Private School Review - Established 2003
Santa Barbara Middle School Photo - Every Friday morning at 6:45, anyone who choses, meets at the beach for a sunrise swim. We circle up as a community. The 9th graders read a quote for the week, then whomever wants to, runs in for a morning wake up plunge! After a few waves are ridden, the dip is followed by hot chocolate, coffee and donuts!
Santa Barbara Middle School

Best Santa Barbara County Private Schools (2025-26)

For the 2025-26 school year, there are 37 private schools serving 6,163 students in Santa Barbara County, CA (there are 126 public schools, serving 66,698 public students). 8% of all K-12 students in Santa Barbara County, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The top ranked private schools in Santa Barbara County, CA include Cate School, Bishop Garcia Diego High School, and Crane Country Day School.
The average tuition cost is $30,177, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,996.
50% of private schools in Santa Barbara County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top Ranked Santa Barbara County Private Schools (2025-26)

School
Location
Quick Facts
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
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara
Fusion Academy Santa Barbara 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
510 State Street, 2nd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
Bishop Garcia Diego High School
Bishop Garcia Diego High School Photo
(Catholic)
(40)
4000 La Colina Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 967-1266
Gr: 9-12 | 282 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Cate School
Cate School Photo - Sunset Bench
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Gr: 9-12 | 299 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 18 | Extracurrculars: 37 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Children's Montessori School
Children's Montessori School Photo - Children's Montessori School Facility
Montessori School
(2)
1000 W. Ocean Ave.
Lompoc, CA 93436
(805) 757-6263
Gr: PK-6 | 19 students Avg. class size: 10 students Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Crane Country Day School
Crane Country Day School Photo - Each 8th Grader presents a Current Event at a daily all-school assembly, in conjunction with their public speaking class. The daily assembly allows students to perform and present in front of the entire school community, developing stage presence and public speaking skills.
(1)
1795 San Leandro Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-7732
Gr: K-8 | 260 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Family School
The Family School Photo
5300 Figueroa Mountain Road
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-5440
Gr: PK-5 | 93 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Howard School
The Howard School Photo
(2)
5315 Foothill Rd
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 745-8448
Gr: PK-8 | 112 students Avg. class size: 10 students
The Knox School Of Santa Barbara
Special Program Emphasis
1525 Santa Barbara St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 222-0107
Gr: K-8 | 39 students Avg. class size: 9 students Tuition listed
Laguna Blanca School
Laguna Blanca School Photo
4125 Paloma Dr
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 687-2461
Gr: PK-12 | 449 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 11 Tuition listed
Midland School
Midland School Photo - How is Midland different? Our 4:1 student to faculty ratio allows for small class sizes and close-knit relationships. With under 90 students, everyone knows your name. No cell phones here, but Midlanders do spend a lot of time together in real life: horseback riding, hiking, gardening, creating art, building things, and envisioning an environmentally sustainable and just future.
5100 Figueroa Mountain Rd
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-5114
Gr: 9-12 | 72 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Our Lady Of Mount Carmel School
Our Lady Of Mount Carmel School Photo
(Catholic)
530 Hot Springs Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-5965
Gr: PK-8 | 188 students Sports: 4 Tuition listed
Pacific Christian School
(Assembly of God)
3435 Santa Maria Way
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 934-1253
Gr: K-6 | 314 students Avg. class size: 25 students
Providence School
(Christian)
3225 Calle Pinon
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 962-3091
Gr: NS-12 | 379 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
The Riviera Ridge School
2130 Mission Ridge Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 569-1811
Gr: PK-8 | 243 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Joseph High School
(Catholic)
4120 S Bradley Rd
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-2038
Gr: 9-12 | 488 students
St. Louis De Montfort
(Catholic)
(1)
5095 Harp Rd
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-5571
Gr: K-8 | 300 students
St. Mary Of Assumption School
St. Mary Of Assumption School Photo - St. Mary's Preschool provides children 2-5 years old the opportunity to begin thier life of learning in a safe environment grounded in Catholic values.
(Catholic)
424 E. Cypress Street
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 925-6713
Gr: PK-8 | 228 students Sports: 2 Tuition listed
St. Raphael Elementary School
St. Raphael Elementary School Photo
(Catholic)
160 Saint Josephs St
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 967-2115
Gr: PK-8 | 283 students Avg. class size: 26 students
Santa Barbara Middle School
Santa Barbara Middle School Photo - Every Friday morning at 6:45, anyone who choses, meets at the beach for a sunrise swim. We circle up as a community. The 9th graders read a quote for the week, then whomever wants to, runs in for a morning wake up plunge! After a few waves are ridden, the dip is followed by hot chocolate, coffee and donuts!
Alternative School
(14)
1321 Alameda Padre Serra
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 682-2989
Gr: 6-9 | 181 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 23 | Extracurrculars: 21 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Valley Christian Academy
(Baptist)
2970 Santa Maria Way
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-6317
Gr: K-12 | 388 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Agape School Of Christian Education
(Christian)
109 W Fesler St
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(180) 587-8872
Gr: 3-11 | 6 students
Anacapa School
814 Santa Barbara St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 252-3825
Gr: 7-12 | 52 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 5 Tuition listed
Cachuma Continuation And Middle School
4500 Highway 154
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 701-4036
Gr: PK-8 | 8 students
Coast Hills Baptist School
(Baptist)
650 W Rice Ranch Road
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-7291
Gr: 4-12 | 11 students
Coastline Christian Academy
Coastline Christian Academy Photo
(Christian)
5950 Cathedral Oaks Rd
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 967-5834
Gr: K-8 | 142 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 1
Eureka School Of Santa Barbara
3324 State St Ste M
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 687-9031
Gr: 10-12 | 7 students
First Presbyterian Church Early Childhood Center
Daycare / Preschool (Presbyterian)
21 E. Constance Ave
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 687-6362
Gr: NS-PK | 68 students Avg. class size: 8 students Extracurrculars: 1
Grace Christian Academy
Grace Christian Academy Photo - 1 of G.C.A. classrooms
(Pentecostal)
816 N C St
Lompoc, CA 93436
(805) 736-9826
Gr: K-12 | 6 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition listed
La Purisima Concepcion School
(Catholic)
219 W Olive Ave
Lompoc, CA 93436
(805) 736-6210
Gr: PK-8 | 173 students
Montessori Center School
Montessori Center School Photo
Montessori School
401 N Fairview Ave # 1
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 693-9383
Gr: PK-6 | 235 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
Notre Dame School
Notre Dame School Photo - Notre Dame School is a Catholic elementary school in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.
(Catholic)
33 E Micheltorena St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-1033
Gr: PK-8 | 115 students
St. Therese Classical Academy
(Catholic)
33 E Micheltorena St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 683-1111
Gr: 5-12 | 20 students
Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy
(Christian)
891 North Refugio Road
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 688-3830
Gr: PK-8 | 178 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 1
South Coast Montessori
South Coast Montessori Photo - The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara
Montessori School
(3)
7421 Mirano Dr
Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 845-6555
Gr: PK-K | 92 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Show 2 more private schools in Santa Barbara County, CA (out of 37 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Children's House Montessori School (Closed 2013)
Montessori School
1331 East Foster Rd
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 937-0991
Gr: PK-K | 28 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Christian Life School (Closed 2004)
(Pentecostal)
709 N Curryer St
Santa Maria, CA 93458
(805) 928-3713
Gr: K-6 | 95 students
Garden Street Academy (Closed 2025)
2300 Garden Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 687-3717
Gr: K-12 | 137 students Avg. class size: 11 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Santa Barbara County, CA?
The top ranked private schools in Santa Barbara County, CA include Cate School, Bishop Garcia Diego High School, and Crane Country Day School.
How many private schools are located in Santa Barbara County?
37 private schools are located in Santa Barbara County.
How much do private schools cost in Santa Barbara County?
The average tuition cost is $30,177, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $17,996.
How diverse are private schools in Santa Barbara County?
Santa Barbara County private schools are approximately 39% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of students in Santa Barbara County go to private school?
8% of all K-12 students in Santa Barbara County are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Barbara County?
50% of private schools in Santa Barbara County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).
Which private schools in Santa Barbara County are often viewed compared to one another?

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