2023 Best College Prep Private High Schools in the San Diego Area

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  86 reviews

Parent: Our son started at Bishop's this year and has a wonderful experience. The teachers and administration care deeply about the whole student. I hear my son use growth set language that I know he is learning at school. The celebrate success and failures. We are looking forward to continued academic and personal growth for our son!... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 33

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1370

• Average ACT 32

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1340

• Average ACT 30

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 31

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1250

• Average ACT 30

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1250

• Average ACT 29

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  268 reviews

Senior: I love so many things about the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP). This all girls community is welcoming and diverse. Everyone I meet is quite different with such an abundance of special interests, backgrounds, passions, etc. All share the common denominator, though, of being bright and driven in her own way. The abundance of class and extracurricular offerings fuels this. Students can take everything from Sports Psychology to Biotechnology, Holocaust Literature to Video Production. She can participate in any of the 60+ clubs we have, or be one of the roughly 500 student athletes. Regardless of what a student does here, she will be part of an extraordinary community of engaged faculty and kind, driven students. I can't stress how much I have loved my time here. There's nothing like the OLP sisterhood.... Read 268 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1220

• Average ACT 29

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1430

• Average ACT 33

• 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+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1250

• Average ACT 30

• Chula Vista, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  168 reviews

Senior: Mater Dei is a well-respected and well-established high school that has been serving the community for many years. It has a diverse student body and a dedicated faculty and staff who work hard to provide a high-quality education to all students. The school offers a wide range of academic programs, extracurricular activities, and support services, making it an excellent choice for students from all backgrounds. The school has a strong commitment to academic excellence and prepares students for success in following education and beyond. Overall, Mater Dei is a great choice for anyone looking for a supportive and challenging high school experience.... Read 168 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Average SAT 1220

• Average ACT 27

• 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+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1260

• Average ACT 28

• 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+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1230

• Average ACT 26

• 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

• grade A

• Average SAT 1260

• Average ACT 30

• 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+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1240

• Average ACT 31

• 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

• grade A

• Average SAT 1150

• Average ACT 24

• 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

• grade A

• Average SAT 1220

• Average ACT 28

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  35 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 35 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Average SAT 1300

• Average ACT 30

• 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

• grade A

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 22

• 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+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1220

• Average ACT 27

• 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

• grade A

• Average SAT 1180

• Average ACT 22

• 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

• grade A

• Average SAT 1220

• Average ACT 26

• 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

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1320

• Average ACT 28

• 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+

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1280

• Average ACT 31

• 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

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1120

• Average ACT 14

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Junior: Southern California yeshiva also known as SCY high is a small school in Clairemont, San Diego. Despite its small size, the amount of warmth felt there is beyond anything ever imagined. As part of the small school, the teachers have and want the ability to see the best in the students and help them strive for success in and after college or wherever the student may so we'll choose. The academics their are very well taught as part of a dual education(Judaic and secular studies). Definitely a school to send your child to if you are into that sort of thing!... Read 4 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 4