Top 10 Best Santa Cruz County Private Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 31 private schools serving 6,402 students in Santa Cruz County, CA (there are 85 public schools, serving 35,549 public students). 15% of all K-12 students in Santa Cruz County, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The best top ranked private schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Holy Cross School, St. Francis High School - Salesian College Preparatory and Kirby School.
The average tuition cost is $17,744, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $16,783.
52% of private schools in Santa Cruz County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Top Ranked Santa Cruz County Private Schools (2024)

School
Location
Grades
Students
Holy Cross School
Holy Cross School Photo - Holy Cross School ~ 2019 Preschool -8th grade
(Catholic)
(4)
150 Emmet
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-4447
Grades: PK-8
| 197 students
2400 East Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 724-5933
Grades: 9-12
| 240 students
Baymonte Christian School
Baymonte Christian School Photo
(Christian)
(1)
5000B Granite Creek Rd
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-0100
Grades: NS-8
| 462 students
Gateway School
Gateway School Photo
(3)
255 Swift Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-0341
Grades: K-8
| 243 students
Kirby School
Kirby School Photo - The Kirby School campus features a recreation area, sport court, amphitheater, and outdoor classroom and social spaces.
(2)
425 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-0658
Grades: 6-12
| 172 students
Merit Academy
Merit Academy Photo - Engineering a brake-light system. All students engage in ProjectMERIT where they start an independent project that teaches them leadership and critical thinking skills in the real world. These projects separate Merit Academy students from their peers in the competitive college admissions process.
(4)
2392 North Rodeo Gulch Road
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-5655
Grades: 9-12
| 24 students
Monte Vista Christian School
Monte Vista Christian School Photo - MVC High School Quad
(Christian)
2 School Way
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 768-6137
Grades: 6-12
| 720 students
Monterey Bay Academy
Monterey Bay Academy Photo
(Seventh Day Adventist)
783 San Andreas Rd
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-1481
Grades: 9-12
| 171 students
Moreland Notre Dame School
(Catholic)
(1)
133 Brennan St
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-2051
Grades: K-8
| 274 students
366 Gault St
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-8444
Grades: K-6
| 48 students
Silicon Valley High School
Alternative School
1 Victor Sq Ste 3036
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(650) 681-0681
Grades: 8-12
| 1,650 students
Twin Lakes Christian School
(Christian)
(1)
2701 Cabrillo College Drive
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 465-3301
Grades: K-8
| 404 students
Vhm Christian School
Vhm Christian School Photo - Invest in a Christ-centered education for your children
(Seventh Day Adventist)
427 Capitola Road Extension
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-4762
Grades: K-8
| 72 students
The Bay School
The Bay School Photo - Educating Children with Autism
Special Education School
5400 Soquel Avenue, Suite F
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-9620
Grades: Inquire with school
| 50 students
Beach High School
Alternative School
5520 Old San Jose Rd
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-5867
Grades: 9-12
| 9 students
Central Christian School
(Christian)
112 E Beach St
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 428-5956
Grades: 2-12
| 37 students
Good Shepherd Catholic School
Good Shepherd Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
(2)
2727 Mattison Ln
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831) 476-4000
Grades: NS-8
| 201 students
Green Valley Christian School
(Christian)
376 S Green Valley Rd
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 724-6505
Grades: PK-8
| 209 students
Magic Apple School
Special Program Emphasis
(3)
2120 Trout Gulch
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-1753
Grades: 2-6
| 46 students
Midtown Montessori
Midtown Montessori Photo - Cooking and eating are part of the daily curriculum.
Montessori School
987 Bostwick Lane
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 423-2273
Grades: PK-K
| 21 students
Montessori Community School
Montessori Community School Photo
Montessori School
123 S Navarra Dr
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 439-9313
Grades: NS
| 21 students
Mount Madonna School
Mount Madonna School Photo - Our lovely rural setting greatly enhances our learning environment.
(5)
491 Summit Road
Watsonville, CA 95076
(408) 847-2717
Grades: PK-12
| 176 students
Mountain Bible Christian School
(Christian)
23946 Summit Rd.
Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 353-2302
Grades: K-4
| 17 students
Orchard School
Orchard School Photo
2288 Trout Gulch Rd
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-1074
Grades: K-5
| 59 students
St. Abraham's Classical Christian Academy
(Christian)
(2)
1940 Bonita Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 239-4657
Grades: K-12
| 185 students
St. Lawrence Academy
St. Lawrence Academy Photo - Hike in Henry Cowell
(Greek Orthodox)
6184 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-0328
Grades: K-8
| 31 students
Salesian Continuation & Junior High School
(Catholic)
(1)
605 Enos Ln
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-5518
Grades: K-8
| 146 students
Santa Cruz Montessori School
Santa Cruz Montessori School Photo - Primary Class
Montessori School
6230 Soquel Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 476-1646
Grades: PK-9
| 247 students
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Special Program Emphasis
2190 Empire Grade
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 425-0519
Grades: PK-8
| 150 students
Spring Hill School
Spring Hill School Photo - Kindergarten working in the garden. With hands on learning and plan, students can integrate their new understanding of the world.
(11)
250 California Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-2641
Grades: K-6
| 54 students
Tara Redwood School
Tara Redwood School Photo - KNOWLEDGE | STRENGTH | COMPASSION-crating compassionate cultures since 1989.Preschool-kindergarten-1st to 6th grades.
Special Program Emphasis
(3)
5810 Prescott Rd
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-9632
Grades: NS-6
| 66 students
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
12780 East St
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-4112
Grades: PK-K
| 52 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The top ranked private schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Holy Cross School, St. Francis High School - Salesian College Preparatory and Kirby School.
How many private schools are located in Santa Cruz County, CA?
31 private schools are located in Santa Cruz County, CA.
How much do private schools cost in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The average tuition cost is $17,744, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $16,783.
How diverse are private schools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Santa Cruz County, CA private schools are approximately 37% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 51%.
What percentage of students in Santa Cruz County, CA go to private school?
15% of all K-12 students in Santa Cruz County, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz County, CA?
52% of private schools in Santa Cruz County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

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