The College Preparatory School, located in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, has been ranked as the best private school in California and the seventh-best in the nation by Niche, a data analysis website. This is a significant rise from its previous rankings, where it placed seventh among California private schools last year and eighth in 2022. In addition to its top overall ranking, College Preparatory was named the sixth-best school for STEM education in the state.
The school has a small student body of 374 students from grades 9 to 12 and boasts a low student-teacher ratio of 7-to-1, significantly below the national average of 17-to-1. However, the high-quality education comes at a cost, with an annual tuition fee of $57,600.
College Preparatory received an A+ grade from Niche in most categories, including academics, teachers, diversity, and college preparation. However, it scored a B- in the sports category. This achievement positions the school ahead of Stanford Online High School in Redwood City, which took the second spot among California private schools and ranked tenth nationwide.
In other Bay Area education rankings, Palo Alto Unified School District was named the best public school district in California and the eighth-best in the nation, with three of its elementary schools and two middle schools ranking in the top 10 in the state. Palo Alto’s Henry M. Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School also ranked among the top public high schools in the state.
While no California public high schools made the top 20 nationwide, California Academy of Mathematics & Science in Long Beach earned the highest position for the state at No. 24.
In neighboring Nevada, Davidson Academy in Reno made an impressive showing, ranking second-best in the nation and recognized as the top school for its teaching staff. The academy, which caters to highly gifted students from grades 5 through 12, focuses on students in the 99.9th percentile of IQ scores.
