2023 Best Private Schools in Encinitas

• La Jolla, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  154 reviews

Parent: LJCDS is an amazing school! I highly recommend it for any families who are looking for a wonderful community, nurturing environment for your child, and top notch faculty and staff. My daughter loves her days at school thanks to her caring teachers providing stimulating and creative lessons to help her grow. During COVID, LJCDS handled the pandemic with such care- leading with science- and doing the best they could to provide safe in person learning for all students. I feel grateful to have found a school community rooted in building life long friendships and connections; not only for my children, but also for our whole family.... Read 154 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,147

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  146 reviews

Parent: This is my 8th year as a PRS parent and we have been very happy. The teachers are strong, available to help outside of class, and many have advanced degrees. I said to my child the other day "I think you hit the lottery with your teachers. They all seem great". The response was "I know! I've been lucky every year!". Pacific Ridge looks to continuously improve. If they are not getting the results they expect, they change the curriculum right away. The "Harkness" seminar-style learning teaches both public speaking AND listening. And every class uses Harkness, not just English or History. The other thing I love about PRS is kids can be who they are. No one cares if you use the same lunchbox you've had since 4th grade or what you are wearing. Both of my children have found "their people" and made strong and lasting friendships. The tuition can require sacrifice, but I have no regrets.... Read 146 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 4.24 out of 5  267 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 267 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,640

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  41 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 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 240

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• 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 4.02 out of 5  86 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 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,019

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• 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 4.33 out of 5  70 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 70 reviews

• grade A

• Students 305

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• 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

• Rancho Santa Fe, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  9 reviews

Alum: I was a student at Horizon Prep from preschool through high school. I cannot speak more highly of how Horizon Prep prepared me for success in college and beyond. I not only grew academically, but I also grew in character, relationship building and most importantly spiritually because of Horizon Prep. The teachers are the most wonderful part of HP. They care deeply, teach from a Christian worldview and small class sizes allow for ample help in understanding concepts. One thing I am very grateful for is the high school program preparing me to think for myself and the development of my Christian worldview. Because of HP, I was well equipped to be a strong Christian in a large secular college environment. Horizon Prep is such a blessing and I am so thankful for everything I learned during my time as a student there!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 318

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Vista, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  66 reviews

Senior: I had a great time at TCCS, and will always love the amazing friends I made there. But they HAVE to fix the lack of communication between the athletic office and athletes. I was on the girl's basketball team and most of the time I had no idea when we had practice or the times and would find out the day before if we had a game or not. Absolutely hated it. Besides the fact that there was a bunch of (i think) manipulation behind the scenes with coaches and certain parents picking who was going to be on varsity versus jr. varsity teams when myself and another girl weren't there, it was really a lot of mental frustration, all the time. And since this is such a small school, did they really have to put two freshmen girls into varsity as permanent players when they were the ones most prone to accidents? Not joking actually, they both hurt their legs/feet and had to sit out or take breaks. Sorry to say, but this would definitely not happen at a public school. Overall it's a good school.... Read 66 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 648

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Escondido, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  14 reviews

Niche User: Balboa School provides a very high quality educational experience to its students - both domestic and international. Small class sizes, individual attention, and dedicated and caring teachers and staff make for a great environment for students to achieve great results. Balboa School has helped countless students change their lives through fostering an environment within the school community that promotes academic success, creativity, and prepares students for college and beyond. Additionally, the school provides one of the top sports programs in the area with a nationally recognized boys basketball team with amazing coaching staff, many who come from professional sports backgrounds and have played and coached at the highest levels.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 91

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Solana Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• grade B+

• Students 90

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  13 reviews

Parent: We are having a wonderful experience at The Rhoades School! The administration is responsive, the teachers collaborative and warm, and the culture is inclusive. We have been impressed with the education - our children are continuously challenged, and surrounded by diverse, bright kids who really engage in the learning process. The teachers do a great job making the schoolwork interesting, and ensure each child feels valued both in and out of the classroom. We transitioned to Rhoades from a public school system, and our experience has been eye-opening. At Rhoades, the kids are free to be themselves without the mainstream social pressures that many children face in elementary and middle school - particularly bright children. Our children are happy at school, have made genuinely nice friends, have plenty of opportunity to explore their personal interests, and are learning a ton. We strongly recommend the school and continue to be happy we made the decision to become a Rhoades family.... Read 13 reviews

• grade A

• Students 366

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Carlsbad, CA•

• Private School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Our family has been very happy at St. Patrick - spiritually and academically. As with all schools, individual experiences will vary, but we have found the community to be welcoming and kind, and the administration open to feedback and change as needed. The previous reviewer mentions a lack of "good families," which I think must stem from his/her own insecurities about judging others and not being "good" themselves, rather than from a much more Catholic standpoint of "We are all God's children." St Patrick is a Catholic school working hard at building strong Catholic families, all the while lifting up and respecting others. I'll take that over angry and judgmental any day!... Read 3 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 475

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• grade unavailable

• Students 474

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-6

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: As a parent of 2 college students who attended Mission Bay Montessori from 3 years old in the preschool to 6th grade, I can see the comparison of their academic prowess to their peers. My college students take on challenges, not receive them, they lead, when leading is not requested and they are working to a capacity above others. My college students are thanking MBMA for the base that they received in the 9 years that they attended this amazing Montessori School. Thank you a proud MBMA parent!... Read 7 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 354

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: I’m so sorry the previous poster missed out on NDA’s Friendliness. Looks like you visited at the end of the year. Maybe try again when things are more normal? Notre Dame Academy offers a balanced education to help students become exceptional, caring and happy people. They are especially good with boys. Homework levels reflect after school activities. Self control is taught not forced. Student:Teacher is low. My son has been at NDA for 6 years and challenged by: Excellent STEM program; Exceptional music/art program; Exciting Sports where all play; and Extra- Ordinary French Exchange Student program! This year he loved: Junior Achievement Biz Town, Star of India, Performing a musical with Hamilton songs, and Competing at the Stem Expo. His spiritual education is fed with singing in the Choir, reading at Thursday Mass, Class Retreats and Morning Prayer. My husband enjoys Dads Club and Tailgate Trivia. I love the fall festival, Trunk or Treat and the Christmas Pageant!... Read 6 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 300

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Vista, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• grade unavailable

• Students 298

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Encinitas, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: This is our third year having our daughter go to ECD. It has been an outstanding school that beat any expectations we have had. The teachers have been amazing and most importantly we feel our daughter is getting the highest level of education possible and LOVES going to school every day.... Read 1 review

• grade unavailable

• Students 274

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oceanside, CA•

• Preschool

• grade unavailable

• Students 265

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Oceanside, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• grade unavailable

• Students 228

• Student-teacher ratio 228:1