Featured School: Action Day Elementary School
San Jose, CA
Action Day Primary Plus - Amber campus offers Preschool for children ages 2-5 and Elementary Education & Elementary Extended Day for children ages Jr. Kindergarten - 4th grade.
Fusion Academy Mission Viejo Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Best California Private Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 3,927 private schools serving 661,743 students in California (there are 10,369 public schools, serving 5,827,358 students). 10% of all K-12 students in California attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $16,544 for elementary schools and $23,106 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in California include The Webb Schools, Castilleja School, and Cate School.
The average acceptance rate is 84% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 51% and the student:teacher ratio is 12:1.
48% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Top Ranked California Private Schools by County (2025)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
226
34,865
13%
12
1,436
5%
35
6,674
3%
40
6,315
3%
1,147
194,530
13%
49
8,681
22%
16
2,131
3%
24
4,490
20%
408
74,048
14%
34
4,276
6%
152
25,027
6%
308
52,616
10%
117
21,852
20%
265
53,929
19%
14
2,091
7%
32
4,522
7%
62
6,501
9%
16
2,656
3%
92
24,368
14%
16
1,431
5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in California?
The top-ranked private schools in California include The Webb Schools, Castilleja School, and Cate School.
How many private schools are located in California?
There are 3,927 private schools are located in California.
How much do private schools cost in California?
The average private school tuition in California is $16,544 for elementary schools and $23,106 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in California?
Approximately 51% of students in California private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in California go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in California attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in California?
48% of private schools in California are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.
Which private schools in California are often viewed compared to one another?

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