ChoiceFunded What your state pays

School choice in California

No state program pays private school tuition.

2,274 private schools listed in California

What exists in California

State programNo state program pays private school tuition
What families can use insteadNo 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.
Help payingNothing at the state level. Federal 529 rules allow up to $20,000 a year per student for K-12 tuition and some other costs from 2026, but California taxes the earnings on those withdrawals.
Coming upThere is no state application. Ask each school about its own financial aid deadlines.
Federal tax credit, 2027California was not on the IRS opt-in list for the federal scholarship tax credit as of September 14, 2026.

Worth knowing: A proposed initiative to create $17,000 education savings accounts is not on the November 3, 2026 ballot. A resolution urging the governor to opt into the federal credit (ACR 229) was introduced in June 2026 and has not passed.

We read this on from: IRS, participating states for 2027 (as of September 14, 2026); IRS, IR-2026-117, proposed rules, October 1, 2026; ScholarShare 529, expanded use of 529 funds (K-12 tax treatment); Franchise Tax Board, analysis of SB 529 (2025); California Secretary of State, qualified measures for November 2026; California Department of Education, private schools. Rules change when the legislature meets, so check the official program site before you count on a number.

Private schools in California

We list 2,274 private schools in California, with grades, size and affiliation, by city and county.

Browse private schools in California

Questions parents ask

Does California have school vouchers or an ESA?

No state program pays private school tuition.

What can families in California use instead?

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.

Will the federal scholarship tax credit help in California?

California was not on the IRS opt-in list for the federal scholarship tax credit as of September 14, 2026.

Other states

California schools Federal credit