Saint Mary's School Photo - Saint Mary's School, an all-girls, Episcopal, college preparatory, boarding and day high school located on a 23-acre, historic campus in the heart of Raleigh, N.C. More at www.sms.edu.

Best North Carolina Private Schools (2024-25)

For the 2024-25 school year, there are 890 private schools serving 133,986 students in North Carolina (there are 2,752 public schools, serving 1,524,291 students). 8% of all K-12 students in North Carolina are educated in private schools (compared to the national average of 11%).
The average private school tuition is $10,167 for elementary schools and $11,409 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The best top ranked private schools in North Carolina include Providence Day School, Saint Mary's School and Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill.
The average acceptance rate is 86% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 22% and the student:teacher ratio is 10:1.
60% of schools are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Top Ranked North Carolina Private Schools by County (2024-25)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
12
2,831
10%
38
4,722
14%
39
7,732
15%
30
6,956
10%
15
3,148
8%
5
1,280
10%
5
1,160
12%
113
20,122
11%
9
1,739
13%
7
1,384
10%
19
2,293
8%
21
2,905
11%
10
1,531
7%
15
2,742
6%
120
21,931
11%
12
1,862
9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in North Carolina?
The best top ranked private schools in North Carolina include Providence Day School, Saint Mary's School and Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill.
How many private schools are located in North Carolina?
890 private schools are located in North Carolina.
How much do private schools cost in North Carolina?
The average private school tuition in North Carolina is $10,167 for elementary schools and $11,409 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in North Carolina?
North Carolina private schools are approximately 22% minority students (view national minority students).
What percentage of students in North Carolina go to private school?
8% of all K-12 students in North Carolina are educated in private schools (compared to national average of 11%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in North Carolina?
60% of private schools in North Carolina are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

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