Centennial Montessori School
under 1 mi Grades PreK Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Private schools in San Mateo, CA
15 schools in San Mateo itself and 19 more within 6 miles.
San Mateo private schools at a glance
San Mateo has 15 private schools of its own, and 19 more are within 6 miles. In San Mateo itself: 5 Catholic, 1 other Christian and 9 nonsectarian; 10 teach elementary grades and 5 teach high school; 2 are Montessori. Of the 19 nearby: 6 Catholic, 12 nonsectarian and 1 of other faiths. 3 are all-boys; the rest are co-ed. The typical school has about 179 students and 7.2 per teacher (2023-24 federal survey).
11 Catholic
7.2 students per teacher, typical
13 in a school association
84% of graduates to a 4-year college, typical high school
Private schools in San Mateo (15)
Schools that give San Mateo 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 San Mateo matches all of those.
St. Matthew Catholic School
under 1 mi Grades K-8 625 students 24 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Up Academy
under 1 mi Grades PreK-6 21 students 2.8 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew
under 1 mi Grades PreK-8 290 students 5.8 students per teacher Episcopal Co-ed
St. Timothy School
under 1 mi Grades Transitional K-8 152 students 15.4 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
The Burkard School
1 mi Grades 2-8 34 students 3.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades 9-12 863 students 17.3 students per teacher Roman Catholic All-boys 84% to 4-year college
Grades 9-12 859 students 18.2 students per teacher Roman Catholic All-boys 84% to 4-year college
The Carey School
1 mi Grades PreK-5 252 students 7.2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades 6-12 37 students 2.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Alternative Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
The Nueva School
1 mi Grades PreK-12 950 students 7.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed 99% to 4-year college
St. Gregory School
1 mi Grades K-8 297 students 19 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-12 23 students 2.9 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Building Kidz School
2 mi Grades K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
Odyssey School
3 mi Grades 6-8 50 students 7.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Nearby, within 6 miles (19)
Schools in other towns within 6 miles of downtown San Mateo.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Grades 6-12 569 students 8.8 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 99% to 4-year college
Genius Learning
2 mi Grades Transitional K Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
Grades K-8 303 students 17.4 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Lydian Academy
2 mi Grades 6-12 19 students Nonsectarian Co-ed 80% to 4-year college
Grades K-8 199 students 5.1 students per teacher Jewish Special program emphasis Co-ed
Grades K-5 188 students 14.5 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
The Bridge School
3 mi Grades K-5 Under 10 K-12 students Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Serendipity School
3 mi Grades K-5 147 students 5.5 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
All 19 nearby schools
| School | Grades | Students | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Springs Uplands School | 6-12 | 569 | 2 |
| Genius Learning | Transitional K | 4 | 2 |
| St. Catherine of Siena School | K-8 | 303 | 2 |
| Lydian Academy | 6-12 | 19 | 2 |
| Ronald C Wornick Jewish Day School | K-8 | 199 | 2 |
| Kids Connection Elementary | K-5 | 188 | 3 |
| The Bridge School | K-5 | 8 | 3 |
| La Petite Montessori School | PreK-K | 4 | 3 |
| Serendipity School | K-5 | 147 | 3 |
| Notre Dame Elementary School | PreK-8 | 179 | 3 |
| Compass High School | 9-12 | 41 | 3 |
| Field Middle School | 6-8 | 45 | 3 |
| Immaculate Heart of Mary School | PreK-8 | 100 | 4 |
| Belmont Oaks Academy | PreK-5 | 227 | 4 |
| Charles Armstrong School | 2-8 | 239 | 4 |
| Our Lady of Angels School | K-8 | 296 | 4 |
| St. Charles School | K-8 | 263 | 5 |
| Arbor Bay School | 1-8 | 29 | 5 |
| St. Dunstan Catholic School | K-8 | 246 | 6 |
Private schools
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Private school tuition near San Mateo
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Matthew Catholic School | $10,400 | 2026-27 |
| Junipero Serra High School | $30,800 | 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
- Catholic schools in and around San Mateo (11)
- Montessori schools in and around San Mateo (3)
- Special education schools in and around San Mateo (5)
- Private high schools in and around San Mateo (8)
- Private elementary schools in and around San Mateo (25)
- Private middle schools in and around San Mateo (22)
- Private schools with kindergarten in and around San Mateo (21)
- Private schools with pre-K in and around San Mateo (9)
- All-boys schools in and around San Mateo (3)
- All schools in San Mateo County
- Private schools in Hillsborough (3 mi)
- Private schools in Belmont (3 mi)
- Private schools in Burlingame (4 mi)
- Private schools in Redwood City (6 mi)
- Private schools in South San Francisco (7 mi)
- Private schools in San Bruno (8 mi)
- Private schools in Pacifica (10 mi)
- Private schools in Menlo Park (11 mi)
- Private schools in Hayward (12 mi)
- Private schools in San Lorenzo (12 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 Mateo?
15 private schools give San Mateo as their address. Counting nearby towns, we list 34: 15 in San Mateo and 19 within 6 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 7,627 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in San Mateo is The Nueva School with 950 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.