2022 Most Diverse Private High Schools in California

• Gardena, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: Pacific Lutheran is an excellent private school education. They have caring, dedicated teachers and staff who are all extremely gifted educators. This school offers each student individualized academic attention while supporting their social and emotional well being. The school community is a very caring and supportive group with active participation in school events and efforts. The school has welcomed us with open arms from day one. And my son has grown both academically and spiritually. Our family is truly thankful for PacLu!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 120

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Canoga Park, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  76 reviews

Senior: There were many things to like about my school such as the teachers, activities, and the students. My favorite thing about Faith was how they taught every subject through the Christian worldview! The teachers there really made you feel like they cared about you, the activities were always chosen to make sure the students had the most fun out of it. The special part about Faith is that their Spirit week is unlike any other! With games, a treasure hunt, and homecoming it truly brought in the school spirit and competitiveness.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,234

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Torrance, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  340 reviews

Alum: As an alumni looking back nearly 30 years back to my Bishop Montgomery days, I would say there's definitely something about the campus, academic staff and most importantly- the students, that fosters the special environment for growth, mutual acceptance/respect, and school pride. I recall nearly all my of high friends were motivated in the classroom but also active outside - representing the school in some way (through sports, performing arts, decathlon, speech, clubs, etc). It was common to find students supporting each other by attending a game / performance / competition. That kind of community/camaraderie inspiration, supporting each other in academics and extra-curricular activities is truly special. Taking a trip down Bishop Montgomery memory lane brings nostalgia- but now understand that those years definitely shaped my motivation for college, but also the perspective towards community and life.... Read 340 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 900

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Healdsburg, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  57 reviews

Works Here: A great private school that values their students success. Great athletic program and extra curricular programs like Auto shop, Wood working, Glass design and drama. The best part about the school is their property. They have over 300 acres, on 4 miles of the Russian River. The students use the land for play recreation and study. The PE classes go kayaking, how cool is that?! Biology class does a river research every year. The students feel safe and the teachers make learning exciting!... Read 57 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 120

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Alameda, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  114 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 114 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 457

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• San Bernardino, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  132 reviews

Sophomore: Of course no school is perfect regarding its members, but Aquinas is decently populated with good people and it’s a small enough school for one to form a family at school. The people are easy to get along with and academically the school rocks because of its variety of courses and college planning. While there could be more “fresher” or healthier food options, you can get a decent meal for a fair price and size and the food is pretty good compared to other schools I’ve been to. There’s also enough variety for you to eat different things every day of the week for one week. There’s a good bathroom to campus ratio and the school is overall clean with a few minor things to fix in one of the bathrooms. The rooms are well air conditioned and the greenery is very pretty. You can form your own community of teachers and students so that if a person of either category is making someone uncomfortable, it doesn’t go unspoken, albeit the school can take better actions towards it. Great counselors!... Read 132 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 564

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Lancaster, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  254 reviews

Alum: Paraclete is the best choice for an overall high school education and experience in AV. As alumni of Paraclete, my husband and I chose to send our 3 children there as well. We have fond memories of our years there. We appreciate the education received and enjoyed the family atmosphere, sense of community & spirit, and the fun we had participating in sports and clubs. When our kids attended, we were pleased to see the college-prep education offered even more choices and excellent Honors and AP classes. There was also an abundance of new and improved clubs and sports programs available, many in which they participated and greatly enjoyed! All three of our kids are now college graduates, owing much of their success in college to the things learned and experienced at Paraclete. A notable testament to Paraclete’s quality education and the love, loyalty and appreciation most students hold for it is the fact that many of the best teachers currently on staff are former alumni themselves!... Read 254 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Students 612

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Richmond, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  88 reviews

Alum: I attended Salesian College Preparatory only in my senior year and it was amid the pandemic. My previous school was closed due to lack of funds. To not compare with the old school, Salesian is one of the largest private high schools in Richmond, California. Classrooms are new, huge and well-equipped. Teachers to me are extremely helpful and well-prepared before each lesson/lecture. The whole year was remote but I was able to use provided resources to fulfill homework and extracurriculars. The exterior is nowhere to be complained about. I wish I attended Salesian throughout high school, even before Covid 19 hit.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 420

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Berkeley, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  230 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 230 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 630

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Castro Valley, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  96 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 96 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 701

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  62 reviews

Junior: I like the community and academics the most about Villanova Preparatory School. The teachers and student alike are kind and supportive, more than other highschools can attest to. The Villanova community is a safe space for people when they need to talk or need assistance. Every single student at the school at least has one friend or person that they can go to if they were struggling whether it be academics, athletically, etc. Since the school is a boarding school, it provides day and resident students the opportunity to experience new cultures and ideas. The advanced curriculum allows students to grow in their knowledge of the subject but also gain and strengthen skills that are needed not only in college but in life. Something I believe need to be adapted or change about Villanova is the facilities. Oftentimes when a person needs to use the restroom they have found that the entire bathroom is out of order or a few stalls due to flooding or other issues, making the experience subpar.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 190

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  125 reviews

Parent: My son is a sophomore at Archbishop Riordan and he absolutely loves school. As an all-boys school, the focus centers on guiding boys to become young men. There is a mandatory "frosh" skills class, where students learn skills such as shaking hands, balancing a checkbook, taxes, ironing a dress shirt, creating a resume, and more. The fact that Riordan is all-boys, means that the instruction targets specifically how they learn and the distractions faced at a co-ed school don't exist. Overall, we are so happy with the school and we highly recommend!... Read 125 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 968

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• La Selva Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  78 reviews

Works Here: I have found Monterey Bay Academy to be a very beautiful place with welcoming people. The staff are as always willing to do what they can to help, and the students are friendly and kind. I have been blessed to have experienced MBA as both a parent of a student and then as a staff member. As a parent I felt that my son was cared for by his teachers, and he made some wonderful friends. There were fun activities for him to participate in, and of course, there was the beach to go to every weekend. As a staff member, I have been privileged to work with some of the most caring and helpful people! They truly love the students and try to encourage and guide students toward success in both their academics and their character development. Monterey Bay Academy has been a great blessing!... Read 78 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 215

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hayward, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  206 reviews

Parent: Moreau Catholic high school eludes a friendly, family atmosphere. Faculty, staff and administration are helpful and welcoming. Our experience for the last four years has exceeded expectations in all aspects. Thank you Moreau for providing an excellent college preparatory education! Our high school graduate is well prepared.... Read 206 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 825

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Panorama City, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  94 reviews

Senior: I might be biased, but St. Genevieve High School is a very good school and I recommend that parents send their children there. I hope that it continues to provide the same sense of security and level of academics that I was able to enjoy while I attended the school. The school not only focuses on preparing children for college and their future, but it also focuses on the child’s character formation— their morals and virtues, their manners and attitudes. I only gave the school four stars because there is still some room for improvement. For starters, this “Comeback Year” was a rough one. It seemed like an abnormal amount of students were acting out and causing trouble for the teachers. The school gave these students a chance to fix their mistake after scolding them and, unfortunately, some decided to continue to act out. Despite the incidents that happened, St. Genevieve continues to be a school that I love and hope that many others come to love as well.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 630

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Newbury Park, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  66 reviews

Alum: Newbury Park Adventist Academy is a welcoming and diverse school. As an incoming senior, I was immediately shown the ropes through fellow classmates and staff as I began to feel more at home there. Although academics could be improved to provide more higher level courses, classes can be challenging and fun. the school provides a great environment for learning, growing with God, and fun activities. There are a lot of opportunities musically and sports wise in addition to class and school traditions, sports events, great fundraisers, social functions, and more! In addition, the school is conveniently located so that the students are able to buy food off campus at the adjacent foodcourt during lunch.... Read 66 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 134

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• La Palma, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• grade unavailable

• grade A+

• Students 146

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• San Jose, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.95 out of 5  38 reviews

Parent: Absolutely love Apostles Lutheran School! The school has been so supportive, caring and loving towards my children. Since we've been a part of the Apostles family we've experienced the following: 1. Love for our kids. 2. Focus on our kids. 3. Great teachers that go above and beyond 4. Family activities 5. Safe environment 6. Small classes 7. Great communication and easy access to assignments, grades, and enrollment 8. Enhancements to the campus (fence, turf, church & fellowship hall) Above all these things, Apostles has taught our children to put God first in everything. So thankful for all the blessings we have received over the years.... Read 38 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 221

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  84 reviews

Senior: I've absolutely loved my time at College-Prep. It's the perfect place for students to be challenged intellectually, yet it's in a safe and welcoming environment. In my experience, there isn't really a culture of competitiveness/cutthroat environment, but, as with everywhere you go, you'll undoubtedly find exceptions to the rule. College-Prep has been perfect for me and has been a place where I've succeeded. I've grown academically, socially, and emotionally, and I am forever grateful for the faculty, peers, and friends I have met along the way. We get a pretty bad rep for sports, but it's a great place to try out new sports! If you're not an athlete and you want to start a sport, everyone's super nice and there aren't many expectations haha. Still, we do have some teams that tend to do pretty well in league or you could always play club so def not a dealbreaker in my opinion!... Read 84 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 373

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chatsworth, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  101 reviews

Parent: We have had an amazing experience at Sierra Canyon. Our son is a student-athlete. Academics are very important to him. He finished his senior year with a 4.4 GPA while playing on one of the top football programs in the country with some of the best coaches. That is not possible without the support of amazing teachers that keep the kids engaged. Sierra Canyon's college counseling is phenomenal as well. We have two older sons that graduated from one of the best Catholic schools in the area, but the counseling is virtually non-existent. We now know the difference. Sierra Canyon was a great fit for our youngest. My only regret is not moving him there sooner. He is now playing football for Texas Christian University and in their Neeley School of Business. I credit Sierra Canyon for that!... Read 101 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,030

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Vallejo, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  133 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 133 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 479

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• San Diego, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  52 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 52 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 401

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Richmond, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• grade unavailable

• grade A+

• Students 22

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  203 reviews

Senior: Bishop O'Dowd is very good. Their emphasis on school pride, mental health, and the success of their students is very apparent. They have lots of resources in order for the students to be successful in whatever they want to pursue. There are also a lot of clubs and volunteer programs that help not just the school environment but the surrounding Oakland area. The school is clean, the teachers are mostly good, and the cafeteria food is very good. I will say that while our school is diverse, it is still somewhat cliguey. In addition, the cost of school keeps increasing and costs about 18k a year. They do however provide financial aid to those who apply and need it. The administration is top-tier and very kind. This school is also a private catholic school that has a dress code. However, over the years, they have gotten much milder. Polo or O'Dowd tops and yoga pants and jeans. Overall, it is mostly up to the student how much they want to integrate themselves into the school for success.... Read 203 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,243

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Pacifica, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  61 reviews

Parent: An excellent Christian private school. For a small school, it offers an amazing diversity of challenging academics/APs for college prep but also student support. The motto is that students come first, and every student is known and loved. The administration aims to support struggling students, & that academic and mental health support been especially important at this time. At the very start of the pandemic, while other schools were scrambling to transition to virtual learning or independent study projects, PacBay seamlessly moved learning online over the course of a weekend. The administration did a great job researching and planning. Students attended classes on campus one day, and smoothly transitioned online the next week to minimize learning loss. As restrictions loosened, and vaccinations rose, the school's done a wonderful job re-opening the campus safely. Esp in a time of uncertainty & anxiety, you want to feel confident about where you send your child to school. We do.... Read 61 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 192

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1