2023 Best Private Schools in Upper Peralta Creek / Bartlett

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: I feel that my child has gained self confidence, self awareness, and self acceptance by attending this school. The diversity of the student body, faculty, and staff is reflective of the world we live in today and creates an environment where all cultures are celebrated. Sure, it is academically challenging; but that is what makes it great. They are developing students to think so that one day they can change our world for the better. By attending College Prep, my child has risen to the occasion and is reaching his full potential . Yes, my child participates in sports here; and they CAN play sports! The 2022 NCS Boys Fall Soccer Championship Division 2 went to CPS. These students are the Champion Pacesetter Scholars: Intelligent and Athletic. No high school is perfect, but in my humble opinion, this one comes pretty close.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 370

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  65 reviews

Parent: My daughter has had an outstanding high school experience at Head-Royce - I can't imagine a better school for her. I remember thinking, at my initial parent tour, what a remarkably smart, involved, caring, switched on group of adults running this school and inspiring and supporting the kids - this first impression was spot on. The teachers, administrators, deans, advisors, counselors, librarians, etc are superb. The overall vibe of the kids seems great too - lively and fun but also really bright, hardworking and engaged. Go Jayhawks!... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 900

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Dublin, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  168 reviews

Parent: QLS has been a unique place for my kids to grow academically. We have been at the school since QLS Pre-school. QLS admin and teachers did a stellar job during the pandemic closures by coordinating to reopen via transition to online classes without skipping a beat! A large part of our local community took notice of this as, many schools were closed or only partially open and we felt very proud to be a part of a well functioning school- the Quarry Lane School. Our oldest graduated and is attending an Ivy League school and younger one in middle school. I feel confident that QLS is preparing students to be successful young adults academically, teaching them critical thinking skills and being emotionally resilient. The school has grown and become more robust over time with supportive Academia, STEM clubs, Theater and the Arts, and a solid growing Sports department.... Read 168 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 850

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Lafayette, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  111 reviews

Sophomore: The teachers and academics are great. Over my time at Bentley, I've had many wonderful teachers! The college counseling and students are great. However, a few things that aren't great at Bentley is the Admin and Sports. The issue with the admin is that they don't always treat the teachers great so we have a high turnover rate for teachers. Our sports aren't great in that there isn't too much emphasis on them, so we usually don't do super well... Overall a reasonably good school, though.... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 700

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  208 reviews

Sophomore: I have been attending Bishop O'Dowd Highschool for two years now, and safe to say I love it. I am involved in the theater department, have run varsity cross country, joined many and started one club, performed in school-wide events, and enjoyed every moment. O'Dowd's academics have been challenging yet engaging. I never find myself struggling in class with the resources available to me, like tutoring and counseling, and you can tell that the teachers truly care about their profession. The community is supportive and the upperclassmen in leadership positions did a great job of welcoming and hyping everyone up for school! Especially during spirit week! My favorite place on campus is the living lab where students like me get to learn about growing and harvesting produce that is later used in the cafeteria for lunches and sustainable activities like eco club. In conclusion, I'd give my high school a five out of five rating and recommend any rising freshman, or transfer students to apply!... Read 208 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,243

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Berkeley, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  14 reviews

Senior: The teachers are incredible here! Their enthusiasm and dedication makes you love what they teach even more. I like the small class size I think it is much easier to learn and go to office hours if needed. There's a lot of freedom to create your own clubs and to be apart of school activities. I feel like my voice is heard here and that I can make a change. A lot of students are very supportive and you can pretty much strike up a conversation with anyone here. Although we don't have a cafeteria there's plenty of shops nearby. Even though we don't have sports teams you could probably make one and the beginning of the year and the end of the year camping trips + other school activities make up for it. If you're thinking about going here I'd sign up for an open house cause personally I've been the happiest I've ever been (in high school) being here at Maybeck! Not alot of little people have heard about Maybeck but I feel like this school is a little gem.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 110

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Alameda, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  117 reviews

Alum: Over my four years at Saint Joseph Notre Dame, I felt that the school was a top tier high school in comparison to others. SJND has well prepped me for college academically and as a an overall person. The best characteristic of the school is the diversity and inclusiveness of all students. Regardless of each person's background, each student is treated equally and with respect. Another great quality of SJND is the academics as each person coming out of the school will receive a great education. The sports are pretty great, however there is no football team. Some of the cons of the school may include that some teachers are mediocre and the spending budget of the school can be questionable at times. However, my experience there was great overall!... Read 117 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 457

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Berkeley, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  232 reviews

Senior: Saint Mary's College High School is an excellent school that has helped me to progress as a person. Ever since touring the school in 8th grade, I fell in love with the campus because it really does feel like a college campus. Now, as a rising senior, I feel that I have grown in my academics, social life, and thinking skills. The teachers are always there for their students and the school itself feels like a welcoming community. They also offer many academic opportunities like A-block, allowing around an hour of time for students to go to different teachers to ask for help, as well as using that time for clubs. Saint Mary's College High School is also very diverse and provides an inclusive community for everyone!... Read 232 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 630

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Albany, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.78 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: My son actually attends Tilden Prep Walnut Creek, but I didn’t see that as an option. The teachers and staff have been absolutely amazing. The teachers are excellent academically and willing to connect on a personal level with their students. This is especially important to kids who have school related trauma. Everyone is very willing to “meet the kids where they are”. My son has become much more confident since attending Tilden and has actually enjoyed going to school.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 75

• Student-teacher ratio 1:1

• Orinda, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: We moved to the East Bay from NYC during the pandemic to be close to grandparents. It was challenging for everyone, particularly our children, 16 and 12. We found Orinda Academy, the lovely and healing environment we needed. Our 16-year-old entered in 11th grade, made friends, and excelled academically. OA’s combination of nurture and rigor was just what we needed! The parent community is open and supportive. We also value an environment where teachers, administrators, and the entire school community know and care about our children. Our daughter is now 18 and in college and our younger one, now 14, just entered 9th grade at OA. So far so good! They are making friends and love their teachers. Our second time around and we could not be happier!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 76

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Castro Valley, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  98 reviews

Alum: Redwood is an excellent school! I attended k-12th - graduating in '91, and now am privileged to work there. Great teachers who care about individual's kids' needs and seek to help in every way they can. My children are also reaping the benefits of attending RCS.... Read 98 reviews

• grade A

• Students 701

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  94 reviews

Alum: I really liked the diverse student population, the supportive nature of the students and faculty, and the small classroom environment. Holy Names offers a stellar experience for women in the Bay Area who are looking to focus on academics, develop their leadership skills, and make amazing connections with counselors and teachers. Before coming to Holy Names, I was terrible at math and science. Holy Names empowers women to go into STEM and offers fabulous math and science departments. I would say that my only criticism of the school is that the administration should try to build a connection with a local all-boys school. Girls here don't have a lot of social connections outside of school.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A

• Students 152

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• 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 110

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Berkeley, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.77 out of 5  13 reviews

Parent: My husband and I had been dreading sending our son to the public middle school he was slated to attend. It was academically execellent but huge, and the stories coming out of the school (no DEI, no control over cell phone usage, a lot of teacher turn over, poor responses to racist incidents and bullying, etc.) made us realize it was not a place we wanted our son to spend his critical middle school years from a developmental stand point. We were looking for a school with a much smaller teacher to student ratio, a genuine DEI program that wasn't just a statement in their marketing materials, and a place where our son was able to go through the challenging middle school years where his social/emotional needs would be attended to as opposed to being an afterthought. The school has provided all of this and so much more. EBSB also addresses the way boys this age learn as opposed to a one size fits all curriculum. Our son loves it! Best parenting decision we have probably made so far.... Read 13 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 75

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  29 reviews

Parent: My two kids have attended PDS since kindergarten. They are in 3rd and 6th grades. There are many things we love about Park Day, but what trickles to the top is my kids deep love of learning. To me, this is something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. My kids have gained strong academic skills, the ability to navigate challenging projects, pride in their work, and an ability to work well with others. During the last two years, Park has done a phenomenal job responding to COVID. The staff, under the strong leadership of Angela Taylor, managed to get our kids back on campus safely and quickly. Thanks to the small class sizes, the large campus, and the hard work of the amazing teachers, the students are getting the safe, in-person learning, and the social and emotional support, they need to grow into thoughtful, caring community leaders. I feel grateful to send my children to Park Day School and recommend it to anyone interested in a progressive education for their child.... Read 29 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 324

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: Redwood Day School is a small private school in the heart of Oakland. It's an amazing place with a beautiful campus, highly dedicated staff and engaged parent/guardian community. My children have been able to thrive here despite having very different needs and personalities. The school cares a lot about the intentional deliverance of education, and is very focused on preparing students for the future. Themes of diversity, self-advocacy and respect resonate.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A

• Students 400

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Berkeley, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.64 out of 5  14 reviews

Parent: EB is a gem! We discovered this school 4 years ago and have been amazed by the quality of the curriculum and its teachers. The French curriculum is focused on critical thinking and problem-solving. Not only our two children are bilinguals but they are compassionate and thoughtful leaders. Their SEL program is at the core of their classroom and the school is very attentive to all kids. There is a lot of individualized teaching and communication is very smooth. The leadership of the school is amazing and the school had weathered this pandemic in every safe way. We are so happy to be part of this community!... Read 14 reviews

• grade A

• Students 413

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  24 reviews

Parent: My son attended EBI from pre-kinder to eighth grade. This is part of a note I sent to EBI about his transition to high school: "This morning (son) shared his first grades with me and they are all A's and one B+. The B+ is in math, a subject he struggles in so a B+ is a huge accomplishment. Not only was (son) set up for a path of academic success, but additionally the risk taker attribute strongly influenced his pursuit of football, a sport that is totally new to him, and challenges him to tap into parts of himself that he maybe hasn’t had time to focus on. I give a lot of credit to EBI for not only (son) being willing to push himself for do something new, but also for allowing me to be open-minded enough to even consider allowing him to play football." EBI - Beautiful, connected, diverse community of students, families, faculty and staff. Amazing teachers. Academic excellence. Character building. Best middle school coach. Spanish. IB program. Art, Music, Drama, etc!... Read 24 reviews

• grade A

• Students 394

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.89 out of 5  19 reviews

Parent: We have one current 7th Grader and a 9th Grader who graduated from St Paul's and is now having a wonderful year at Bishop O'Dowd! Amazing diversity and excellent staff/teachers. DE&I work is rigorous and affinity groups for students and faculty (and parents!). Advising groups in 7 & 8th grade meet three times a week to deepen the social emotional learning. New Head of the Middle School has joined and the transition has been seamless. Head of School is excellent and the school is expanding the CEL (Community Engaged Learning) programs. This is a school that does not shy away from being a vibrant part of Oakland and the students benefit from the connectionsand community.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A

• Students 378

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: I am the parent of a current sixth grader at Julia Morgan and our family feels so fortunate that our daughter goes to this INCREDIBLE school. She comes home every day excited to share what she is working on, and the curriculum is intentional, challenging and innovative. The teachers are excited and think outside the box, which translates to deep engagement by the kids. In the 7 months since our daughter started at JMSG, she wrote a 9,000 word novel, learned about jazz history and can now recognize by ear the music of 20 influential jazz musicians, designed and built a model paper roller coaster, personally met and chatted with published female authors, created a business concept and designed a prototype product. Oh, and she performed the National Anthem at a Warriors Game with the school chorus!!! She has met lovely friends, and the entire grade seems friendly, kind and supportive. Our experience has been above and beyond what we expected. We wholeheartedly recommend JMSG.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 136

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: We are new to St. Theresa's and absolutely amazed by its staff and the entire community! Our son is in the 6th grade, which is already middle school, and we feared that joining a new school with the delayed start of the school year would be a horrible experience for him. But he was warmly welcomed by everyone! We are happy to hear he likes his teachers, classmates and even decided to join the basketball team, because of the fantastic Coach Ray! The curriculum is challenging but not overwhelming. The facilities or the school itself and its afterschool program are nice too: clean, well maintained and safe! Teachers and staff are responsive, and communication is constant. We glad we chose St. T's and with clear conscious we recommend it to other families.... Read 11 reviews

• grade A

• Students 208

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: Mills is a wonderful place! We've had both our kids there since they were toddlers now in Elementary. It's a small school with skilled, Involved and caring teachers and administrators. It's nestled within the beautiful Mill’s college campus that’s explored frequently by classes. I highly recommend this to any family that's looking for a diverse community and high-quality education for their children. Our What we love most about Mills is the that our family is connected and held within the community, and our kids wake up excited to learn with their friends and teachers every day.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A

• Students 119

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Hayward, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  22 reviews

Parent: During the pandemic this school handled it with grace and high tech awareness. They were quickly able to adapt to our families needs giving us the option of in classroom learning or zoom. They accommodated every family’s needs while not losing any downtime for the kids that needed to learn. They always kept in contact with us. They use several ways of communication. Each child was given an I pad and everything they needed to read, write and follow along…school supplies. They kept it engaging , fun and educational.... Read 22 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 367

• Student-teacher ratio 32:1

• Orinda, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Alum: I would not have been able to successfully complete high school had I not gone to this school. Their flexibility allowed me to create a schedule that worked for me and had counselors on-site to help when needed.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• Students 40

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• San Leandro, CA•

• Private School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  13 reviews

Parent: Very good academically. Great method for learning Mathematics. We are very happy with the school. The teachers are caring and foster a strong work ethic and creative thinking. The school is very safe and the students are well behaved and polite. You could spend twice as much and not be at a school as good.... Read 13 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 350

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1