Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC – 2025

February 27, 2025

best private schools in raleigh

The Raleigh is home to a number of well-regarded private schools, each of which has its strengths and merits. Choosing from the hundreds of available options can be a challenging enterprise as you seek to find which private schools in the vicinity of Raleigh will be best for your child. Are you seeking a boarding or day school? Do you want your child鈥檚 high school to have a religious affiliation? What input have you received from friends and neighbors familiar with these schools? Ultimately, your decision will need to balance your teen鈥檚 academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. However, 国产第一福利影院草草鈥 list of the Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC will focus primarily on our area of expertise鈥college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each high school does at sending their graduates on to the nation鈥檚 premier 4-year schools.

Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC

Here鈥檚 a quick preview of the best private schools in Raleigh, NC that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Durham Academy

2) Cary Academy

3) Ravenscroft School

4) Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill

5) Cardinal Gibbons High School

6) St. David鈥檚 School

7) Saint Mary鈥檚 School

8) Carolina Friends School

9) Trinity Academy

10) Emerson Waldorf School

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear is not representative of any further ranking; the numbering is solely intended to enhance the ease of navigating this resource.  All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the top colleges in the country. For each of identified schools, the 国产第一福利影院草草 team will provide you with:

  • Location
  • Tuition (9-12)
  • Enrollment (9-12)
  • Average  Score
  • Average  Score
  • Senior Class Size
  • College Admissions Highlights
  • Academic Highlights
#10 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Durham Academy – Raleigh

Durham Academy – Raleigh

  • 3601 Ridge Road Durham, NC 27705-5599

College Admissions Highlights:  A five year sample of matriculations from Durham Academy include these fine institutions: BC, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Howard, Middlebury, NYU, NC State, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, Skidmore, Stanford, Tennessee, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMichigan, Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  Average class size of 15 with an 8:1 student to faculty ratio.  49% students of color in upper school. 86% of upper school faculty have advance degrees with the average tenure of 11 years. 31 AP & 10 Advanced (beyond AP) courses. 3 Consecutive state speech & debate championships. 29 athletic teams with 57 student-athletes playing in college in past 5 years. All students in high school participate in a ‘capstone’ experience for a week.

    • Tuition (9-12): $34,050
    • Enrollment (Seniors): 115
    • Mean SAT Score: Not reported
    • Mean ACT Score: Not Reported


#2 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Cary Academy – Raleigh

Cary Academy – Raleigh

  • 1500 N. Harrison Ave. Cary, North Carolina 27513

College Admissions Highlights:  Students from Cary Academy have matriculated to theses fine institutions over a 3 year period: BU, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, William & Mary, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Ga Tech, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, NC State, Pomona, Princeton, Purdue, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UChicago, UCLA, Michigan, Notre Dame, UNC Chapel Hill, USC, Vanderbilt, VaTech, Villanova, Wake Forest, WashingtonU, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  61% students of color.  20 year-long & 25 semester-long advanced courses. 92% scored a 3 or higher on AP exams. 18 National Merit finalists and 19 Commended for the class of 2024.  50+ clubs and activities.  11th graders are given the opportunity to try on a career. 81% of eligible students compete in one of the 48 interscholastic sports teams.  Competitive speech and debate program.

    • Tuition (9-12): $31,450
    • Enrollment (Seniors): 121
    • Middle 50% SAT Score: 1250-1490
    • Middle 50% ACT Score: 27-33


#3 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Ravenscroft School – Raleigh

Ravenscroft School – Raleigh

  • 7409 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, NC 27615

College Admissions Highlights:  In the last five years, students from Ravenscroft were accepted to these fine universities and colleges: American, Baylor, BC, Bryn Mawr, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Dartmouth, Denison, Drexel, Embry-Riddle, Georgetown, Hofstra, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Purdue, Skidmore, SMU, Swarthmore, William & Mary, UT Austin, Tennessee, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Chicago, U Mass, U Michgian, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Vassar, VaTech, Wake Forest, and WashingtonU.

Academic Highlights:  8:1 student to teacher ratio with average class size of 15. 36% self identified students of color. 78% of faculty have advanced degrees. 24 AP & 33 honors courses. 20 hours of community service per student. 80% of middle & upper school students participate in athletics. 59% of student participate in fine arts.

    • Tuition (9-12): $32,150
    • Enrollment (PreK-12): ~1240
    • Mean SAT Score: Not reported
    • Mean ACT Score: Not reported


#4 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill – Raleigh

Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill – Raleigh

  • 4011 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705

College Admissions Highlights:  Colleges and universities Trinity School graduates have matriculated include: American, BU, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, DePaul, Duke, Emory, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Middlebury, Northeastern, Notre Dame, NC State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rice, Stanford, Swarthmore, U Chicago, Florida, UNC Chapel Hill, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UVA, Vanderbilt, Va Tech, Wake Forest, WashingtonU, Wheaton, Williams, and  WPI

Academic Highlights:  Average class size of 14 students, with a 8:1 student to faculty ratio. 20 upper school faculty hold an advanced degree. Seniors complete a capstone project which includes 75-100 hours of guided work. 20+ honors courses. 20+ upper school athletic teams. Art program includes drama, visual, vocal, band, and strings opportunity.

    • Tuition (9-12): $29,890
    • Enrollment (Seniors): 46
    • Middle 50% SAT Score: 1148-1353
    • Middle 50% ACT Score: 24-30


#5 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Cardinal Gibbons High School – Raleigh

Cardinal Gibbons High School – Raleigh

  • 1401 Edwards Mill Rd. Raleigh, NC 27607

College Admissions Highlights:  Colleges and universities that have accepted Gibbons student in the past 3 years: BC, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, George Washington, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, NC State, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Stanford, Texas A&M, US Air Force Acad, UCLA, UGA, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, Penn, VaTech, Wake Forest, WashingtonU, and William & Mary.

Academic Highlights:  25 AP & 4 Advanced courses.  81% of AP Exam takers scored a 3 or higher.  3 National Merit Scholarship winners recently. 75% of educators possess at least a master’s degree. 50+ co-curriculars. 900+ student athletes participate in 51 sports teams. 128 state championships. Dance, drama, music and visual are all opportunities in the fine arts program.

    • Tuition (9-12): $19,330
    • Enrollment (Seniors): 378
    • Mid 50% SAT Score: 1060-1270
    • Mid 50% ACT Score: 21-28


#6 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
St. David鈥檚 School – Raleigh

St. David鈥檚 School – Raleigh

  • 3400 White Oak Road, Raleigh, NC 27609

College Admissions Highlights:  Colleges and universities graduates from the last five years were accepted to include: Auburn, Baylor, BC, Bucknell, UCLA, Case Western, Clemson, Cornell, Drexel, Duke, Florida, FSU, George Washington, GaTech, Hamilton, Hofstra, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, Miami, Michigan, NYU, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Northeastern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rice, USC, SMU, Tennessee, TCU, Tufts, Vanderbilt, VaTech, Wake Forest, Washinton U, Wheaton, William & Mary, and Wisconsin-Madison.

Academic Highlights:  Average class size 11, with a 1:8  teacher to student ratio. 78% of upper school faculty hold advanced degrees. 20 AP courses offered. Senior seminar and speaker series helps future graduates examine moral frameworks in society. Offers a 5 year Greek and 6 year Latin programs.  20 athletic teams and visual & performing arts programs. At least 80 hours of community service before graduation.

    • Tuition (9-12): $29,200
    • Enrollment (9-12): 188
    • Mean SAT Score: 1246
    • Mean ACT Score: 26


#7 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Saint Mary鈥檚 School – Raleigh

Saint Mary鈥檚 School – Raleigh

  • 900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh NC 27603

College Admissions Highlights:  Students from Saint Mary’s have gone onto these fine institutions: Barnard, BC, BU, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Duke, Emory, NYU, NC State, Ohio State, Penn State, Pepperdine, Princeton, Tufts, UCLA, U Chicago, UF, U Miami, U Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, Pitt, U Richmond, UVA, Wake Forest, William & Mary, and Wellesley.

Academic Highlights:  Saint Mary’s is an all girls school. Average class size is 14 with an 8:1 student to faculty ratio.  80% of the faculty hold advanced degrees. 40% of students board. 14 states and 12 countries represented in student body. 21 AP classes. 19 athletic teams in 12 sports.  30+ clubs and student organizations.

    • Tuition (9-12): $33,600 (day), $65,200 (boarding)
    • Enrollment (seniors): 91
    • Middle 50% SAT Score: 1080-1350
    • Middle 50% SAT Score: 22-29


#8 Best Private School in Raleigh
Carolina Friends School – Raleigh

Carolina Friends School – Raleigh

  • 4809 Friends School Road Durham, NC 27705

College Admissions Highlights:  Carolina Friends have sent students to the following prestigious institutions over the last 9 years: American, BU, Bryn Mawr, Case Western, William & Mary, Davidson, Drexel, Duke, Emory, Furman, GaTech, Kenyon, NYU, NC State, Northwestern, Oberlin, Pomona, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, UVA, & Wake Forest.

Academic Highlights:  The upper school uses a non-graded, non-ranked narrative evaluation system. Carolina Friends is a part of the Green Schools Alliance to help with global sustainability. 12 student organized extracurricular clubs. 18 teams in 8 sports. Performing arts include dance, music and theatre.  Service learning is a part of the curriculum. American Sign Language is one of the modern languages offered.

    • Tuition (9-12): $29,560
    • Enrollment (PreK-12): ~500
    • Mean SAT Score: Not reported
    • Mean ACT Score: Not reported


#9 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Trinity Academy – Raleigh

Trinity Academy – Raleigh

  • 10224 Baileywick Road Raleigh, NC 27613

College Admissions Highlights:  A sampling of college acceptances over the last five years has trinity graduates going to: App State, Baylor, BU, Clemson, Davidson, Duke, Furman, George Washington, GaTech, Haverford, NC State, Penn State, Purdue, RPI, Spelman, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Tennessee, UCI, UConn, Georgia, UMass, Miami, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, UVA, Va Tech, Wake Forest, Wheaton, and William & Mary.

Academic Highlights:  Faculty to student ratio 1:9. 64% of upper school faculty have a graduate degree. 9 AP & 22 honors courses. 83% scored a 3 or higher on AP Exams. 36% of students play 2 or 3 sports and there have been 5 state championships in the last 4 years. 38% of students enroll in 2 fine arts classes.

    • Tuition (9-12): $18,998
    • Enrollment (seniors): 43
    • Middle 50% SAT Score: 1080-1320
    • Middle 50% ACT Score: 22-29


#10 Best Private Schools in Raleigh
Emerson Waldorf School – Raleigh

Emerson Waldorf School – Raleigh

  • 6211 New Jericho Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516

College Admissions Highlights:  Recent college acceptances include these colleges and universities: American, App State, Bowdoin, Brandeis, Cornell, Davidson, Dartmouth, Drexel, Duke, George Washington, Haverford, LSU, Johns Hopkins, NYU, NC State, Oberlin, Skidmore, Tufts, UNC Chapel Hill, VaTech, Wake Forest, & Wellesley.

Academic Highlights:  54 acre campus with a farm and woodshop. Waldorf high school students can do an exchange with other Waldorf schools up to a semester. Each class travels for a week long curriculum trip in May. Juniors complete a one-week internship. Seniors do an independent project with presentation. 5 athletic teams including Ultimate Frisbee.

    • Tuition (9-12): $24,535
    • Enrollment (seniors): 12
    • Mean SAT Score: Not reported
    • Mean ACT Score: Not reported


Best Private Schools in Raleigh 鈥 Final Thoughts

We hope you found our blog on private schools in Raleigh, NC to be helpful. All high school students and families may wish to explore further information regarding the college search and admissions process at our DataverseBlog, and .