2023 Best Private Schools in Lafayette

• 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

• Danville, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: I first heard about Athenian from an alumni interviewer for Rice University who said out of all the kids he's interviewed over the years, he's been most impressed by Athenian students -- smart, articulate, intellectually curious and involved. Athenian has exceptional teachers and offers incredible experiential learning activities that really prepare students for college and all that lies ahead. When my daughter was starting the college search process early in her senior year, she said she was not stressed about college -- she knew she'd do well wherever she went because of the confidence she gained during AWE (Athenian Wilderness Experience). Today as a college freshman, my daughter says she feels more prepared than some of her peers because Athenian taught her how to study, how to write, how to think critically and self advocate. It's a great place.... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 536

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• 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

• Concord, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  290 reviews

Alum: I graduated last year from CHS and can confidently say that I took much of my time there for granted. With teachers that care for your well-being while also pushing you to perform, the welcoming yet competitive environment, classes structured to push you outside of your comfort zone, and a progressive administration designed to educate youth within Catholic values without forcing beliefs upon them — this school builds good people. This school builds successful individuals and prepares them to make the world a better place. This school means the world to me and always will. Go cougars!... Read 290 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 800

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Walnut Creek, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: The staff is so caring and personable! They truly care about their students as a whole, not just how they do academically. During these trying times with distance learning, teachers set time aside to help those that are falling behind when they are trying to learn under difficult circumstances. They set office hours to check in with students not only academically, but how they are doing emotionally and mentally. It is in these times , that the teachers have really shown through their truly amazing character and love for their students. We are blessed to be apart of such an amazing community and are thankful everyday for it!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 399

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Concord, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.49 out of 5  95 reviews

Senior: A Jesuit high school that welcomes students of other faiths. The school is know for its sports but there is an amazing theatre and arts program. There is a place for everyone to belong. You just have to find others that enjoy the same things. This is a college preparatory high school. Normal classes are the equivalent to most public schools AP classes. Class sizes are small, teachers and staff know you by name. There is a lot of support, you just have to willing to ask or take advantage of what’s available.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,050

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• 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

• 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

• Vallejo, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  134 reviews

Parent: St. Patrick-St. Vincent is an amazing place to be! I like the school because it has a close community, a college-prep environment, friendly faculties and staffs that encourage your student to be involved. The school also has an Augmented Reality Sandbox, which is a great tool for my kid who is interested in geology. And my kid also participates in the instrument class to develop his interest. Plus, the police station is right across the street that makes the school area a very safe place.... Read 134 reviews

• grade A

• Students 479

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Walnut Creek, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  173 reviews

Alum: Currently I’m on staff, but I’m an alumna from 2015 and absolutely LOVED my time at Berean! The campus culture and community is such a genuinely caring and academically competitive environment that grows you into your best self not only as a student but as a follower of Jesus Christ! Faith is the center of everything at Berean Christian, and I’m so blessed to have had mentoring teachers, coaches, and wonderful friendships that helped shape me, and now have brought me back to work at Berean on staff! From getting involved in athletics, to running for Student Leadership roles, these are areas I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in as a student. Lastly, the location of Berean Christian, in the heart of Walnut Creek, CA, is so central to everything in the Bay Area!... Read 173 reviews

• grade A

• Students 418

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Pleasant Hill, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  10 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 10 reviews

• grade A

• Students 148

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• 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

• El Sobrante, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Sophomore: Because of the small class sizes the teachers really help any student indivisually who needs help. Although the small class sizes allows for one on one between the teacher and student, I still would like more students. I feel like I'm missing out on the high school experience because there are only 30 kids in the whole high school. I also think they should step up their lunch, pizza twice a week, corndogs, bagels and soggy burritos gets old after awhile. Besides that the school is pretty good, since it is so small you form a relationship with almost everyone.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B

• Students 261

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Walnut Creek, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Senior: Going to two public high schools and eventually switching over to Futures Academy has opened my eyes to a better and safer experience. The teachers are very accepting of any conditions or issues you have and treat you as an equal. I really enjoy the calm environment that Futures Academy presents every time I walk in and I feel accepted. I couldn't say the same for many other schools I've been to.... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 28

• Student-teacher ratio 1:1

• Moraga, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  16 reviews

Parent: I love the sense of community at Saklan. The entire school (students, teachers, staff, parents) gathers for Friday Flag, which is presided over by a student. Public speaking isn't going to be a problem for these kids. I hoped to find a school where the kids would engage in activities and have fun, and happen to be learning along the way. This is the feeling I get at Saklan. And I am really blown away by the social-emotional focus. These kids have amazing bonds with their teachers, especially striking in middle school. Every time I get to hear Ms. Kim talk about her middle schoolers, I am so grateful to have found a woman so totally invested in these kids! The small class sizes enable dedicated teachers to focus on each individual student. They learn to be kind to each other, and to themselves, to be self-sufficient, hard workers, and the pride of exceeding your own expectations of yourself.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 144

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• 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

• Lafayette, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: What an amazing school! My wife and I went here as children and it had a huge impact on us. The staff is incredibly kind and dedicated. They really create a supportive atmosphere where the children come first and everyone is treated with love. When it was time to send our daughter to preschool, we knew she had to go here! The preschool (White Pony) is non-academic, and they focus on developmentally appropriate tasks and fostering kindness and compassion. When she has a tantrum they help her learn tools to deal with her emotions instead of punishing her. We plan to keep her there through 5th grade. The elementary still has the same focus but also has a solid academic program, so I know she'll be ready to go to middle school. We're also really excited about the enrichment options, both for preschool and elementary. They have great programs in art, chorus, drama, gardening, and more! Somehow tuition is less than half of the price of most other nonsectarian private schools in the area!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 248

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• 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