草榴社区

Midtown Montessori Photo - Cooking and eating are part of the daily curriculum.

Best Santa Cruz 草榴社区 Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 8 private schools serving 854 students in Santa Cruz, CA (there are , serving 8,991 public students). 9% of all K-12 students in Santa Cruz, CA are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
The top-ranked private schools in Santa Cruz, CA include Vhm Christian School, Gateway School, and Holy Cross School.
The average acceptance rate is 87%, which is higher than the California private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
25% of private schools in Santa Cruz, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).

Top-Ranked Santa Cruz 草榴社区 Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Gateway School
Gateway School Photo
(3)
255 Swift Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-0341
Gr: K-8 | 243 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
Holy Cross School
Holy Cross School Photo - Holy Cross School ~ 2019 Preschool -8th grade
(Catholic)
(4)
150 Emmet
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-5852
Gr: PK-8 | 159 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
Vhm Christian School
Vhm Christian School Photo - Invest in a Christ-centered education for your children
(Seventh Day Adventist)
427 Capitola Road Extension
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-4762
Gr: K-8 | 68 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Bay School
The Bay School Photo - Educating Children with Autism
Special Education School
1026 Capitola Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-9620
Gr: Inquire with school | 39 students
Kirby School
Kirby School Photo - At Kirby, classes average 12 students, creating space for real connection and individualized challenge.
(2)
425 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-0658
Gr: 6-12 | 136 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition listed
Midtown Montessori
Midtown Montessori Photo - Cooking and eating are part of the daily curriculum.
Montessori School
987 Bostwick Lane
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 423-2273
Gr: PK-K | 25 students
366 Gault St
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-8444
Gr: K-6 | 48 students Avg. class size: 12 students Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Santa Cruz Waldorf School Photo
Waldorf School
2190 Empire Grade
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 425-0519
Gr: PK-8 | 136 students Avg. class size: 14 students Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
[+] Show Closed 草榴社区 Schools in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz, California 草榴社区 Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
2727 Mattison Ln
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831) 476-4000
Gr: PK-8 | 217 students Avg. class size: 25 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
250 California Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-2641
Gr: K-6 | 54 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition listed

Overview

This Town (Santa Cruz)
This State (CA)
# Schools
8 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
854 Students
660,172 Students
% Average Students of Color
23%
52%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
108 Teachers
55,641 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
55%
59%
Average Class Size
15 students
17 students
Average ACT score
29
(Out of 36)
27

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$21,003
$18,325
Average % on Financial Aid
40%
29%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$9,491
$9,063
Average Acceptance Rate
87%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.51
0.74
# American Indian Students
1 Student
3,577 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
39 Students
72,070 Students
% Asian Students
5%
11%
# Hispanic Students
108 Students
104,452 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
16%
# Black Students
20 Students
30,233 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
600 Students
235,855 Students
% White Students
68%
37%
# Hawaiian Students
4 Students
5,499 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
106 Students
188,449 Students
% of Others Students
12%
29%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
6 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Santa Cruz, CA?
The top-ranked private schools in Santa Cruz, CA include Vhm Christian School, Gateway School, and Holy Cross School.
How many private schools are located in Santa Cruz?
8 private schools are located in Santa Cruz.
How diverse are private schools in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz private schools are approximately 23% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 52%.
What percentage of students in Santa Cruz go to private school?
9% of all K-12 students in Santa Cruz are educated in private schools (compared to the CA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz?
25% of private schools in Santa Cruz are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).
Which private schools in Santa Cruz are often viewed compared to one another?

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