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Oldest Private High Schools in California

The average private high school in California was founded around 1974 (2026-27).
The oldest private high school in California is San Domenico School, founded in 1850.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # CA Schools Ranked: 743
  • Top 20 Range (Year Founded): 1850–1883
  • CA School Avg.: 1973
  • National School Avg.: 1967

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # CA Schools Ranked: 743
  • Top 20 Range (Year Founded): 1850–1883
  • CA School Avg.: 1973
  • National School Avg.: 1967
Show school map — California (year founded range: 1850–1883, avg 1973)
Year Founded Range: 1850 1902 Avg. Year Founded: 1879

Oldest Private High Schools in California (2026-27)

Showing 743 schools
San Domenico School Photo
#1San Domenico School
Gr: K-12 | 680 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 16 | Extracurriculars: 30
1500 Butterfield Road
San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 258-1900
(15)
1850year founded
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Bellarmine College Preparatory Photo
#2(T2–T5)Bellarmine College Preparatory
Gr: 9-12 | 1,665 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 16 | Extracurriculars: 3
All-boys (Catholic)
960 W Hedding St
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 294-9224
1851year founded
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Map of Edgewood Center For Children & Families
#2(T2–T5)Edgewood Center For Children & Families
Gr: 5-12 | 23 students
Special Education School
1801 Vicente St
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 681-3211
1851year founded
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Map of Notre Dame High School
#2(T2–T5)Notre Dame High School
Gr: 9-12 | 417 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
All-girls (Catholic)
1540 Ralston Ave
Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 595-1913
1851year founded
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Notre Dame High School Photo
#2(T2–T5)Notre Dame High School
Gr: 9-12 | 681 students
Avg. class size: 24 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 47
All-girls (Catholic)
596 S 2nd St
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 294-1113
1851year founded
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Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Photo
#6Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
Gr: 9-12 | 1,329 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 14
Catholic
1055 Ellis St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 775-6626
1852year founded
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Map of St. Ignatius College Preparatory
#7St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Gr: 6-12 | 1,563 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Catholic
2001 37th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 731-7500
1855year founded
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Holy Names High School Photo
#8Holy Names High School
Gr: 9-12 | 142 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 13
All-girls (Catholic)
4660 Harbord Drive
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 450-1110
(1)
1861year founded
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Map of St. Mary's College High School
#9St. Mary's College High School
Gr: 9-12 | 627 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Catholic
1294 Albina Ave
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 526-9242
(1)
1863year founded
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Map of Loyola High School
#10Loyola High School
Gr: 9-12 | 1,242 students
Sports: 13
All-boys (Catholic)
1901 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 381-5121
(1)
1865year founded
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Map of Lick-Wilmerding High School
#11Lick-Wilmerding High School
Gr: 9-12 | 550 students
Sports: 12
755 Ocean Ave
San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 337-9990
1874year founded
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Christian Brothers High School Photo
#12(T12–T14)Christian Brothers High School
Gr: 9-12 | 1,127 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 17 | Extracurriculars: 17
Catholic
4315 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
(916) 733-3600
1876year founded
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Mission College Prep High School Photo
#12(T12–T14)Mission College Prep High School
Gr: 9-12 | 273 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Catholic
682 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 543-2131
(1)
1876year founded
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Saint Mary's High School Photo
#12(T12–T14)Saint Mary's High School
Gr: 9-12 | 785 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 23 | Extracurriculars: 5
Catholic
5648 N. El Dorado St.
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 957-3340
1876year founded
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Map of Ursuline High School
#15Ursuline High School
Gr: 9-12 | 288 students
All-girls (Catholic)
90 Ursuline Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 524-1130
1880year founded
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Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School Photo
#16Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School
Gr: 9-12 | 426 students
Avg. class size: 24 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 38
Catholic
1011 Chestnut Street
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 523-1526
1881year founded
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Academy Of Our Lady Of Peace Photo
#17(T17–T18) Academy Of Our Lady Of Peace
Gr: 9-12 | 750 students
Avg. class size: 23 students
Sports: 17 | Extracurriculars: 33
All-girls (Catholic)
4860 Oregon Street
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 297-2266
1882year founded
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Map of Childrens Home Of Stockton
#17(T17–T18)Childrens Home Of Stockton
Gr: 1-12 | 46 students
Special Education School
430 N Pilgrim St
Stockton, CA 95205
(209) 466-0853
1882year founded
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Map of Ica Cristo Rey
#19(T19–T20)Ica Cristo Rey
Gr: 9-12 | 336 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 17
All-girls (Catholic)
3625 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-2052
1883year founded
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Map of Lincoln Child Center
#19(T19–T20)Lincoln Child Center
Gr: 2-9 | 61 students
Special Education School
4368 Lincoln Ave
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 531-3111
1883year founded
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Convent & Stuart Hall Photo
#21(T21–T22)Convent & Stuart Hall
Gr: K-12
Sports: 16
Catholic
2222 Broadway St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 563-2900
(2)
1887year founded
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Head Royce School Photo
#21(T21–T22)Head Royce School
Gr: K-12 | 877 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 11
4315 Lincoln Ave
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 531-1300
(1)
1887year founded
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Map of Marlborough School
#23(T23–T26)Marlborough School
Gr: 7-12 | 558 students
Avg. class size: 13 students
Sports: 13
All-girls | Specialized Curriculum
250 S Rossmore Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 935-1147
1889year founded
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Ramona Convent Secondary School Photo
#23(T23–T26) Ramona Convent Secondary School
Gr: 9-12 | 282 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 9 | Extracurriculars: 28
All-girls (Catholic)
1701 W Ramona Road
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 282-4151
(1)
1889year founded
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St. Mary's Academy Photo
#23(T23–T26)St. Mary's Academy
Gr: 9-12 | 232 students
Avg. class size: 21 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 17
All-girls | Specialized Curriculum (Catholic)
701 Grace Avenue
Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 674-8470
1889year founded
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The Thacher School Photo
#23(T23–T26)The Thacher School
Gr: 9-12 | 259 students
Avg. class size: 11 students
Sports: 13
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
1889year founded
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The Harker School Upper School Photo
#27The Harker School Upper School
Gr: K-12 | 798 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 15 | Extracurriculars: 20
500 Saratoga Ave
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 345-9207
1893year founded
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Map of Fresno Adventist Academy
#28Fresno Adventist Academy
Gr: K-12 | 100 students
Avg. class size: 9 students
Sports: 4
Seventh Day Adventist
5397 E Olive Ave
Fresno, CA 93727
(559) 251-5548
(1)
1897year founded
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Map of Pomona Catholic High School
#29(T29–T31)Pomona Catholic High School
Gr: 6-12 | 281 students
Catholic
533 W Holt Ave
Pomona, CA 91768
(909) 623-5297
(3)
1898year founded
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Map of Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
#29(T29–T31)Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Gr: PK-12 | 1,070 students
Catholic
150 Valparaiso Ave
Atherton, CA 94027
(650) 473-4057
1898year founded
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Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton Photo
#29(T29–T31)Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton
Gr: NS-12 | 1,216 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 14 | Extracurriculars: 5
Catholic
150 Valparaiso Avenue
Atherton, CA 94027
(650) 322-1866
1898year founded
View Profile
Map of San Diego Academy
#32San Diego Academy
Gr: K-12 | 254 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 5
Seventh Day Adventist
2800 E 4th St
National City, CA 91950
(619) 267-9550
(1)
1899year founded
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Map of Harvard-westlake
#33Harvard-westlake
Gr: 7-12 | 1,616 students
700 N Faring Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90077
(323) 770-1665
1900year founded
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Santa Clara High School Photo
#34Santa Clara High School
Gr: 9-12 | 210 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 14
Catholic
2121 Saviers Road
Oxnard, CA 93033
(805) 483-9502
1901year founded
View Profile
Map of Bakersfield Adventist Academy
#35Bakersfield Adventist Academy
Gr: K-12 | 143 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Seventh Day Adventist
3333 Bernard St
Bakersfield, CA 93306
(661) 871-1591
1902year founded
View Profile
Show 100 more private schools in California (out of 743 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the California average private high schools founding year?
The California average private high schools founding year is 1974 for 2026-27.
What are the private high schools with oldest founding year in California?
The top ranked private high schools in California include San Domenico School, Bellarmine College Preparatory and Edgewood Center For Children & Families.

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