Monte Vista Christian School Photo - MVC High School Quad

Top 5 Best Santa Cruz County Private High Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 11 private high schools serving 3,542 students in Santa Cruz County, CA.
The top ranked private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Merit Academy, Monte Vista Christian School, and Monterey Bay Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 92%, which is higher than the California private high school average acceptance rate of 80%.
42% of private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Top Ranked Santa Cruz County Private High Schools (2025)

School
Location
Grades
Students
2400 East Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 724-5933
Grades: 9-12
| 213 students
Merit Academy
Merit Academy Photo - Engineering a brake-light system. All students engage in ProjectMERIT where they start an independent project that teaches them leadership and critical thinking skills in the real world. These projects separate Merit Academy students from their peers in the competitive college admissions process.
Alternative School
(4)
2392 North Rodeo Gulch Road
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-5655
Grades: 9-12
| 24 students
Monte Vista Christian School
Monte Vista Christian School Photo - MVC High School Quad
(Christian)
2 School Way
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 722-8178
Grades: 6-12
| 722 students
Monterey Bay Academy
Monterey Bay Academy Photo
(Seventh Day Adventist)
783 San Andreas Rd
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-1481
Grades: 9-12
| 164 students
1 Victor Sq Ste 3036
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(650) 681-0681
Grades: 8-12
| 1,650 students
Beach High School
Alternative School
5520 Old San Jose Rd
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 462-5867
Grades: 9-12
| 9 students
112 E Beach St
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 428-5956
Grades: 3-12
| 29 students
Kirby School
Kirby School Photo - The Kirby School campus features a recreation area, sport court, amphitheater, and outdoor classroom and social spaces.
(2)
425 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-0658
Grades: 6-12
| 133 students
Mount Madonna School
Mount Madonna School Photo - Our lovely rural setting greatly enhances our learning environment.
(5)
491 Summit Road
Watsonville, CA 95076
(408) 847-2717
Grades: PK-12
| 145 students
St. Abraham's Classical Christian Academy
(Christian)
(2)
1940 Bonita Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 239-4657
Grades: K-12
| 185 students
Santa Cruz Montessori School
Santa Cruz Montessori School Photo - Primary Class
Montessori School
6230 Soquel Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 476-1646
Grades: PK-9
| 247 students
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
2727 Mattison Ln
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831) 476-4000
Grades: PK-8
| 217 students
12780 East St
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-4112
Grades: PK-K
| 52 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The top ranked private high schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Merit Academy, Monte Vista Christian School, and Monterey Bay Academy.
How many private high schools are located in Santa Cruz County?
11 private high schools are located in Santa Cruz County.
How diverse are private high schools in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County private high schools are approximately 48% minority students, which is same as the California private school average of 48%.
What percentage of private high schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz County?
42% of private high schools in Santa Cruz County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).
Which private high schools in Santa Cruz County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private high schools in Santa Cruz County include: Merit Academy vs. Kirby School

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