Top Ranked Santa Cruz Private Schools (2026-27)

Gateway School

Gr: K-8 | 243 students

Avg. class size: 15 students

Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 9

255 Swift Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 423-0341

(3)

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Holy Cross School

Gr: PK-8 | 159 students

Avg. class size: 20 students

Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 4

Catholic

150 Emmet

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 423-5852

(4)

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Vhm Christian School

Gr: K-8 | 68 students

Avg. class size: 15 students

Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 4

Seventh Day Adventist

427 Capitola Road Extension

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

(831) 475-4762

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The Bay School

Gr: Inquire with school | 39 students

Special Education School

1026 Capitola Road

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

(831) 462-9620

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Kirby School

Gr: 6-12 | 136 students

Avg. class size: 12 students

Sports: 12 | Extracurriculars: 18

425 Encinal Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 423-0658

(2)

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Midtown Montessori

Gr: PK-K | 25 students

Montessori School

987 Bostwick Lane

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

(831) 423-2273

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Santa Cruz Childrens School

Gr: K-6 | 48 students

Avg. class size: 12 students

Extracurriculars: 4

366 Gault St

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

(831) 429-8444

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Santa Cruz Waldorf School

Gr: PK-8 | 136 students

Avg. class size: 14 students

Extracurriculars: 3

Waldorf School

2190 Empire Grade

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 425-0519

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[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz, California Private Schools (Closed)

Good Shepherd Catholic School

Gr: PK-8 | 217 students

Avg. class size: 25 students

Catholic

2727 Mattison Ln

Santa Cruz, CA 95065

(831) 476-4000

(2)

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Spring Hill School

Gr: K-6 | 54 students

Avg. class size: 12 students

250 California Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 427-2641

(14)

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Santa Cruz, CA Private School Trends (10-Year)

Private Schools

-38.5% (-5 schools) 10-yr

854

Students

-43.4% (-655 students) 10-yr

$21,003

Avg. Tuition

+68.9% (+$8,568) 10-yr

Avg. Class Size

+7.1% (+1 student) 10-yr

23%

Students of Color

8:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

-20.0% (-2.0) 10-yr

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Enrollment & Diversity

Category

This Town (Santa Cruz)

This State (CA)

# Schools

8 Schools

3,911 Schools

View Data

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Total Schools
2025	9
2024	10
2023	10
2022	10
2021	10
2020	10
2019	10
2018	10
2017	10
2016	10
2015	13

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# Students

854 Students

659,573 Students

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Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	100	180	179
2024	112	175	172
2023	123	181	174
2022	134	189	185
2021	130	185	180
2020	130	179	171
2019	140	179	175
2018	140	173	172
2017	153	179	180
2016	154	173	178
2015	126	162	167

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% Students of Color

23%

52%

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Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	23%	51%	34%
2024	23%	51%	34%
2023	20%	50%	33%
2022	21%	48%	33%
2021	19%	48%	32%
2020	19%	48%	32%
2019	26%	48%	31%
2018	26%	47%	31%
2017	26%	50%	32%
2016	22%	49%	32%
2015	23%	49%	32%

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0.51

0.74

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Diversity Score Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	0.49	0.74	0.65
2024	0.51	0.74	0.65
2023	0.56	0.74	0.65
2022	0.59	0.73	0.64
2021	0.58	0.73	0.64
2020	0.58	0.73	0.64
2019	0.58	0.73	0.63
2018	0.58	0.73	0.63
2017	0.55	0.72	0.61
2016	0.55	0.72	0.61
2015	0.54	0.72	0.61

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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown

# American Indian Students

1 Student

3,575 Students

% American Indian Students

n/a

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Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2017	2%	1%	1%
2016	1%	1%	1%
2015	1%	2%	1%

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# Asian Students

39 Students

71,836 Students

% Asian Students

11%

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Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	5%	11%	5%
2024	5%	11%	5%
2023	5%	11%	5%
2022	5%	10%	4%
2021	5%	10%	4%
2020	5%	10%	4%
2019	6%	10%	4%
2018	6%	10%	4%
2017	5%	10%	4%
2016	5%	10%	4%
2015	4%	10%	4%

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# Hispanic Students

108 Students

104,429 Students

% Hispanic Students

12%

16%

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Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	12%	16%	9%
2024	12%	16%	9%
2023	9%	16%	9%
2022	9%	16%	8%
2021	9%	16%	9%
2020	9%	16%	9%
2019	8%	16%	8%
2018	8%	17%	8%
2017	7%	17%	8%
2016	7%	17%	8%
2015	7%	17%	8%

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# Black Students

20 Students

30,223 Students

% Black Students

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Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	2%	5%	7%
2024	2%	5%	7%
2023	1%	5%	8%
2022	1%	4%	7%
2021	1%	5%	7%
2020	1%	5%	8%
2019	1%	4%	7%
2018	1%	4%	7%
2017	1%	5%	7%
2016	1%	5%	7%
2015	2%	5%	8%

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# White Students

600 Students

235,809 Students

% White Students

68%

37%

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White Student Percentage Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	70%	37%	52%
2024	67%	37%	52%
2023	62%	38%	52%
2022	57%	40%	54%
2021	59%	40%	54%
2020	59%	40%	54%
2019	58%	41%	56%
2018	58%	41%	56%
2017	63%	43%	58%
2016	63%	43%	58%
2015	64%	43%	58%

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# Hawaiian Students

4 Students

5,499 Students

% Hawaiian Students

# Two or more races Students

n/a

% of Two or more races Students

n/a

# Others Students

106 Students

188,502 Students

% of Others Students

12%

29%

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Other Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	11%	29%	26%
2024	14%	29%	26%
2023	23%	28%	25%
2022	28%	28%	25%
2021	26%	27%	25%
2020	26%	27%	24%
2019	27%	26%	24%
2018	27%	26%	23%
2017	22%	24%	22%
2016	23%	24%	22%
2015	22%	23%	21%

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All Ethnic Groups

Academics

# Teachers

108 Teachers

55,645 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

8:1

12:1

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Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	7:1	12:1	11:1
2024	8:1	12:1	11:1
2023	8:1	12:1	11:1
2022	9:1	12:1	11:1
2021	10:1	13:1	11:1
2020	10:1	13:1	12:1
2019	9:1	12:1	12:1
2018	9:1	12:1	12:1
2017	9:1	13:1	12:1
2016	9:1	13:1	12:1
2015	10:1	13:1	12:1

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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

55%

59%

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Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	58%	59%	55%
2024	55%	58%	54%
2023	56%	58%	54%
2022	56%	59%	54%
2021	53%	59%	54%
2020	53%	58%	54%
2019	54%	58%	53%
2018	54%	58%	53%
2017	54%	58%	53%
2016	63%	57%	52%
2015	61%	57%	52%

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Average Class Size

15 students

17 students

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Class Size Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	14	17	15
2024	16	17	15
2023	16	17	15
2022	16	17	15
2021	16	17	15
2020	16	17	15
2019	16	17	15
2018	16	17	15
2017	16	17	15
2016	15	17	15
2015	14	17	15

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Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

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ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	29	27	26
2024	29	27	26
2023	29	27	26
2022	29	27	26
2021	29	27	26
2020	29	26	25
2019	29	26	25
2018	29	26	25
2017	29	26	25
2016	29	26	25
2015	28	25	25

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Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$21,003

$18,344

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Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	$21,046	$18,076	$15,012
2024	$18,174	$17,195	$13,254
2023	$17,640	$16,660	$12,626
2022	$13,590	$15,979	$12,187
2021	$12,220	$15,298	$11,800
2020	$12,220	$14,748	$11,512
2019	$12,060	$14,369	$11,293
2018	$12,060	$13,813	$11,017
2017	$12,023	$13,422	$10,708
2016	$10,879	$12,852	$10,356
2015	$12,435	$11,932	$9,939

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Average % on Financial Aid

40%

29%

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Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	41%	29%	34%
2024	39%	29%	34%
2023	35%	29%	34%
2022	34%	28%	33%
2021	34%	28%	33%
2020	34%	28%	32%
2019	34%	27%	31%
2018	34%	27%	30%
2017	35%	27%	30%
2016	37%	26%	29%
2015	37%	25%	28%

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Average Financial Aid Grant

$9,491

$9,066

View Data

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	$9,593	$8,932	$7,073
2024	$8,290	$8,712	$6,930
2023	$5,246	$8,186	$6,469
2022	$5,246	$8,205	$6,289
2021	$5,246	$7,081	$6,055
2020	$5,246	$6,794	$5,921
2019	$5,454	$6,413	$5,795
2018	$5,454	$5,977	$5,456
2017	$5,371	$5,752	$5,319
2016	$4,045	$5,279	$5,105
2015	$4,538	$5,100	$5,030

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Admissions & Athletics

Average Acceptance Rate

87%

80%

View Data

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz, CA Avg	California (CA)	National
2025	91%	80%	81%
2024	89%	84%	85%
2023	87%	84%	85%
2022	87%	84%	85%
2021	87%	84%	85%
2020	87%	84%	85%
2019	88%	84%	85%
2018	88%	84%	85%
2017	88%	85%	85%
2016	90%	84%	85%
2015	77%	84%	85%

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Average Number of Extracurriculars

7 extracurriculars

9 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

6 sports

7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Santa Cruz, CA?

The private schools in Santa Cruz, CA include Vhm Christian School, Gateway School, and Holy Cross School.

How many private schools are located in Santa Cruz?

8 private schools are located in Santa Cruz.

How diverse are private schools in Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz private schools are approximately 23% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 52%.

What percentage of students in Santa Cruz go to private school?

9% of all K-12 students in Santa Cruz are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).

What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz?

25% of private schools in Santa Cruz are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).

Which private schools in Santa Cruz are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of private schools in Santa Cruz include: Midtown Montessori vs. Holy Cross School, Holy Cross School vs. Gateway School, Santa Cruz Childrens School vs. Gateway School

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Santa Cruz Private Schools (2026-27)

Santa Cruz, California Private Schools (Closed)

Santa Cruz, CA Private School Trends (10-Year)

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

Diversity Score Trends

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

Asian Student Percentage Trends

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

Black Student Percentage Trends

White Student Percentage Trends

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

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