#1 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
St. Francis High School
Diocesan school · Grades 9–12
Smaller classes than 95% of Catholic schools in California
Mountain View, CA
A+Overall grade1,777 students6 students per teacher
2026 lists
Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Private high schools in Santa Clara County, CA with the highest overall grades. Top 21 of 21 schools.
#2 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Kehillah Jewish High School
Jewish day school · Grades 9–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Palo Alto, CA
A+Overall grade189 students6 students per teacher
#3 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Presentation High School
Independent Catholic school · Grades 9–12
The only all-girls school in San Jose
San Jose, CA
A+Overall gradeAll girls547 students15 students per teacher
#4 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
School for Independent Learners
Independent school · Grades 8–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Los Altos, CA
A+Overall grade225 students8 students per teacher
#5 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Castilleja School
Independent school · Grades 6–12
97% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Palo Alto, CA
A+Overall gradeAll girls424 students7 students per teacher
#6 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Archbishop Mitty High School
Diocesan school · Grades 9–12
One of the 3 largest Catholic schools in California
San Jose, CA
A+Overall grade1,770 students14 students per teacher
#7 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Legend College Preparatory
Independent school · Grades 9–12
The smallest classes of any independent school in Cupertino
Cupertino, CA
A+Overall grade96 students2 students per teacher
#8 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Apostles Lutheran School
Lutheran (Wisconsin Synod) school · Grades K–12
86% of graduates go to four-year colleges
San Jose, CA
AOverall grade219 students13 students per teacher
#9 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Fusion Academy Los Gatos
Independent school · Grades 6–12
Smaller classes than 83% of independent schools in California
Los Gatos, CA
A-Overall grade82 students3 students per teacher
#10 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Pinewood Private of Los Altos
Independent school · Grades K–12
The smallest classes of any independent school in Los Altos
Los Altos, CA
A-Overall grade598 students7 students per teacher
#11 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Rise Academy
Islamic school · Grades Pre-K–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
San Jose, CA
B+Overall grade226 students11 students per teacher
#12 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
German Intl School of Silicon Valley
Independent school · Grades Pre-K–12
The largest independent school in Mountain View
Mountain View, CA
B+Overall grade470 students9 students per teacher
#13 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
The King's Academy
Christian school (nondenominational) · Grades 6–12
90% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Sunnyvale, CA
B+Overall grade988 students15 students per teacher
#14 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Bellarmine College Preparatory
Independent Catholic school · Grades 9–12
The only all-boys school in San Jose
San Jose, CA
B+Overall gradeAll boys1,664 students18 students per teacher
#15 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
The VR School
Independent school · Grades 1–12
The largest independent school in Palo Alto
Palo Alto, CA
BOverall grade630 students9 students per teacher
#16 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Harker
Independent school · Grades K–12
One of the 3 largest independent schools in California
San Jose, CA
BOverall grade1,983 students10 students per teacher
#17 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Khan Lab School
Independent school · Grades K–12
The smallest classes of any independent school in Mountain View
Mountain View, CA
BOverall grade292 students9 students per teacher
#18 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Waldorf School-Peninsula
Independent school · Grades Pre-K–12
92% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Los Altos, CA
BOverall grade249 students16 students per teacher
#19 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
St. Thomas More School
Independent Catholic school · Grades K–12
Growing: enrollment up 32% since 2011–12
San Jose, CA
B-Overall grade265 students16 students per teacher
#20 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Waldorf School of the Peninsula
Montessori school · Grades Pre-K–12
The only Montessori school in Los Altos
Los Altos, CA
B-Overall grade252 students25 students per teacher
#21 Best Private High Schools in Santa Clara County, CA
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School
Independent Catholic school · Grades 9–12
89% of graduates go to four-year colleges
San Jose, CA
B-Overall grade425 students19 students per teacher
Grades compare each school's official facts, such as class size, how long it has served families and where graduates go, with similar schools. They're a starting point: visit, ask questions and trust what you see.