St. Francis High School - Salesian College Preparatory Photo - Experience the biomedical science pathway or computer science in a small, personal learning environment. We have a 12:1 student-teacher ratio and class sizes averaging 20.

Best Santa Cruz County Private High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 11 private high schools serving 3,626 students in Santa Cruz County, CA.
The top-ranked private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Monte Vista Christian School, St. Francis High School - Salesian College Preparatory, and Merit Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 92%, which is higher than the California private high school average acceptance rate of 78%.
42% of private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Seventh Day Adventist).

Top-Ranked Santa Cruz County Private High Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
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.
Alternative School
(4)
2392 North Rodeo Gulch Road
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-5655
Gr: 9-12 | 24 students Avg. class size: 1 student Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Monte Vista Christian School
Monte Vista Christian School Photo - Students from the Class of 2025 on College Decision Day
(Christian)
2 School Way
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 722-8178
Gr: 4-12 | 824 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 18 | Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition listed
Monterey Bay Academy
Monterey Bay Academy Photo
(Seventh Day Adventist)
783 San Andreas Rd
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-1481
Gr: 9-12 | 143 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
2400 East Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 724-5933
Gr: 9-12 | 213 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 30 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1 Victor Sq Ste 3036
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(650) 681-0681
Gr: 8-12 | 1,650 students
Beach High School
Alternative School
5520 Old San Jose Rd
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-5867
Gr: 9-12 | 9 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
112 E Beach St
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 428-5956
Gr: 3-12 | 29 students
Kirby School
Kirby School Photo - At Kirby, classes average 12 students, creating space for real connection and individualized challenge.
(2)
425 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-0658
Gr: 6-12 | 136 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition listed
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
Gr: PK-12 | 145 students Avg. class size: 13 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
St. Abraham's Classical Christian Academy
(Christian)
(2)
1940 Bonita Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 239-4657
Gr: K-12 | 185 students
Santa Cruz Montessori School
Santa Cruz Montessori School Photo - Primary Class
Montessori School
6230 Soquel Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 476-1646
Gr: PK-9 | 247 students Avg. class size: 21 students Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
2727 Mattison Ln
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831) 476-4000
Gr: PK-8 | 217 students Avg. class size: 25 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
12780 East St
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-4112
Gr: PK-K | 52 students
250 California Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-2641
Gr: K-6 | 54 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition listed

Overview

This County (Santa Cruz County)
This State (CA)
# Schools
12 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
3,626 Students
272,407 Students
% Average Students of Color
50%
50%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
247 Teachers
26,879 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
56%
62%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
17 courses
16 courses
Average SAT score
1238
(Out of 1600)
1266
Average ACT score
28
(Out of 36)
28

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$29,726
$23,888
Average Summer Program Cost
$250
$1,482
Average % on Financial Aid
42%
33%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$18,608
$12,817
Average Acceptance Rate
92%
78%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.72
0.73
# American Indian Students
2 Students
1,839 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
399 Students
34,980 Students
% Asian Students
11%
13%
# Hispanic Students
788 Students
43,206 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
16%
# Black Students
392 Students
15,763 Students
% Black Students
11%
6%
# White Students
1,649 Students
115,449 Students
% White Students
45%
44%
# Hawaiian Students
6 Students
2,937 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
452 Students
48,585 Students
% of Others Students
12%
19%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
15 extracurriculars
14 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
10 sports
10 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The top-ranked private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Monte Vista Christian School, St. Francis High School - Salesian College Preparatory, and Merit Academy.
How many private high schools are located in Santa Cruz County?
11 private high schools are located in Santa Cruz County.
How diverse are private high schools in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County private high schools are approximately 50% minority students, which is same as the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private high schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz County?
42% of private high schools in Santa Cruz County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Seventh Day Adventist).
Which private high schools in Santa Cruz County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private high schools in Santa Cruz County include: Merit Academy vs. Kirby School

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