Private School Phone Policies in Texas, New York, Florida and California (2026)

Free to reuse with credit to LockedIn (lockedinapp.co), CC BY 4.0.

Download the data: private-school-phone-policies.csv (194 rows, one per school, with a verbatim quote and source URL for each).

These are the schools' own published rules. They are separate from the statewide public-school laws in Texas, New York, Florida and California.

Key numbers

All figures below are counts from the 194 schools in the CSV. They describe schools that publish a policy, not every private school in these states.

• 194 schools with a published phone policy: Texas 61, California 52, Florida 51, New York 30.
• 110 schools (57%) name a specific place where phones must be kept during the day.
• 50 schools (26%) have the school itself hold or lock phones: 13 use lockable pouches, 34 collect phones into school-held storage, and 3 have phones turned in to a school office.
• 60 schools (31%) keep phones with the student but stored, in a backpack, a locker, or either.
• 97 schools (50%) apply the rule to the full school day, compared with 16 whose wording limits it to class or instructional time. 9 mention some use at lunch or breaks.
• 72 schools (37%) include an explicit smartwatch rule.
• 74 schools spell out consequences we could quote, and 50 describe how students and parents reach each other during the day.

Storage method by state

What the handbooks say about pouches

13 schools in the dataset use lockable pouches. Their handbooks describe the day-to-day logistics in some detail:

• Bishop Verot Catholic High School (Fort Myers, FL) begins the Yondr program in 2026-27. Its handbook says: "All cell phones and smart watches must be POWERED OFF and placed in the BVHS-supplied Yondr pouches during homeroom and may not be accessed at any point during the school day." It also notes: "Pouches can only be unlocked at a BVHS approved unlocking station at designated times" and "The cost of a new Yondr pouch is $50 (new) or $30 (used) which will be billed through FACTS." (source)
• Buffalo Seminary (Buffalo, NY): "each student will be issued a Yondr pouch at no cost." and "In the event a pouch is lost or misplaced, a replacement fee of $30 will be charged to the student's school account." (source)
• St. Stephen's Episcopal School (Austin, TX): "Upper School students are required to keep phones locked in a magnetic pouch for the duration of the school day, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m." (source)
• Incarnation Catholic School (Sarasota, FL) follows a diocesan rule: "Students who bring mobile phones or wearable devices must store these devices in a diocesan approved lockable storage pouch." (source)

Other approaches

• Phone lockers and slots. Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (Uniondale, NY) asks students to "Submit one's personal phone (but not laptop, smartwatch, airpods etc.) upon arrival (even if prior to 8:00 a.m.) into the designated phone slot in the phone locker." (source)
• Locked boxes. Mercy Culture Preparatory (Fort Worth, TX): "The Phone Boxes will be locked starting at 8:30AM and remain securely locked throughout the school day." (source)
• Student lockers. The Hockaday School (Dallas, TX): "All student cell phones must be stored in lockers (silenced) immediately upon arrival at school and may not be used again without permission until dismissal at the end of the day." (source)
• Fines. Academy of the Holy Names (Tampa, FL) lists a "$20 fine" on a third offense (source), and Holy Family Catholic School (Austin, TX) says consequences "can include, but are not limited to, a $25 fine, seizures, retention, or disposal." (source)

Texas (61 schools)

The most common categories in Texas are use rules only, no storage method stated (20) and backpack, powered off (12). 4 Texas schools use lockable pouches.

School-by-school quotes and sources (61)

School	City	Type	Storage method	Handbook quote	Source
Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning	Houston	Private	Turned in to a school office	Students enrolled in grades 6-9 who have administrative approval for having a cell phone on campus must turn off their phones and label and deposit them at the front office (where they will be stored in a secure location).	Source
All Saints Episcopal School-Lubbock	Lubbock	Episcopal	Off and away, location not specified	If brought to campus, cell phones must remain silenced and stored out of sight during the instructional day unless expressly authorized by a teacher or administrator for educational purposes.	Source
Annapolis Christian Academy-Corpus Christi	Corpus Christi	Christian	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	When students first come to school, they are to immediately put their cell phones and smartwatches away in the school designated case.	Source
Antonian College Preparatory High School	San Antonio	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	In order to stem the negative consequences, the use of cell phones, smartwatches, AI Glasses, earbuds/headphones and other electronic communication devices by students on campus is prohibited from the start of first period to the end of eighth period.	Source
Brentwood Christian School-Austin	Austin	Christian	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Cell phones, tablets, and personal electronic devices may be brought to school but must be placed in a cell phone holder at the beginning of each class and put way entirely during assemblies.	Source
Brighter Horizons Academy	Garland	Private	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	All devices must be turned off and in their backpacks, only taking them out when submitting the phone to their homeroom teacher.	Source
Brook Hill School	Bullard	Private	Locker or backpack	If students bring a cell phone or smart watch to school, these devices must remain powered off (not on silent or vibrate) and completely out of sight, stored in a backpack or secured in a locker at all times while under school supervision.	Source
Christian Life Preparatory School-Fort Worth	Fort Worth	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, headphones, earpods, earphones and kindles are not allowed on campus for students.	Source
Cistercian Preparatory School	Irving	Private	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Students may not carry mobile devices (phones, smart watches, messaging-capable Fitbits, iPods, etc.) on their person or keep them in their desk while in school.	Source
Colleyville Covenant Christian Academy	Colleyville	Christian	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	All student phones and smart watches must be powered off and stored in a school-issued lockable pouch during school hours.	Source
Cristo Rey College Prep-Dallas	Dallas	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones must be turned off and stored in the student’s backpack during the academic day.	Source
Cristo Rey Fort Worth College Prep	Fort Worth	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students are not permitted to use their cell phones during the workday.	Source
Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston	Houston	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Upon entering the classroom, students must put their cell phones in the phone caddy; headphones/airpods must be stored in backpacks or lockers.	Source
Dallas International School	Dallas	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students are prohibited from using personal electronic devices, including smartphones and smartwatches with messaging and calling capabilities, at the Churchill campus during school hours.	Source
Dallas Lutheran School	Dallas	Lutheran	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students will be prohibited from using a cellular telephone within a school building or on campus during regular school hours without express permission from a teacher or administrator (8:25-3:30).	Source
Episcopal High School	Bellaire	Episcopal	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones and other electronic devices are to be silenced or turned off during class.	Source
First Baptist Academy-Universal City	Universal City	Christian	Locker or backpack	Cell phones brought to campus must be turned off and stored in the student’s locker or backpack during school hours.	Source
Grace Christian Academy	Houston	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell Phones Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during the school day (8:00 am -3:30 pm).	Source
Heritage Christian Academy	Rockwall	Christian	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	All student devices must be placed in Yondr pouches during school hours.	Source
Hill Country Christian School-San Marcos	San Marcos	Christian	Backpack, powered off	However, the phone must be TURNED OFF at all times and in the student's backpack.	Source
Holy Family Catholic School	Austin	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Electronic devices must be kept in the OFF position between 7:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m.	Source
Holy Family Catholic School	Fort Worth	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	CELL PHONES, E-READERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY Cell Phones must be turned off and in the student’s backpack while on campus.	Source
Holy Family Catholic School	Galveston	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Cell Phones, Electronic Devices and Personal Items According to archdiocesan policy "Students are strictly forbidden to use cell phones during school hours." All cell phones must remain off and in a stored backpack, not in a purse or pocket, at all times during the day or in After Care.	Source
Humble Christian School	Humble	Christian	Locker or backpack	The phone and all phone accessories are to be put in student’s backpacks or lockers.	Source
Incarnate Word Academy	Corpus Christi	Private	Backpack, powered off	All cell phones must be turned off and kept in the student’s backpack throughout the instructional day.	Source
Incarnate Word Academy	Houston	Private	Student locker	Cell phones may be kept in the locker at the student’s own risk.	Source
John Paul II Catholic School	Houston	Catholic	Locker or backpack	(see athletic handbook for cell phone policy/procedures) Cell phones need to be turned off and in students’ lockers or backpacks while on campus.	Source
John Paul II High School	Plano	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Usage of technology such as cell phones, headphones, etc. in the classroom is not allowed. ○ Students must comply with teacher expectations of placing devices in designated areas for class time. ○ Students using their devices without permission may have their devices confiscated and receive discipli	Source
Keene Adventist Elementary School	Keene	Christian	Locker or backpack	Cell Phones/Electronics All cell phones are to be turned into the homeroom teacher at the beginning of the day or kept off in the students locker or backpack.	Source
Lakehill Preparatory School	Dallas	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	To that end, in the 2025-2026 school year, students in the Upper School must adhere to the following policies regarding cell phones and handheld smart devices.	Source
Memorial Christian Academy-Killeen	Killeen	Christian	Off and away, location not specified	During the school day (from the time a student arrives on campus, walks through the door, until the end of school, defined as dismissal), cell phones /ear buds /smart watches must be turned completely off (no sound or vibration) and put away. 3.	Source
Mercy Culture Preparatory-Fort Worth	Fort Worth	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	The Phone Boxes will be locked starting at 8:30AM and remain securely locked throughout the school day.	Source
Prince of Peace Christian School-Carrollton	Carrollton	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students are prohibited from using a cellular telephone within a school building or on campus during regular school hours (8:00-3:05).	Source
Providence Classical School-Spring	Spring	Private	Locker or backpack	Upper School (US) students who choose to bring cell phones, smart watches (or other similar devices) to campus must leave these items turned off, not merely on vibrate or silent mode, and keep them in their lockers or backpacks at all times during the school day.	Source
Regents Academy-Nacogdoches	Nacogdoches	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones and smart watches (with texting capability) are not allowed on campus.	Source
Sacred Heart Catholic School	Crosby	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	CELL PHONES / SMART WATCHES Students may not use cell phones/smart watches (including texting) on the school campus.	Source
Saint Rita Catholic School	Dallas	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Phones and devices must be turned off during the day and stored in the student’s backpack.	Source
San Angelo Christian Academy	San Angelo	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Use of mobile phones are not permitted in the cafeteria or at chapel by any student at any time.	Source
San Antonio Academy	San Antonio	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students may not bring personal electronic devices (cell phones/smart watches) to school.	Source
San Antonio Christian School	San Antonio	Christian	Backpack, powered off	CELL PHONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The elementary permits students to possess cell phones; however, the device must remain in the students’ backpacks and in the “off” position during the instructional day.	Source
St. Agnes Academy	Houston	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Prohibited Devices: Cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and any other devices capable of transmitting or receiving data.	Source
St. Cecilia Catholic School	Houston	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Wearable Technology Wearable technology that allows for Smartphone notifications, such as email, caller ID, SMS, social networking, and messaging alerts are prohibited.	Source
St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School	Austin	Catholic	Locker or backpack	From the start of the school day to the end (typically 8:15 to 3:35), student cellphones and smartwatches are to remain in a backpack or locker (not on their person).	Source
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School		Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Students may bring cell phones to be used for after school events, but the phones must remain in their backpacks, in the off or silent setting and out of sight.	Source
St. Helen Catholic School	Georgetown	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones for students are permitted; however, they must be OFF and in the student’s backpack.	Source
St. Joseph Catholic School	Baytown	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Cell Phones and Electronic Devices Students are not permitted to use electronic devices on campus while school is in session including, but not exclusive to, cell phones, cameras, music devices, and tablets.	Source
St. Mary Catholic School	League City	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students may not use smart phones on campus.	Source
St. Mary School	Gainesville	Private	Off and away, location not specified	*Students who have cell phones or other devices at school must have them silenced (not vibrate) and stored out of sight while they are under school supervision, not on their person.	Source
St. Pius X High School	Houston	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	To promote engagement, social well-being, and instructional focus, personal electronic devices are not permitted during the school day (8 a.m.–3:10 p.m.).	Source
St. Stephen's Episcopal School	Austin	Episcopal	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	Upper School students are required to keep phones locked in a magnetic pouch for the duration of the school day, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.	Source
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School	Dallas	Catholic	Locker or backpack	232 Cell Phones At the Upper School, students are not allowed to access cell phones during the school day on campus; cell phones must be turned off and stored in student backpacks in lockers.	Source
St. Thomas High School	Houston	Catholic	Student locker	Personal Electronic Devices Students in possession of cell phones, smart watches, air pods, earplugs, and/or headphones must place them in their lockers before the start of each school day.	Source
St. Thomas' Episcopal School-Houston	Houston	Episcopal	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Any Lower School student who uses or possesses a personal electronic device during the school day without permission, or who fails to turn in a device upon arrival, will have the device confiscated.	Source
Summit Christian Academy	Cedar Park	Christian	Backpack, powered off	Elementary Students who bring a cell phone or personal electronic devices to school will be required to keep them turned off and in their backpacks from 7:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.	Source
Temple Christian School		Christian	Locker or backpack	Secondary students may bring a cell phone to school, but all phones and listening devices, as well as connected smart watches, must be stored in lockers or backpacks between the hours of 7:00 am and 4:00 pm.	Source
Texas Christian School	Houston	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are not allowed to be used during school hours.	Source
The Hockaday School	Dallas	Private	Student locker	Student Cell Phone Use All student cell phones must be stored in lockers (silenced) immediately upon arrival at school and may not be used again without permission until dismissal at the end of the day.	Source
Trinity Christian Academy	Paris	Christian	Backpack, powered off	Cell Phones must be placed in a student’s back pack upon arrival at school and are to remain there until dismissal at the end of the day.	Source
Vanguard College Preparatory School	Waco	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Middle School students may not have cell phones during the school day; however, they do use technology in the classroom and labs.	Source
Victory Preparatory Academy-Scurry	Scurry	Private	Backpack, powered off	Cell Phone and Smartwatch Policy Cell phones, smart watches or any communication devices must always remain in the student backpack.	Source
Weatherford Christian School	Weatherford	Christian	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	Every student will be assigned a personal Yondr Pouch.	Source

California (52 schools)

The most common categories in California are use rules only, no storage method stated (26) and school-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker) (8). 4 California schools use lockable pouches.

School-by-school quotes and sources (52)

School	City	Type	Storage method	Handbook quote	Source
Bayhill High School	Berkeley	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Phones may not be used during class time.	Source
Bellarmine College Preparatory	San Jose	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones may not be used during the school day.	Source
Berkeley Hall School	Los Angeles	Independent	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Phones will be stored in the student’s personal slot in the cell phone storage system for the day.	Source
Campbell Hall	Studio City	Private	Locker or backpack	If a student brings a mobile device to school, it must be turned off and stored securely in their backpack or locker throughout the entire school day.	Source
Carden Arbor View School	Upland	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Communication with Children During the School Day Students are prohibited from using cell phones and/or smart watches during school hours, including child care hours.	Source
Cristo Rey San Diego High School	San Diego	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones should be stored in the student’s backpack out of the view of the teacher at all times.	Source
Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School	San Jose	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	If a student chooses to bring a cell phone to campus, it must be kept in the student’s backpack or pocket while on campus.	Source
De La Salle High School	Concord	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Phone holders will be available in classrooms to store cell phones during class instruction.	Source
Desert Christian High School	Lancaster	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	In class students may not use their cell phones unless given express permission by their teacher.	Source
Developing Virtue Secondary School	Talmage	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students are not allowed to bring personal electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, tablets, or laptops) to school unless prior permission has been granted by the principal and/or supervising teacher for special circumstances.	Source
Don Bosco Technical Institute	Rosemead	Private	Backpack, powered off	Students must shut their cell phones off and either turn them in to the teacher before class or have them put away in their backpacks, at the teacher’s discretion.	Source
Dunn School	Los Olivos	Independent (boarding)	Locker or backpack	Should a student need to bring their cell phone to school, it should be “off and away,” placed in their backpacks/lockers and turned off.	Source
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy	Flintridge	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	Student cell phones are allowed at school but they must be stored in Yondr pouches during the entire day.	Source
French American School of Silicon Valley	Sunnyvale	Independent	Off and away, location not specified	8.2.1 Cell Phone, Tablet, and Smart Watch Policy Cell phones are allowed on campus but must be placed on silent mode and remain out of sight during school hours: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM.	Source
Grace Brethren High School	Simi Valley	Christian	Backpack, powered off	All cell phones or other electronic devices (including smart watches) brought to campus must remain in a students backpack or on the teachers desk throughout the school day.	Source
Holy Names High School	Oakland	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	Students carry their locked Yondr pouch with them throughout the day.	Source
International School of Los Angeles		Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	By keeping school hours entirely phone-free from preschool through 12th grade, we preserve an environment of deep academic focus and vibrant, face-to-face social connection where students engage meaningfully without digital noise.	Source
La Scuola International School	San Francisco	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	No phones or other similar technology are allowed during school.	Source
Lodi Academy	Lodi	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones and other personal electronic devices are not permitted during instructional time unless expressly authorized by the teacher for an academic purpose.	Source
Marin Academy	San Rafael	Independent	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	During Classes and Advising: Cell phones must be turned off/distraction-free and stored in designated storage locations.	Source
Mater Dei Catholic High School	Chula Vista	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	How the Yondr Program Works Each student will be issued a personally assigned Yondr pouch to securely store their personal electronic device during the instructional day.	Source
Menlo School	Atherton	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell Phones and Personal Electronics Menlo’s philosophy around cell phones is designed to evolve with students as they grow, beginning with a cell phone-free policy during school hours in the Middle School and progressing to a model of more responsible use in the Upper School that balances the need	Source
Midland School	Los Olivos	Independent (boarding)	Use rules only, no storage method stated	100% Cell Phone Free Campus Students spend their days in conversation, in motion, and with one another.	Source
Modesto Christian School	Modesto	Christian	Locker or backpack	Cell phones must be stored in student backpacks in the classroom or locked locker.	Source
Monica Ros School	Ojai	Independent	Turned in to a school office	Students are not allowed to have phones on campus; should your student have a phone please have them drop it off in the office each morning.	Source
Oakwood School	Morgan Hill	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	The phone should be turned off during the school day.	Source
Ojai Valley School	Ojai	Independent (boarding)	Locker or backpack	During the academic day, cell phones should not be used and must be kept in a backpack, locker, or dorm room.	Source
Our Lady's School	San Diego	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Personal electronic devices may not be used on campus or on field trips at any time.	Source
Pacific Ridge School	Carlsbad	Independent	Backpack, powered off	Phones must be stored in backpacks and not carried on the person.	Source
Sacramento Country Day School	Sacramento	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Middle School students may not have cell phones or smart watches in their possession during the school day.	Source
Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton	Atherton	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	Yondr pouch to lock their phone and smart watch (if applicable) for the duration of the school day.	Source
Sage Hill School	Newport Coast	Independent	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Upon entering the classroom, students must immediately place their smartphones in their assigned slot in the smartphone holder. b.	Source
Saint Clare School	Santa Clara	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	During the School day, students are not allowed to check their cell phones for text or voicemail messages.	Source
School Of The Madeleine	San Diego	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones and smartwatches may not be used on campus before, during or after school without a teacher’s permission.	Source
Servite High School	Anaheim	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	During class periods, students may only use school-issued laptops.	Source
St. Augustine High School	San Diego	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones and other devices are to be turned off or placed on silent/vibrate mode during class.	Source
St. Catherine School	Morgan Hill	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	During the School day, students are not allowed to check their cell phones or other electronic devices for text or voicemail messages.	Source
St. Francis High School	Granite Bay	Private	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	All electronic devices should be powered off and placed in the provided caddies unless your teacher expressly permits the presence of such devices for a specific purpose.	Source
St. Ignatius College Preparatory	San Francisco	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Ignatius will be a cell phone free campus during the school day including unstructured time.	Source
St. John Vianney Catholic School	San Jose	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	During the School day, students are not allowed to check their cell phones or other electronic devices for text or voicemail messages.	Source
St. Mary's Catholic School	El Centro	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones and personal electronic devices are not permitted on campus.	Source
St. Monica Academy	Montrose	Private	Locker or backpack	For high-schoolers, phones must be turned off and stored in backpacks or in lockers during the school day.	Source
St. Paul's Episcopal School	Oakland	Episcopal	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	In Middle School: At the start of each school day, students will place all personal devices (including phones, smart watches, headphones) in a secure, locked container.	Source
St. Pius X / St. Matthias Academy	Downey	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell phones may not be used in any of the buildings or on campus during school hours at any time without specific granted permission from a faculty or staff member.	Source
St. Rita's School San Diego	San Diego	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	CELL PHONES and other personal electronic devices Students may not use cell phones during school hours.	Source
St. Rose of Lima School		Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Cell phones in all grades will be collected by the teachers in the morning and only redistributed before school dismissal.	Source
Stevenson School	Carmel	Independent (boarding)	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Phones are not permitted in classrooms, Reid Hall (dining hall and patio), the Learning Commons, assemblies, chapel, community gatherings, Monday night dinner, athletic practices or while walking between spaces.	Source
Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy	Norden	Independent (boarding)	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Cell phones will be collected at the start of the academic block and kept at the reception desk until the conclusion of the academic block.	Source
The Children's School	La Jolla	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Middle school students are not allowed to use their cell phones or communication devices during the school day, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.	Source
The San Francisco School	San Francisco	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Personal devices (i.e., smart phones and watches) are not permitted on campus.	Source
Valley Torah High School	Valley Village	Jewish	Off and away, location not specified	During Davening, Shmuz time and assemblies phones should be turned completely off and put away so that they don’t cause a disruption.	Source
Walden School	Pasadena	Independent	Backpack, powered off	A phone or smartwatch seen out of a backpack, in use, or making noise during school hours will be confiscated and must be retrieved by a parent at the end of the day;	Source

Florida (51 schools)

The most common categories in Florida are off and away, location not specified (16) and backpack, powered off (12). 2 Florida schools use lockable pouches.

School-by-school quotes and sources (51)

School	City	Type	Storage method	Handbook quote	Source
Academy of the Holy Names	Tampa	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Student cell phones will be collected by a faculty member and stored in a secure location for the duration of the school day.	Source
Annunciation Catholic Academy	Altamonte Springs	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School	Miami	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	During the school day (except during the student’s lunch period), cell phones need to be put away and turned completely off.	Source
Ascension Catholic School	Melbourne	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, ereaders, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Basilica School of St. Paul	Daytona Beach	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Bayshore Christian School	Tampa	Christian	Off and away, location not specified	Prohibited Devices Smart watches, cell phones, or other wearable or handheld electronic devices are not conducive to a serious learning environment, and they are prohibited during the school day.	Source
Bishop Verot Catholic High School	Fort Myers	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	All cell phones and smart watches must be POWERED OFF and placed in the BVHS-supplied Yondr pouches during homeroom and may not be accessed at any point during the school day.	Source
Blessed Trinity Catholic School	Ocala	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, ereaders, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Christ Church School	Fort Lauderdale	Independent	Off and away, location not specified	CELL PHONES, SMART WATCHES AND OTHER ELECTRONICS Students may not have cell phones and smart watches in their possession at school.	Source
Community Day School	Sarasota	Independent	Locker or backpack	Student cellular telephones or any other electronic devices may not be on their person at any time while on campus and must be turned off and in their backpacks or lockers at all times while on campus.	Source
Community School of Naples	Naples	Independent	Student locker	While laptops may be brought to class, phones must remain in student lockers throughout the school day.	Source
Cornerstone Learning Community	Tallahassee	Independent	Backpack, powered off	The cell phone is to be turned off and stowed in the student’s backpack prior to arriving on campus and is not to be used until the student has left campus for the day.	Source
Cristo Rey Tampa	Tampa	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell Phone / Internet Usage Students are not permitted to use their cell phones during work hours.	Source
dePaul School for Dyslexia, The	Clearwater	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell Phones & Personal Electronics: Cell phones, smartwatches, gaming devices, and other personal electronic devices may not be used during the school day unless specifically authorized by a teacher or administrator.	Source
Discovery School, The		Independent	Backpack, powered off	Any Discovery School student who brings an electronic communication device (cellphone, smart watch, etc.) to school must silence it and leave devices either in their backpack (elementary) or designated classroom area (MS) throughout the day on campus.	Source
Educational Pathways Academy (Estero)	Estero	Independent	Locker or backpack	Students must store personal electronic devices, including phones and smart watches, in their backpacks, which are to be placed in their assigned lockers during school hours.	Source
Elfers Christian School	New Port Richey	Christian	Backpack, powered off	Phones must be silenced and kept in backpacks at all times during the school day.	Source
Good Shepherd Catholic School	Orlando	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	If you, as a parent, feel the student must bring a cell phone to school, please email Administration with the specific need for having it, during school hours, and storage of cell phones instructions, will be given.	Source
Grace Episcopal Day School	Orange Park	Episcopal	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	 Cell phones must be stored in the location designated by the school and may not be accessed during the school day unless specifically authorized by a teacher or administrator.  During dismissal, students may retrieve their cell phones.	Source
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School	Indialantic	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Incarnation Catholic School	Sarasota	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	General Rule: Students who bring mobile phones or wearable devices must store these devices in a diocesan approved lockable storage pouch.	Source
Lake Mary Preparatory School	Lake Mary	Independent	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones must be turned off or set to silent mode and kept in backpacks from 7:45am-3:15pm.	Source
LCC Day School		Independent	Locker or backpack	Cell phones must be turned “OFF” and kept in the student’s locker or backpack.	Source
Learners Christian Academy	Orlando	Christian	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones must be turned off and remain in students’ backpacks until they are picked up for dismissal.	Source
Morning Star Catholic School	Orlando	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Parkway Christian School	Davie	Christian	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	If your middle school child must bring a cell phone to school, he/she must drop off the powered off cell phone in the designated cell phone drop off area upon arrival, and pick it up at the end of the school day.	Source
Pensacola Catholic High School	Pensacola	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	They must be turned off and placed in the cell phone holder in the classroom.	Source
Pinnacle Academy	Lakewood Ranch	Independent	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Upon arrival at school, students must turn off their cell phones and store them in the designated areas until the end of the school day.	Source
Royal Palm Academy	Naples	Independent	Turned in to a school office	If a phone must be brought for after‑school logistics, it stays powered off and stored; it may be checked out from the office at dismissal.	Source
Sacred Heart Catholic School	New Smyrna Beach	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students are not permitted to use cell phones during school hours or in Extended Day Care.	Source
Saint Jerome Catholic Parish & School	Fort Lauderdale	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones must be turned off and stored inside the backpack.	Source
Saint Lawrence Elementary School	North Miami Beach	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	If a parent so wishes, students MAY carry a cell phone at the bottom of their book bag for emergency use ONLY.	Source
Saint Louis Covenant School	Pinecrest	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	TELEPHONES ¨ Students may not bring cell phones to school unless they are checked in with the homeroom teacher at the beginning of the school day and picked up at the end of the day.	Source
Seacoast Christian Academy	Jacksonville	Christian	Student locker	Middle school students may have their cell phone the device must be off and in the student's locker.	Source
Seacrest Country Day School	Naples	Independent	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones must be kept in school bags or backpacks, and any cell phone use on campus during school hours/or any use that disturbs class will be collected and retained for retrieval from the Division Head at the end of the school day.	Source
Seffner Christian Academy	Seffner	Christian	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Bridge & Junior High - Students are prohibited from having their cell phones out during the school day.	Source
St. Ambrose Catholic School	Deerfield Beach	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Phones/watches/Bluetooth headphones may also be collected at the beginning of the day and stored securely until the end of the day in each classroom.	Source
St. Andrew Catholic School	Orlando	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, ereaders, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
St. Brendan Catholic School	Ormond Beach	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students must keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, ereaders, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
St. Brendan High School	Miami	Private	Locker or backpack	During the school day, students MAY NOT USE OR DISPLAY cell phones in their possession; cellular phones must be kept off in students’ book bags or lockers.	Source
St. Clement Orthodox Christian Academy	Orlando	Christian	Backpack, powered off	If a student chooses to bring a cell phone to school, it must be secured in the student’s book bag and must be turned off (not silent or vibrate).	Source
St. Coleman Catholic School	Pompano Beach	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Students need to return the phone to their bag/backpack and MAY NOT use the device during dismissal/aftercare.	Source
St. Joseph Catholic School	Winter Haven	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School	Winter Park	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Students’ cell phones should be stored in backpacks and turned off.	Source
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School	Altamonte Springs	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educa onal purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
St. Peter Catholic School	DeLand	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School	St. Cloud	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Students should keep personally-owned devices (including laptops, tablets, e-readers, smart phones, cell phones, and smart watches) turned off and put away during school hours unless as instructed by a teacher or staff for educational purposes or in the event of an emergency.	Source
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School	Miami	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Personal belongings such as radios, iPods, air pods, iWatch or iWatch type devices, fit bit-type devices, cell phones, CD’s, toys, video games, electronic devices, personal cameras, fidget spinner or others such devices, are NOT permitted in school.	Source
The Basilica School	Key West	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Off and Away Policy: During Class: Cell phones, headphones, AirPods, earbuds, and other similar devices must be turned off or put on silent mode and stored in student backpacks or designated areas (e.g., phone pockets).	Source
Trinity Catholic High School	Ocala	Catholic	Locker or backpack	Cell phones should be powered down (off) and stored away in the student’s locker or backpack and never on their person.	Source
Unity School	Delray Beach	Independent	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Cell phones and “smart watches” must be handed into the homeroom teacher in the morning, turned off.	Source

New York (30 schools)

The most common categories in New York are school-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker) (11) and use rules only, no storage method stated (7). 3 New York schools use lockable pouches.

School-by-school quotes and sources (30)

School	City	Type	Storage method	Handbook quote	Source
Academy of Mount St. Ursula High School	Bronx	Private	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	JUNIOR ACADEMY To maintain an optimal learning environment, all student cell phones will be collected at the beginning of the school day and returned at dismissal.	Source
Academy of the Holy Names	Albany	Catholic	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	In order to avoid drawing attention to your presence, silence must be maintained, including cell phones which should already be turned off and locked in students’ Yondr pouches.	Source
Bishop Dunn Memorial School	Newburgh	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Cell Phones will be collected from students in a classroom basket each morning and will be returned to them as they are leaving at the end of the day.	Source
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School	Brooklyn	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight outside the cafeteria or schoolyard.	Source
Buffalo Seminary	Buffalo	Private	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	To support the implementation of this policy, each student will be issued a Yondr pouch at no cost.	Source
Cardinal Spellman High School	Bronx	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Using cellular phones, smart watches or other electronic devices during the school day. *All cell phones must be turned off and placed in a storage unit for the duration of the school day. 8.	Source
Christian Brothers Academy	Albany	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Cell Phones: If a student feels the need to bring a cell phone to school they are allowed to use it before the start of homeroom, during lunch if permitted, at their locker and after dismissal only.	Source
Fontbonne Hall Academy	Brooklyn	Private	Off and away, location not specified	Cell phones must be turned off and OUT OF SIGHT on campus between 7:55 a.m.	Source
Hebrew Academy of Nassau County	Uniondale	Jewish	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Submit one’s personal phone (but not laptop, smartwatch, airpods etc.) upon arrival (even if prior to 8:00 a.m.) into the designated phone slot in the phone locker.	Source
Holy Cross High School	Flushing	Catholic	Student locker	Upon the start of the school day at 8:00 AM, students are required to turn off or silence all personal electronic devices and store them in their assigned school-issued lockers.	Source
Holy Family Catholic Academy	Fresh Meadows	Catholic	Backpack, powered off	Cell phones must be placed in their pocket, coat, or backpack, and cannot be taken out until they are officially dismissed, unless permitted by the teacher.	Source
La Scuola D'Italia Guglielmo Marconi	New York	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Mobile Phones Free Zones Policy Statement To promote a focused and engaging learning environment, La Scuola d'Italia New York is instituting a Phone-Free Spaces policy for students in Grades 6 through 12.	Source
Lexington School and Center for the Deaf	East Elmhurst	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Effective September 2025, students will not be permitted to use or carry personal devices including cell phones and smart watches during the school day.	Source
Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School	Brookville	Lutheran	Backpack, powered off	Cell Phones – As per our student guidelines, cell phones are not allowed to be used during the school day (students may keep them in their book bag).	Source
Millbrook School	Millbrook	Independent (boarding)	Backpack, powered off	Expectations and Parameters of the Cell Phone Policy Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday, students should not have their cell phones out of their pocket or backpack.	Source
Mount Mercy Academy (Buffalo, New York)	Buffalo	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	How it works: Students may not use personal devices for any reason from the start of the school day until dismissal (first bell to last bell).The phone must remain in their assigned room and turned off at all times.	Source
Mount Saint Mary Academy	Kenmore	Private	Backpack, powered off	Students are required to store their cell phones in their personal backpacks or purses.	Source
Nazareth Regional High School	Brooklyn	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	All students must turn in their electronic devices during homeroom.	Source
Packer Collegiate Institute	Brooklyn	Private	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Younger students have access to shared tablets and/or laptops within their classrooms but are not permitted to bring personal electronic devices to school.	Source
Professional Children's School	New York	Private	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Teachers will have students in 10th-12th grades place their phones in a phone holder when they arrive at class, and students will not be allowed to retrieve them until class is over.	Source
Ross Corners Christian Academy	Vestal	Christian	Locker or backpack	Student cell phones and Apple watches MUST remain in the student’s backpack or in the student’s locker on silent mode.	Source
Ross School	East Hampton	Independent	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Policy Summary “Bell to Bell” Device-Free: Students may not possess or use cell phones or smart devices during the academic day.	Source
Saint Saviour Catholic Academy	Brooklyn	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Cell Phones Cell phones will be collected each day by the classroom teacher, stored securely in the classroom and returned to students at dismissal.	Source
St. Francis High School	Athol Springs	Private	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Devices will remain in the holders for the entire class period, including when a student asks to use the restroom. b) Hallway Transitions: Students are to keep their phones and other personal, internet-enabled devices silenced and in their pocket or backpack during hallway transitions.	Source
St. Helen Catholic Academy	Howard Beach	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Phones will be collected by period 1 homeroom teachers as follows:	Source
St. Luke School	Whitestone	Catholic	School-held storage (caddy, holder, bin, phone locker)	Phones must be turned off in the building and will be either collected by the homeroom teacher and stored in the office or kept in their backpacks.	Source
St. Mary's High School	Lancaster	Catholic	Use rules only, no storage method stated	Students are not permitted to use or have personal electronic devices turned on during class time.	Source
The Gow School	South Wales	Private	Lockable pouch (Yondr or similar)	Students are required to keep their cell phones locked in Yondr pouches beginning at breakfast and ending at the conclusion of classes and tutorial.	Source
Xavier High School	New York	Catholic	Off and away, location not specified	Cell phones must be turned off and stored in school.	Source
Yeshiva Derech HaTorah	Brooklyn	Jewish	Use rules only, no storage method stated	I know that if I own a cell phone or electronic device that plays movies, it must remain off at all times while in the Yeshiva.	Source

Methodology

• Scope. Private, independent, Catholic, Christian, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran and boarding schools in Texas, New York, Florida and California. Candidate schools came from public lists, including the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) directories, Wikidata and Wikipedia school lists, plus web searches for published phone policies.
• What counts. A school is included only if its phone or personal device policy is posted on a public web page or in a publicly downloadable handbook. Schools whose policy is only behind a parent login were skipped. Schools outside the four states were excluded.
• How we recorded it. For each school we captured the storage method, hours covered, smartwatch rule, consequences, emergency or parent contact procedure, a short verbatim quote, the source URL and the handbook year if shown. A cell is left blank when the document did not state it clearly. All sources were accessed on October 24, 2026.
• Storage categories. "Lockable pouch" means the policy names Yondr or another locking pouch. "School-held storage" covers classroom caddies, phone holders, bins, phone boxes, phone lockers and other designated school locations. "Off and away, location not specified" means the policy requires phones to be off or out of sight but does not name a place. "Use rules only" means the policy restricts use without stating where phones go. When a school's policy differs by division, the category reflects the division quoted in the CSV.
• Hours covered is a category derived from the policy wording (full school day, or class and instructional time only), with specific times added when the school states them.
• Handbook year. 137 of 194 sources show a school year; 84 are for 2026-27 and 44 for 2025-26. A few older documents are included because they are the policy the school currently links.
• Limits. This is not a census of every private school. It reflects schools that publish their policy online, and policies can change mid-year. Quotes are reproduced as written, with minor whitespace and dash normalization. If you represent a school and see an error, the source link shows what we read.

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Free to reuse with credit to LockedIn (lockedinapp.co), CC BY 4.0.

Download the CSV: private-school-phone-policies.csv. Columns: school, city, state, type_affiliation, grades, storage_method, hours_covered, smartwatch_rule, consequences, emergency_parent_contact, quote, source_url, date_accessed, handbook_year.

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