Explore Private Schools in the U.S. & Worldwide

Holderness is an Episcopal, college-preparatory school. Utilizing its small size and close-knit community, Holderness strikes a balance between academics and sports, including football, nationally recognized ski teams (alpine, nordic, freestyle, freeride, snowboarding), hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. Holderness is known for its unique job and leadership programs, as well as community service and outdoor program. Carpenter Arts Center provides an art gallery, ceramic, photography, and recording studios. Recent additions include Gallop Fitness Center, Alfond Library/Media Center and renovated Schoolhouse.

Founded in 1887, Head-Royce is an independent, college-preparatory, coeducational, non-denominational, K-12 school, which offers a challenging educational program. The mission of Head-Royce School is to inspire in our students a lifelong love of learning and exuberance for academic excellence, to promote understanding of and respect for the diversity that makes our society strong, and to encourage constructive and responsible citizenship. The school nurtures the development of the whole child through a program that seeks to develop intellectual abilities such as scholarship and disciplined, critical thinking; to foster in each student integrity, ethical behavior, compassion, and a sense of humor; to promote responsibility and leadership, an appreciation of individual and cultural differences, and a respect for the opinions of others; to nurture aesthetic abilities such as creativity, imagination, musical, and visual talent; and to encourage joyful, healthy living and physical fitness. All members of the Head-Royce community strive to create an educational environment that reflects the school's core values of academic excellence, diversity, and citizenship, one in which each student can thrive. We believe that a program based on these core values will prepare our students to be effective global citizens as they face and embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future.

■ Located in Orlando, Florida, the only IB school in Central Florida with a warm, sunny climate for living, learning, and sports. ■ Offers nearly 150 courses across multiple levels, including ESL, American High School, 35 honors courses, 2 AP courses, and 36 IB courses. ■ STEAM program in science and engineering in collaboration with MIT, mentoring students in robotics and innovation projects. ■ Entrepreneurship program partnering with local businesses to provide real-world entrepreneurial experiences. ■ Cypress Center for the Arts provides comprehensive arts education, including performing arts in partnership with the Julia Conservatory. ■ Offers 21 sports and over 60 teams, with strong programs in golf, tennis, and swimming. ■ Notable alumni include CBA athlete Fanbo Zeng, who graduated from Windermere Preparatory School and played for the NBA G League Ignite. ■ Brand-new townhouse-style boarding, double occupancy, located near Walt Disney World, with faculty serving as housemasters and strong campus security. ■ College counseling begins in 9th grade, with strong college acceptance outcomes.

The Bullis School is an independent, co-educational college preparatory day school offering girls and boys in grades 3 through 12 an educational program of excellence in a community that values integrity, respect, responsibility, diversity and service. A caring and supportive faculty fosters a positive attitude about learning and challenges our students to achieve their highest potential in academics, the arts and athletics.

Established in 1863, and located in Honolulu, Hawaii, 'Iolani School is a culturally diverse, co-educational, college preparatory school for over 1900 students in grades K-12 founded upon Christian values. We are recognized as one of the top college preparatory schools in the United States and have more than 150 years of history embracing students from around the world. Academic excellence and personal growth flourish in an atmosphere that is challenging and competitive, yet caring and nurturing. Through dynamic and personalized instruction in a multitude of disciplines, 'Iolani develops liberally educated, well-rounded individuals who are well prepared for college and ready to assume their responsibilities as active, moral citizens.

Lick-Wilmerding is a non-profit, independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school. L-W's central mission is to offer its students a distinctive and exemplary education, the key ingredients of which are: the school's "head, heart, and hands" curriculum, the inclusive nature of its community, and its commitment to society beyond the campus. Each of these elements is grounded in the principles set forth by the school's founders - James Lick, Jellis Wilmerding, and Miranda Lux. From the beginning, Lick-Wilmerding served young people from all segments of society, honored work with the hands as well as the head, and committed to contributing to the common good. Lick-Wilmerding High School inspires students to become self-directed, life-long learners who contribute to our world with knowledge, skill, creativity, compassion, and can-do confidence.

At Valley Christian School, our mission is to provide a nurturing environment offering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world. The Junior High School provides sixth, seventh and eighth grade students with a departmentalized approach for all subjects. Emphasis is placed on preparing students for the comprehensive curriculum of the high school by developing good study skill and discipline for more advanced academic work. Honors classes are offered in English, Math and Science. By the time students reach the high school, they have honed their critical and analytical skills and are ready to meet the demands of a challenging curriculum.

The Ethel Walker School is far more than a traditional all-girls school. It is a place where mentor educators galvanize students to harness their creative energies and embark on lives of impact. Unconstrained by gender-biased thinking, Walker’s students are encouraged to test boundaries in the classroom, on the fields, on stage, and in pursuit of knowledge. They embrace that knowledge to build their affluence of mind through a visionary academic approach. Together, in a community where each individual is supported as she defines her perspective and explores new vantage points, students revel in the confluence of spirit generated from this joyful nexus of connection, collaboration, and creation. While at Walker’s, girls are inspired to lead with confidence and conviction. This strength will imbue each graduate throughout her life. Walker’s alumnae carry themselves with grace and a certainty that empowers them to influence and inspire. We’re all for girls and have been since 1911.

Since 1893, Baylor has been one of the premier college-preparatory schools in the U.S. Our beautiful 690-acre campus is located on the Tennessee River and only five minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Students enjoy the benefits that come from small classes, a unique leadership program and innovative curriculum, an exceptional faculty that includes 100 educators with advanced degrees, vast extracurricular choices, and nationally recognized athletic teams. Graduates are admitted to colleges and universities nationwide, including some of the most selective schools in the world.

Palmer Trinity School is an independent, college-preparatory, coeducational, Episcopal day school located on 60 acres in southwest Miami-Dade County. Established in 1972, Palmer Trinity School enrolls 800 Students in grades six through twelve. The School reflects both the metropolitan and suburban flavor of the city of Miami with 30 countries represented in its student body. Over seventy percent of the students are bilingual, and forty percent speak three or more languages. Palmer Trinity School seeks students of good academic potential and strong personal character in its commitment to fashion a diverse community.

The Village School is located in the western Energy Corridor of Houston, Texas, it is the only boarding school in the Greater Houston area, with most local parents working in the aerospace, medical, and energy industries. The school offers over 200 high school courses, including ESL, college prep courses, 14 honors courses, 16 AP courses, and 55 IB courses. STEAM education is a key strength, with curricula and activities developed in collaboration with MIT. Students have the opportunity to earn five different types of diplomas at The Village School, including U.S. High School Diploma, IB Diploma, Entrepreneurship Diploma, Pre-Med Diploma and Computer Science Diploma. The Village School partners with the Space Center to provide learning and research opportunities in space-related fields, along with corresponding internships. During high school, students can take part in internships through partnerships with many well-known local companies, research institutes, hospitals, and non-profit organizations. On-campus dormitory consists entirely of double-occupancy rooms under a fully gated-campus management system for greater safety. The school excels in soccer and basketball, having won multiple state championships. The school provides college guidance begins in 9th grade, having outstanding university placement, with a high percentage of students admitted to top-tier STEM universities.

Tower Hill School is a co-educational, non-denominational school, preschool through grade 12, dedicated to its motto, Multa Bene Facta -- Many Things Done Well. Tower Hill encourages diversity in the religious, racial, economic, and ethnic composition of its student body. Tower Hill provides an enriched and challenging college preparatory program in which each student's abilities and talents are recognized and respected. The curriculum incorporates both traditional and innovative approaches to learning within an educational environment that nurtures each student's moral, intellectual, creative, and physical development. Tower Hill is committed to perpetuating a school community founded on personal integrity, mutual respect, and collective responsibility. The school prepares its students for citizenship in the global community and encourages an appreciation for the lifelong process of learning. www.towerhill.org.

Woodside Priory is a coeducational, Catholic independent school for students in middle school, grades six through eight and in high school, grade 9 through 12. Situated within ten minutes of Stanford University on the San Francisco peninsula in Portola Valley, the Priory combines its 50-acre (20-hectare) rural campus with a challenging college preparatory curriculum, a 7-to-1 student-faculty ratio, and a full complement of competitive athletics and enriching co-curricular. As both a day and a boarding school, seamless interaction between boarders and day students provides an enthusiastic and spirited campus student life where local students blend with students from countries throughout the world. The Priory embodies the values of Benedictine education - a belief in order and personal responsibility, a respect for diversity, the importance of community life and the development of the whole person.

Friends Select School's mission is to provide a challenging, college-preparatory academic program to its diverse, coed student population, from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. Members of the Friends Select community believe in the Quaker values of respect for all, simplicity, the peaceful resolution to conflict, and a constant search for truth. The school works to achieve a balance between the needs of individuals and the community, in an atmosphere of cooperation and concern for the betterment of all. It values the rich diversity of its urban setting and the opportunities and challenges it provides for the education of its students. Under the caring oversight of dedicated faculty and staff, Friends Select students gain the knowledge, skills and character that will help them to live full lives.

Shady Side Academy is a nationally respected private school in Pittsburgh for boys and girls in grades PK-12, with an optional five-day boarding experience in high school. Three age-specific campuses with extraordinary resources, teachers who actively mentor, a forward-thinking curriculum, a diverse and inclusive community, and a legacy of alumni accomplishments all inspire Shady Side students to high achievement in academics, the arts and athletics, and to meaningful ambitions in life. At Shady Side, there is a balanced approach to education with a commitment to students’ academic, physical and emotional development.

Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a coeducational day school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was established in 1974 by the merger of two independent schools, the Buckingham school and the Browne & Nichols school, founded respectively in 1889 and 1883. Located on three separate campuses, we work as one school in the pursuit of excellence. We celebrate the diversity of our community which enriches our daily experience. At BB&N we foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and a deep concern and respect for others. Our educational program, coordinated from beginners through grade twelve, provides a rigorous core curriculum, taught in flexible and innovative ways. Students acquire the skills and discipline necessary for academic accomplishment and learn to reflect, take risks and to discover. The curriculum is strengthened by our commitment to a comprehensive program in the arts and athletics. In all of our experiences, both those within the school and those which use our urban location, we encourage self-reliance, knowledge of oneself and a capacity for leadership.

Our mission is accomplished through the cooperative efforts of parents, students, and staff by providing a rigorous curriculum and a positive discipline program that challenges all students to reach their potential. The mission is realized in a community that nourishes the faith life of the parents, students, and staff through prayer, worship, and service to others.

Thomas Jefferson School (TJ) is a small, academically rigorous day and boarding school located just outside St. Louis, serving students in grades 7–12. Our size is intentional. With fewer than 90 students, every class is discussion-based, every voice matters, and no student disappears. TJ is designed for students who are ready to move beyond lecture-style classes into active thinking, speaking, and writing. Classes meet daily and move at a purposeful pace, with close faculty guidance that helps students adapt to the expectations of U.S. classrooms while building confidence over time. Learning extends well beyond the classroom. Faculty know students personally and remain actively involved throughout the day and evening, ensuring that students are both challenged and supported in a structured environment. Outcomes are consistently strong. TJ students earn admission to highly selective universities in the U.S. and U.K., including Cambridge, Cornell, Rice, and Vanderbilt. Graduates leave not only well prepared, but confident, independent, and ready to succeed in demanding university environments.

The Quarry Lane School is known for academic excellence. It strives to provide every student with an educational program that establishes high achievement levels. Intellectual curiosity, creativity and physical well-being are emphasized along with developing character and leadership skills. Quarry Lane School offers three distinct Academic Tracks: College Prep., International Baccalaureate High School Diploma Programme and the Science, Engineering and Technology Track

In a community where every student is known and needed, Millbrook prepares its student for college and lives of meaning and consequence by instilling the values of respect, integrity, stewardship, service, and curiosity. Nestled on 800 acres in the Hudson Valley of New York, Millbrook School resides just 90 miles north of New York City and is home to 330 students from 24 different states and 17 different countries. Through our commitment to ensuring that all of our students are needed and known, our students have the opportunity to explore new passions, while developing greater expertise and confidence in their current interests. As a student at Millbrook, you will be surrounded by so many people who are dedicated to helping you succeed. Between our expert faculty, who will be your coaches, advisers, teachers, and dorm parents, we have the ability to see our students in multiple lights and help our students build upon their strengths to bolster their weaknesses. Our faculty will push you to look at the world like never before, developing a deep value and appreciation for thoughtful and respectful intellectual discourse. One particularly notable program available to Millbrook students is the Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo at Millbrook School. Established in 1936, Millbrook’s AZA accredited Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo is one of a kind. Founded by Millbrook’s first biology teacher, Frank Trevor, the zoo allows students unique, hands-on experiences with more than 170 exotic and indigenous animals in facilities that extend across 6 acres. Classes such as Environmental Science, Animal Behavior, Primate Evolution, and Independent Science Research are tied closely to our zoo and expose students to solution-oriented approaches which focus on sustainability, evolution, and quality of life for all within the means of nature. Outside of academics, every Millbrook student will engage at the zoo through the campus-wide community service program and through extracurricular offerings. Through these opportunities students will have hands-on experiences in animal husbandry, diet preparation, and veterinary medicine. According to the President and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Millbrook School’s Trevor-Lovejoy Zoo is the pre–eminent education and conservation program for high school students in the United States.