Christ Lutheran Elementary
under 1 mi Grades K-8 213 students 17.8 students per teacher Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) Co-ed
Private schools in La Mesa, CA
5 schools in La Mesa itself and 19 more within 6 miles.
La Mesa private schools at a glance
La Mesa has 5 private schools of its own, and 19 more are within 6 miles. In La Mesa itself: 1 Catholic, 2 other Christian and 2 nonsectarian; 5 teach elementary grades and 0 teach high school; 1 is Montessori. Counting the 19 nearby, there are 24 in all: 9 Catholic, 8 other Christian and 7 nonsectarian; 19 teach elementary grades and 6 teach high school; 2 are Montessori. All of them are co-ed. 14 report membership in a school association, most often the National Catholic Educational Association (2023-24 federal survey). Of the 4 high schools that reported it, the typical one sends 40% of graduates on to a 4-year college (2023-24 federal survey). The typical school has about 186 students and 11.8 students per teacher (2023-24 federal survey).
9 Catholic
11.8 students per teacher, typical
Private schools in La Mesa (5)
Schools that give La Mesa as their address come first, then the 19 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 La Mesa matches all of those.
Taproot Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten
under 1 mi Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
St. Martin of Tours Academy
under 1 mi Grades PreK-8 194 students 15.8 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 186 students 8.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades K-8 49 students 16.3 students per teacher Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Co-ed
Nearby, within 6 miles (19)
Schools in other towns within 6 miles of downtown La Mesa.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Brookshire International Academy
under 1 mi Grades 9-12 1,035 students Nonsectarian Career/technical Co-ed 10% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 188 students 15.8 students per teacher Presbyterian Co-ed
Grades 8-12 16 students 8 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades 9-12 262 students 11.7 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Co-ed 40% to 4-year college
Santa Sophia Academy
3 mi Grades K-8 218 students 18.2 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades K-8 305 students Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades 6-8 70 students 11.7 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Heartland Christian
3 mi Grades PreK-12 155 students 10.3 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Alternative Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
St. Therese Academy
3 mi Grades K-8 302 students 7.9 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-12 251 students 8.4 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Grades Ungraded 85 students 7.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades PreK-12 46 students 5.3 students per teacher Pentecostal Co-ed
Grades K-8 141 students 11.8 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 259 students 17.3 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-Transitional K Pentecostal Early childhood Co-ed
St. Rita's School
6 mi Grades PreK-8 168 students 14.1 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
St. Didacus School
6 mi Grades PreK-8 145 students 12.2 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades K-6 204 students 16.9 students per teacher Baptist Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Private schools
Are you a school near La Mesa? One sponsor per city, clearly labelled. Sponsor this city
Paying for private school in California
No state program pays private school tuition. What California families can use instead.
Keep looking
- Christian schools in La Mesa (8)
- Catholic schools in La Mesa (9)
- Private high schools in La Mesa (6)
- Private elementary schools in La Mesa (19)
- Private middle schools in La Mesa (18)
- Private schools with kindergarten in La Mesa (18)
- Private schools with pre-K in La Mesa (11)
- All schools in San Diego County
- Private schools in Spring Valley (4 mi)
- Private schools in El Cajon (4 mi)
- Private schools in San Diego (7 mi)
- Private schools in Chula Vista (10 mi)
- Private schools in Poway (15 mi)
- Private schools in La Jolla (15 mi)
- Private schools in Rancho Santa Fe (20 mi)
- Private schools in Ramona (21 mi)
- Private schools in Encinitas (24 mi)
- Private schools in Escondido (25 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 La Mesa) 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 La Mesa?
5 private schools give La Mesa as their address: Christ Lutheran Elementary, Taproot Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten, St. Martin of Tours Academy, Mt Helix Academy - Tiee and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School. Counting nearby towns, we list 24: 5 in La Mesa and 19 within 6 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 4,504 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in La Mesa is Christ Lutheran Elementary with 213 students. The largest within 6 miles is Brookshire International Academy with 1,035 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.