The Best Private Schools in Princeton, California
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Princeton. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Jesuit High School
Jesuit Schools Network
Jesuit High School is a premier Catholic college preparatory school serving the greater Sacramento region, including families from Princeton area. Founded by the Society of Jesus, the school offers a rigorous academic program with 22 Advanced Placement courses and a comprehensive extracurricular program. The 33-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts center, and athletic complexes. The school emphasizes character formation through its Ignatian identity and service learning programs, with 100% of graduates attending four-year colleges and universities.
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St. Francis Catholic High School
Diocese of Sacramento
St. Francis Catholic High School is an all-girls college preparatory school serving students from throughout the Sacramento Valley region. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum with 19 Advanced Placement courses and maintains a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Facilities include modern science laboratories, technology centers, athletic facilities, and performing arts spaces. The school emphasizes leadership development and community service while maintaining strong academic outcomes, with graduates consistently attending top universities nationwide.
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Sacramento Country Day School
Independent School
Sacramento Country Day School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory school serving students from preschool through 12th grade. As the only International Baccalaureate World School in the Sacramento region, it offers the IB Diploma Program alongside Advanced Placement courses. The school features small class sizes, extensive arts programs, and competitive athletics. The 11-acre campus includes modern classrooms, science labs, performing arts center, and athletic facilities. The school emphasizes critical thinking, global perspective, and character development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Princeton, California
What are the private school options for families living in Princeton, California, and are there any schools directly in town?
Princeton, CA, is a very small, rural community in Colusa County. There are no private K-12 schools located within Princeton itself. Families typically look to nearby cities for private education. The top schools in the broader region, as you've noted, are in Sacramento (like Jesuit High School, St. Francis Catholic High School, and Sacramento Country Day School), which is over an hour's drive away. Closer, more practical options may include private schools in Chico, Marysville, or Yuba City, which are within a 30-60 minute commute. This makes transportation and logistics a primary consideration for Princeton residents seeking private education.
How does the rural setting of Princeton, California, impact tuition and financial aid for private schools?
The rural nature of Princeton means most private schools are a significant commute away. Beyond tuition, families must budget heavily for transportation costs—fuel, vehicle maintenance, or potential boarding options. Many of the prestigious Sacramento private schools offer robust need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. California also has the California Credit Union School Choice Scholarship, and some schools participate in state programs like the California Tax Credit Scholarship Program for lower-income families. It's crucial to apply for financial aid early, as aid packages can help offset both tuition and associated commuting expenses.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs might attract a Princeton family to a Sacramento-area private school?
Sacramento-area private schools offer programs that are rarely available in Princeton's rural public schools. Jesuit and St. Francis provide extensive college-preparatory curricula, championship-level athletic leagues, and faith-based education. Sacramento Country Day School emphasizes a rigorous, project-based learning environment with strong arts and sciences. For a student from Princeton, these schools offer specialized opportunities like advanced STEM labs, extensive foreign language choices, competitive speech and debate, and diverse visual and performing arts programs that can be a compelling reason for the long commute.
What is the enrollment timeline and process like for a Princeton student applying to competitive private high schools in Sacramento?
The process requires early and proactive planning due to the distance. Application deadlines for schools like Jesuit, St. Francis, and Sacramento Country Day are typically in January for the following fall. The process includes standardized testing (like the HSPT or ISEE), school visits, interviews, and submission of transcripts and recommendations. For Princeton families, it is essential to schedule shadow days and interviews well in advance, factoring in the travel time to Sacramento. Many schools also have open houses in the fall. Given the competitive nature, starting the research and visit process in the spring of the student's 7th grade year is highly advised.
How do the private school options accessible from Princeton, CA, compare to the local Princeton Elementary School district?
Princeton Unified School District operates a single K-8 elementary school, after which students typically attend a high school in a neighboring district. The key comparison lies in scale, resources, and continuity. The local public school offers a close-knit, community-focused environment with limited advanced or specialized programs. In contrast, the private schools in Sacramento provide a comprehensive K-12 or 9-12 pathway with extensive college counseling, broader extracurriculars, and smaller class sizes even in larger institutions. The trade-off for Princeton families is between the convenience and community of a local rural school and the expansive, preparatory resources of a distant private school, which requires a major commitment to commuting.
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