糖心原创

Gateway School Photo

Best Santa Cruz Private Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private elementary schools serving 787 students in Santa Cruz, CA.
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Santa Cruz, CA include Gateway School, Vhm Christian School, and Holy Cross School.
The average acceptance rate is 91%, which is higher than the California private elementary school average acceptance rate of 81%.
33% of private elementary schools in Santa Cruz, CA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).

Top-Ranked Santa Cruz Private Elementary 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
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 | 133 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
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 糖心原创s in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz, California 糖心原创s (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
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
787 Students
504,459 Students
% Average Students of Color
22%
50%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
99 Teachers
44,252 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
55%
59%
Average Class Size
15 students
17 students
Average Number of AP Courses
16 courses
14 courses
Average ACT score
29
(Out of 36)
28

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$20,153
$17,560
Average % on Financial Aid
40%
28%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$9,491
$8,373
Average Acceptance Rate
91%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.47
0.74
# American Indian Students
1 Student
2,780 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
29 Students
57,654 Students
% Asian Students
4%
12%
# Hispanic Students
101 Students
81,089 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
17%
# Black Students
18 Students
23,478 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
580 Students
193,503 Students
% White Students
72%
40%
# Hawaiian Students
4 Students
3,906 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
78 Students
122,453 Students
% of Others Students
10%
25%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private elementary schools in Santa Cruz, CA?
The top-ranked private elementary schools in Santa Cruz, CA include Gateway School, Vhm Christian School, and Holy Cross School.
How many private elementary schools are located in Santa Cruz?
6 private elementary schools are located in Santa Cruz.
How diverse are private elementary schools in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz private elementary schools are approximately 22% minority students, which is lower than the California private school average of 50%.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Santa Cruz?
33% of private elementary schools in Santa Cruz are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist).
Which private elementary schools in Santa Cruz are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private elementary schools in Santa Cruz include: Holy Cross School vs. Gateway School

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