2023 Best Private K-12 Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area

• Hillsborough, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  67 reviews

Freshman: I love it here! I have never been more supported at school. There's tutorials, teachers are always flexible to meet anytime. You can email, sign up on calendly, or find them anytime at their desk. There is also WRC writing tutoring support as well as student peer tutors in all kinds of subjects. It's really just a safe environment where you feel comfortable talking to anyone of all ages, whether it's the college counselor, admissions officers, or cracking jokes with the head of school. And I'm excited that trips this year are out of state again!... Read 67 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 853

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  169 reviews

Alum: I attended Harker from Kindergarten through High School. Harker's repute as a powerhouse of intense and thorough academics is well-earned– students are constantly challenged in the classroom. However, this academic rigor does not come at the cost of a full-fledged extracurricular experience. Harker's many extracurricular departments provide an all-encompassing vocational education that seamlessly accompanies students' academic experience, including athletics, arts, journalism, engineering, and much more. Unfortunately, while Harker's culture encourages growth and self-improvement, it lacks support for students' mental and physical health. Students often prioritize their academic work above other important aspects of life, such as sleep, health, and socializing, and this culture often contributes to burnout and mental health problems. Overall, if you are searching for a school that will exceedingly prepare you for college and beyond, I recommend Harker with confidence.... Read 169 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,982

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.51 out of 5  75 reviews

Parent: Head Royce School in Oakland is exceptional! The dedicated teachers, engaged parent community, and focus on holistic student development make it an outstanding choice. Our 4th and 2nd graders have thrived here since kindergarten, benefiting from top-notch education, inclusive environment, and diverse extracurricular activities. Highly recommended!... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 900

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Dublin, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  195 reviews

Alum: Since 2016, Quarry Lane School has been an integral part of my life, and I am incredibly grateful for the education and support it provided. The dedicated teachers and staff members created a nurturing and intellectually stimulating environment that not only helped me achieve academic success but also prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Quarry Lane's tight-knit community and inclusive culture fostered personal, social, and emotional growth, equipping me with the skills and confidence necessary to pursue my passion for computer science at Harvey Mudd College this fall and beyond. I express immense gratitude for the incredible experiences I've had at Quarry Lane School. It has truly become a second home to me!... Read 195 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 975

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  117 reviews

Parent: BISV is a splendid educational haven for my kids, offering a warm, engaging environment enhanced by skilled teachers and diverse activities like the World Festival, School Carnival, and Spirit Week. The standout feature is its STEM curriculum, arguably the Bay Area's best. The school maintains a strong academic emphasis, effectively reducing distractions. This focus offers parents peace of mind and allows students to concentrate on their learning. The effectiveness of BISV's methods is seen in their graduates' success, with many joining prestigious colleges like Stanford, Yale, MIT, Berkeley, and Harvard. Above all, witnessing my kids grow as happy, involved learners in this supportive setting has been the greatest reward. It's a place where kids not only learn but also relish the process. As a parent, I couldn't ask for more.... Read 117 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,190

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  84 reviews

Alum: Convent is a great school for college-driven students. Due to the small size of the school, you are able to have more opportunities to take advanced courses (AP/IB). These types of students have the ability to excel academically and receive all the support they need. In that regard, 10/10. Only reason I did not provide a five star review is due to a lot of the blatant favoritism to students who went to the school for all of their education (K-12) as opposed to students who joined in high school. Convent and Stuart Hall is an amazing institution all around.... Read 84 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,100

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Mountain View, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  30 reviews

Parent: I had two kids at KLS for more than 6 years. We love the focus on mastery-based learning, the great teacher-student ratio, its focused, highly collaborative learning environment and the dual enrollment option with Foothill. We loved the small school environment and the parent-staff community: As parents, the admin staff was always open to hear concerns, feedback and improvements happened fast and without major admin headache. Your child will learn to become a self-directed learner and teacher to other kids while challenging themselves. It's a wonderful experience and having sent my kids to college, I am very happy to see how well they have adapted and thrive in an academically challenging environment.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 294

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Anselmo, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  112 reviews

Parent: As educators, my husband and I know what to look for in terms of "style versus substance" of schools that claim to be able to focus on academics, social emotional learning, diversity, inclusion, equity, mindfulness, kindness and respect. We are blown away at how exceptional SD is at providing all of these things for our daughter. My husband was literally in tears at the back to school night after hearing about the details and intentionality around the lesson plans and approach to literacy and math, as well as the social and emotional aspects of learning in and out of the classroom. The teachers are masters and know what they are doing, and they are provided with the resources and professional development to provide an excellent research-based curriculum to the students. I've worked at many independent schools for more than a decade and SD stands out as one of the best schools that I've encountered in my history as an educator. We are so grateful that our daughter has SD!... Read 112 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Lafayette, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  123 reviews

Parent: Bentley School has been such a blessing for our family! When looking for a school for our kids, we wanted to find a place that 1) Felt like home/family, 2) Had friendly, approachable, communicative teachers, 3) Listened to the ideas of families and incorporated feedback quickly 4) prioritized academics and the science of learning and most importantly, 5) made things logistically easier for our family and reduced our mental load as parents. Bentley is ALL of these things and more! It's an all-in-one magical world of learning and growth. Everything from the gardening, world language and phonics-based reading program to the easy drop-off/pick-process and same day responses to teacher and admin communication make Bentley and easy and excellent place to send our kids to school. We could not be happier with our decision!... Read 123 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Atherton, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.51 out of 5  106 reviews

Senior: This is a great school with a booming community. Everyone here is so welcoming and contributed to the tight-knit community while everyone explores their interests, hobbies, and passions with the many many opportunities here whether it be the arts, sciences, robotics, politics, and much more.... Read 106 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 639

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  109 reviews

Parent: We have been at the school for the past 6 years and it has been a transformative experience for our children. The teachers and leadership are amazing and for being such a large private school it is exceptionally run. We love the international diversity of school, there are families from every corner of the globe in our children's classes. The only draw backs are not having any food service on campus and at this price it is unaccusable given all their peers offer a healthy lunch. But other than that we are extremely satisfied with the school.... Read 109 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,067

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  36 reviews

Sophomore: The school is extremely good academically and in terms of college readiness, but I feel that they are lacking in the social aspect of high school that most people look forward to. And though extensively prepared for the top colleges in the world, many students are burnt out at the end of their time at LFSF.... Read 36 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 888

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Palo Alto, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  48 reviews

Works Here: This school is a jewel. It's a bilingual, inquiry-based International Baccalaureate school from Preschool to high school. The teachers are talented and dedicated, teaching through their bilingual and IB curriculum - French, Mandarin, and German. Aside from the nurturing environment for the little ones and the rigorous academics from elementary to high school -- it's a wonderful community. It's truly international, with families and faculty/staff from across the globe. It's not unusual to hear different languages being spoken in the hallways. There is a sense of collaboration, and above all -- a dedication to students. They have a robust student services team to help children post-COVID, and incorporate a focus on the whole child and their wellbeing. If you're thinking about providing your child with a leg up for their future (college, etc.) and also want them to be culturally agile and happy individuals, this is the school for your kid(s).... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 711

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Hayward, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  45 reviews

Parent: We moved my daughter from public school to California Crosspoint Academy for her 2nd grade year. On the first day of school I asked her how she liked it. She responded, “I didn’t like it..” she paused and my heart dropped. Continued with,“I didn’t like it, I loved it !“ I was over joyed with relief. We now feel that we are part of a community that prides itself in education, morals and genuinely cares about our family. The camaraderie between the kids, parents and teachers is heart warming. Everyone steps in to help with anything. It truly is a family. Parents can volunteer with field trips, fundraisers, and even in class. They offer music, sports, other languages, after school care and more. She is excited to attend school daily and cries if she misses a day if she’s ill. They have a 100% success rate with graduates going to universities, Ivy League schools and military. The safety of everyone on campus is a priority. Security is paramount. God willing we are her to stay!... Read 45 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 558

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Palo Alto, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  23 reviews

Parent: After two years of horrible public school experiences (bullying and lack of support from the school), we found Living Wisdom School. From the minute we met the staff we were convinced this was the school for our daughter. They approach each student with care, support, and kindness. We saw our daughter blossom under their care and grow in ways that brought tears of joy. In fact, I cried at every Parent-Teacher conference because the feedback they provided to us reflected how well they knew our daughter--something that didn't happen in the two previous years of high school. I can't recommend this school highly enough. I can't even imagine where we would be today if we didn't have the opportunity to enroll our daughter in this school. Our daughter graduated from Living Wisdom as a whole person -- confident, compassionate, mindful, and ready to take on college!... Read 23 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 88

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Mountain View, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: Excellent high quality Academic school! 10 years of happiness for my older girl, we came here at age of 3 with no English and German at all and now my girl is one of the best students in her class with native level of English and German. We have a great opportunity to choose any University in Germany as well.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 597

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Walnut Creek, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  74 reviews

Parent: We have been so happy at this school! The middle school experience has been particularly amazing. We wanted a place for our kids to feel seen as they entered the challenging middle school years. The public middle schools are huge and the classes kept getting bigger. Being at cccs has exceeded our expectations.... Read 74 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 375

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Fremont, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  85 reviews

Parent: We love FCS! We are thankful for this institution. Not only do the teachers truly love our kids but they also care for them. As a mom, I have the confidence that my child is in good hands and is being taught Godly Christian values - also thankful for the community of moms and parents that support each other. There is a good balance of life with academics and after school programs so our child is well rounded.... Read 85 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 580

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Dublin, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  20 reviews

Senior: The teachers are phenomenal and really care about your education, as well as support you in your personal life or whatever you are going through. The campus is ideally located with a beautiful view and clean buildings and facilities. There are many opportunities to get involved with the school academically, or through extracurriculars. As a small school, the community feels more like a family environment.... Read 20 reviews

• grade A

• Students 429

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Castro Valley, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  98 reviews

Parent: We've loved it so far. Teachers and administration are caring and treat you like family! Academics are excellent. My son is in kindergarten and loving it. He's learning so much, reading and having fun.... Read 98 reviews

• grade A

• Students 665

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.85 out of 5  40 reviews

Parent: Absolutely love Apostles Lutheran School! The school has been so supportive, caring and loving towards my children. Since we've been a part of the Apostles family we've experienced the following: 1. Love for our kids. 2. Focus on our kids. 3. Great teachers that go above and beyond 4. Family activities 5. Safe environment 6. Small classes 7. Great communication and easy access to assignments, grades, and enrollment 8. Enhancements to the campus (fence, turf, church & fellowship hall) Above all these things, Apostles has taught our children to put God first in everything. So thankful for all the blessings we have received over the years.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A

• Students 228

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Pleasant Hill, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: Quality Christian education and unwavering commitment to students. We enrolled our three children (9th, 7th and 4th grades) to PHAA for the 2021-2022 school year. After six months we were so impressed with the dedication of the teachers and administrators, that we immediately re-enrolled. PHAA nurtures the spirit of each child and focuses on building character, while keeping academic standards high. I want to clarify that we are not members of the Seventh Day Adventist church; however, we have always been treated like family. The educational value our children receive far outweighs the tuition expense. We highly recommend this school to all Christian families. Our kids say the following: “I like that I’m able to talk openly about God in class.” “It was easy for me to make friends.” “We get to work together with our classmates.”... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 148

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  18 reviews

Junior: San Francisco Christian School is for sure a unique place. I started my career at this school when I entered the seventh grade in 2018. I love how to this day, teachers I met over four years ago treat me with the same amount of respect considering all the maturing I had to do. The small classrooms also help a ton. However, I went through the unique experience of distance learning throughout the pandemic between. Even when I was struggling to grasp concepts from home, the administration still worked with me and helped me achieve my goals.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 280

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  18 reviews

Niche User: It’s a small private Christian school in town. I enjoy the environment at the school, quiet and peaceful. But since it’s a small school, it doesn’t provide that many activities at school because the small population of the students.... Read 18 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 180

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Vallejo, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  11 reviews

Works Here: The school is great at preparing students for academic success, and socio-emotional skills. I’ve taught at other schools for many years, and none other schools have given kids, the opportunities to be successful like this school. Teaching here has been great! The administration doesn’t micromanage you, and the classroom sizes are small and manageable. The best school in Vallejo!... Read 11 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 335

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1