Los Gatos, Santa Clara County · Silicon Valley · 2026–27 Enrollment Guide

Best Private Schools in Los Gatos, CA

Private schools near Los Gatos — rated across 6 categories using reviews from Google, Yelp, Niche.com, and GreatSchools. Average tuition: $23,800/year. Average class ratio: 9:1.

9
Private schools
$23K
Avg tuition/yr
9:1
Avg class ratio
Jan
Aid deadline
Top-rated private schools near Los Gatos
Ratings aggregated from Google, Yelp, Niche.com, GreatSchools, and Indeed staff reviews · 2026
The Harker School
San Jose, CA · Grades PK–12 · Independent · Coed
4.6
Annual tuition: ~$40,000+
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BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA · Grades K–12 · STEM · Coed
4.4
Annual tuition: ~$27,000
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Cambrian Academy
San Jose, CA · Grades 6–12 · Future-Ready · 84 students
4.4
Annual tuition: ~$18,000
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Fusion Academy Cupertino
Cupertino, CA · Grades 4–12 · 1-to-1 · AI-ready
4.3
Annual tuition: Contact for pricing
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Presentation High School
San Jose, CA · Grades 9–12 · Catholic · All-female
4.5
Annual tuition: $31,220
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Notre Dame High School
San Jose, CA · Grades 9–12 · Catholic · Coed
4.3
Annual tuition: ~$24,000
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About private schools in Los Gatos

Private school landscape in Los Gatos, CA

Los Gatos is affluent hillside community with Netflix headquarters and a strong college-prep culture. It sits within the Los Gatos Union School District and Los Gatos–Saratoga Joint Union High School District, which provides Los Gatos High School, consistently one of the top-ranked public high schools in Santa Clara County. For families seeking private education, Sacred Heart School Los Gatos, Archbishop Mitty High School, and The Harker School (20 min) are among the most frequently considered options in and near the city.

Los Gatos is one of the most affluent communities in Silicon Valley. The private school market skews toward college-prep and faith-based institutions. Los Gatos High is very strong, so private school families here typically have a specific reason: Catholic formation, a smaller environment, or access to schools not reachable from the public district.

Private school tuition near Los Gatos ranges from approximately $16,000/yr to $42,000+/yr. The average class ratio across private schools in the area is approximately 9:1. Most schools offer need-based financial aid through FACTS or SSS — financial aid applications should be submitted by January 2027 for Fall 2027 enrollment.

How to choose a private school near Los Gatos

When evaluating private schools near Los Gatos, look for specific, verifiable data rather than marketing language. A trustworthy school provides: average class size (not a range — an actual number), student-teacher ratio, named faculty with qualifications, actual college matriculation data for high schools (where students enrolled, not just where they were accepted), and a complete fee schedule including every mandatory charge beyond headline tuition.

The California Department of Education does not regulate, approve, or endorse private K–12 schools — a school's CDE Private School Affidavit is a registration document, not a quality certification. Accreditation from a named body (WASC, WCEA, or NAIS membership) is a more meaningful signal. Verify which accreditor a school uses before treating "accredited" as a trust signal.

For a complete guide to the admissions process, deadlines, financial aid, and what to look for during campus visits, see our San Jose private school admissions timeline. For AI and coding school options, see which private schools near Los Gatos teach AI in 2026.

Data sources: Los Gatos Union School District · California private school directory

Frequently asked questions — Los Gatos private schools
What Los Gatos parents ask us: What private schools are within a reasonable drive? How do I choose between Harker and Valley Christian? When do applications open for private high schools near Los Gatos? We cover it below.
What parents ask us: What private schools are within driving distance of Los Gatos? How do I choose between Harker and Valley Christian? When do applications open? How hard is it to get in? What does private elementary cost near Los Gatos? We answer all of these below.
What private schools are near Los Gatos, CA?
Private schools near Los Gatos include Sacred Heart School Los Gatos (PreK–8, Catholic), Archbishop Mitty High School (Catholic, coed, Grades 9–12, ~15 min), and The Harker School in San Jose (20 minutes, PK–12, ~$40,000/yr). Several other Catholic elementary programs serve the Los Gatos area.
What private schools are near Los Gatos, CA?
Los Gatos families primarily look at Harker School (San Jose, 15 min), Sacred Heart Schools Atherton (30 min), Valley Christian Schools (San Jose, 20 min), and Notre Dame High School San Jose (25 min). Locally, there are several small Catholic and Christian elementary schools. For families who want to stay closer to home, Cambrian Academy in nearby Campbell is a strong project-based option at $18,000/year.
How do Los Gatos families decide between Harker and Valley Christian?
These schools serve different families. Harker is secular, academically elite, and college-prep focused — annual tuition is approximately $40,000. Valley Christian is evangelical Christian, also strong academically, and roughly $18,000/year. The choice usually comes down to faith values and budget. Both have strong college placement. Valley Christian is particularly strong for student athletes and families who want faith integrated into daily academics. Harker is the choice for families prioritizing national college rankings and STEM programming.
When is the application deadline for private high schools near Los Gatos?
Most private high schools in the San Jose and Los Gatos area follow the same timeline: applications open in October, tours in October–November, ISEE or SSAT testing in November–December, applications due in December–January, and decisions in late January or February. Harker and BASIS are the most selective and tend to send decisions earliest. Start the ISEE registration process by September — testing slots fill quickly in the South Bay.
How much does private school cost near Los Gatos?
Private school tuition near Los Gatos ranges from approximately $16,000/yr for Catholic K–8 programs to $42,000+/yr for elite independent schools. The average is approximately $23,800/yr. Most schools offer need-based financial aid through FACTS or SSS — apply by January 2027.
Is private school worth it in Los Gatos given the strong public schools?
Los Gatos High School is consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Santa Clara County. Private school makes the strongest case in Los Gatos for: Catholic or faith-based formation, students who want a smaller school community, or access to specialized programs at schools like The Harker School or Cambrian Academy that are not available in the public system.
When do Los Gatos area private school applications open?
For Fall 2027 enrollment, open houses begin September 2026. Deadlines typically fall December 2026 through February 2027. Archbishop Mitty High School and Sacred Heart schools have their own timelines — check each school's official admissions page for current 2026–27 and 2027–28 deadlines.
Which private schools near Los Gatos have the best college placement?
The Harker School (San Jose, 20 minutes) has the strongest documented college placement outcomes in the broader region — #46 in California with consistent Ivy League and top UC results. Archbishop Mitty High School also has strong four-year university placement. Ask each school specifically for enrolled matriculation data, not just acceptance rates.
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