Best California Private Schools Belonging to Membership Associations (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 2,394 private schools belonging to membership associations in California.

The most popular school membership associations are Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) (29% of schools), National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) (21% of schools) and Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) (17% of schools).

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools Photo - Since 1973, Capistrano Valley Christian Schools has been dedicated to providing a high standard of college preparatory education, set within the framework of Christian instruction and example. We desire to prepare students to be the Christian leaders of tomorrow. Our staff is committed to partnering with an extremely supportive school community to offer a truly unique educational experience.

Alta Loma Christian School Photo - 21st Century Skills. 1st Century Faith.

Fusion Academy San Mateo Photo - Students get to be up close to everything in our science lab. In the one-to-one classroom students are always involved in experiments and have a hands-on approach to learning. We have college-level tools available and the world can be their classroom if they choose to venture out of the science lab.

Fusion Academy Berkeley Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more.

Pacific Academy Photo - Preparatory School for Grades K-12

Drew School Photo - Drew School believes in teenagers - their ideas, their dreams, their opinions, and their potential. That's why we've created a high school community that challenges the traditional definition of success and celebrates achievement one student at a time.

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.

Marin Horizon School Photo - Marin Horizon is an independent, toddler through 8th grade, co-educational day school located in in Mill Valley, CA, only 15 minutes from San Francisco. Nestled at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, our beautiful campus is surrounded by trails and open space.

Fusion Academy Warner Center Photo - In our mixed-media art studio students can discover their artistic passions or continue their love of creating art. We offer painting, drawing, graphic design, and many more different mediums for students to express themselves through art.

Pacific Academy Photo - Rose Zhang, Class of 2021; AJGA World No. 1 Women Amateur Golfer; 2020 U.S Woman's Amateur Champion; Stanford University

Calvary Preparatory Academy-Online Photo - Providing excellence in online education since 2009, CPA offers a fully online, Christian education for students from kindergarten through 12th grade leading to completion of an accredited high school diploma. Calvary Prep Academy is accredited in grades 7-12 by WASC (Western Association of Schools & Colleges) and offers NCAA and University of California "a-g" approved courses.

Millennium School Of San Francisco Photo - Wilderness days are a regular part of student life at Millennium.

Fusion Academy South Bay Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more.

Fusion Academy Los Gatos Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more.

Top Ranked California Private Schools by Membership Association (2024)

Membership Association

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) or (School of Tomorrow)

2,774

55%

Accreditation International

127

75%

American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)

2,261

54%

American Montessori Society (AMS)

157

13,928

53%

Association for Experiential Education (AEE)

181

26%

Association Montessori International (AMI)

3,046

60%

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)

2,157

42%

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

402

98,581

42%

Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS)

3,969

45%

Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS)

3,749

23%

Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS)

141

53%

Association of Military Colleges and Schools

501

62%

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

4,791

25%

Bilingual School Association

784

48%

California Association for the Gifted

2,926

64%

California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)

192

68,784

39%

California Association of Private Special Education Schools (CAPSES)

1,346

43%

Carden Educational Foundation

427

80%

Christian Schools International (CSI)

8,673

41%

Cognia

10,377

54%

Council of Bilingual Education

1,210

57%

Educational Records Bureau

4,299

43%

European Council for International Schools

3,922

27%

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA)

4,109

43%

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

509

35%

General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (GCSDAC)

6,906

63%

Institute for Independent Education

4,590

59%

International Baccalaureate (IB) World School

6,787

31%

International Boys Schools Coalition

1,052

40%

International Coalition of Girls Schools

509

52%

International Montessori Council (IMC)

881

62%

Islamic School League of America (ISLA)

1,610

73%

Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA)

6,852

45%

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)

163

36%

Mercy Secondary Education Association (MSEA)

374

41%

Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

257

61%

Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI)

84%

National Association for the Education of Young Children

213

27,986

48%

National Association for the Gifted

1,380

66%

National Association of College Admissions Counselors

4,769

58%

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)

9,205

46%

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

275

108,335

42%

National Association of Laboratory Schools

782

65%

National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS)

2,223

26%

National Association of Private Schools

870

National Association of Private Special Education Centers

2,156

53%

National Catholic Education Association

2,395

76%

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

511

164,499

58%

National Christian School Association (NCSA)

258

55%

National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools

75%

National Coalition of Boys Schools

181

85%

National Coalition of Girls

4,835

45%

National Council for Private School Accreditation

1,996

23%

National Honor Society (NHS)

637

54%

National Independent Private Schools Association

14,435

59%

National Lutheran Schools Accreditation

7,388

38%

National Middle School Association

707

55%

National Society of Hebrew Day Schools (NSHDS)

3,164

13%

New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS)

Not Available (School did not report any membership associatons).

622

46%

Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF)

114

45%

Orton Gillingham Academy of Practioners and Educators

420

57%

Other associations(s) for exceptional children

4,537

56%

Other Montessori association(s)

7,623

46%

Other religious school association(s)

136

30,266

45%

Other school association(s)

304

64,065

52%

Other special emphasis association(s)

17,617

38%

Solomon Schechter Day Schools (SSDS)

2,108

28%

Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS)

1,494

41%

State or regional independent school association

14,654

38%

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

5,821

46%

The French school system abroad (AEFE)

The Jewish Community Day School Association (SSDSA)

493

35%

Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

2,477

35%

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

694

228,616

46%

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation (WELSSA)

331

14%

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