The Best Private Schools in San Dimas, California
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in San Dimas. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Lucy's Priory High School
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
St. Lucy's Priory High School is a prestigious all-girls Catholic college preparatory school serving San Dimas and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. Founded by the Benedictine Sisters, the school offers a rigorous academic program with a 100% college acceptance rate. The campus features modern science labs, technology-enhanced classrooms, a performing arts center, and athletic facilities. Students benefit from small class sizes, individualized attention, and a strong emphasis on leadership development. The school's location just minutes from San Dimas makes it easily accessible for local families seeking a faith-based education with exceptional academic outcomes.
Programs:
Damien High School
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Damien High School is a highly-regarded all-boys Catholic college preparatory school located in neighboring La Verne, serving San Dimas students for decades. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum with 22 Advanced Placement courses and extensive STEM programs. Facilities include state-of-the-art science labs, a robotics center, modern athletic complexes, and performing arts spaces. With a strong Spartan brotherhood tradition, Damien emphasizes character development alongside academic excellence. The school maintains strong college placement records with graduates attending top universities nationwide, and its proximity to San Dimas makes it a popular choice for local families.
Programs:
Western Christian Schools
Western Christian Schools
Western Christian Schools is a respected interdenominational Christian school system with campuses serving the Inland Valley region, including San Dimas families. The Claremont campus offers comprehensive K-12 education with both college preparatory and International Baccalaureate programs. The school features modern STEM labs, extensive athletic facilities, fine arts programs, and technology-integrated classrooms. With over a century of educational excellence, Western Christian maintains small class sizes and personalized learning approaches while offering diverse extracurricular activities. The school's Christ-centered education combined with strong academic outcomes makes it a top choice for San Dimas area families seeking private education.
Programs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in San Dimas, California
What are the primary private school options available for families in San Dimas, California, and what grade levels do they serve?
San Dimas offers a few well-regarded private school options, each with distinct characteristics. St. Lucy's Priory High School is an all-girls, Catholic college-preparatory school serving grades 9-12. Damien High School is an all-boys, Catholic college-preparatory school also for grades 9-12. Western Christian Schools, located just across the border in nearby Covina, serves a coeducational population from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade and is a popular choice for many San Dimas families. The selection is more focused on secondary education, so families with younger children often look at Western Christian or other private elementary schools in neighboring cities like Glendora or La Verne.
How does tuition for private high schools in San Dimas, CA, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for private high schools in the San Dimas area is generally in line with or slightly above the California private school average due to the Los Angeles County location and college-prep focus. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition at Damien and St. Lucy's is approximately $11,000-$13,000 annually. Western Christian's tuition varies by grade level. All these schools offer robust financial aid programs, including need-based grants, parish subsidies for Catholic families, and merit scholarships. California's tax-advantaged 529 plans can also be used for K-12 private school tuition, providing a state-specific financial benefit for families.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools in the San Dimas area that leverage Southern California's resources?
San Dimas-area private schools offer specialized programs that utilize the regional landscape. Damien High School features a renowned Engineering and Architecture program with industry partnerships. St. Lucy's Priory emphasizes STEM for young women, with strong science research opportunities. Both secondary schools have extensive athletic leagues (like the Angelus League) that facilitate competition across the greater LA basin. Western Christian Schools integrates a biblical worldview across its curriculum and offers agricultural science opportunities, a rarity in suburban LA County. Proximity to colleges like the Claremont Consortium also allows for dual enrollment and academic enrichment.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private high schools in San Dimas, and are there specific considerations for transfer students?
The enrollment process for San Dimas's private high schools is highly structured and begins early. For incoming 9th graders, the timeline typically starts with open houses in the fall (September-October), with application deadlines in early January (often around the 10th). Placement tests (HSPT) are usually held in January. Admissions decisions and financial aid awards are communicated in March. For transfer students seeking admission into grades 10 or 11, spaces are very limited and are often dependent on attrition; these applications are usually reviewed on a rolling basis, and contacting the admissions office directly in the spring is advised. Sibling and legacy preferences are common factors in the admissions process at these schools.
For families considering the choice between San Dimas's highly-rated public schools and local private options, what are the key differentiating factors?
San Dimas is served by the Bonita Unified School District, which includes the highly-ranked San Dimas High School. The key differentiators for private options often come down to educational approach, class size, and religious affiliation. Private schools like Damien and St. Lucy's offer single-gender education, a focused college-prep curriculum with mandatory service hours, and average class sizes of 20-25 students compared to larger public school classes. The private school environment also often includes a uniform policy and a specific values-based community (Catholic or Christian). For some families, the structured environment and niche programs (like specific AP course offerings or religious instruction) justify the investment, while others may prefer the comprehensive, tuition-free, and diverse offerings of the public system.
Nearby Cities
Explore private schools in nearby cities