What private school costs in California (2026-27)
We have read published tuition on 165 California private school websites. The middle price is $24,300 a year, using each school's lowest published full-year rate, and prices run from $6,709 to $59,565.
$15,950 kindergarten to grade 5, median of 103 schools
$26,995 grades 6 to 8, median of 111 schools
$25,900 grades 9 to 12, median of 105 schools
By grade band
| Grades | Median published tuition | Schools | Lowest to highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to grade 5 | $15,950 | 103 | $6,709 to $51,490 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | $26,995 | 111 | $6,995 to $59,565 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | $25,900 | 105 | $7,900 to $59,565 |
A grade band is shown when at least 3 schools publish a price for it. Where a school lists several prices in one band, we take the lowest full-year day rate.
What California pays toward private school
No state program pays private school tuition. Families pay the published price, less any financial aid the school offers. School choice in California.
By affiliation
| Affiliation | Schools | Median lowest rate | K to 5 | 6 to 8 | 9 to 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 68 | $21,730 | $13,270 (18) | $14,045 (21) | $25,386 (50) |
| Other Christian | 45 | $12,865 | $11,650 (39) | $12,250 (39) | $16,450 (31) |
| Nonsectarian | 45 | $40,900 | $40,315 (41) | $45,630 (44) | $49,115 (20) |
| Other faiths | 7 | $25,580 | $20,760 (5) | $27,270 (7) | $36,700 (4) |
Groups with at least 5 verified schools. Band medians show the number of schools in brackets; "too few" means under 3. Affiliation comes from the federal Private School Universe survey (2023-24).
Compared with public school spending
California's public schools spent $20,791 per student in fiscal year 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau). The median published private tuition above ($24,300) is 117% of that figure.
- Public spending is not a price. It is total current spending on public schools (teachers, staff, upkeep, transport, meals and more) divided by enrolled students. No family pays it, and it leaves out building construction and debt.
- The years differ. Public spending is for the 2023-24 school year, the latest the Census Bureau has published; tuition is mostly for 2026-27. Neither is adjusted for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8, total current spending per pupil. Every state side by side: private tuition vs public school spending.
By city
| City | Median lowest rate | Schools | Lowest to highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $46,875 | 13 | $11,650 to $58,207 |
| San Francisco | $41,000 | 8 | $12,960 to $51,490 |
| San Diego | $22,837 | 7 | $12,950 to $49,100 |
| Pasadena | $33,306 | 6 | $15,855 to $51,700 |
| Sacramento | $17,878 | 4 | $7,900 to $37,640 |
| San Jose | $33,865 | 4 | $33,575 to $41,000 |
| La Canada Flintridge | $37,000 | 3 | $25,900 to $53,750 |
| Newport Beach | $15,380 | 3 | $9,912 to $22,500 |
| Orange | $9,600 | 3 | $9,365 to $10,370 |
| San Juan Capistrano | $26,200 | 3 | $26,093 to $52,950 |
Cities with at least 3 verified schools in the town itself. Each city page lists every school nearby.
Every California school with verified tuition
| School | City | Published tuition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph Notre Dame High School | Alameda | $26,130 | 2026-27 |
| Aliso Viejo Christian School | Aliso Viejo | $15,370 | 2026-27 |
| Fairmont Private Schools Anaheim Hills | Anaheim | $26,093 to $30,264 | 2026-27 |
| Servite High School | Anaheim | $21,710 | 2026-27 |
| Cornerstone Christian School | Antioch | $9,020 to $11,385 | 2026-27 |
| Twin Lakes Christian School | Aptos | $11,250 to $11,600 | 2026-27 |
| Sacred Heart Schools Atherton | Atherton | $44,256 to $59,565 | 2026-27 |
| Bakersfield Christian High School | Bakersfield | $16,450 | 2026-27 |
| Garces Memorial High School | Bakersfield | $16,500 | 2027-28 |
| St. John Bosco | Bellflower | $18,325 | 2026-27 |
| St. Mary's College High School | Berkeley | $25,950 | 2026-27 |
| Desert Christian Academy | Bermuda Dunes | $11,750 to $13,060 | 2026-27 |
| Providence High School | Burbank | $31,800 | 2026-27 |
| Viewpoint School | Calabasas | $47,631 to $56,973 | 2026-27 |
| Agbu Manoogian-Demirdjian School | Canoga Park | $15,950 | 2026-27 |
| St. Patrick Catholic School | Carlsbad | $10,800 | 2026-27 |
| Jesuit High School | Carmichael | $20,100 | 2026-27 |
| Chaminade College Preparatory Middle School | Chatsworth | $26,995 | 2026-27 |
| Sierra Canyon School | Chatsworth | $41,800 to $48,600 | 2026-27 |
| Mater Dei Catholic H.S. | Chula Vista | $21,750 | 2026-27 |
| Mater Dei Catholic High School | Chula Vista | $21,750 | 2026-27 |
| Carondelet High School | Concord | $26,565 | 2026-27 |
| De la Salle High School | Concord | $27,050 | 2026-27 |
| Harbor Day School | Corona del Mar | $39,350 | 2026-27 |
| Marin Country Day School | Corte Madera | $49,030 to $51,760 | 2026-27 |
| Mariners Christian School | Costa Mesa | $15,067 to $16,340 | 2026-27 |
| St. John the Baptist Catholic School | Costa Mesa | $9,742 | 2026-27 |
| The Willows Community School | Culver City | $42,865 to $48,645 | 2026-27 |
| St. Edward Parish School | Dana Point | $13,270 to $14,045 | 2026-27 |
| St. Edward the Confessor Parish School | Dana Point | $13,270 to $14,045 | 2026-27 |
| St. Isidore School | Danville | $13,364 | 2026-27 |
| Calvary Chapel Christian School | Downey | $9,630 to $14,326 | 2026-27 |
| St. Pius X - St. Matthias High School | Downey | $13,140 | 2026-27 |
| The Quarry Lane School | Dublin | $36,550 to $52,384 | 2026-27 |
| Prospect Sierra School | El Cerrito | $37,900 to $42,850 | 2026-27 |
| Crespi Carmelite High School | Encino | $25,271 | 2026-27 |
| Fremont Christian School | Fremont | $18,721 to $22,765 | 2026-27 |
| Fresno Christian Schools | Fresno | $9,764 to $13,810 | 2026-27 |
| Rosary Academy | Fullerton | $23,290 | 2026-27 |
| Chamlian Armenian School | Glendale | $11,800 | 2026-27 |
| Foothill Christian School | Glendora | $11,644 to $12,033 | 2026-27 |
| Heritage Christian School | Granada Hills | $12,947 | 2025-26 |
| St. Mark's Lutheran School | Hacienda Heights | $10,890 | 2026-27 |
| Moreau Catholic High School | Hayward | $27,070 | 2026-27 |
| The Pegasus School | Huntington Beach | $33,500 | 2026-27 |
| Crean Lutheran High School | Irvine | $23,575 | 2026-27 |
| New Horizon Elementary School - Irvine | Irvine | $25,580 to $27,270 | not stated |
| Marin Catholic High School | Kentfield | $29,400 | 2026-27 |
| Flintridge Preparatory School | La Canada Flintridge | $53,750 | 2026-27 |
| Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy | La Canada Flintridge | $37,000 | 2026-27 |
| St. Francis High School | La Canada Flintridge | $25,900 | 2026-27 |
| La Jolla Country Day School | La Jolla | $37,000 to $48,900 | 2026-27 |
| The Bishop's School | La Jolla | $52,500 | 2026-27 |
| Bishop Amat Memorial High School | La Puente | $11,165 | 2026-27 |
| Lakewood Christian Schools | Long Beach | $10,450 to $12,250 | 2026-27 |
| St. Anthony High School | Long Beach | $12,300 | 2026-27 |
| Bishop Mora Salesian | Los Angeles | $12,200 | 2026-27 |
| Brentwood School | Los Angeles | $49,685 to $58,207 | 2026-27 |
| Cathedral High School | Los Angeles | $15,555 | 2026-27 |
| Immaculate Heart Middle and High School | Los Angeles | $28,650 | 2026-27 |
| Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $29,425 to $41,050 | 2026-27 |
| Marlborough School | Los Angeles | $57,850 | 2026-27 |
| Milken Community Middle School | Los Angeles | $57,450 | 2026-27 |
| Milken Community School | Los Angeles | $57,450 | 2026-27 |
| Mirman School | Los Angeles | $46,875 to $51,800 | 2026-27 |
| Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School | Los Angeles | $11,650 | 2026-27 |
| Westside Neighborhood School | Los Angeles | $45,440 to $51,050 | 2026-27 |
| Wildwood School K-12 | Los Angeles | $48,500 to $56,055 | 2026-27 |
| Windward School | Los Angeles | $58,101 | 2026-27 |
| Hillbrook School | Los Gatos | $47,500 to $51,100 | 2026-27 |
| American Martyrs School | Manhattan Beach | $14,500 | 2025-26 |
| Stone Ridge Christian School | Merced | $8,520 to $10,750 | 2026-27 |
| Bishop Alemany High School | Mission Hills | $14,670 | 2026-27 |
| Big Valley Christian | Modesto | $7,490 to $11,775 | not stated |
| Central Catholic High School | Modesto | $15,808 | 2026-27 |
| Santa Catalina School | Monterey | $28,750 to $31,620 | 2026-27 |
| German Intl School of Silicon Valley | Mountain View | $27,450 to $35,750 | 2026-27 |
| St. Francis High School | Mountain View | $30,550 | 2026-27 |
| Justin-Siena | Napa | $25,500 | not stated |
| Carden Hall | Newport Beach | $20,760 to $22,500 | 2025-26 |
| Newport Christian School | Newport Beach | $9,912 to $10,437 | 2026-27 |
| Our Lady Queen of Angels School | Newport Beach | $15,380 | 2026-27 |
| Bishop Odowd High School | Oakland | $28,380 | 2026-27 |
| Head Royce School | Oakland | $43,980 to $49,800 | 2026-27 |
| Holy Family Catholic School | Orange | $9,365 | 2026-27 |
| St. Johns Lutheran School | Orange | $10,370 | 2026-27 |
| St. Paul's Lutheran School | Orange | $9,600 | 2026-27 |
| Calvary Christian School | Pacific Palisades | $25,425 to $30,200 | 2026-27 |
| Xavier College Preparatory High School | Palm Desert | $18,750 | 2026-27 |
| Silicon Valley International School | Palo Alto | $42,630 to $49,130 | not stated |
| St. Genevieve Elementary School | Panorama City | $8,400 | not stated |
| St. Genevieve High School | Panorama City | $14,475 | not stated |
| Chandler School | Pasadena | $32,700 to $33,700 | 2026-27 |
| La Salle College Preparatory | Pasadena | $33,912 | 2026-27 |
| Maranatha High School | Pasadena | $29,200 | 2026-27 |
| Polytechnic School | Pasadena | $40,900 to $51,700 | 2026-27 |
| Sequoyah | Pasadena | $40,315 to $46,095 | 2026-27 |
| St. Philip the Apostle School | Pasadena | $15,855 | 2026-27 |
| United Christian Academy | Rancho Cucamonga | $12,200 to $15,400 | 2026-27 |
| St. Junipero Serra Catholic School | Rancho Santa Margarita | $15,757 to $16,388 | 2026-27 |
| Bethel Christian School | Redding | $6,709 to $6,995 | 2026-27 |
| Redlands Adventist Academy | Redlands | $10,802 to $15,488 | 2026-27 |
| Redlands Christian School | Redlands | $12,865 to $17,115 | 2026-27 |
| Stanford Online High School | Redwood City | $31,900 | 2026-27 |
| Salesian College Preparatory | Richmond | $24,450 | 2026-27 |
| Woodcrest Christian School System | Riverside | $10,020 to $14,640 | 2026-27 |
| Rolling Hills Country Day School | Rolling Hills Estates | $27,400 to $32,900 | 2026-27 |
| Al Argam Islamic School & College Preparatory | Sacramento | $7,900 | 2026-27 |
| Christian Brothers High School | Sacramento | $17,675 | 2026-27 |
| Sacramento Country Day School | Sacramento | $27,070 to $37,640 | 2026-27 |
| St. Francis Catholic High School | Sacramento | $18,080 | 2026-27 |
| San Domenico School | San Anselmo | $47,975 to $54,500 | 2026-27 |
| Academy of Our Lady of Peace | San Diego | $26,250 | 2026-27 |
| Cathedral Catholic High School | San Diego | $22,837 | 2026-27 |
| Francis Parker School | San Diego | $37,700 to $49,100 | 2026-27 |
| Francis W Parker School | San Diego | $37,700 to $49,100 | 2026-27 |
| Maranatha Christian Schools | San Diego | $15,925 to $19,275 | 2026-27 |
| Ocean View Christian Academy | San Diego | $12,950 | 2026-27 |
| The Rock Academy | San Diego | $15,175 to $17,975 | 2026-27 |
| Archbishop Riordan High School | San Francisco | $29,000 | 2026-27 |
| Children's Day School | San Francisco | $48,895 to $49,830 | 2026-27 |
| Chinese American International School | San Francisco | $46,300 | 2026-27 |
| Katherine Delmar Burke School | San Francisco | $51,490 | 2026-27 |
| Live Oak School | San Francisco | $48,420 to $49,060 | not stated |
| St. Cecilia School | San Francisco | $12,960 | 2026-27 |
| St. Gabriel Elementary School | San Francisco | $13,572 | 2026-27 |
| St. Ignatius College Preparatory | San Francisco | $35,700 | 2026-27 |
| Almaden Country Day School | San Jose | $39,340 to $41,000 | 2026-27 |
| Archbishop Mitty High School | San Jose | $33,860 | 2026-27 |
| Bellarmine College Preparatory | San Jose | $33,575 | 2026-27 |
| Presentation High School | San Jose | $33,870 | 2026-27 |
| Fairmont San Juan Capistrano | San Juan Capistrano | $26,093 to $29,342 | 2026-27 |
| Jserra Catholic High School | San Juan Capistrano | $26,200 | 2026-27 |
| St. Margaret S Episcopal School | San Juan Capistrano | $42,460 to $52,950 | 2026-27 |
| Junipero Serra High School | San Mateo | $30,800 | 2026-27 |
| St. Matthew Catholic School | San Mateo | $10,400 | 2026-27 |
| Mark Day School | San Rafael | $48,394 | 2026-27 |
| Laguna Blanca School | Santa Barbara | $39,128 to $45,060 | 2026-27 |
| Santa Clarita Christian School | Santa Clarita | $13,750 to $17,950 | 2026-27 |
| St. Paul High School | Santa Fe Springs | $12,850 | 2026-27 |
| New Roads School | Santa Monica | $44,898 to $55,014 | 2026-27 |
| Cardinal Newman High School | Santa Rosa | $24,300 | 2026-27 |
| St. Andrew's Episcopal School | Saratoga | $40,700 to $42,390 | 2026-27 |
| Baymonte Christian School | Scotts Valley | $11,640 to $11,820 | 2026-27 |
| Notre Dame High School | Sherman Oaks | $26,280 | 2026-27 |
| Grace Elementary School | Simi Valley | $13,343 | 2026-27 |
| Santa Fe Christian Schools | Solana Beach | $20,230 to $28,680 | 2026-27 |
| St. Marys High School | Stockton | $14,300 | 2026-27 |
| Village Christian School | Sun Valley | $21,900 | 2026-27 |
| Basis Independent Silicon Valley Lower | Sunnyvale | $36,380 | 2026-27 |
| The King's Academy | Sunnyvale | $15,900 to $28,900 | 2026-27 |
| Hillcrest Christian School | Thousand Oaks | $13,145 to $17,040 | 2026-27 |
| Bishop Montgomery High | Torrance | $15,300 | 2026-27 |
| Mission Hills Middle School | Union City | $15,000 to $16,000 | 2026-27 |
| Legacy Christian Academy | Valencia | $22,000 to $27,000 | 2025-26 |
| Laurence School | Van Nuys | $42,950 | 2026-27 |
| Central Valley Christian Schools | Visalia | $10,750 to $14,735 | 2026-27 |
| Tri-City Christian School | Vista | $10,879 to $15,664 | 2026-27 |
| Seven Hills School | Walnut Creek | $39,000 to $43,990 | 2026-27 |
| Chaminade College Preparatory-High School | West Hills | $26,995 | 2026-27 |
| The Center for Early Education | West Hollywood | $42,945 | 2026-27 |
| Oaks Christian School | Westlake Village | $29,900 to $45,330 | 2026-27 |
| Cornerstone Christian School | Wildomar | $9,700 to $11,300 | 2026-27 |
| St. Mel School | Woodland Hills | $8,735 | 2025-26 |
| St. Francis of Assisi School | Yorba Linda | $9,345 | 2026-27 |
Ranges run from the lowest to the highest grade band the school publishes. Each school's page links the source we read.
Read this before you quote it
- This is not a random sample. We started with the largest schools and the schools families already search for, so large, established schools are over-represented. Treat the medians as "what these schools publish", not as the average for every private school in California.
- These are published prices before financial aid. Required fees, books, uniforms and transport are extra, and many schools lower the price through aid.
- Many schools do not publish a price, and those are missing here. School years: 152 for 2026-27, 7 for not stated, 5 for 2025-26, 1 for 2027-28.
- Each figure was read on the school's own website or tuition sheet, and a script re-opened that page and kept the figure only if the same dollar amount appears on it. Most recent check: .
Every state, with a free CSV of all figures and sources: private school tuition by state. A school whose price has changed can send us the new figure.
Questions parents ask
How much is private school in California?
Among the 165 California private schools whose published tuition we verified, the middle price is $24,300 a year, using each school's lowest published full-year rate. By grade: $15,950 for kindergarten to grade 5 (103 schools), $26,995 for grades 6 to 8 (111 schools), $25,900 for grades 9 to 12 (105 schools). Prices run from $6,709 to $59,565 a year, before financial aid, and fees are extra.
Does private high school cost more than elementary school in California?
Among the schools we verified, yes: the median high school price is $25,900 (105 schools), against $15,950 for kindergarten to grade 5 (103 schools).
Does California help pay for private school?
No state program pays private school tuition. Families pay tuition themselves, less any financial aid the school offers.
Are Catholic schools cheaper than other private schools in California?
It depends on the comparison. Among the schools we verified: the median Catholic school price is $21,730 (68 schools), against $12,865 for other Christian schools (45), $40,900 for nonsectarian schools (45) and $25,580 for schools of other faiths (7), using each school's lowest published rate.
More
All private schools in California
Tuition in other states (at least 12 verified schools): Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.