Best �� Schools Belonging to Membership Associations in California (2026)

Best California �� Schools Belonging to Membership Associations (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 2,412 private schools belonging to membership associations in California.

The most popular school membership associations are Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) (29% of schools), National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) (21% of schools) and Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) (16% of schools).

Fusion Academy Newport Beach Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher. Teachers personalize content and act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Sacramento Country Day School Photo - Sacramento Country Day students share fun experiences and make life-long friendships while learning to think critically, live creatively, and act compassionately - in and out of the classroom.

Fusion Academy Pasadena Downtown Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher. Teachers personalize content and act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Merryhill Elementary School Calvine Photo

The Webb Schools Photo - Expanding Minds, Opening FuturesExpert faculty will inspire you to think boldly, lead with confidence, and grow as an innovator. Surrounded by mountains, beaches, Los Angeles, and natural wonders, you'll discover new possibilities, prepare for exciting college pathways, and thrive in a community that values learning, leadership, and joy.

Pacific Academy Photo - Preparatory School for Grades K-12

Almaden Country Day School Photo - Students in grades 1-5 all play a role in our theater arts program performing once a year in a full-length production. They learn lines, songs, and choreography, step into their characters' shoes to strengthen their empathy "muscles" and gain confidence along the way!

Stratford School San Bruno Crestmoor Canyon Photo

Stratford Pleasanton Middle School Photo

Fusion Academy Miracle Mile Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Fusion Academy Mission Viejo Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Fusion Academy Pleasanton Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher. Teachers personalize content and act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Victory Christian Academy Photo - Victory Christian Academy (VCA)

Top-Ranked California �� Schools by Membership Association (2026)

Membership Association

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) or (School of Tomorrow)

2,848

57%

Accreditation International

123

47%

American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)

2,231

59%

American Montessori Society (AMS)

167

21,420

52%

Association for Experiential Education (AEE)

181

Association Montessori International (AMI)

3,416

60%

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)

1,925

45%

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

385

98,099

42%

Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS)

4,160

39%

Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS)

4,879

35%

Association of Military Colleges and Schools

448

64%

Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

188

80%

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

4,945

27%

Bilingual School Association

834

43%

California Association for the Gifted

1,788

30%

California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)

201

69,900

38%

California Association of �� Special Education Schools (CAPSES)

1,147

50%

Carden Educational Foundation

450

53%

Christian Schools International (CSI)

8,138

33%

Cognia

10,808

42%

Council of Bilingual Education

1,193

52%

Educational Records Bureau

4,252

42%

European Council for International Schools

4,010

33%

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA)

3,463

46%

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

498

42%

General Conference of SDA Church

112

31%

General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (GCSDAC)

6,462

63%

Institute for Independent Education

4,422

57%

International Baccalaureate (IB) World School

8,171

51%

International Boys Schools Coalition

1,072

40%

International Coalition of Girls Schools

980

57%

International Montessori Council (IMC)

772

60%

Islamic School League of America (ISLA)

1,918

67%

Jesuit Schools Network

449

100%

Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA)

6,840

47%

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)

207

38%

Mercy Secondary Education Association (MSEA)

387

60%

Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

223

41%

National Association for the Education of Young Children

210

25,706

51%

National Association for the Gifted

1,380

30%

National Association of College Admissions Counselors

6,052

50%

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)

9,277

50%

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

271

107,544

40%

National Association of Laboratory Schools

739

64%

National Association of �� Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS)

2,275

28%

National Association of �� Schools

870

National Association of �� Special Education Centers

1,419

55%

National Association of Secondary School Principals

449

23%

National Catholic Education Association

2,377

91%

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

506

159,309

60%

National Christian School Association (NCSA)

310

49%

National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools

177

89%

National Coalition of Boys Schools

163

88%

National Coalition of Girls

4,095

47%

National Council for �� School Accreditation

1,895

70%

National Honor Society (NHS)

4,998

45%

National Independent �� Schools Association

14,512

61%

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

3,080

National Lutheran Schools Accreditation

7,822

41%

National Middle School Association

707

55%

National Society of Hebrew Day Schools (NSHDS)

4,025

20%

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

254

New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS)

Not Available (School did not report any membership associatons).

497

43%

Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF)

144

48%

Orton Gillingham Academy of Practioners and Educators

420

40%

Other associations(s) for exceptional children

4,568

58%

Other Montessori association(s)

10,939

48%

Other religious school association(s)

140

31,082

45%

Other school association(s)

316

64,202

53%

Other special emphasis association(s)

19,469

40%

Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools

1,113

Solomon Schechter Day Schools (SSDS)

1,845

Southern Association of Independent Schools

1,429

39%

Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS)

1,498

41%

State or regional independent school association

16,614

44%

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

5,872

49%

The French school system abroad (AEFE)

The Jewish Community Day School Association (SSDSA)

493

35%

Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

2,896

25%

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

706

233,793

47%

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod School Accreditation (WELSSA)

327

23%

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