List of 97 Best Schools in California (2026 Fees)

A popular choice for immigrants and international students, California has been attracting residents of other states and countries to explore its unique lifestyle and culture. California is home to Silicon Valley, which is the birthplace of many technological innovations known to the world today. The public school system in California guarantees quality education at an affordable price.

California is also home to many immigrants from other cultures; thus, students in this state are exposed to diverse cultures which can shape the way they think about the world. For those who value entertainment, California promises a thrilling experience which can open various opportunities for learning and living.

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Facts about Schools in California

  • California has the largest number of enrolled school students in all of the US.
  • There are more than 9,500 schools subsidized by the local government in California.
  • Public schools in California are managed by locally elected school boards and superintendents according to school districts.
  • The average teacher to student ratio in public schools in California is 1:24.
  • Most schools in California require students to attend 180 days of learning sessions.
  • The school year in California varies per institution. Typically, however, it begins in mid-August and ends in April of the following year.

Education System in California

In California, all children are required to attend school by the time they turn 6 years old. The mandatory education in California is from primary school to secondary school. Enrolling a child to a kindergarten facility or a university is solely the parent’s choice. Nonetheless, California has state schools which provide free education for those who cannot afford the expensive fees in private institutions.

Most parents in California send their children to kindergarten at age 5, just before the children are enrolled in a primary school. Some parents even start early education for their kids by enrolling them in preschool at age 3 or 4, before they go to kindergarten and primary schools. After 6 years in primary school, students are sent to junior high school and senior high school, where they will be prepared to either pursue a degree from a university or search for employment.

This system of education implemented by the majority of schools in California is modeled on the American curriculum or K to 12 education system as it is more popularly known. In this system, kindergarten to senior high school is considered a mandatory education requirement for all students. It also trains students to become well-rounded individuals, as the K to 12 curriculum emphasizes the importance of co-curricular activities in shaping the personality of each learner. Moreover, the American curriculum in California has recently incorporated the “Common Core State Standards Initiative”, which emphasizes the achievement of aptitude in mathematics and English from kindergarten to senior high school. The American curriculum is a highly respected format of education around the world. Most importantly, it helps students in their holistic development – a goal consistent with the objectives of the education system in California.

Quick Facts about California

  • California is home to many educational institutions. It is known for having the largest education system for tertiary education. Likewise, California is home to some of the world’s top universities, i.e. Stanford University.
  • California is the most densely populated state in the United States.
  • California used to be called the “Grizzly Bear State”. However, through time, the nickname for the state was changed to the “Golden State”, because of California’s history in gold mining.
  • California is home to a significant number of minority groups. Most of its residents are Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians.

Below is a comprehensive list of all schools in California. Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best schools in California with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews and ratings.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in California through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in California tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

For more details, please click here

USD 3,400

USD 85,900

San Joaquin Memorial High School
  • Address: 1406 N. Fresno St, Fresno
  • Founded: 1945
  • Curriculum: Boarding
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 13,325
Inquire
Santa Catalina School
  • Address: Santa Catalina School, 1500 Mark Thomas Drive
  • Founded: 1950
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 60,050
Inquire
South Hills Academy
  • Address: 1600 E Francisquito Ave
  • Founded: 1957
  • Curriculum: Boarding
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 8,500
Inquire
Southwestern Academy (San Marino Campus)
  • Address: 2800 Monterey Road
  • Founded: 1924
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 61,875
Inquire
St. Andrew's Academy
  • Address: 198 Main St
  • Founded: 1999
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 13,000
Inquire
St. Catherine’s Academy
  • Address: 215 N. Harbor Blvd.
  • Founded: 1889
  • Curriculum: Boarding
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 13,148
Inquire
St. Michael’s Abbey Preparatory School
  • Address: 19292 El Toro Road, Silverado
  • Founded: 1965
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 23,785
Inquire
Stevenson School
  • Address: 3152 Forest Lake Road, Pebble Beach
  • Founded: 1952
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 54,450
Inquire
Sugar Bowl Academy
  • Address: 815 Lupine Trail, Norden
  • Founded: 1998
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 49,500
Inquire
The Athenian School
  • Address: 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd, Danville
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 41,600
Inquire
The Thacher School
  • Address: 5025 Thacher Road
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
Inquire
The Webb Schools
  • Address: 1175 West Baseline Road
  • Founded: 1922
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 60,610
Inquire
Valley International Academy
  • Address: 1 West Campbell Avenue B-20
  • Curriculum: Boarding
  • 2 Reviews
Inquire
Villanova Preparatory School
  • Address: 12096 N. Ventura Avenue
  • Founded: 1924
  • Curriculum: IB, Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 22,750
Inquire
Weimar Academy
  • Address: 20601 West Paoli Lane
  • Curriculum: Boarding
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 11,255
Inquire
Woodside Priory School
  • Address: 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley
  • Founded: 1957
  • Curriculum: Boarding, American
  • 2 Reviews
  • USD 52,680
Inquire
Archbishop Mitty High School
  • Address: 5000 Mitty Way, California
  • Founded: 1964
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 19,800
Inquire
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
  • Address: 1290 Parkmoor Ave, CA
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 29,200
Inquire
Bellarmine College Preparatory
  • Address: 960 West Hedding Street, California
  • Founded: 1851
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 21,065
Inquire
Bentley School
  • Address: 1 Hiller Drive, CA
  • Founded: 1920
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 35,763
Inquire
Bishop O'Dowd High School
  • Address: 9500 Stearns Ave, CA
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 18,740
Inquire
Castilleja School
  • Address: 1310 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
  • Founded: 1907
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 52,000
Inquire
Chadwick School
  • Address: 26800 South Academy Drive
  • Founded: 1935
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 34,550
Inquire
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences
  • Address: 1714 21st St, CA
  • Founded: 1971
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 37,959
Inquire
Crystal Springs Uplands School
  • Address: 10 Davis Drive
  • Curriculum: American
  • 1 Review
  • USD 54,445
Inquire
2026-07-01T00:01:02+04:00