Mount Madonna School Photo - Our lovely rural setting greatly enhances our learning environment.

Best Santa Cruz County Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 9 private preschools serving 1,425 students in Santa Cruz County, CA.
The top-ranked private preschools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Holy Cross School and Baymonte Christian School.
44% of private preschools in Santa Cruz County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other).

Top-Ranked Santa Cruz County Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Baymonte Christian School
Baymonte Christian School Photo
(Christian)
(1)
5000B Granite Creek Rd
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-0100
Gr: NS-8 | 462 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 6 Tuition listed
Holy Cross School
Holy Cross School Photo - Holy Cross School ~ 2019 Preschool -8th grade
(Catholic)
(4)
150 Emmet
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-5852
Gr: PK-8 | 159 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
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
Gr: PK-K | 25 students
Montessori Community School
Montessori Community School Photo
Montessori School
123 S Navarra Dr
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 439-9313
Gr: 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
Gr: PK-12 | 145 students Avg. class size: 13 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
Salesian Elementary & Junior High School
(Catholic)
(1)
605 Enos Ln
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-5518
Gr: PK-8 | 164 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 Tuition listed
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
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Santa Cruz Waldorf School Photo
Waldorf School
2190 Empire Grade
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 425-0519
Gr: PK-8 | 136 students Avg. class size: 14 students Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
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
Gr: NS-6 | 66 students Avg. class size: 12 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

Overview

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

Student Body:

# Students
1,425 Students
363,163 Students
% Average Students of Color
23%
50%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
134 Teachers
26,512 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
14:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
58%
58%
Average Class Size
17 students
18 students
Average Number of AP Courses
8 courses
12 courses

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$15,320
$15,631
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,600
$785
Average % on Financial Aid
50%
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,500
$5,553

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.70
# American Indian Students
2 Students
1,693 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
44 Students
30,302 Students
% Asian Students
3%
9%
# Hispanic Students
186 Students
43,007 Students
% Hispanic Students
13%
12%
# Black Students
23 Students
12,399 Students
% Black Students
2%
4%
# White Students
900 Students
112,259 Students
% White Students
61%
32%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
2,000 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
306 Students
144,386 Students
% of Others Students
21%
42%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
5 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
5 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The top-ranked private preschools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Holy Cross School and Baymonte Christian School.
How many private preschools are located in Santa Cruz County?
9 private preschools are located in Santa Cruz County.
How diverse are private preschools in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County private preschools are approximately 23% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz County?
44% of private preschools in Santa Cruz County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other).
Which private preschools in Santa Cruz County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private preschools in Santa Cruz County include: Montessori Community School vs. Baymonte Christian School

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