Prospect Sierra School
under 1 mi Grades K-8 476 students 4.9 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Private schools in El Cerrito, CA
4 schools in El Cerrito itself and 35 more within 6 miles.
El Cerrito private schools at a glance
El Cerrito has 4 private schools of its own, and 35 more are within 6 miles. They are Prospect Sierra School, St. John the Baptist, East Bay Montessori and Golestan School. In El Cerrito itself: 1 Catholic and 3 nonsectarian; 4 teach elementary grades and 0 teach high school; 1 is Montessori. Counting the 35 nearby, there are 39 in all: 6 Catholic, 3 other Christian and 30 nonsectarian; 30 teach elementary grades and 13 teach high school; 6 are Montessori. All of them are co-ed. 8 report membership in a school association, most often the National Catholic Educational Association (2023-24 federal survey). Of the 8 high schools that reported it, the typical one sends 92% of graduates on to a 4-year college (2023-24 federal survey). The typical school has about 88 students and 7.6 students per teacher (2023-24 federal survey). We verified published tuition at 3 of these schools: the lowest-priced grade runs from $24,450 to $37,900 a year, and the middle figure is $25,950.
6 Catholic
7.6 students per teacher, typical
Private schools in El Cerrito (4)
Schools that give El Cerrito as their address come first, then the 35 more within 6 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 El Cerrito matches all of those.
St. John the Baptist
under 1 mi Grades PreK-8 148 students 11.7 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
East Bay Montessori
under 1 mi Grades K-8 68 students 6.9 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Golestan School
1 mi Grades PreK-5 53 students 6.3 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Nearby, within 6 miles (35)
Schools in other towns within 6 miles of downtown El Cerrito.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Grades K-12 35 students 10.3 students per teacher Baptist Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Crestmont School
2 mi Grades K-8 51 students 9.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades 6-12 147 students 4.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Alternative Co-ed 85% to 4-year college
St. David School
2 mi Grades PreK-8 146 students 24.3 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades 9-12 627 students 18.8 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed 85% to 4-year college
Grades K-8 255 students 8.6 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
The Crowden School
3 mi Grades 3-8 53 students 5.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
Grades 9-12 413 students 15.4 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed 50% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-Transitional K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Bayhill High School
3 mi Grades 9-12 69 students 5 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 50% to 4-year college
Grades 6-12 38 students 2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Alternative Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
The Berkeley School
4 mi Grades K-8 113 students 6.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
BPC Upper School
4 mi Grades K-8 319 students 9.7 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades K-8 319 students 9.7 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Mentoring Academy
4 mi Grades 8-12 Under 10 K-12 students Nonsectarian Co-ed
Via Center
4 mi Grades Ungraded Under 10 K-12 students Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades K-8 128 students 6.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades K-9 50 students 10.2 students per teacher Baptist Co-ed
Grades PreK-Transitional K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-6 67 students 7.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
All 35 nearby schools
Private schools
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Private school tuition near El Cerrito
We verified published tuition at 3 of these schools: the lowest-priced grade runs from $24,450 to $37,900 a year, and the middle figure is $25,950. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salesian College Preparatory | $24,450 | 2026-27 |
| St. Mary's College High School | $25,950 | 2026-27 |
| Prospect Sierra School | $37,900 to $42,850 | 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 El Cerrito (3)
- Catholic schools in El Cerrito (6)
- Montessori schools in El Cerrito (6)
- Special education schools in El Cerrito (5)
- Private high schools in El Cerrito (13)
- Private elementary schools in El Cerrito (30)
- Private middle schools in El Cerrito (28)
- Private schools with kindergarten in El Cerrito (23)
- Private schools with pre-K in El Cerrito (10)
- All schools in Contra Costa County
- All schools in Alameda County
- Private schools in Berkeley (4 mi)
- Private schools in El Sobrante (4 mi)
- Private schools in Richmond (4 mi)
- Private schools in Emeryville (6 mi)
- Private schools in Lafayette (10 mi)
- Private schools in Oakland (11 mi)
- Private schools in Corte Madera (11 mi)
- Private schools in San Rafael (12 mi)
- Private schools in Alameda (12 mi)
- Private schools in Larkspur (12 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 El Cerrito) 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 El Cerrito?
4 private schools give El Cerrito as their address: Prospect Sierra School, St. John the Baptist, East Bay Montessori and Golestan School. Counting nearby towns, we list 39: 4 in El Cerrito and 35 within 6 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 5,853 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in El Cerrito is Prospect Sierra School with 476 students. The largest within 6 miles is St. Mary's College High School with 627 students.
How much does private school cost near El Cerrito?
We verified published tuition at 3 of these schools: the lowest-priced grade runs from $24,450 to $37,900 a year, and the middle figure is $25,950. Each figure was read on the school’s own website. Required fees can be extra and prices vary by grade, so check the school’s page for your child’s grade.
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.