Private school tuition

Is a California private high school worth the tuition?

136 private high schools publish a tuition and have a 2025 UC Reach Score. Each has a page that sets it beside the highest-scoring public high school within 15 miles: what it costs over four years at today's tuition, how the two compare on UC outcomes, and what each offers.

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Orange County (9)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
Sage Hill School Newport Coast $58,100 151 Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana) 96 9.6
Fairmont Preparatory Academy Anaheim $34,435 101 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 6.1
Crean Lutheran High School Irvine $23,575 94 Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana) 96 8.6
St. Margaret's Episcopal School San Juan Capistrano $52,950 73 Portola High School (Irvine) 67 14.9
Mater Dei High School Santa Ana $21,150 36 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 14.5
JSerra Catholic High School San Juan Capistrano $26,200 33 Portola High School (Irvine) 67 13.4
Rosary Academy Fullerton $21,990 28 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 9.1
Servite High School Anaheim $21,710 25 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 6.5
Whittier Christian High School La Habra $19,585 6 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 6.3

Los Angeles County (45)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
The Webb Schools Claremont $87,430 144 Diamond Bar High School (Diamond Bar) 65 11.2
Geffen Academy at UCLA Los Angeles $42,675 121 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 1.7
Saint Marys Academy Inglewood $12,668 86 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 8.6
Viewpoint School Calabasas $56,973 77 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 12.8
Windward School Los Angeles $58,101 77 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 14.1
Milken Community School Los Angeles $57,450 66 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 6.3
Marlborough School Los Angeles $57,850 64 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 14.5
Harvard-Westlake School Studio City $54,900 62 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 7.7
Loyola High School Los Angeles $32,732 62 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 12.5
Crespi Carmelite High School Encino $25,271 61 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 9.5
Pacifica Christian High School Santa Monica $33,985 58 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 1.8
Saint Monica Catholic High School Santa Monica $25,670 58 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 2.5
Providence High School Burbank $31,800 57 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 13.2
Bishop Montgomery High School Torrance $15,300 54 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 6.9
Buckley School Sherman Oaks $58,788 53 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 7.3
Saint Lucys Priory High School Glendora $14,150 51 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 12.7
Sierra Canyon School Chatsworth $48,600 51 Oak Park High School (Oak Park) 56 12.0
Crossroads School Santa Monica $58,541 48 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 1.3
Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian Los Angeles $11,650 46 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 11.6
Chaminade College Preparatory West Hills $26,995 45 Oak Park High School (Oak Park) 56 7.6
Louisville High School Woodland Hills $26,700 44 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 11.8
Ramona Convent Secondary School Alhambra $18,730 42 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 14.3
Lycee Francais De Los Angeles Los Angeles $41,050 41 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 14.3
Oaks Christian School Westlake Village $45,330 41 Oak Park High School (Oak Park) 56 3.2
Ambassador High School Torrance $17,270 38 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 4.9
Brentwood School Los Angeles $58,207 38 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 2.3
Campbell Hall North Hollywood $57,080 38 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 8.8
Oakwood School North Hollywood $57,550 38 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 9.8
Saint Paul High School Santa Fe Springs $12,850 38 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 13.1
Wildwood School Los Angeles $56,055 38 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 13.4
Bishop Conaty Our Lady Loretto Los Angeles $10,800 36 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 12.7
Vistamar School El Segundo $52,950 35 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 7.5
Don Bosco Technical Institute Rosemead $16,950 34 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 11.3
Saint John Bosco High School Bellflower $18,325 31 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 8.2
Bishop Amat Memorial High School La Puente $11,165 28 Gretchen Whitney High School (Cerritos) 126 13.1
Immaculate Heart High School Los Angeles $28,650 23 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 12.2
Notre Dame Academy Los Angeles $29,950 23 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 14.7
Damien High School La Verne $13,300 22 Diamond Bar High School (Diamond Bar) 65 8.8
Shalhevet High School Los Angeles $46,944 21 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 14.6
Saint Genevieve High School Panorama City $14,475 19 New West Charter School (Los Angeles) 68 12.9
Mary Star of the Sea High School San Pedro $12,100 18 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 7.4
Cantwell/Sacred Heart Mary High School Montebello $10,866 15 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 12.7
Cathedral High School Los Angeles $15,555 14 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 14.3
Bishop Alemany High School Mission Hills $14,670 13 West Ranch High School (Valencia) 52 11.8
Saint Anthony High School Long Beach $12,300 13 California Academy of Mathematics & Science (Carson) 129 7.8

Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge (4)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
Polytechnic School Pasadena $51,700 76 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 1.9
Mayfield Senior School Pasadena $39,300 61 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 3.7
Maranatha High School Pasadena $29,200 56 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 3.6
La Salle High School Pasadena $33,912 51 San Marino High School (San Marino) 72 2.9

San Diego County (10)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
The Bishop's School La Jolla $52,500 68 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 9.8
Cambridge School San Diego $31,980 52 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 3.5
La Jolla Country Day School La Jolla $48,900 49 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 5.9
Pacific Ridge School Carlsbad $47,250 38 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 11.8
Mater Dei Catholic High School Chula Vista $21,750 35 Gompers Preparatory Academy (San Diego) 47 9.5
Academy Our Lady of Peace San Diego $26,250 33 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 13.8
Santa Fe Christian School Solana Beach $28,680 33 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 4.6
Tri City Christian School Vista $16,964 29 Del Lago Academy (Escondido) 42 12.2
Army and Navy Academy Carlsbad $62,000 23 San Dieguito Academy (Encinitas) 42 9.9
Maranatha Christian Schools San Diego $19,275 22 Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) 93 5.3

San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley (14)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley San Jose $36,380 194 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 5.4
Valley Christian High School San Jose $37,640 96 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 10.0
Notre Dame High School San Jose $28,880 94 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 7.1
Archbishop Mitty High School San Jose $33,860 65 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 1.2
The King's Academy Sunnyvale $28,900 65 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 5.9
The Nueva School San Mateo $65,065 65 Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) 79 13.5
Crystal Springs Uplands School Hillsborough $68,600 64 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 14.4
Menlo School Atherton $67,792 62 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 14.8
Presentation High School San Jose $33,870 43 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 5.9
Bellarmine College Preparatory San Jose $33,575 42 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 5.5
Junipero Serra High School San Mateo $30,800 34 Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) 79 14.3
Saint Francis High School Mountain View $30,550 34 Lynbrook High School (San Jose) 86 6.8
Notre Dame High School Belmont $33,730 32 Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) 79 11.7
Mercy High School Burlingame $30,328 25 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 11.6

San Francisco (10)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
San Francisco University High School San Francisco $68,090 60 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 4.6
Archbishop Riordan High School San Francisco $29,000 59 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 1.7
Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep San Francisco $29,550 57 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 4.9
Lick Wilmerding High School San Francisco $64,900 55 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 2.0
Bay School of San Francisco San Francisco $69,899 53 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 5.1
St. Ignatius College Preparatory San Francisco $35,700 51 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 1.4
Urban School of San Francisco San Francisco $68,241 37 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 3.4
Drew School San Francisco $66,800 20 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 4.5
Jewish Community High School of the Bay San Francisco $67,418 19 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 4.3
San Francisco Waldorf High School San Francisco $59,400 8 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 4.7

Marin County (4)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
San Domenico School San Anselmo $69,650 64 Tamalpais High School (Mill Valley) 55 9.4
Branson School Ross $68,475 51 Galileo Academy of Science & Tech (San Francisco) 61 13.6
Marin Academy San Rafael $67,500 42 Galileo Academy of Science & Tech (San Francisco) 61 13.4
Marin Catholic High School Kentfield $29,400 30 Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (San Francisco) 70 14.9

East Bay (15)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School Fremont $39,275 212 Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) 79 14.7
Quarry Lane School Dublin $52,384 113 Mission San Jose High School (Fremont) 70 13.1
Bishop O'Dowd High School Oakland $28,380 81 Berkeley High School (Berkeley) 67 10.1
College Preparatory School Oakland $62,760 77 Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (San Francisco) 70 13.5
The Head-Royce School Oakland $62,900 60 Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (San Francisco) 70 14.1
Carondelet High School Concord $26,565 55 Berkeley High School (Berkeley) 67 13.7
Saint Joseph-Notre Dame High School Alameda $26,130 49 Lowell High School (San Francisco) 71 12.7
Berean Christian High School Walnut Creek $16,500 48 Berkeley High School (Berkeley) 67 13.4
Saint Mary's College High School Berkeley $25,950 46 Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (San Francisco) 70 13.1
Salesian College Preparatory Richmond $24,550 45 Berkeley High School (Berkeley) 67 6.9
Moreau Catholic High School Hayward $27,070 44 Mission San Jose High School (Fremont) 70 9.8
Fremont Christian High School Fremont $22,765 34 Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) 79 12.1
Maybeck High School Berkeley $51,150 30 Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (San Francisco) 70 13.4
De La Salle High School Concord $27,050 23 Berkeley High School (Berkeley) 67 13.8
Holy Names High School Oakland $26,015 10 Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (San Francisco) 70 13.6

Sacramento region (5)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
Sacramento Country Day School Sacramento $37,640 93 West Campus High School (Sacramento) 82 3.5
Saint Francis Catholic High School Sacramento $18,080 54 West Campus High School (Sacramento) 82 2.1
Jesuit High School Carmichael $20,100 37 West Campus High School (Sacramento) 82 6.2
Christian Brothers High School Sacramento $17,675 30 West Campus High School (Sacramento) 82 1.3
Woodland Christian High School Woodland $8,540 11 Davis Senior High School (Davis) 53 7.0

Inland Empire (6)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
Xavier College Preparatory High School Palm Desert $18,750 53 Palm Desert High School (Palm Desert) 29 4.2
Notre Dame High School Riverside $10,100 44 John F Kennedy Middle College High School (Norco) 42 10.0
Linfield Christian School Temecula $16,320 35 Great Oak High School (Temecula) 25 3.5
Aquinas High School San Bernardino $8,950 26 Redlands High School (Redlands) 40 7.2
United Christian Academy Rancho Cucamonga $15,400 14 Ruben S Ayala High School (Chino Hills) 45 12.1
Ontario Christian High School Ontario $16,358 10 Diamond Bar High School (Diamond Bar) 65 11.5

Ventura and Santa Barbara counties (3)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara $45,060 63 Dos Pueblos High School (Goleta) 46 6.9
Ojai Valley School Ojai $37,000 38 Nordhoff High School (Ojai) 22 0.5
Saint Bonaventure High School Ventura $12,200 36 Rancho Campana High School (Camarillo) 37 13.4

Elsewhere in California (11)

Private school City Tuition UC Reach Score Best nearby public school Its score Miles
Santa Catalina School Monterey $48,925 76 Carmel High School (Carmel) 44 3.4
San Joaquin Memorial High School Fresno $15,832 59 University High School (Fresno) 95 3.7
Garces Memorial High School Bakersfield $16,500 44 Stockdale High School (Bakersfield) 25 8.8
York School Monterey $45,950 41 Carmel High School (Carmel) 44 6.0
Justin-Siena High School Napa $25,500 38 Sonoma Valley High School (Sonoma) 24 8.1
Saint Mary's High School Stockton $14,300 37 Aspire Benjamin Holt College Prep (Stockton) 40 2.8
St Francis High School Salesian College Prep Watsonville $17,890 35 Aptos High School (Aptos) 28 7.2
Bakersfield Christian High School Bakersfield $16,450 34 Stockdale High School (Bakersfield) 25 1.8
Cardinal Newman High School Santa Rosa $24,300 23 Healdsburg High School (Healdsburg) 40 11.2
Vincent Memorial Catholic High School Calexico $12,313 19 Southwest High School (El Centro) 13 8.1
Central Catholic High School Modesto $15,808 14 James C Enochs High School (Modesto) 26 6.3

For whole counties, see private vs public high schools by county; for every private school in a metro, best private high schools by metro.

A private school is listed when it publishes a tuition figure on its admissions pages and has a 2025 UC Reach Score. The public school is the highest-scoring district or charter high school within 15 miles (straight-line) that reaches grade 12, has at least 100 seniors and is not an online, independent-study or alternative program. Schools are grouped by the narrowest metro page that lists them.