The Harker School Upper School Photo - Harker's Eagle Buddies program matches upper school students with lower school students for three years. The buddies meet 3 times per year for fun and food!

Best California Private Schools (2024-25)

For the 2024-25 school year, there are 4,069 private schools serving 675,570 students in California (there are 10,377 public schools, serving 5,877,756 students). 10% of all K-12 students in California are educated in private schools (compared to the national average of 11%).
The average private school tuition is $16,327 for elementary schools and $22,793 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The best top ranked private schools in California include The Webb Schools, Cate School and Woodside Priory School.
The average acceptance rate is 85% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 50% and the student:teacher ratio is 12:1.
48% of schools are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Top Ranked California Private Schools by County (2024-25)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
233
35,629
14%
13
1,442
5%
35
6,687
3%
40
6,315
3%
1,185
197,630
13%
51
8,779
22%
16
2,131
3%
27
4,675
20%
424
75,744
14%
35
4,317
6%
161
25,648
6%
321
55,300
10%
118
21,980
20%
273
54,178
19%
14
2,091
7%
33
4,547
7%
64
6,618
9%
16
2,656
3%
94
24,349
14%
18
2,378
8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in California?
The best top ranked private schools in California include The Webb Schools, Cate School and Woodside Priory School.
How many private schools are located in California?
4,069 private schools are located in California.
How much do private schools cost in California?
The average private school tuition in California is $16,327 for elementary schools and $22,793 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in California?
California private schools are approximately 50% minority students (view national minority students).
What percentage of students in California go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in California are educated in private schools (compared to national average of 11%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in California?
48% of private schools in California are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

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