
The Child's Primary School Photo - First day of school for our Kindergartners!
(19)
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
Del Mar Pines School
Del Mar Pines School Photo - Del Mar Pines School offers its students a traditional learning environment with a low student teacher ration and small group instruction. Technology is integrated across the curriculum for a dynamic learning experience.
(14)
3975 Torrington Street
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 481-5615
Gr: K-6 | 155 students Avg. class size: 23 students Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
Fusion Academy San Diego
Fusion Academy San Diego 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
5060 Shoreham Place, Suite 130
San Diego, CA 92122
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
9915 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Suite 210
San Diego, CA 92131
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
Maria Montessori School
Maria Montessori School Photo
Montessori School
(12)
4544 Pocahontas Avenue
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 270-9350
Gr: PK-8 | 210 students Avg. class size: 20 students Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Reformation Lutheran School
Reformation Lutheran School Photo
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
(3)
4670 Mount Abernathy Ave
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 279-3311
Gr: PK-8 | 76 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
2675 Rosecrans St
San Diego, CA 92106
(858) 367-5428
Gr: 2-8 | 4 students Avg. class size: 10 students
9001 Towne Centre Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 535-1144
Gr: PK-6 | 154 students
Bright Horizon Academy
(Islamic)
7050 Eckstrom Ave
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 278-7970
Gr: K-11 | 276 students Tuition listed
Cal Coast Academy
Cal Coast Academy Photo
(3)
11555 Clews Ranch Road
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 481-0882
Gr: 6-12 | 58 students Avg. class size: 6 students Sports: 19 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Cambridge School
The Cambridge School Photo - Weekly Memory Time - K-Prep
(Christian)
(2)
12855 Black Mountain Rd
San Diego, CA 92129
(858) 484-3488
Gr: PK-12 | 396 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Chabad Hebrew Academy
Chabad Hebrew Academy Photo - Visit our stunning campus located on 20 acres of wooded forest in Scripps Ranch.
(Jewish)
(10)
10785 Pomerado Rd
San Diego, CA 92131
(858) 566-1996
Gr: PK-8 | 311 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
3051 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 584-2454
Gr: NS-12 | 231 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Francis Parker School
Francis Parker School Photo - 100% of Parker grads go on to college; many of them are admitted to their first choice programs.
(3)
6501 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-7900
Gr: PK-12 | 1,313 student Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 21 | Extracurrculars: 68 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
4201 Randolph
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 298-9110
Gr: K-6 | 362 students Avg. class size: 16 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Good Shepherd Catholic School
(Catholic)
8160 Gold Coast Dr
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 693-1522
Gr: PK-8 | 359 students Avg. class size: 25 students Sports: 3
5725 Kearny Villa Rd Suite G
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 541-2254
Gr: K-12 | 677 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 12
Maranatha Christian Schools
Maranatha Christian Schools Photo - Maranatha Christian Schools: Distinctly academic, undeniably Christian.
(Christian)
(2)
9050 Maranatha Drive
San Diego, CA 92127
(858) 759-9737
Gr: PK-12 | 1,007 student Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 41 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Minato Gakuen School Office
Special Program Emphasis
9150 Chesapeake Dr
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 576-0434
Gr: 1-12 | 432 students
2640 Soderblom Avenue
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 457-5895
Gr: PK-6 | 215 students Avg. class size: 12 students Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Nazareth School, San Diego
(Catholic)
10728 San Diego Mission Rd
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 641-7987
Gr: PK-8 | 293 students
Notre Dame Academy
Notre Dame Academy Photo - "One Family, Always United"
(Catholic)
(1)
4345 Del Mar Trails Rd.
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 509-2300
Gr: PK-8 | 275 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 5
Ocean View Christian Academy
Ocean View Christian Academy Photo
(Baptist)
(1)
2460 Palm Avenue
San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 424-7875
Gr: PK-12 | 524 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Our Ladys School
(Catholic)
650 24th St
San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 233-8888
Gr: PK-8 | 207 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Rock Academy
The Rock Academy Photo - Elementary students enjoy interactive learning in the state of the art computer lab.
(Christian)
(2)
2277 Rosecrans St.
San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 764-5200
Gr: PK-12 | 383 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 12 Acceptance rate listed
St. Charles Borromeo Academy
(Catholic)
2808 Cadiz St
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 223-8271
Gr: K-8 | 243 students Tuition listed
St. Columba School
St. Columba School Photo
(Catholic)
(2)
3365 Glencolum Dr
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 279-1882
Gr: PK-8 | 271 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Katharine Drexel Academy
(Catholic)
4551 56th Street
San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 582-3862
Gr: K-8 | 132 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Patrick School
(Catholic)
3014 Capps Street
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 297-1314
Gr: PK-8 | 223 students Sports: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Paul's Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
1376 Felspar Street
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 272-6282
Gr: K-8 | 160 students Sports: 3 Tuition listed
St. Rita's School
(Catholic)
(4)
5165 Imperial Ave
San Diego, CA 92114
(619) 264-0109
Gr: PK-8 | 262 students
St. Therese Academy
(Catholic)
6440 St. Therese Way
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 583-6270
Gr: PK-8 | 370 students Avg. class size: 32 students Sports: 5 Tuition listed
St. Vincent De Paul Elementary School
(Catholic)
(1)
4061 Ibis St
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 296-2222
Gr: K-8 | 242 students
San Diego Jewish Academy
San Diego Jewish Academy Photo - San Diego Jewish Academy student volunteers in Oklahoma - June 2013
(Jewish)
(2)
11860 Carmel Creek Road
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 704-3700
Gr: PK-12 | 646 students Avg. class size: 14 students Sports: 10 Tuition listed
School Of The Madeleine
(Catholic)
1875 Illion St
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 276-6545
Gr: PK-8 | 588 students
Show 35 more private schools in San Diego, CA (out of 70 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Private Schools in San Diego, California

San Diego, California Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
3450 Clairemont Dr
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 367-5430
Gr: 7-12 | 39 students
Po Box 34612
San Diego, CA 92163
(858) 603-4812
Gr: 9-12 | 7 students
4079 54th Street
San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 229-2800
Gr: PK-7 | 54 students
277 Rosecrans
San Diego, CA 92106
(877) 280-8526
Gr: K-12
Foundations Academy (Closed 2024)
Special Education School
3450 Clairemont Dr.
San Diego, CA 92110
(858) 367-5430
Gr: 2-8 | 10 students Avg. class size: 2 students Acceptance rate listed
1945 Coolidge St
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 277-0222
Gr: K-8 | 88 students
5961 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 298-8277
Gr: 9-12 | 1,478 student
3580 Mount Acadia Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 560-0985
Gr: NS | 150 students

Overview

This Town (San Diego)
This State (CA)
# Schools
70 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
15,249 Students
504,674 Students
% Average Students of Color
42%
50%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
1,464 Teachers
44,310 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
64%
59%
Average Class Size
15 students
17 students
Average Number of AP Courses
18 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1287
(Out of 1600)
1269
Average ACT score
30
(Out of 36)
28

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$16,576
$17,458
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,316
$1,026
Average % on Financial Aid
30%
28%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$6,429
$8,317
Average Acceptance Rate
80%
81%
Average Endowment Size
$25.85 million
$32.84 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.71
0.74
# American Indian Students
37 Students
2,780 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
1,482 Students
57,677 Students
% Asian Students
10%
12%
# Hispanic Students
1,903 Students
81,157 Students
% Hispanic Students
13%
17%
# Black Students
420 Students
23,624 Students
% Black Students
3%
5%
# White Students
5,470 Students
193,811 Students
% White Students
37%
40%
# Hawaiian Students
103 Students
3,916 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
5,251 Students
123,069 Students
% of Others Students
36%
25%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
12 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private elementary schools in San Diego, CA?
The top-ranked private elementary schools in San Diego, CA include The Cambridge School, Francis W Parker Lower School, and Cal Coast Academy.
How many private elementary schools are located in San Diego?
70 private elementary schools are located in San Diego.
How much do private elementary schools cost in San Diego?
The average tuition cost is $16,576, which is lower than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,458.
How diverse are private elementary schools in San Diego?
San Diego private elementary schools are approximately 42% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in San Diego?
53% of private elementary schools in San Diego are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private elementary schools in San Diego are often viewed compared to one another?

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