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California 20 Best Private K-12 Schools For 2025–26

Every parent dreams of the right school—a place where small classes, caring teachers, and rich opportunities prepare children for top colleges and lifelong success. In this guide, we spotlight 20 of California’s leading private K–12 schools for 2025–26, helping families compare tuition, values, and outcomes to find the best fit.

What Defines a Top Private K–12 School in California

Choosing the right private K–12 school in California means evaluating more than academics. Families often consider tuition, enrollment size, student–teacher ratios, extracurriculars, and college matriculation. In this curated list, you’ll find schools with enrollments ranging from 140 to 2,040, tuition between $17,700 and $72,300, and student–teacher ratios as low as 5:1. Many of these schools boast 100% four-year college matriculation, with strong placement into Ivy League and other top-tier universities. Each profile highlights school values, tuition, extracurricular offerings, and outcomes—helping families compare options and identify the best fit.

Schools Covered in This Article

• The Nueva School (Hillsborough & San Mateo, CA; Co-ed)
• The Quarry Lane School (Dublin, CA; Co-ed)
• Head-Royce School (Oakland, CA; Co-ed)
• Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (Santa Monica, CA; Co-ed)
• Polytechnic School (Pasadena, CA; Co-ed)
• Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, CA; Co-ed)
• Chadwick School (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA; Co-ed)
• Stevenson School (Pebble Beach, CA; Co-ed; Boarding option)
• Bentley School (Lafayette, CA; Co-ed)
• Francis Parker School (San Diego, CA; Co-ed)
• Oakwood School (North Hollywood, CA; Co-ed)
• TVT Community Day School (Irvine, CA; Co-ed; Jewish)
• Sacred Heart Schools Atherton (Atherton, CA; Co-ed; Catholic)
• St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (San Juan Capistrano, CA; Co-ed; Episcopal)
• The Harker School (San Jose, CA; Co-ed)
• Khan Lab School (Mountain View, CA; Co-ed)
• BASIS Independent Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA; Co-ed)
• The Cambridge School (San Diego, CA; Co-ed; Christian)
• Viewpoint School (Calabasas, CA; Co-ed)
• Pacific Academy – Irvine (Irvine, CA; Co-ed)

2025-2026 Tuition Comparison

Ranking	School	Tuition (USD)	Notes
1	The Nueva School (Hillsborough / San Mateo)	$42,000 – $66,960	Among the most expensive; nationally recognized robotics; strong Ivy+ admissions
2	The Quarry Lane School (Dublin)	$34,479 – $49,889	IB program; recent admits to Stanford, MIT, Ivies
3	Head-Royce School (Oakland)	$42,300 – $60,500	Strong UC & Ivy admissions
4	Crossroads School (Santa Monica)	$46,694 – $55,489	Arts + academics focus
5	Polytechnic School (Pasadena)	$38,500 – $48,900	High Ivy+ acceptance
6	Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth)	$39,800 – $46,300	Large athletics program
7	Chadwick School (Palos Verdes)	$43,740 – $51,240	Small class sizes; 100% college matriculation
8	Stevenson School (Pebble Beach)	$34,300 – $80,600	Boarding option; highest tuition for boarders
9	Bentley School (Lafayette)	$40,600 – $58,525	8:1 student-teacher ratio
10	Francis Parker School (San Diego)	$36,100 – $46,500	Strong UC/Stanford admissions
11	Oakwood School (North Hollywood)	$45,990 – $55,070	Consistent Ivy+ placements
12	TVT Community Day School (Irvine)	$35,385 – $44,985	Jewish day school; very small ratio (5:1)
13	Sacred Heart Schools Atherton (Atherton)	$42,350 – $57,000	Catholic; strong STEM admissions (Stanford, MIT, Caltech)
14	St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (San Juan Capistrano)	$39,120 – $48,550	Episcopal; diverse college admits
15	The Harker School (San Jose)	$49,900 – $64,800	Largest enrollment (2,000+); top Ivy+ feeder
16	Khan Lab School (Mountain View)	$33,700 – $37,700	Progressive/mastery-based; relatively affordable
17	BASIS Independent Silicon Valley (San Jose)	$36,380 – $41,785	Rigorous academics; strong college results
18	The Cambridge School (San Diego)	$29,650	Christian school; lowest among day schools
19	Viewpoint School (Calabasas)	$45,580 – $54,520	Extensive athletics (150+ teams)
20	Pacific Academy (Irvine)	$17,700 – $38,900	Most affordable (domestic $17,700); international tuition higher

1. The Nueva School (Hillsborough, San Mateo, Co-ed)

• Grade: PK–12
• Founded Year: 1967
• Values: A dynamic learning community, an environment of trust, social-emotional acuity, curiosity and creativity, passion and excellence, and student agency.
• Enrollment: 930
• Tuition:
  • PreK $42,000
  • K–4 $47,000
  • 5–8 $65,760
  • 9–12 $66,960
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
• Sports Team: Mavericks, 11 different sports in Middle School; 10 different sports in Upper School.
• Club Number: 120+
• Matriculation: 100% to four-year colleges; From 2020–2023, 10+ to Ivy and top-tier schools like Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, Penn, and Uchicago.
• Notable: Hillsborough campus serves lower and middle school divisions, and the San Mateo campus serves the upper school division，Nationally recognized FIRST Robotics team

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• Most Recent School Profile

2. The Quarry Lane School (Dublin, Co-ed)

• Grade: PK–12
• Founded Year: 1991
• Values: Compassion, Courage, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility
• Enrollment: 950
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $34,479
  • Middle $39,865
  • Upper $49,889
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 20 per class; 7:1
• Sports Team: 15
• Club Number: 30+
• Matriculation: Nearly all to 4-year colleges; Class of 2025 admits include 5 Stanford, 2 MIT, 1 each Princeton/Harvard/UChicago; 13 total Ivy admits
• Notable: Offers International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• Class of 2025 Highlights

3. Head-Royce School (Oakland; Co-ed)

• Grades: K–12
• Founded Year: 1887
• Values: Students First, Academic Excellence, Diversity, Belonging, Civic Engagement
• Enrollment: 921
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $42,300
  • 6-8 $47,900
  • 9-12 $60,500
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 16 per class; 7:1
• Sports Team: 25 interscholastic teams
• Club Number: extensive extracurricular clubs, visual, theather, and visual arts, dance
• Matriculation: 100% to four-year colleges; 2020–2024 admits include UChicago (17), Brown (10), Northwestern (8), Stanford (7), Cornell (7)

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• School Profile

4. Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (Santa Monica; Co-ed)

• Grade: K-12
• Founded Year: 1971
• Values: Academic excellence, arts, community, diversity, physical well-being, and human potential
• Enrollment: 1202
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $46,694
  • 6-12 $55,489
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
• Sports Team: 25+ teams across 13 sports
• Club Number: Dozens, including dance, drama, modern music
• Matriculation: 2022–2024 admits included 47 Ivy League and 25 Ivy+; top destinations Yale (9), Brown (8), Columbia (7)

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• School Profile

5. Polytechnic School (Pasadena; Co-ed)

• Grade: K–12
• Founded Year: 1907
• Values: Respect for unique intellect, talents, and character of each student; academic excellence; personal responsibility; service to others
• Enrollment: 860
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $38,500
  • 6-8 $44,000
  • 9-12 $48,900
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: K–2 ~15, G3–5 ~22, Middle ~18, Upper ~14
• Sports Team: 74 team entries across seasons
• Club Number: 50+
• Matriculation: Class of 2025: ~10% Ivy League, ~29% Ivy+; top admits UC Berkeley (8), USC (6), Stanford (4)

To learn more information:

• Upper School Profile
• Student Clubs

6. Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth; Co-ed)

• Grade: PK–12
• Founded Year: 1978
• Values:Excellence, Integrity, Community, Independence, Perspective
• Enrollment: 1,200
• Tuition:
  • K-6 $39,800
  • 7-12 $46,300
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1; 14–19 per class
• Sports Team: 23 Upper School; 31 Lower School interscholastic teams
• Club Number: 50+ Upper School; 6 Lower School clubs
• Matriculation: Class of 2024 admits include Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, Boston College, Michigan, Washington

To learn more information:

• Lower School Fast Facts
• Middle School Fast Facts
• Upper School Fast Facts
• Upper School Profile

7. Chadwick School (Palos Verdes Peninsula; Co-ed)

• Grade: K-12
• Founded Year: 1935
• Values: Compassion, Fairness, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility
• Enrollment: 863
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $43,740
  • 7-12 $51,240
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
• Sports Team: 20+
• Club Number: 50+
• Matriculation: Class of 2025 (82 seniors) received 542 offers from 188 colleges; admits include Brown (3), Cornell (1), Dartmouth (1)

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• School Profile

8. Stevenson School (Pebble Beach; Co-ed)

• Grade: PK–12
• Founded Year: 1952
• Values: Safety, Respect, Trust, Belonging, Inclusion
• Enrollment: 755
• Tuition:
  • K-8 $34,300
  • 9-12(Day) $52,500
  • 9-12(Boarding)$80,600
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
• Sports Team: 25 interscholastic teams
• Club Number: 28+
• Matriculation: Class of 2024 (122 students) received 690 offers from 267 colleges; admits include Brown, Cornell (3), NYU (4), MIT, UC Berkeley (2), Boston University (4)

To learn more information:

• Lower & Middle Division Student Handbook
• Upper Division Student Handbook
• Most Recent School Profile

9. Bentley School (Lafayette; Co-ed)

• Grade: K-12
• Founded Year: 1920
• Values: –
• Enrollment: 650
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $40,600
  • 6-8 $44,400
  • 9-12 $58,525
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 15 per class; 8:1
• Sports Team: 30+
• Club Number: ~40
• Matriculation: 2022–2025 admits include Brown (2), Columbia (2), Cornell (2), Dartmouth (1), Harvard (1)

To learn more information：Fast Facts

10. Francis Parker School (San Diego; Co-ed)

• Grade: PK–12
• Founded Year: 1912
• Values: Academic excellence, global perspective, strength of character, inclusive community
• Enrollment: 1,322
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $36,100
  • 6-8 $43,800
  • 9-12 $46,500
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
• Sports Team: 45 Upper School teams; 12 Middle School teams
• Club Number: 60+
• Matriculation: Class of 2024 admitted to 75 colleges; includes UC Berkeley (4), UCLA (3), Stanford (3), Michigan (6), USC (5), Princeton, Penn

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• School Profile

11. Oakwood School (North Hollywood; Co-ed)

• Grade: K-12
• Founded Year: 1951
• Values: Independence of thought, intellectual integrity, community responsibility, and inclusion/belonging
• Enrollment: 800
• Tuition:
  • K-6 $45,990
  • 7-12 $55,070
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
• Sports Team: 14
• Club Number: 50+
• Matriculation: 100% four-year college admits; recent years include Brown (2), Columbia (1), Cornell (2), Dartmouth (1), Harvard (1), Penn (1), Yale (1)

To learn more information: Fast Facts

12. TVT Community Day School (Irvine; Co-ed; Jewish)

• Grade: PK–12
• Founded Year: 1991
• Values: Truth, Respect, Kindness, Justice, Community, Repair the World
• Enrollment: 855
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $35,385
  • 6-8 $38,985
  • 9-12 $44,985
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 5:1
• Sports Team: 25
• Club Number: cRobotics, NHS, art, astronomy, baking, LEGO, more
• Matriculation: Class of 2024 admits include Columbia, Yale, NYU, Northwestern

To learn more information: Fast Facts

13. Sacred Heart Schools Atherton (Atherton; Co-ed; Catholic)

• Grade: PK-12
• Founded Year: 1898
• Values: Faith, Intellect, Service, Community, Growth
• Enrollment: 1190
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $42,350
  • 6-12 $57,000
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 16:1
• Sports Team: 44 Upper School; 71 Lower & Middle teams
• Club Number: 80+
• Matriculation: 100% four-year college admits; top colleges include Stanford, MIT, Caltech, UChicago, Duke, Northwestern, Carnegie MellonDuke, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• School Profile

14. St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (San Juan Capistrano; Co-ed; Episcopal)

• Grade: prek-12
• Founded Year: 1979
• Values: Character, Community, Equity, Inclusion, High Expectations
• Enrollment: 1,234
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $39,120
  • 6-8 $43,830
  • 9-12 $48,550
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: –
• Sports Team: 25
• Club Number: 55+
• Matriculation: 100% four-year college admits; Class of 2025 includes Harvard, USC (12), UChicago (4), UC Berkeley (2), UCLA (2)

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• School Profile

15. The Harker School (San Jose; Co-ed)

• Grade: K-12
• Founded Year: 1893
• Values: Kindness, Respect, Integrity, Academic Excellence, Curiosity, Accountability
• Enrollment: 2,040
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $49,900
  • 6-8 $59,450
  • 9-12 $64,800
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
• Sports Team: 40 teams across 15 sports
• Club Number: 65
• Matriculation: Classes 2023–2025: Stanford (34), MIT (12), Yale (9), UChicago (16), Penn (10), Princeton (2), Harvard (5), Columbia (15), Cornell (8), Dartmouth (5)

To learn more information:

• Fast Facts
• Upper School Profile

Recommended Reading:

• Harker School Admissions Guide: How to Get In
• Harker vs. Nueva: An In-depth Comparison of Top Private Schools

16. Khan Lab School (Mountain View; Co-ed)

• Grade: TK-12
• Founded Year: 2014
• Values: Mastery-based learning, student agency, collaboration, wellness, creativity
• Enrollment: 310
• Tuition:
  • TK-5: $33,700
  • 6-12: $37,700
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 10:1
• Sports Team: Growing interscholastic program (e.g., boys’ volleyball, track)
• Club Number: Student-led clubs vary (Chess, Yearbook, Gaming, Khranicle newspaper)
• Matriculation: 100% four-year college acceptance, 50+ top universities, Class of 2021-2025 include Harvard, UCB(4), UCLA(3)

To learn more information: School Profile

17. BASIS Independent Silicon Valley (San Jose; Co-ed)

• Grade: PreK–12
• Founded Year: 2014
• Values: Belonging, Effort, Accountability, Integrity, Optimism, Respect
• Enrollment: 1,248
• Tuition:
  • K-4 $36,380
  • 5–12 $41,785
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 25 per class; 13:1
• Sports Team: 18+ interscholastic teams
• Club Number: 90+ annually (student-led)
• Matriculation: 100% four-year college admits; Class of 2025: 17% top 10 universities, 41% top 20 universities

To learn more information: Fast Facts

18. The Cambridge School (San Diego; Co-ed; Christian)

• Grade: K–12
• Founded Year: 2006
• Values: –
• Enrollment: 406
• Tuition: K-12 $29,650
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: Senior class ~27
• Sports Team: Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Golf, Swimming, Track & Field, Volleyball
• Club Number:Plays, musicals, one-acts
• Matriculation: 100% four-year college admits; 2018–2024 includes UCLA (8), UC Berkeley (4), Stanford (3)

To learn more information: School Profile

19. Viewpoint School (Calabasas; Co-ed)

• Grade: k-12
• Founded Year: 1961
• Values: Love, Honor, Excellence, Imagination, Optimism
• Enrollment: 1200
• Tuition:
  • K-5 $45,580
  • 6–8 $$53,375
  • 9-12 $54,520
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: Upper School classes 10–22
• Sports Team: 150+ teams across Grades 4–12
• Club Number: 75+
• Matriculation: : Nearly 100% four-year college admits; Class of 2025 (107 students) to 61 universities in 24 states/DC; top admits Yale (2), Stanford (2), Dartmouth (2)

To learn more information: School Profile

20. Pacific Academy – Irvine (Irvine; Co-ed)

• Grade: K-12
• Founded Year: 1997
• Values: –
• Enrollment: ~140
• Tuition:
  • K–5 Domestic $17,700 / International $29,300
  • 6 Domestic $17,700 / International $29,300
  • 7–12 Domestic $22,500 / International $38,900
• Class size/Student-to-teacher ratio: 10:1
• Sports Team: 12
• Club Number: Gardening Club, Jr. Chef, STEAM, Tech, others
• Matriculation: 1100% four-year college admits; recent includes: Upenn, Standford, Boston(2), Cmu(20), Northwestern(2)

To learn more information: Fast Facts

Selecting the right private K–12 school in California goes beyond academics. It’s about finding a community where students can grow, explore passions, and prepare for college. These 20 schools stand out for strong values, small class sizes, rich extracurriculars, and excellent college results—including Ivy League and top-tier placements—helping families choose the best path forward.

Which of these California schools stand out to you, and what factors matter most in your family’s school decision—academics, location, extracurriculars, or affordability? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s start a conversation with other parents exploring the same journey.

Next Steps: Plan Academics for Private High School Admissions

For private school applications, academic performance is a core evaluation metric. To understand what top private schools expect, start with these four in-depth guides:

• All-in-One Guide: How to Get Into a Private Elementary School
• All-in-One Guide: How to Get Into a Private Middle School
• All-in-One Guide: How to Get Into a Private High School
• ISEE vs SSAT: Complete Guide for Private School Admissions

Why Accelerated Math Matters for Private Schools

One of the most important academic differentiators for competitive private high schools is placement on an accelerated math track. Compared with public schools, academic private schools typically move faster and expect students to reach advanced math earlier.

The comparison below shows how math progression often differs by grade and how math competitions align with each stage.

Grade	Public School Curriculum	Academic Private School Curriculum	Recommended Math Competitions
G6	Pre-Algebra (starting)	Pre-Algebra / Algebra 1	AMC 8 / AMC 10
G7	Math 7 (Pre-Algebra)	Algebra 1 / Geometry	AMC 8 / AMC 10
G8	Math 8 (Pre-Algebra)	Geometry / Algebra 2	AMC 8 / AMC 10 / AIME
G9	Algebra 1	Algebra 2 / Pre-Calculus	AMC 10 / AIME
G10	Geometry / Algebra 2	Pre-Calculus / Calculus AB / SAT Math	AMC 10 / AIME / USA(J)MO
G11	Algebra 2 / Pre-Calc / SAT	Calculus BC / Stats / SAT Math	AMC 12 / AIME / USAMO
G12	Calculus / Stats	Multivariable Calculus / Stats	AMC 12 / USAMO

Not Sure If You’re on the Right Track?

If you’re planning for private school admissions but unsure whether your current math placement and pacing are competitive, a Think Academy Free Math Evaluation can help.

You’ll receive:

• a diagnostic assessment of your current level
• clear feedback on acceleration readiness
• a personalized 1-on-1 learning path aligned with private school expectations

Prefer to Start with Practice?

If you’d like to assess and strengthen fundamentals independently, access Think Academy’s free math worksheets for PreK through Grade 10. Worksheets are organized by grade and topic to help identify gaps and build confidence.

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