Strong Private, Charter, & Higher-Ed Access
A deep roster of respected private and charter schools — plus two major universities — within a comfortable drive of your front gate.
Useful for buyers comparing school options: West Sacramento's public schools, operated by the Washington Unified School District, are improving but currently rank in the middle to lower range of regional public districts. The Rivers' central Sacramento location puts the home within easy reach of an exceptional roster of private and charter options.
Infant through Pre-K options within a short drive of The Rivers. Try the Family Planner to see which one fits each of your children.
SafetyBright Horizons Sacramento
Curriculum-driven early-learning centers in downtown Sacramento, often co-located with employer campuses. Strong infant and toddler programs.
Learn moreKinderCare Learning Center
Multiple Sacramento-area locations. Year-round care, full-day Pre-K with kindergarten-readiness focus.
Learn moreYMCA Early Learning Center
YMCA of Superior California operates multiple Early Learning Centers with sliding-scale tuition and a focus on whole-child development.
Learn moreDistances are approximate to the nearest location of each provider. Sacramento has dozens of additional licensed options — we can share a tailored list during a tour.
Sacramento Country Day School
Founded 1964. ~575 students at a 9:1 ratio. Niche #1 Best Private High School in the Sacramento Area. 100% college acceptance; 90% UC admission rate — leading the entire county. Average SAT ~1400, ACT ~33.
Learn moreChristian Brothers High School
~1,155 students at a 17:1 ratio. Tuition (2026–27): $17,675. 18 AP courses; four-year Visual & Performing Arts and Engineering Programs; 15 interscholastic sports. 86% of graduates attend a 4-year college. Niche grade A+.
Learn moreJesuit High School
~1,127 students on a university-feel campus. Tuition (2026–27): $20,100. Over $4 million in financial assistance distributed annually. Nine national rugby championships, underwater robotics. Co-ed beginning Fall 2027.
Learn moreSt. Francis Catholic HS
Founded 1940. ~1,025 students. Tuition (2025–26): $17,300. 100% graduation rate. Home of the world's first all-female robotics team to win at the international level. Exclusive International Space Station Program.
Learn moreSacramento Waldorf School
Founded 1959. ~353–488 students on a 22-acre campus overlooking the American River with a 3.5-acre biodynamic farm. National Merit semifinalists every year since 2017. 100% college acceptance.
Learn moreHoly Spirit Parish School
Founded 1947. ~288–326 students. Tuition ~$7,340. Project Lead The Way STEM curriculum, strong faith formation, neighborhood feel near Land Park, the Sacramento Zoo, and Fairytale Town.
Learn moreCamellia Waldorf School
A closer Waldorf option than the Fair Oaks campus — Pre-K through 8th grade in Sacramento's Pocket neighborhood. Hands-on, arts-integrated curriculum with strong outdoor and nature programming.
Learn moreBryte Christian Academy
A small Christian K–9 in West Sacramento's Broderick neighborhood. ~87 students at a 10:1 ratio. Baptist orientation; member of the Association of Christian Schools International.
Learn moreSacramento Valley Charter School
~371 students. 67% of students score at or above proficient in math and reading — well above district and state averages. Ranked #640 of 5,442 California elementary schools and #288 of 2,271 California middle schools by U.S. News.
Learn moreNatomas Charter School
~1,863 students across five distinctive academies — performing & fine arts, leading-edge tech, college preparation, and at-home/online learning. Recognized by Niche as a Best Charter School in Sacramento County.
Learn moreUC Davis
Top-ranked in agriculture, vet medicine, and viticulture; home to UC Davis Health and the School of Medicine.
Learn moreSacramento State (CSUS)
30,000+ students, strong programs in education, business, engineering, and public policy.
Learn moreSacramento City College
Founded 1916. One of the region's strongest UC/CSU transfer pipelines.
Learn moreAn Hour From the Door
To Top-Ranked Schools
From Your Driveway to Their Drop-off
| School | Distance / Time |
|---|---|
| Sacramento Valley Charter (K-8) | 2.0 mi · ~5 min |
| Bryte Christian Academy | 4.0 mi · ~10 min |
| Bright Horizons Sacramento (Infant–Pre-K) | 4.5 mi · ~10 min |
| KinderCare Learning Center (Toddler–Pre-K) | 5.5 mi · ~12 min |
| Holy Spirit Parish School | 5.9 mi · ~12 min |
| YMCA Early Learning Center (Infant–Pre-K) | 7.0 mi · ~15 min |
| Sacramento City College | 5.8 mi · ~12 min |
| Sacramento State | 8.0 mi · ~14 min |
| Christian Brothers HS | 6.7 mi · ~14 min |
| St. Francis Catholic HS | 7.0 mi · ~14 min |
| Sacramento Country Day | 8.5 mi · ~16 min |
| Camellia Waldorf (Pocket) | 8.2 mi · ~15 min |
| Natomas Charter | 11.5 mi · ~18 min |
| UC Davis | 15.0 mi · ~19 min |
| Jesuit HS (Carmichael) | 14.5 mi · ~22 min |
| Sacramento Waldorf (Fair Oaks) | 18.0 mi · ~26 min |
Browse Every School Within ~10 Miles
Search and filter every public, charter, and private K–12 school in our area by GreatSchools rating, distance, student-teacher ratio, tuition, acceptance rate, grade level, ADD/ADHD support, and more.
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