Westside Waldorf School Photo - Gardening is a core component of the Waldorf curriculum--our students get their hands in the soil and celebrate the life cycle of organic produce grown on campus, while learning the science behind the process.

Best Santa Monica Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 7 private preschools serving 957 students in Santa Monica, CA.
The top-ranked private preschools in Santa Monica, CA include Saint Monica Preparatory and First UMC Preschool.
The average acceptance rate is 100%, which is higher than the California private preschool average acceptance rate of 83%.
43% of private preschools in Santa Monica, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Methodist and Catholic).

Top-Ranked Santa Monica Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
First UMC Preschool
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
1008 11th St
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 395-7292
Gr: PK-K | 106 students Avg. class size: 14 students
Saint Monica Preparatory
(Catholic)
(1)
1039 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 451-9801
Gr: PK-12 | 655 students Avg. class size: 19 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 28 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Beth Shir Sholom Early Childhood Center
Beth Shir Sholom Early Childhood Center Photo
Daycare / Preschool (Jewish)
1827 California Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 829-2517
Gr: NS-PK | 75 students
Garden Of Angels School
(1)
1009 18th St
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 453-4680
Gr: PK-1 | 90 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition listed
SmartStart Developmental Learning Center
Special Education School
2505 Lincoln Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 452-5437
Gr: NS-5 Tuition listed
Waldorf Early Childhood Center
Daycare / Preschool
1441 15th St
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 260-2708
Gr: PK-K | 31 students Tuition listed
Westside Waldorf School
Westside Waldorf School Photo
Waldorf School
(3)
1439-41 15th St
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 260-2708
Gr: NS-8 Sports: 3 Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica, California Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
1515 Maple St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 208-1666
Gr: K | 34 students

Overview

This Town (Santa Monica)
This State (CA)
# Schools
7 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
957 Students
362,442 Students
% Average Students of Color
30%
50%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
106 Teachers
26,764 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
14:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
72%
58%
Average Class Size
16 students
18 students

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$36,792
$15,677
Average Summer Program Cost
$590
$778
Average % on Financial Aid
10%
25%
Average Acceptance Rate
100%
83%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.57
0.70
# American Indian Students
n/a
1,687 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
38 Students
30,535 Students
% Asian Students
3%
9%
# Hispanic Students
61 Students
43,563 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
13%
# Black Students
16 Students
12,191 Students
% Black Students
1%
3%
# White Students
345 Students
112,615 Students
% White Students
31%
33%
# Hawaiian Students
9 Students
2,016 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
649 Students
143,243 Students
% of Others Students
58%
41%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
28 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
6 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Santa Monica, CA?
The top-ranked private preschools in Santa Monica, CA include Saint Monica Preparatory and First UMC Preschool.
How many private preschools are located in Santa Monica?
7 private preschools are located in Santa Monica.
How diverse are private preschools in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica private preschools are approximately 30% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Santa Monica?
43% of private preschools in Santa Monica are religiously affiliated (most commonly Methodist and Catholic).

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