Orchard School
under 1 mi Grades K-6 55 students 7.9 students per teacher Nonsectarian Alternative Co-ed
Private schools in Aptos, CA
4 schools in Aptos itself and 17 more within 12 miles.
Aptos private schools at a glance
Aptos has 4 private schools of its own, and 17 more are within 12 miles. They are Orchard School, Seacliff Academy, Oasis, Outdoor Autism/Special Issues School and Twin Lakes Christian School. In Aptos itself: 1 other Christian and 3 nonsectarian; 3 teach elementary grades and 1 teaches high school. Counting the 17 nearby, there are 21 in all: 3 Catholic, 4 other Christian and 14 nonsectarian; 15 teach elementary grades and 6 teach high school; 2 are Montessori. All of them are co-ed. 6 report membership in a school association, most often the National Catholic Educational Association (2023-24 federal survey). Of the 6 high schools that reported it, the typical one sends 88% of graduates on to a 4-year college (2023-24 federal survey). The typical school has about 70 students and 10.2 students per teacher (2023-24 federal survey).
3 Catholic
10.2 students per teacher, typical
Private schools in Aptos (4)
Schools that give Aptos as their address come first, then the 17 more within 12 miles. Closest schools first in each group. No school can pay to change its place in this list or its badge.
Affiliation, co-ed or single-sex, association membership and the share of graduates going on to a 4-year college come from the 2023-24 federal Private School Universe survey.
No school in Aptos matches all of those.
Seacliff Academy
1 mi Grades 3-12 25 students Nonsectarian Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Grades Ungraded Under 10 K-12 students Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades K-8 391 students 18.7 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed
Nearby, within 12 miles (17)
Schools in other towns within 12 miles of downtown Aptos.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Tara Redwood School
3 mi Grades PreK-5 70 students 10 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Merit Academy
4 mi Grades 9-12 24 students 24 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
The Bay School
5 mi Grades Ungraded 33 students 6.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
VHM Christian School
5 mi Grades K-8 44 students 8.8 students per teacher Seventh-Day Adventist Co-ed
Grades K-6 46 students 10.2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Monterey Bay Academy
6 mi Grades 9-12 154 students 14.7 students per teacher Seventh-Day Adventist Co-ed 70% to 4-year college
Holy Cross School
8 mi Grades PreK-8 179 students 13.5 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-Transitional K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 373 students 13.3 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed
Grades Ungraded 24 students 12 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades K-6 72 students 9.7 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
Grades 1-12 43 students 39.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Alternative Co-ed 15% to 4-year college
Mount Madonna School
9 mi Grades PreK-12 150 students 6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 88% to 4-year college
Gateway School
9 mi Grades K-8 144 students 5.2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades K-8 273 students 20.8 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades 9-12 212 students 14 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed 74% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 148 students 7.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Private schools
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Private school tuition near Aptos
We verified published tuition at 2 of these schools so far. Each figure comes from the school’s own website, and we link it on the school’s page. Ask the others for their full-year price.
| School | Published tuition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes Christian School | $11,250 to $11,600 | 2026-27 |
| Baymonte Christian School | $11,640 to $11,820 | 2026-27 |
Ranges run from the lowest to the highest grade band the school publishes. How private school tuition compares by state.
What private school costs across California: every verified price in the state, by city and grade.
Paying for private school in California
No state program pays private school tuition. What California families can use instead.
Keep looking
- Christian schools in Aptos (4)
- Catholic schools in Aptos (3)
- Special education schools in Aptos (3)
- Private high schools in Aptos (6)
- Private elementary schools in Aptos (15)
- Private middle schools in Aptos (13)
- Private schools with kindergarten in Aptos (12)
- Private schools with pre-K in Aptos (5)
- All schools in Santa Cruz County
- Private schools in Scotts Valley (8 mi)
- Private schools in Santa Cruz (8 mi)
- Private schools in Watsonville (8 mi)
- Private schools in Los Gatos (17 mi)
- Private schools in Morgan Hill (17 mi)
- Private schools in Campbell (20 mi)
- Private schools in San Jose (22 mi)
- Private schools in Cupertino (24 mi)
- Private schools in Salinas (25 mi)
- Private schools in Santa Clara (26 mi)
- School choice in California: what is available
Get one email when applications open
Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state (you are looking at Aptos) and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.
One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.
Questions parents ask
How many private schools are there in Aptos?
4 private schools give Aptos as their address: Orchard School, Seacliff Academy, Oasis, Outdoor Autism/Special Issues School and Twin Lakes Christian School. Counting nearby towns, we list 21: 4 in Aptos and 17 within 12 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 2,479 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in Aptos is Twin Lakes Christian School with 391 students.
Does California pay for private school?
No state program pays private school tuition. No California program pays private school tuition, and the state has no tuition tax credit or deduction. Families rely on a school’s own financial aid and on privately funded scholarships.