Best California Private Schools with Special Program Emphasis (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 163 private schools with special program emphasis serving 29,820 students in California.
The top ranked with special program emphasis private schools in California include Idyllwild Arts Academy, Chinese American International School, and Concord Preparatory School.
The average tuition cost is $28,270, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $18,344.
24% of private schools with special program emphasis in California are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).
Special education schools primarily serve specific student groups such as those that may be hard of hearing, deaf, speech impaired, health impaired, orthopedically impaired, cognitive delays/impairments, seriously emotionally disturbed, multi-handicapped, visually handicapped, or deaf and blind.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 163
  • # Students Served: 29,820

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 163
  • # Students Served: 29,820

Top Ranked California Private Schools with Special Program Emphasis (2026-27)

Adda Clevenger School - Noe Valley Campus Photo
Gr: PK-8 | 144 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 9
Specialized Curriculum
180 Fair Oaks Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-2240
(3)
Heritage Oak Private School Photo
Gr: PK-8 | 635 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 11
Specialized Curriculum
16971 Imperial Highway
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(425) 386-7853
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo
Gr: 9-12 | 271 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Extracurriculars: 24
Specialized Curriculum
52500 Temecula Road #38
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 659-2171
(9)
Pathway School Inc. Photo
Gr: 2-8 | 42 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Extracurriculars: 7
Specialized Curriculum (Christian)
23802 Avenida De La Carlota
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 837-1203
(1)
GATE Academy Photo
Gr: PK-8 | 50 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 2 | Extracurriculars: 10
Specialized Curriculum
1 Saint Vincent Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 491-4700
(2)
Lycee Francais De San Francisco Photo
Gr: NS-12 | 170 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Specialized Curriculum
610 Coloma Street
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 661-5232
The Rhoades Preschool Photo
Gr: NS-PK
Specialized Curriculum
520 Balour Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 437-1438
Map of Anneliese Schools, Inc.
Gr: PK-6 | 573 students
Specialized Curriculum
758 Manzanita Dr
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 613-0600
Map of Archbishop Mitty High School
Gr: 9-12 | 1,752 students
Specialized Curriculum (Catholic)
5000 Mitty Way
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 252-6610
(2)
Areteem Institute Photo
Gr: 4-12
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 7
Specialized Curriculum
15707 Rockfield Blvd. Suite 110
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 305-1705
Army and Navy Academy Photo
Gr: 7-12 | 285 students
Avg. class size: 13 students
Sports: 20 | Extracurriculars: 18
All-boys | Specialized Curriculum
2605 Carlsbad Boulevard
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(888) 762-2338
(1)
Map of Bell Tower Trilingual School
Gr: K-8 | 74 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 3
Specialized Curriculum
3116 W Main St
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 943-9970
(3)
Besant Hill School Photo
Gr: 9-12 | 72 students
Avg. class size: 8 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 17
Specialized Curriculum
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd.
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-4343
(2)
Map of Besant Hill School Of Happy Valley
Gr: 9-12 | 73 students
Specialized Curriculum
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 223-5698
Bridges Academy Photo
Gr: 3-12 | 162 students
Avg. class size: 8 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 7
Specialized Curriculum
3921 Laurel Canyon Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 506-1091
(12)
Map of Bright Horizon Chinese School
Gr: K-5 | 137 students
Specialized Curriculum
902 Emerald Hill Rd
Redwood City, CA 94061
(650) 773-0917
Brookfield School Photo
Gr: PK-8 | 216 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 10
Specialized Curriculum
6115 Riverside Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 442-1255
(4)
Chamlian Armenian School Photo
Gr: K-8 | 713 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 2
Specialized Curriculum
4444 Lowell Ave
La Crescenta, CA 91214
(818) 957-3398
(1)
Chinese American International School Photo
Gr: PK-8 | 555 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 4
Specialized Curriculum
3250 19th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 865-6002
Map of Concord Preparatory School
Gr: 9-12
Avg. class size: 3 students
Specialized Curriculum
3333 Harbor Blvd, Bldg 2
Irvine, CA 92626
(949) 992-3325
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools with special program emphasis in California?
The top ranked private schools with special program emphasis in California include Idyllwild Arts Academy, Chinese American International School, and Concord Preparatory School.
How many private schools with special program emphasis are located in California?
163 private schools with special program emphasis are located in California.
How much do private schools with special program emphasis cost in California?
The average tuition cost is $28,270, which is higher than the California private school average tuition cost of $18,344.
How diverse are private schools with special program emphasis in California?
California private schools with special program emphasis are approximately 50% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 52%.
What percentage of private schools with special program emphasis are religiously affiliated in California?
24% of private schools with special program emphasis in California are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

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