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Oldest Private Preschools in California

The average private preschool in California was founded around 1977 (2026-27).
The oldest private preschool in California is St. Clare School, founded in 1856.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # CA Schools Ranked: 1,523
  • Top 20 Range (Year Founded): 1856–1897
  • CA School Avg.: 1977
  • National School Avg.: 1970

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # CA Schools Ranked: 1,523
  • Top 20 Range (Year Founded): 1856–1897
  • CA School Avg.: 1977
  • National School Avg.: 1970
Show school map — California (year founded range: 1856–1897, avg 1977)
Year Founded Range: 1856 1905 Avg. Year Founded: 1889

Oldest Private Preschools in California (2026-27)

Showing 1,523 schools
St. Clare School Photo
#1St. Clare School
Gr: PK-8
Avg. class size: 34 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 6
Catholic
750 Washington St
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 246-6797
1856year founded
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Map of Mount St. Marys Academy
#2Mount St. Marys Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 199 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 6
Catholic
400 S Church Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 273-4694
1859year founded
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Map of Beth Israel Day School/bill & Sid Rubin Preschool
#3(T3–T4)Beth Israel Day School/bill & Sid Rubin Preschool
Gr: PK-6 | 154 students
Jewish
9001 Towne Centre Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 535-1144
1861year founded
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Map of Temple Emanuel-el Pre School
#3(T3–T4)Temple Emanuel-el Pre School
Gr: NS-PK | 92 students
Daycare / Preschool (Jewish)
1010 University Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 293-8660
1861year founded
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Holy Cross School Photo
#5Holy Cross School
Gr: PK-8 | 159 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 4
Catholic
150 Emmet
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-5852
(4)
1862year founded
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St. Mary School Photo
#6St. Mary School
Gr: PK-8 | 253 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 1
Catholic
7900 Church St
Gilroy, CA 95020
(408) 842-2827
(1)
1871year founded
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Map of St. Rita's School
#7St. Rita's School
Gr: PK-8 | 262 students
Catholic
5165 Imperial Ave
San Diego, CA 92114
(619) 264-0109
(4)
1875year founded
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Old Mission School Photo
#8Old Mission School
Gr: PK-8 | 330 students
Avg. class size: 35 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 4
Catholic
761 Broad Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 543-6019
1876year founded
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Map of Children's Ark Learning Center
#9Children's Ark Learning Center
Gr: NS | 3 students
Daycare / Preschool (Presbyterian)
215 N Locust
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 732-8627
1878year founded
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St. Joseph Elementary School Photo
#10 St. Joseph Elementary School
Gr: PK-8 | 297 students
Avg. class size: 28 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
1910 San Antonio Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 522-4456
1881year founded
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St. John's Lutheran School Photo
#11St. John's Lutheran School
Gr: NS-8 | 847 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 7
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
154 S Shaffer St
Orange, CA 92866
(714) 288-4400
(1)
1883year founded
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Our Lady Of Mt Carmel School Photo
#12Our Lady Of Mt Carmel School
Gr: PK-8 | 296 students
Avg. class size: 30 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
301 Grand St
Redwood City, CA 94062
(650) 366-6127
1885year founded
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Map of Holy Rosary Catholic School
#13 Holy Rosary Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 121 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
505 California Street
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 662-3494
1886year founded
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Map of Fallbrook Umc Preschool & Kindergarten
#14Fallbrook Umc Preschool & Kindergarten
Gr: NS-PK | 28 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
1844 Winter Haven Rd
Fallbrook, CA 92028
(760) 728-8501
1887year founded
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St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School Photo
#15St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 203 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
246 Howard Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 762-6426
(9)
1888year founded
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Map of St. Raphael School
#16St. Raphael School
Gr: PK-8 | 209 students
Sports: 3
Catholic
1100 5th Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 454-4455
1889year founded
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Map of Sacred Heart Elementary School
#17Sacred Heart Elementary School
Gr: PK-8 | 198 students
Catholic
2109 Sichel St
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 225-4177
(1)
1890year founded
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Map of Sacred Heart Parish School
#18Sacred Heart Parish School
Gr: PK-8 | 294 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Catholic
670 College St
Hollister, CA 95023
(831) 637-4157
1891year founded
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Sacred Heart Academy Photo
#19(T19–T20)Sacred Heart Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 254 students
Avg. class size: 27 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 4
Catholic
215 S Eureka St
Redlands, CA 92373
(951) 536-1483
1897year founded
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St. Andrew Catholic School Photo
#19(T19–T20)St. Andrew Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 240 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
42 Chestnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 796-7697
(2)
1897year founded
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Map of Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
#21(T21–T23)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
#21(T21–T23)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
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Map of San Carlos School
#21(T21–T23)San Carlos School
Gr: PK-8 | 290 students
Sports: 8 | Extracurriculars: 8
Catholic
450 Church St
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 375-1324
1898year founded
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Map of San Antonio Christian School
#24San Antonio Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 54 students
Avg. class size: 14 students
Seventh Day Adventist
1722 E 8th St
Ontario, CA 91764
(909) 982-2301
1899year founded
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Map of Orfalea Family & Asi Children's Center Rm # 133
#25(T25–T26)Orfalea Family & Asi Children's Center Rm # 133
Gr: PK-K | 119 students
Daycare / Preschool
1 Grand Ave
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
(805) 756-1267
1901year founded
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Map of Santa Clara Elementary School
#25(T25–T26)Santa Clara Elementary School
Gr: PK-8 | 225 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 2
Catholic
324 South E Street
Oxnard, CA 93030
(805) 483-6935
1901year founded
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St. Peter Lutheran School Photo
#27St. Peter Lutheran School
Gr: PK-8 | 352 students
Avg. class size: 24 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 3
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
50 S. Lower Sacramento Rd.
Lodi, CA 95242
(209) 333-2225
(2)
1904year founded
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Map of Appleseed Montessori School
#28(T28–T35)Appleseed Montessori School
Gr: PK-K | 93 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Montessori School
1302 Warner Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 245-7338
1905year founded
View Profile
Map of Cordova Baptist Preschool & Kindergarten
#28(T28–T35)Cordova Baptist Preschool & Kindergarten
Gr: PK-K | 21 students
Daycare / Preschool
10527 Coloma Rd
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 893-3711
1905year founded
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Map of First Baptist Church Children's Center
#28(T28–T35)First Baptist Church Children's Center
Gr: PK-K | 34 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
1010 W 17th St
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(650) 424-1221
1905year founded
View Profile
Map of Happy Day School
#28(T28–T35)Happy Day School
Gr: PK-K | 120 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Alternative School
507 N Chandler Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 282-2919
1905year founded
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Map of Kinder Kids Christian Preschool
#28(T28–T35)Kinder Kids Christian Preschool
Gr: PK-K | 31 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Specialized Curriculum (Christian)
5403 W Pico Bl
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 933-5437
1905year founded
View Profile
Map of Korean Baptist Church School
#28(T28–T35)Korean Baptist Church School
Gr: PK-K | 118 students
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
975 S Berendo St
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 793-3311
1905year founded
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Map of Korean School Of Sacramento
#28(T28–T35)Korean School Of Sacramento
Gr: PK-12 | 108 students
Specialized Curriculum
3641 S Port Dr Ste 2
Sacramento, CA 95826
(916) 364-0533
1905year founded
View Profile
Map of Lifestone Academy
#28(T28–T35)Lifestone Academy
Gr: PK-K | 46 students
Montessori School
4835 Hallmark Pkwy
San Bernardino, CA 92407
(909) 880-8100
1905year founded
View Profile
Show 100 more private schools in California (out of 1,523 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the California average private preschools founding year?
The California average private preschools founding year is 1977 for 2026-27.
What are the private preschools with oldest founding year in California?
The top ranked private preschools in California include St. Clare School, Mount St. Marys Academy and Beth Israel Day School/bill & Sid Rubin Preschool.

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