Valley Christian
2 mi Grades K-8 148 students
Private schools in San Marcos, CA
3 schools in San Marcos itself and 13 more within 6 miles.
San Marcos private schools at a glance
San Marcos has 3 private schools of its own, and 13 more are within 6 miles. They are Valley Christian, St. Joseph Academy and Ocean Breeze Academy. In San Marcos itself: 1 Catholic and 2 not reported in the federal survey; 2 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. Of the 13 nearby: 1 Catholic, 3 other Christian, 6 nonsectarian and 3 not reported in the federal survey. 1 is all-boys. The typical school has about 107 students and 7 per teacher (2023-24 federal survey).
2 Catholic
7 students per teacher, typical
2 in a school association
90% of graduates to a 4-year college, typical high school
Private schools in San Marcos (3)
Schools that give San Marcos as their address come first, then the 13 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 San Marcos matches all of those.
St. Joseph Academy
2 mi Grades K-12 332 students 14.8 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed 70% to 4-year college
Ocean Breeze Academy
3 mi Grades 8-12 12 students
Nearby, within 6 miles (13)
Schools in other towns within 6 miles of downtown San Marcos.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Grades PreK-3 23 students 2.2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades K-12 140 students 11 students per teacher Seventh-Day Adventist Co-ed 90% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 107 students 12.7 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
Pacific Ridge School
5 mi Grades 6-12 652 students
10x Academy
5 mi Grades 6-8 30 students 7 students per teacher Christian (nondenominational) Alternative All-boys
Grades K-12 419 students
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
Balboa School
5 mi Grades 7-12 10 students 5 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Grades K-8 163 students 18.1 students per teacher Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) Co-ed
Grades K-4 18 students
Grades PreK-Transitional K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
St. Mary School
6 mi Grades K-8 135 students 12.9 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Private schools
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Paying for private school in California
No state program pays private school tuition. What California families can use instead.
Keep looking
- Christian schools in and around San Marcos (3)
- Private high schools in and around San Marcos (6)
- Private elementary schools in and around San Marcos (12)
- Private middle schools in and around San Marcos (11)
- Private schools with kindergarten in and around San Marcos (11)
- Private schools with pre-K in and around San Marcos (4)
- All schools in San Diego County
- Private schools in Escondido (6 mi)
- Private schools in Vista (6 mi)
- Private schools in Carlsbad (7 mi)
- Private schools in Rancho Santa Fe (8 mi)
- Private schools in Encinitas (8 mi)
- Private schools in Oceanside (10 mi)
- Private schools in Solana Beach (11 mi)
- Private schools in Poway (13 mi)
- Private schools in Fallbrook (17 mi)
- Private schools in Ramona (18 mi)
- School choice in California: what is available
Tell me if California starts a program
California has no program that pays private school tuition today. It could still start one, or opt in to the federal scholarship tax credit that starts in 2027. Leave your email and we will write once, with the official link, if California starts a program or scholarships under the federal credit open. That is the only email you get.
One email if that happens. No calls, no sharing your details.
Questions parents ask
How many private schools are there in San Marcos?
3 private schools give San Marcos as their address: Valley Christian, St. Joseph Academy and Ocean Breeze Academy. Counting nearby towns, we list 16: 3 in San Marcos and 13 within 6 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 2,246 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in San Marcos is St. Joseph Academy with 332 students. The largest within 6 miles is Pacific Ridge School with 652 students.
Does California pay for private school?
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.