San Diego Private Schools: Grades and Campuses at 10 Schools

Short answer: San Diego, California private schools fall into three groups: K–12 schools (Parker, LJCDS, SDJA, Santa Fe Christian), 6–12/7–12 schools (Bishop's, Pacific Ridge, Grauer), and 9–12 specialists (OLP, Cathedral Catholic, St. Augustine). This is a ten-school starting point, not a complete city directory. Opening dates and deadlines vary by school, grade, and year.

EdCommGlobal breaks down one San Diego school-choice question at a time, so families know exactly what to do next.

"San Diego private schools" makes most parents think of high schools. But the city's private landscape starts at kindergarten — and division boundaries decide which application checklist you follow. "Applying for grade 5" means Lower School at Parker but Middle School at LJCDS, with completely different materials and testing (see the Parker vs LJCDS checklist comparison).

By division: three types of schools

Schools covering K–12: Francis Parker, the LJCDS profile, San Diego Jewish Academy, and Santa Fe Christian. Some also have preschool programs with separate age requirements. Continuous divisions can help long-term planning, but confirm progression rules, vacancies, and assessments individually.

6–12 / 7–12: Bishop’s, Pacific Ridge, and The Grauer School. Check the starting grade and ask whether applications are open for your target grade; division boundaries do not establish which intake has the most seats.

9–12 high schools: Academy of Our Lady of Peace (girls), Cathedral Catholic, and St. Augustine (boys). Ask separately about regular grade-9 entry and later transfers.

Elementary-to-middle transitions: identify the division first

Applying for grade 5 can mean different departments, documents, and assessments. Parker’s lower-school campus is in Mission Hills; its middle and upper schools are in Linda Vista. Calculate travel to the actual campus. Use the Parker/LJCDS K–8 comparison, then confirm the child’s portal checklist.

By region: put actual campuses in the commute plan

• La Jolla: Bishop’s and LJCDS.
• North County coast: Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach, Grauer in Encinitas, Pacific Ridge in Carlsbad.
• Mission Hills / Linda Vista: Parker uses different campuses by division.
• Carmel Valley area: Cathedral Catholic and SDJA.
• Other San Diego city campuses: OLP and St. Augustine; calculate routes using complete addresses.

Check addresses in the school directory, test travel during school hours, and record who handles pickup, activities, and late dismissal. Regional labels do not establish a school’s pressure level or replace a family’s commute test.

By type: independent, religious, single-gender

Religious affiliation matters in San Diego private high schools: the Catholic trio (OLP, Cathedral Catholic, St. Augustine) require religious coursework; Bishop's has Episcopal roots; confirm religious activities and coursework directly; Parker, LJCDS, Pacific Ridge, and Grauer are nonsectarian independents; SDJA and Santa Fe Christian carry Jewish and Christian identities respectively. Two single-gender schools: OLP (girls), St. Augustine (boys) — whether single-gender fits is a family call; feel the classroom atmosphere on visits.

2027–28 admissions timeline

Full 10-school dates: application deadlines calendar.

Tuition snapshot

The Parker 2026–27 tuition page lists JK at $30,300, SK–5 at $37,700, grades 6–8 at $46,200, and grades 9–12 at $49,100. Match the target grade and payment basis before comparing schools; confirm other amounts with admissions. Housing, care, transport, and insurance are separate. The full cost breakdown adds it all up.

Common questions

Is private elementary school worth it?

Compare the child’s current curriculum, English support, classroom environment, and commute. Private elementary enrollment does not guarantee admission to another private high school; progression within one school also depends on its rules. For a public alternative, confirm the residence district and eligibility before comparing support.

K–12 all the way, or test into high school?

A continuous school can preserve curricular and social continuity; families can also reconsider at later stages. A new high-school application requires checking vacancies and the full process. Entry grade alone does not establish admissions difficulty. Consider current needs and future family arrangements.

Can international students apply?

Confirm by school and grade whether the student’s status is accepted, whether a required I-20 can be issued, and whether a parent or legal guardian must reside locally. K–8 and high school policies can differ. Admission, immigration, and housing approval are separate steps.

EdCommGlobal's take

Filter by division → region → budget to cut a dozen schools to three or four, then read the 10-school high school comparison. Contact EdCommGlobal and we'll turn your target schools' open houses, deadlines, and checklists into one execution sheet.

Sources: Parker Lower School, LJCDS Lower School, LJCDS Middle School, and the linked Parker tuition page, read October 14, 2026. Other school facts and dates follow the official references and verification dates in the linked profiles, K–8 comparison, and ten-school calendar. Recheck before submitting.

More school-planning guides

• San Diego School Choice Guide: Public or Private?