2017 Best Private High Schools in California

854 results

Harvard-Westlake School
Private School
Studio City, CA
7-12
97
1 Best Private High Schools in California
Freshman: Harvard-Westlake truly changed my life. Since coming to H-W as a new seventh grader and still, I have had experiences impossible anywhere else. The competitive nature of the community pushes me to go further than I thought I could, and I have become interested in so many topics that I never thought I would be interested in. Due to the large class sizes, I have met and made so many friends with similar interests as I have, and many with different interests that opened me to even more experiences. If you are considering applying, there is definitely something for you here, and you will not regret your decision!
Read 97 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,593 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The College Preparatory School
Private School
Oakland, CA
9-12
58
2 Best Private High Schools in California
High School Senior: I love my school! One of the best things about the school is the community. The school tries to make freshmen feel as welcome as possible when they first start at school. Freshmen are assigned to a CAP group (Connections and Advisory Program) which consists of a faculty advisor, 8-9 other freshmen, and three senior mentors. During the summer, senior mentors write letters, call, and hang out with their freshmen, which helps the freshmen meet their fellow CAP group freshmen and seniors. Also, freshmen have orientation and Freshmen Retreat together before school starts with everyone else, so they really get to know the school and each other before the year begins. Even after freshmen year, everyone is so kind and inviting. I joined sports and dance and met a lot of upperclassmen and, as I got older, younger students, that have continued to be my friends even after they've graduated. I love the students' welcoming nature (I can pretty much have a conversation with anyone) and the overall nice feeling.
Read 58 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
363 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Harker School
Private School
San Jose, CA
PK, K-12
93
3 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: We have two children at Harker, both in lower school. Our fifth grader has been here since grade 2, our second grader started in Kindergarten, and we are constantly amazed at the level of support teachers provide to students, both academically and emotionally, in terms of character building. When our fifth grader has struggled with academics, teachers reached out to us with concrete advice, invitations to come to extra help in the morning and other suggestions for helping him thrive --and he has done so! Along with kind, calm, sensible *intelligent and thoughtful* teachers who brigh their humanity to the classroom, there is a lower school-wide program that helps students understand their emotions at times of frustration to help them understand how to deal with their concerns effectively. The after school care staff is incredibly polite, attentive and sharp, I've never had any concerns about playground misbehavior as the staff are super vigilant and the equipment is top-notch and well maintained. The kitchen is outstanding and provides healthy snacks (included) before and after school, and students can choose to have a nutritious school lunch prepared on site, or bring their own food from home. Just a great experience all around!
Read 93 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,044 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Stanford Online High School
Private School
Stanford, CA
7-12
75
4 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: My daughter has found her learning community- an exceptional group of students and educators pushing the boundaries of educational technology! The classes are rigorous and the students are competitive, but also kind, engaged, and respectful. While the schedule can be grueling, most students thrive in the OHS environment because they feel like they are learning so much that the hours laboring away are well worth it. Even for highly gifted students, getting straight A's at OHS is difficult. Students, however, seem to care more about the effort they put in to a class, and the passion they have for learning than the grade received. All in all, I would highly recommend Stanford OHS!
Read 75 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
704 Students
15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Polytechnic School
Private School
Pasadena, CA
K-12
82
5 Best Private High Schools in California
Junior: There are so many opportunities at the school, that you can honestly do anything you want to pursue your passion. The teachers are always there for you, and are there to help you improve all the time. The academics are strong, and it's honestly so manageable.

Poly does truly have a really competitive environment. Because the school is so small, you get to know everyone, and you realize the amount of competition that exists within every grade. Sometimes, you really just feel stupid in a class (I know I have). But I love this school so so much, and I have honestly met some of the best people in the whole world. Though it is competitive, everyone is welcoming, and once you feel a part of the Poly community, you feel like you can conquer the world. I am so happy I chose this school and don't regret my decision to come. GO POLY!
Read 82 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
868 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Castilleja School
Private School
Palo Alto, CA
6-12
26
6 Best Private High Schools in California
Alum: My Castilleja experience prepared me so well for college and life -- the teachers are amazing and care so much about the students! I'm so glad I spent 7 years with such smart, caring, and dedicated women.
Read 26 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
438 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Branson School
Private School
Ross, CA
9-12
61
7 Best Private High Schools in California
Parent: Same thing said as in many previous reviews in terms of the academics. Truly demanding - no lie, my daughter was at the top of the best private middle school in Marin, and she has a boatload every week night.

That being said, this place truly is magical. Where to start? The campus is beautiful, facilities - both academic and athletic are top notch. The peer group is the highest caliber in the country. I mean that. The school draws the top students from both Marin and San Francisco.

Diversity is surprisingly prevalent here, and there is definitely a huge push by the school. The community is great - there are many opportunities to meet others via events and socials.

For such a small school, athletics are impressive (and competitive). Most students here are active in some sport, many also play at the club level. School spirit is very strong and refreshing for a school this size.

Honestly, no real negatives. The commute in/out of Ross can sometimes be a pain?
Read 61 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
321 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Flintridge Preparatory School
Private School
La Canada Flintridge, CA
7-12
79
8 Best Private High Schools in California
Alum: I am an alumni of Flintridge Prep, and I absolutely loved the experience! The community is wonderful- teachers are passionate about their respective fields and will definitely go out of their way to help their students. The students are all very supportive of one another, and despite the academic intensity of the school being pretty high, you never really feel like you're ever competing with anyone.

One thing to keep in mind is that Flintridge Prep is mostly about academics. Students do have other non-academic interests such as sports or performing arts, and Prep certainly has extracurricular programs to meet these interests. However, if you are pretty proficient in an extracurricular activity and/or want to pursue it in college, you are better off looking outside of Prep for proper training in your field of interest.
Read 79 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
500 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Cate School
Private School
Carpinteria, CA
9-12
21
9 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: Cate School is amazing! I was incredibly lucky to be able to attend. I feel I received a world class education in one of the most beautiful high school campuses in the world. My teachers were always there for me, and I learned an incredible amount of valuable information in what felt like a short time span. I will always have tremendous gratitude and respect for Cate School and my experience there.
Read 21 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
280 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Crystal Springs Uplands School
Private School
Hillsborough, CA
6-12
17
10 Best Private High Schools in California
Parent: We have 2 high schoolers at Crystal - one of whom also attended middle school. Overall, we love Crystal! Yes, as expected, the academics (and teachers) are terrific. But two additional things stand out. First, the emphasis on the whole child. There is a true growth mindset at this school; the annual health/wellness classes are comprehensive and sometimes intense; the fine arts curriculum is wonderful; the daily schedule is organized so kids can catch their breath, see teachers, and decompress; the emphasis on diversity are supported through thoughtful panel discussions, school trips, guest speakers, student exchange programs, advisory discussions, etc. The other pleasant surprise has been the down to earth, and genuinely kind school community. This is not a snobby or flashy school. There is diversity Crystal and it's celebrated. Kids are kind and respect each other. It truly is a warm, welcoming community.
Read 17 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
350 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Menlo School
Private School
Atherton, CA
6-12
53
11 Best Private High Schools in California
High School Senior: I've loved getting involved with sports here! I was a 4 year athlete and aside from a missed season due to surgery, it's been great. In middle school, I had many opportunities to get involved with theater and singing; however, due to the high school's rigor and my overall large time commitment to volleyball, I wasn't able to continue these passions during the past four years. Other than that, I have some really strong friendships and close mentors in my teachers. My favorite thing about Menlo is definitely the SHP-Menlo rivalry. My highlight has been defeating SHP in sports in front of a rowdy, supportive Menlo student cheering section.
Read 53 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
795 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Lick-Wilmerding High School
Private School
San Francisco, CA
9-12
72
12 Best Private High Schools in California
Senior: Lick-Wilmerding is an amazing school with lots of diversity in all areas, including ideas and perspectives. Especially with the smaller classes and tight-knit community, each student receives a lot of support. I would say I pretty much know every face in our community, so it's nice to see a friendly face everywhere I go. ALSO, the food is amazing! I definitely feel prepared going into college next year!
Read 72 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
461 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Bishop's School
Private School
La Jolla, CA
6-12
55
13 Best Private High Schools in California
Junior: I really like this school. It is very open to new ideas and there are endless possibilities for travel. In addition to academic trips throughout the United States, the school offers international trips such as foreign exchanges and art/sport trips. It is a great community full of teachers who really care about their students and student who care about each other. Classes are small, usually no more than 20 students and most classes are student centered and discussion based.
Read 55 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
800 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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San Francisco University High School
Private School
San Francisco, CA
9-12
40
14 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: As a second semester senior looking back on it all, I'd have to say UHS was quite a roller-coaster for me. When I was in middle school I never really worked nor tried that hard and I somehow got into this school and when I went, I experienced a complete culture shock. To be completely honest, I didn't adjust fully to the social and academic aspect of UHS until junior year, which had a pretty big effect on my gpa. But despite the struggles I had as an underclassman and the struggles I endured with this college process, I think that I've gained a lot of knowledge from this school. It has really forced me to mature as a student and because of that, I feel like college won't be as bad. Of course it will be work, but I think UHS has prepared me pretty well with techniques and coping mechanisms to deal with the stress. For any prospective students who are reading this:

UHS is a very difficult school for everybody in their own way. In order for you to make the best of it, learn to accept failure sometimes and in the end you will experience a ton of success. This place pushed me to my limits, but instead of shying away from a highly academic college, it has made me want to attend a college just like it.
Read 40 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
410 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Marlborough School
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
7-12
105
15 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: Marlborough is not for everyone- with a highly competitive environment and rigorous academics, not everyone can handle the many hours of homework and dedication Marlborough girls are able to endure.
People have differing opinions on what high school should be for students.
Some believe that high school should be a chill experience- complete with relationships, and lots of partying and fun.
Others believe that high school is an opportunity to pursue a good education and prepare for college.
All Marlborough girls believe in the latter. Girls who graduate from Marlborough are intelligent, unique, and cultured.
Some Marlborough girls may seem like nuns, but in reality, Marlborough offers a safe and empowering environment in which dedicated young women can thrive.
Read 105 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
544 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Thacher School
Private School
Ojai, CA
9-12
29
16 Best Private High Schools in California
High School Senior: Thacher was the exact school that I needed when I entered high school. The people here are warm and the students are generally unified. Of course, this varies from class to class, and my class has generally been more fractured than other classes. I've enjoyed my experience here, particularly the first two years of high school which were easier and focused more on class bonding. It is not the right school for everyone and diversity is still somewhat lacking, particularly amongst faculty. Support for students who come from lower economic backgrounds should be increased. The horse program is a truly great experience to bond as a class, though I do have an issue with some of the horse faculty. Despite the issues that I've found through being here for several years, Thacher does feel like home to me and if I could go back to eighth grade, I would choose to attend this school again.
Read 29 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
246 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Westridge School
Private School
Pasadena, CA
4-12
65
17 Best Private High Schools in California
Senior: Initially I was reluctant to come to Westridge. I didn't like the idea of an all girls school and I wasn't to keen on the idea of wearing a khaki skirt. I am so glad I got past all that. Personally, I've definitely had my ups and downs in high school, but Westridge has always been a constant source of support, education, and community. Westridge is a supportive community that is very open to discussion on any topic. High school is going to be hard no matter what, but it is preferable to have the challenges be academic rather than social. Westridge definitely pushes students to success, but they realize this means something different for everyone. The only thing that I is expected of everyone is to be intelligent, honest, productive members of society. The teachers really make the school; they care about their students both as students, and as complex individuals who have concerns and interests outside of the classroom.
Read 65 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
500 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Francis Parker School
Private School
San Diego, CA
PK, K-12
54
18 Best Private High Schools in California
Senior: Francis Parker is definitely preparing students well academically for college. Every other week, seniors had meetings with College Counseling which definitely kept students on track with the college process. Parker also makes sure that all students are knowledgeable about diversity. I had the amazing opportunity to go to Cambodia for two weeks. My classmates and I went to the beautiful temples, the land mine museum, and the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge. I had fun traveling for sports games and playing soccer. However, I had a hard time connecting with other students coming in as a Freshman. Overall, I do not regret going to Parker, and I would do it all over again.
Read 54 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,185 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Head-Royce School
Private School
Oakland, CA
K-12
42
19 Best Private High Schools in California
Senior: Excellent teachers and academic resources! Many of the women's sports are phenomenal, however they could be better supported by the athletic department and administration.
Read 42 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
875 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Sacred Heart Schools Atherton
Private School
Atherton, CA
PK, K-12
88
20 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: Tremendous leadership. The head of school pushes for improvement constantly. Major upgrade of lower school teaching staff in recent years. Middle School teachers are especially strong. Significant program expansion, including a first-rate Fine Arts program, writing specialists, and international travel opportunities. Academics are strong. Extracurriculars are also great. Athletics program is notable for its willingness to build several teams in each grade. My daughter is not a great athlete, but because the school encourages every student to participate, she can play on the third basketball team, for example, and the athletic director works hard to give that team an excellent schedule, and everyone gets plenty of time on the court. Practices are during PE, which makes it easy.

The school takes advantage of its unusual preschool through 12th grade community with such activities as the All School Musical, where kindergartners can become friends with high school students.

The community is as warm and supportive as any group I have ever been part of.

With 60-plus acres in a prime location, the facilities are unmatched.
Read 88 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,180 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Brentwood School
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
K-12
65
21 Best Private High Schools in California
Sophomore: Brentwood is an amazing community with amazing people. I have always felt supported from the start; I have been attending Brentwood since kindergarten and am now a sophomore. Brentwood prepares for college and teaches us information way above our grade level. I am continuously challenged but feel good about what I am doing. There are amazing teachers and great students, and I will never forget the amazing service that Brentwood is doing for me.
Read 65 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
996 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Chadwick School
Private School
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
K-12
64
22 Best Private High Schools in California
Parent: What an amazing place Chadwick is! Academically, the small class sizes allow the teachers time to adapt to the needs of the kids. In my own experience at the school I was amazed when I went to college and found classes almost universally to be a breeze thanks to Chadwick. The school entirely subscribes to a whole child philosophy, where you can load up your schedule with as many challenging classes as you like with a talented group of students, but they strongly encourage going beyond traditional academics: Outdoor ed – Each year your child will embark upon an outdoor education trip as a class where they form friendships and lifelong bonds and challenging themselves mentally and physically in ways you just can’t in the classroom. Performing and visual arts – Your child will be strongly encouraged to get outside of their comfort zone and participate in a rigorous, well-developed arts curriculum. I can confidently say Chadwick is a very special place.
Read 64 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
831 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Windward School
Private School
Los Angeles, CA
7-12
54
23 Best Private High Schools in California
Niche User: Windward's model of a nurturing and inclusive community is a unique find in Los Angeles. Teachers are exceptional and the small tight-knit community is wonderful. My son couldn't be happier!
Read 54 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
550 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Oakwood School
Private School
North Hollywood, CA
K-12
15
24 Best Private High Schools in California
Senior: Oakwood is a great school. I wouldn't change a thing except for the diversity. Though they try the school is very hard to build up diversity in an area where it is mainly white people. Other than that, I would recommend going to Oakwood because it helps you to create your own voice and person.
Read 15 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
780 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences
Private School
Santa Monica, CA
K-12
37
25 Best Private High Schools in California
Alum: Crossroads is a wonderful school that fosters independence, creativity, and accountability. I made lifelong friends while studying a wide range of topics. Teachers were always accessible and understanding, willing to spend the extra time with their students. I was able to explore many different activities. Crossroads opened me up to possibilities that I did not think possible before. In addition, I became an independent thinker. When I went to college, I found myself at the top of my classes, ready to engage the material more than other students. As I watched my college peers struggle, I found the transition to be seamless.
Read 37 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,158 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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1 of 35

Harvard-Westlake School

The College Preparatory School

The Harker School

Stanford Online High School

Polytechnic School

Castilleja School

The Branson School

Flintridge Preparatory School

Cate School

Crystal Springs Uplands School

Menlo School

Lick-Wilmerding High School

The Bishop's School

San Francisco University High School

Marlborough School

The Thacher School

Westridge School

Francis Parker School

Head-Royce School

Sacred Heart Schools Atherton

Brentwood School

Chadwick School

Windward School

Oakwood School

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences