Best private high schools in California

 

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in California using 2027 rankings from Niche. Online schools were not included. Niche uses 10 weighted factors for its rankings, including: college enrollment, culture and diversity, parent/student surveys, top enrolled colleges, and student-teacher ratio. You can read more about Niche’s methodology here.

#24. San Francisco High School of the Arts

– Location: San Francisco, CA
– Grades: 5-12
– Enrollment: 53 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#23. Woodside Priory School

– Location: Portola Valley, CA
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 436 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#22. Sage Hill School

– Location: Newport Coast, CA
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 700 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#21. Sierra Canyon School

– Location: Chatsworth, CA
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 1,219 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#20. Chadwick School

– Location: Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 862 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#19. The Thacher School

– Location: Ojai, CA
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 254 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#18. Westridge School

– Location: Pasadena, CA
– Grades: 4-12
– Enrollment: 550 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#17. Polytechnic School

– Location: Pasadena, CA
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 872 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#16. Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

– Location: Santa Monica, CA
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 1,201 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#15. The Branson School

– Location: Ross, CA
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 420 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#14. Crystal Springs Uplands School

– Location: Hillsborough, CA
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 565 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#13. Menlo School

– Location: Atherton, CA
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 796 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#12. Windward School

– Location: Los Angeles, CA
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 625 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#11. Brentwood School

– Location: Los Angeles, CA
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 1,252 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#10. Marlborough School

– Location: Los Angeles, CA
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 530 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#9. The Nueva School

– Location: Hillsborough, CA
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 853 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#8. The Quarry Lane School

– Location: Dublin, CA
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 1,084 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#7. The Bishop’s School

– Location: La Jolla, CA
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 800 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#6. Lick-Wilmerding High School

– Location: San Francisco, CA
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 561 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#5. Castilleja School

– Location: Palo Alto, CA
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 416 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#4. Head-Royce School

– Location: Oakland, CA
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 946 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#3. The College Preparatory School

– Location: Oakland, CA
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 374 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#2. Cate School

– Location: Carpinteria, CA
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 308 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#1. Harvard-Westlake School

– Location: Studio City, CA
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 1,620 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+