The average private school acceptance rate in California is 84% per year (2025).
The most selective school in California is Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights, with an acceptance rate of 10%.
Acceptance Rate Range: 10%
50%
Avg. Acceptance Rate: 32%
Most Selective Private Schools in California (2025)
School
Acceptance Rate
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights![Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights Photo - water day, summer program]( "Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights Photo - water day, summer program")
Daycare / Preschool
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Grades: NS-PK
2880 Rowena Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 662-2663
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 662-2663
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Centennial Montessori School![Centennial Montessori School Photo - A natural play yard for our 3 to 6 year olds provides a multi sensory and creative experience. The children use the space to garden, dance, jump, play games, run, twirl, build, dig and create masterpieces in our art area, mud kitchen, and music area.]( "Centennial Montessori School Photo - A natural play yard for our 3 to 6 year olds provides a multi sensory and creative experience. The children use the space to garden, dance, jump, play games, run, twirl, build, dig and create masterpieces in our art area, mud kitchen, and music area.")
Montessori School
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Grades: PK-6
27 10th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 340-1230
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 340-1230
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Montessori Academy-Glendale
Montessori School
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Grades: PK-K
1920 W Glenoaks Blvd
Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 841-9096
Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 841-9096
Rank: #44.
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Grades: 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 640-3210
Rank: #55.
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Grades: 9-12
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805) 684-4127
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: K-12
548 Market Street, No 41193
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 938-4934
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 938-4934
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: K-8
250 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 565-0400
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 565-0400
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Write Start Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Grades: NS-4
4453 Precissi Lane
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 956-5437
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 956-5437
Rank: #99.
The Webb Schools![The Webb Schools Photo - Welcome to Webb]( "The Webb Schools Photo - Welcome to Webb")
Special Program Emphasis
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Grades: 9-12
1175 West Baseline Road
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 482-5214
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: K-12
3119 W. 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 487-5437
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 487-5437
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 6-12
302 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-8223
Portola Valley, CA 94028
(650) 851-8223
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: 6-12
2555 West Highway 154
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-6471
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-6471
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: PK-5
1335 Guerrero Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 821-0130
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 821-0130
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: PK-8
6309 El Apajo
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
(858) 756-6763
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
(858) 756-6763
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: K-12
26800 Fremont Rd
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 209-3060
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 209-3060
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: 7-12
1471 Kingman Ave
San Jose, CA 95128
(707) 722-4233
San Jose, CA 95128
(707) 722-4233
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
St. Monica School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: K-8
5950 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 875-1956
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 875-1956
Rank: #12 - 1812. - 18.
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Grades: K-12
K-8: 535 S. Pasadena Ave/High School: 301 N. Orange Grove Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 795-4351
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 795-4351
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Acceptance Rate: 35%
Grades: 6-12
7607 La Jolla Blvd
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 459-4021
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 459-4021
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Acceptance Rate: 35%
Grades: PK-12
6501 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-7900
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-7900
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Acceptance Rate: 35%
Grades: PK-8
4050 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 460-8940
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 460-8940
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Acceptance Rate: 35%
Grades: 4-12
4345 Las Virgenes Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
(310) 478-9900
Calabasas, CA 91302
(310) 478-9900
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Grades: PK-8
3030 Valley St
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 729-6272
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 729-6272
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Grades: K-8
1795 San Leandro Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-7732
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 969-7732
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Grades: K-8
70 Lomita Dr
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 906-2220
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 906-2220
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Grades: K-8
4832 Tujunga Ave
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 508-4542
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 508-4542
Rank: #27 - 2927. - 29.
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Grades: PK-12
200 N Michillinda Avenue
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 355-3463
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
(626) 355-3463
Rank: #27 - 2927. - 29.
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Grades: 6-12
2100 Mt Diablo Scenic Blvd
Danville, CA 94506
(925) 362-7223
Danville, CA 94506
(925) 362-7223
Rank: #27 - 2927. - 29.
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Grades: 7-12
1500 El Camino Real
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 944-6777
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 944-6777
Rank: #3030.
Acceptance Rate: 47%
Grades: PK-8
333 Dolores Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 861-5432
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 861-5432
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
The Burkard School![The Burkard School Photo - The Right Support Makes All The Difference...A small independent K-8 school for bright children who need extra support with self-regulation, executive functioning, and/or social-emotional learning in the classroom.]( "The Burkard School Photo - The Right Support Makes All The Difference...A small independent K-8 school for bright children who need extra support with self-regulation, executive functioning, and/or social-emotional learning in the classroom.")
Special Education School
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Grades: K-8
2333 Palm Ave
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 918-9945
San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 918-9945
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Grades: PK-12
17100 Superior Street
Northridge, CA 91325
(818) 349-1394
Northridge, CA 91325
(818) 349-1394
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Grades: PK-6
1233 North McCaddden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 465-1320
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 465-1320
Rank: #34 - 4934. - 49.
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Grades: PK-8
180 Fair Oaks Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-2240
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-2240
Rank: #34 - 4934. - 49.
Archbishop Riordan High School![Archbishop Riordan High School Photo - A view of Riordan's gym.]( "Archbishop Riordan High School Photo - A view of Riordan's gym.")
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Grades: 9-12
175 Frida Kahlo Way
San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 586-8200
San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 586-8200
Show 100 more private schools in CA (out of 560 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the California average private schools acceptance rate?
The California average private schools acceptance rate is 84% for 2025.
What are the most selective private schools in California?
The top ranked private schools in California include Camelot Kids Preschool and Little Knights, Centennial Montessori School and Montessori Academy-Glendale.
What is the most selective high school and elementary school in California?
The most selective private high school in California is The Thacher School, with an acceptance rate of 13%. The most selective private elementary school is Centennial Montessori School, with an acceptance rate of 10%.
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