2024 Most Diverse Private High Schools in California

• Gardena, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  84 reviews

Parent: Pacific Lutheran is an excellent private school education. They have some caring, dedicated teachers and staff who are all extremely gifted educators. They always keep the parents in the loop about the things involving the school and the students. Excellent communication! Very caring and supportive group with active participation in school events. Reasonable tuition and very good student teacher ratio.... Read 84 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 120

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Healdsburg, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  58 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 58 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 120

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Torrance, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  352 reviews

Senior: I love the sense of community at Bishop Montgomery. It is a very safe environment with teachers and administrators that are passionate and supportive. The rigorous academics are excellent and give me, a senior at the school, great confidence as I prepare to begin my college career!... Read 352 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 879

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Castro Valley, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  98 reviews

Parent: We've loved it so far. Teachers and administration are caring and treat you like family! Academics are excellent. My son is in kindergarten and loving it. He's learning so much, reading and having fun.... Read 98 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 665

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hayward, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  251 reviews

Parent: We would like to see more practice teams at Moreau. There are so many kids that love playing sports and need to keep up with physical exercise but get cut from teams like basketball. Hope that they can consider something to make sure the kids have somewhere to play and practice and develop the same important skills that the players do. I would also love to see more opportunities for the parents to get to know each other or the creation of a Parent mentor to guide those parents who are new or have challenges participating in most events. Also asking parents about any special need for themselves for additional support. Our family loves that our kids receive great academic learning but more than that we value to importance of a religious education, compass and developing their compassion and empathy. We are very happy with the teachers, they are engaged, non-judgmental , supportive and in tuned with the students. We also appreciate that they offer shuttle services. Thank you!... Read 251 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 793

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Alameda, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  120 reviews

Parent: SJND is a great Catholic high school located in Alameda, CA. This is a very strong faith based institution for young minds to build up their knowledge with morals, integrity and partnership. The school attracts alumni that return to teach or join the faculty as well. The school is small enough to allow students to get to know upper and lower class man alike, but just big enough that they aren’t always with the same group of friends or classmates. The school has an outstanding academic program and offer an accelerated program for students wanting to getting into bio-sciences. They also also many performing arts program such music, choir and theatre that cater towards those with an appetite for entertaining. Athletics is also an important part of the school’s culture with an assortment of sports for boys and girls, taking pride in being home to Jason Kid’s high school championship team.... Read 120 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 390

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Canoga Park, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  78 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 78 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,234

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  150 reviews

Parent: We're an incoming new family to Riordan so our firsthand intel is very limited but I did want to share that I've spoken extensively to several families (including some with graduates going to Top 25 colleges) and it does appear that, especially since going co-ed, Riordan is an up-and-coming gem of a high school worth checking out. We're pleased with how responsive and accommodating the administration has been so far. Communication has been smooth, timely and clear. We're most impressed with the personal touch though, and this is also what impressed our student the most during their shadow day. Somehow, even with hundreds of applicants and new students, the teachers and staff remember first names and other details that show their thoughtfulness and care. We like the smaller school and class sizes relative to other SF public or Catholic high schools and sense that Riordan's reputation is rising for good reason!... Read 150 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,107

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hesperia, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  47 reviews

Senior: I have attended Hesperia Christian since pre-school. This school has helped me excel academically and socially, and it has most importantly formed my moral and religious beliefs. I was raised in a Christian household and have been a Christian for as long as I can remember. However, these beliefs were challenged as I matured and entered middle school. These Biblical truths started to become nothing more than a story to me, as I heard the classic tales of David and Goliath, the flood, and the wall of Jericho; I began to think, "How is this more than any other children's story?" The teachers and pastors at my school showed me the lessons and moral values behind the not-so-simple Biblical truths. Through the amazing chapels, staff, and students, I began to realize the genuine love that God has for us. This school has allowed me to embrace my Christianity and share it with others. These truths have become the foundation for all of my beliefs that I will take for the rest of my life... Read 47 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 782

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Torrance, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.92 out of 5  13 reviews

Other: Ambassador is an incredible school with some of the best teachers and staff! The school has a great reputation for being a loving community to families while maintaining its academic rigor. Some parents and students might feel intimidated when they hear about the early college program but when they hear about the individual support and attention students receive because of smaller class sizes, they immediately are relieved. The school offers college classes on campus that allows students to receive college credit for their high school courses. This can then transfer to many universities, allowing students to save time and money upon entry into college. Some students have even received their AA degrees before graduating from Ambassador. I highly recommend this school to middle and high school students looking for a great education, loving community, and great staff!... Read 13 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 140

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Richmond, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  94 reviews

Senior: My freshman year was done remotely and as you could imagine, it was difficult to integrate myself into the community. The worst part was not being able to meet my classmates in person, causing a disconnect in student life. Luckily, Salesian College Preparatory's best attribute is its welcoming environment. During my sophomore year when I finally step foot on campus, I was immediately greeted by friendly staff and students. It didn't take long for me to find my clique and befriend my teachers. Though the journey was not entirely smooth sailing, I wouldn't change anything. Every mistake and every event throughout my high school career happened for a reason and has shaped me into the individual I am today.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 404

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• San Bernardino, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  141 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 141 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 610

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• La Selva Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  79 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 79 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 176

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Panorama City, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  98 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 98 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 555

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  65 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 65 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 195

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Long Beach, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  143 reviews

Sophomore: As a student at St.Anthony high school, it’s programs interest students from many different school districts & cities.I was one of them, I chose St.Anthony for its love for God, academics, & sports.Most of all my parents chose St.Anthony for its amazing faculty staff. I’m currently in my sophomore year of highschool here & it’s outstanding.The staff here will improve your academic achievements by taking time out of their personal life for their students to show interest for a good grade, the teachers here let you re-take quizzes & tests to show improvement, the best part about the administrators is which they show their care for the students.The students here will support any freshman coming in & will proudly answer any questions they have for college! They will help anybody here, no matter their shape or size.All of our sports have won championships through the years. St.Anthony will support their students in scholarships, financial aid, & essays for college prepatory!... Read 143 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 472

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Chatsworth, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  114 reviews

Parent: No place is perfect, but Sierra Canyon is about as close as you can get to a child utopia! My two kids (who are very different) have been incredibly well served by Sierra- socially, athletically, and academically all while being in a warm and loving environment. You walk into Sierra and it's like you drank happy juice! It is just so inviting and visually diverse. And this feeling is real. Everything they tell you during the tours and through admissions is true- and it's actually better. My kids have thrived at Sierra Canyon.... Read 114 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,173

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Redwood City, CA•

• Online School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.66 out of 5  169 reviews

Alum: I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Stanford Online High School (SOHS). For an online school, they prioritized social life more than I initially expected. From clubs and in-person meetups to online alternatives, I connected with my friends and classmates often. So I loved the people I met and the educated and accomplished faculty! However, if I could change something I would change the accessibility of instructors. I felt closer to the instructors of my brick and mortar school and often lacked the personal touch with my teachers.... Read 169 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 986

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Temecula, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.9 out of 5  20 reviews

Parent: I am a second year parent with a son in Pre-K. We absolutely love St. Jeanne's and it has become a second home to us. The community is welcoming and vibrant. He has thrived these first two years of school and has learned so much, both academically and spiritually. We are beyond grateful for this environment and the blessing it has been to our family!... Read 20 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 698

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Rancho Cucamonga, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  37 reviews

Parent: My three boys have all attended UCA since Kindergarten. My oldest is entering high school next year. UCA has been part of my family and we love all of it. Like all of us, it’s not perfect. Like every place, there is opportunity for growth. But it is by far the best place to have my kids develop their mind, spirit and heart in these formative years. My boys are great kids and I know UCA is a big reason why that’s the case. If you’re like me, imperfect with imperfect kids, UCA will accept you and love on you because we all are growing and learning. I wouldn’t want to have my kids anywhere else. We thank God for UCA!... Read 37 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 891

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Anaheim, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  109 reviews

Parent: For generations, Fairmont Academy has been a cornerstone of our family and for good reason. Investing in this institution is an investment with long-term benefits - offering the chance to gain more than just knowledge but also confidence, discipline and poise. Education plays such a key role in success that making sure we give our children the best start possible was paramount; thankfully at Fairmont they are guaranteed quality teaching from experts who know their stuff!... Read 109 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 456

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• 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

• grade A+

• Students 134

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Ojai, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  100 reviews

Senior: I really like the Thacher school and the experience it's given me. It's pretty small so you know everybody and a lot of community knowledge, which sometimes is good and bad. However, because of its small class size, you get to interact with amazing people and know them really well. Everyone is from all over the world so you get to open your horizons and find out about the world as a whole and different cultures.... Read 100 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 251

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Berkeley, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  235 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 235 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 630

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  95 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 95 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 370

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1