2023 Best Private Schools in the San Diego Area

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: My son will be graduating in a few weeks from The Bishop’s School. It’s definitely an academically challenging school, but that’s what my son loved about it the most. He came from public school that didn’t challenge him enough and had teachers that barely knew the students. At Bishop’s, he received quality education, a lot of one-on-one interaction with teachers that cared, and he took advantage of everything the school offered. We are not rich and it was a financial sacrifice for us to send him there, but it was worth every penny. He always tells us it is the best decision he ever made. He also had a chance to play sports and had coaches that truly cared about him as a whole, on and off the court. The only thing I wish I knew before matriculating at Bishop’s is that your chances of getting into top UC schools dramatically decreases because most of the kids at Bishop’s are highly intelligent and top UCs can only accept a small %. They have better chances going to top private colleges.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 800

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  91 reviews

Works Here: I have never worked in a place that so clearly lives its mission. Francis Parker School invests in students at every level, from the amazing faculty who challenge students in the classroom, to the support staff who come alongside students as they grow and develop as people, to the dining staff who makes the unbelievable lunches each day - Parker really does care for the whole student. And as staff, we feel it too. This is a great place to work, and a great place to send your student!... Read 91 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,320

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• La Jolla, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  159 reviews

Parent: Finishing up our first year at LJCDS and we love it! Our child (2nd grade) has quickly made new friends and we have met an incredible group of parents, faculty and staff. The strength of this school is how well it builds a sense of community through its character-building curriculum, events and good communication - which makes it a wonderful learning environment. Our child loves going to school! Students at LJCDS are given a robust well-rounded education that supports their curious minds and helps them learn how to be great students and citizens. At school, our child is surrounded by a wonderful diverse group of bright kids, many speak 2 or more languages and are talented in academics, sports and the arts. The campus has a real buzz of hope and joy, and I highly encourage folks to visit and see for themselves. If you are searching for an academically challenging school, with a fantastic arts program, and warm, welcoming, grounded parent community, I absolutely recommend LJCDS!... Read 159 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,147

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  147 reviews

Senior: Pacific Ridge School really pushed me to be the best student, leader, and person I could be. My teachers were very nice and cared about me and my success in the classroom and outside. If I didn't understand something, they always had time to help me go through it till I understood it. At PRS I have had mostly amazing teachers! Other highlights include global travel. I have gone to places I have never imagined I would ever go like D.C, Yosemite, Peru, Ghana and Togo. Through the global travel program I have learned about other cultures and history, done community service, and opened my eyes to a whole new world and different perspectives. I am also grateful for the abundance of groups and extracurriculars you can get involved in on campus. I was able to be a leader and creator of many groups which I believe made me stand out in my college applications. One thing that can improve is to add more diversity at the school and have more time for us to meet in affinity groups.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 685

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.9 out of 5  41 reviews

Junior: The Cambridge School is a great school. There are not many kids, which leads to deep relationships between teachers and students. All of the teachers are amazing and extremely knowledgeable in their respective fields. They want you to do well in their subjects, and are constantly available at lunch and after school, but whats better is they truly care about the type of people their students are becoming, which leads to an incredible community and culture. The school is looking to purchase another property, which is good because as it grows, space for classrooms becomes smaller and smaller.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 386

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  29 reviews

Parent: We moved here from New York about 4 years ago. My children started in the preschool of SDJA and have been there ever since! Currently, our children are in the lower school and are excelling in all areas. For example, my son and daughter are reading above grade level. The small class sizes and constant attention they receive keeps them engaged and on task. The teachers are constantly creating special experiences for the students, and therefore the lessons never get old. For example, with all the rain that San Diego received my daughter’s teacher created a multi-sensory lesson. The students were asked to create small sailboats from materials found in the classroom. The boats were then tested on the makeshift pond that was formed on the playground from all the rain. The students made predictions and took notice on what worked best and what needed to be changed for future sails!... Read 29 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 494

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.81 out of 5  54 reviews

Parent: My daughter graduated from The Grauer School and my son is currently a senior. This school has been amazing, and I feel so fortunate that both have been able to attend. The small class sizes help shy children feel more comfortable participating and they allow the inquisitive child to ask questions and explore creativity and out of the box thinking. The relationships students have with their teachers is unlike anything I've ever seen. Students feel valued and appreciated, yet they are also held to a high standard. Students feel they have a voice in their education and can participate in any sport or activity. Although there is a cost to attend, the school is willing to work with families and provide financial aid, when needed. I couldn't have asked for a better middle school and high school experience for my kids. They have grown into kind, confident, capable, and intellectually curious young adults. This is the BEST school!... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 160

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  270 reviews

Parent: This is one of those amazing Catholic schools that stands out far above the rest. The community is incredibly supportive, faith-filled, welcoming and comfortable for all. Catholic/Christian values are not compromised and are consistently weaved in among all that happens through out the day. The administration successfully handles all the challenges facing our teenagers today. The faculty is full of alumni, parents of alumni, and teachers who are vested in the success and happiness of their students. The academics are rigorous but there are a variety of paths to choose from. The sports programs are excellent but you don't have to play a sport here to feel a part of the enormous school spirit. Students and faculty are proud and thankful to be at Cathedral. This school is an uplifting place for your kids to be each day. My daughters are thriving here; socially and academically and athletically. We couldn't be happier about where they are spending the majority of their time each day.... Read 270 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,640

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  43 reviews

Parent: Fantastic learning environment for boys! Our son has gained amazing confidence and his academics have improved exponentially. Class size this past year for him ranged from 4-11 students, allowing for personal mentorship from each of his amazing teachers. We moved to Carlsbad to be close to him while he attends school here and we are actively involved with volunteering. Lots of opportunities to play sports he wouldn’t have otherwise had in public school and cool clubs to join. Aviation classes are a huge added bonus. As a military family, we love the structure of Army & Navy Academy, the patriotism and the leadership training in JROTC. The campus is a little older and in need of some upgrades, but it’s charming and the location is beautiful. The boys complain that the food isn’t fantastic, but appreciate the efforts to continually improve. I believe the staff deeply cares about each boy.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 240

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  271 reviews

Sophomore: Most of the students are very down to earth. The school does a great job bending over backwards programming activities. This leads to great memories and traditions. The amount of quality extra-curriculars is impressive. Superficial, snobbish students are here but they do not dominate the school culture. Mostly, studious individuals with a hint of nerd with a love extra-curriculars will thrive here. Stick to the ladder and you'll have true, life-long friends. Be prepared to become well-rounded if you take advantage of the opportunities.... Read 271 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 750

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  174 reviews

Senior: I have been at Saint Augustine High School for 4 years. My experience at Saints has been very good. We have a lot of fun in the "pit" and I have participated in a lot of on campus events. Freshman year was a lot of fun and I had all the support that I needed to succeed. I was pared with a Senior student mentor who guided me through the halls at the school and showed me what Saints was all about. Most of my teachers are very good and care about the success of the students. Academically I was challenged and supported. I really liked having an all male environment because I could be myself and find a strong male brotherhood that I hope will last a lifetime. At Saints, you will find a well balanced school that challenges you to grow in character, faith, leadership, while preparing you to be successful in college. I have often heard from Alumni that their experience at Saints has made them strongly prepared for College. To the extent that the college work load often seemed much easier... Read 174 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 736

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Alum: Small class size and dedicated caring teachers lead to indicate attention for every student. Excellent academics and college prep, with multiple ap courses in every subject. Students are very friendly and connected to each other.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 32

• Student-teacher ratio 2:1

• Solana Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  87 reviews

Senior: Had a wonderful time here. Teachers were excellent, I could only have passed my classes with them, but they were also incredibly friendly and I truly built incredible connections with them. Staff here are all fantastic, absolutely no complaints there. Sometimes kids are rowdy, or mean, or whatever adjective preppy private school kids could have. But I really believe the staff did the best they could in keeping things orderly and controlling those kids while never overstepping or making students feel ruled. Sports are incredible, school spirit is incredible, extracurricular leaders are very dedicated to working around students and encouraging them, you will never have to choose one or the other. Every extracurricular is fantastic here I felt, and I experienced almost all of them. Truly have no complaints. Amazing school. Would highly recommend.... Read 87 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,019

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  62 reviews

Parent: A friend of ours referred us to this wonderful school as we were struggling with the learn-from-home (aka staring at a screen all day) model given by our public charter school. OVCA has been open since August with no outbreaks (a few cases from parents of students in different grades but no inter-transmission of COVID while in school, as far as I know). My friend had been sending her kids to this school for many years and said it was the best parenting choice she had made, and I can't help but agree with her. My child is happy and thriving in a supportive environment, with appropriate learning goals and surrounded by friends who share the values of kindness, respect, and diligence. It's a sacrifice/priority financially but well worth the value and a bargain compared to the cost of other private schools in the San Diego area. I can't recommend this school highly enough!... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 354

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  22 reviews

Parent: Our family discovered Waldorf when our daughter was in High School - but I wish my kids had the opportunity to start when they were little! It’s not just a school for us but a thriving, inclusive community. We've had an outstanding experience with my high school student- who started high school after attending public schools from Kinder. She’s now getting ready for college and has done very well on the SAT and feels prepared. The teachers are truly invested in developing lifelong learners and give every student personal attention. The students themselves are incredibly confident and inquisitive and very accepting of new students. My child has blossomed under the care of Waldorf. She thought she wasn’t a “math student” but is now loving calculus! Can’t say enough good things!... Read 22 reviews

• grade A

• Students 273

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Rancho Santa Fe, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.93 out of 5  15 reviews

Parent: HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Hand-picked teachers who LOVE to teach and care about their students. They create a warm and excepting environment to learn at the students own pace, but challenging them along the way with a vigorous HS curriculum. Classes are engaging and small class size allows for lots of individual attention. Teachers are organized, prepared, (whether in person or online) provide lots of feedback to parents with students progress, and are flexible to offer needed accommodations. Teachers go by first name, a feeling of “family” but run class with structure and clear communications about assignments, and high student expectations. High Bluff transitioned to all online within days of the pandemic lock down. They have now implemented Microsoft Teams for a integrated and rich online learning environment or choose in class in person instead. Workload is very relevant & reasonable, no homework on vacations or late nights during the week. My son loves school and his teachers!... Read 15 reviews

• grade A

• Students 100

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Marcos, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: Saint Joseph Academy is such a blessing to our family. We couldn't be happier with the school and feel so proud to be part of this wonderful community. The classical academic program is rigorous and challenging, absolutely top notch. We love that our children are learning Latin and write in cursive. No common core. Traditional, patriotic values are part of the culture here. What a breath of fresh air! What we value most about this school is its commitment to traditional Catholic values and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Every year the faculty and staff take an Oath of Fidelity to the Catholic Church. The teachers truly love the Catholic faith and infuse faith into every subject. They care very deeply about the students' academic, spiritual, physical, and emotional well being. In addition to the faith and academics, there's a lot of extracurricular sports, drama, and other activities. Our children really enjoy going to school every day! It really is the best.... Read 71 reviews

• grade A

• Students 305

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Futures Academy (formerly Halstrom) has been terrific for our son. He finished 8th grade there and has started ninth grade. The one-on-one teaching is a great model and he learns well in that environment. He rarely comes home with homework, and is actually happy to go to school. The school transitioned extremely well to online learning after the pandemic. The beautiful thing about Futures is we actually stopped worrying about school or his homework. My wife and I highly recommend Futures.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 28

• Student-teacher ratio 1:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  37 reviews

Parent: My children have attended Maranatha since Kindergarten. Both are currently in Junior High and each year I grow more thankful for this amazing school! From the teachers and staff who pour the love of Christ into my students, to the high academics and extra curricular activities, the students of MCS are truly blessed. I look forward to the low student to teacher ratios in high school as well as all the Honors classes and AP courses.... Read 37 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,044

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: Pacific Academy Encinitas is a great place for students to receive individualized instruction in a small class room setting. The smaller sizes mean students get instant access to teachers and one on one coaching if they need it. Middle and high school students are allowed flexibility in learning styles, and allowed to mature and be responsible for their own success. The school day is a little longer which means less homework overall because students are given time to get it done in class with fewer disruptions. The school ensures students are happy and ready to learn - pancake breakfasts, flexible & unique PE program, whole school enrichment days, and the ability to adjust a child's class based on their academic level, not age-grade level. There is no bullying and there are no behavior problems to deal with. Kids can concentrate on learning and being themselves which has made PAE a great fit for our family. Students do need to have their own activities and sports outside of school.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 116

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  23 reviews

Parent: a notable school for pursuing art by creating connections worldwide between students and significant artists. This school not only allows the students to freely demonstrate their artistic talents but also emphasizes the importance of balancing education with the arts. The diversity of SDSCPA embraces students' differences with an open environment for all. This school has much diversity and opportunities for the arts, however the resources for students to reach counselors can be improved; counselors can not be found in their office during suitable times for students which isn't essential for the students. Furthermore, the balance between education and the arts is shown to be important yet, the balance between the two is not always shown. Many students have to choose which their attention should focus on which to consequences. To conclude, the School of Creative and Performing Arts is recommended for future artists to pursue their dreams.... Read 23 reviews

• grade A

• Students 241

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  53 reviews

Parent: The Rock Academy is an academically rigorous school with emphasis on character development. The Christian curriculum compliments our family faith. It's small size enhances the learning experience as all the teachers know the students well and are invested in helping them make progress. During the pandemic the Rock Academy was one of a handful of school able to accommodate county guidelines and return to in-person learning for the entire 20-21 school year. We greatly appreciate the support of the teachers and staff!... Read 53 reviews

• grade A

• Students 420

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• El Cajon, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  31 reviews

Parent: With two children in the high school now I can say that CHS has been an awesome experience for our family. It's small but not too small. It's academically challenging for our honors and AP students, but not grueling. It's fun in the ways teens are looking for, but with standards the way parents want (i.e. dress code standards even for social functions, school spirit is strong, but good character and sportsmanship is emphasized, music is encouraged, but without bad language, etc...) Best of all for us, our kids are allowed to enjoy their childhoods. There is no social activism on this campus. They are free to be kids and not force-fed a social agenda. They are CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS. For that I will be forever grateful.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A

• Students 498

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Chula Vista, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: A Chula Vista Gem! Rigorous academics and strong in STEM subjects. Servitech program is a student led and run real life IT Services Company. Looks great on college applications as it gives them work experience as a CEO, CFO, CTO, COO etc... Small family environment and Christ centered. Many extracurriculars to choose from and athletics program is top-notch. High graduation and college acceptance rates. Wouldn't have my kids anywhere else!... Read 11 reviews

• grade A

• Students 80

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Chula Vista, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  171 reviews

Junior: Mater Dei introduced academia immediately upon entering, starting freshman off without much off much of an adjustment period. In my personal experience, classes became difficulty because of placement, however Mater Dei does allow so much room for ones personal growth. Class options are endless and are able to meet ones needs and wants. Mater Dei also introduced me to so many incredible people through my extra circulars, and allowed me to make bonds I will never sever. Although some rules may seem frustrating, overall the experience has been unlike any other I’ve had.... Read 171 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,130

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1