Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC – 2024
March 14, 2024
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’s high school to have a religious affiliation? Ultimately, your decision will need to balance your teen’s academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. However, College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each high school does at sending their graduates on to the nation’s premier 4-year schools.
Best Private Schools in Raleigh, NC
Here’s 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’s School
7) Saint Mary’s 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 College Transitions team will provide you with:
- Location
- Tuition (9-12)
- Enrollment (9-12)
- Average SAT Score
- Average ACT Score
- Senior Class Size
- College Admissions Highlights
- Academic Highlights
Durham Academy – Raleigh
- 3601 Ridge Road Durham, NC 27705-5599
College Admissions Highlights: Students from 2018-2023 have matriculated to these fine institutions: American, BC, Brown, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NC State, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, UT Austin, UC Berkeley, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, Wake Forest, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Average class size of 15 with an 8:1 student to faculty ratio. 54% students of color in upper school. 86% of upper school faculty have advance degrees. 31 AP & 10 Advanced (beyond AP) courses. 3 Consecutive state speech & debate championships since 2021. 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.
Cary Academy – Raleigh
- 1500 N. Harrison Ave. Cary, North Carolina 27513
College Admissions Highlights: Students from Cary Academy have matriculated to theses fine institutions from 2021-2023: Barnard, Brown, Cornell, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Ga Tech, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, NC State, Pomona, Princeton, Purdue, Stanford, UChicago, UCLA, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, Villanova, Wake Forest, WashingtonU, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 59% students of color. 17 year & 24 semester long advanced courses. 86.4% scored a 3 or higher on AP exams. 15 National Merit finalists and 20 Commended for the class of 2023. 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.
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: BC, Bryn Mawr, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Dartmouth, Denison, Georgetown, Howard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NC State, Northeastern, Purdue, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UMass, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, 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.
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill – Raleigh
- 4011 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705
College Admissions Highlights: Colleges and universities Trinity School graduates have matriculated to from 2010-2023: BU, Bucknell, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, George Washington, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, Notre Dame, NC State, Rice, Stanford, Swarthmore, USC, UNC Chapel Hill, UVA, UMichigan, Vanderbilt, Va Tech, Williams, Wake Forest, and WashingtonU.
Academic Highlights: Average class size of 14 students, with a 8:1 student to faculty ratio. 19 upper school faculty hold an advanced degree. Seniors complete a capstone project which includes 75-100 hours of guided work. 30+ honors courses. 57% AP exam takers in 2023 scored a 4 or 5. 20+ upper school athletic teams. Art program includes drama, visual, vocal, band, and strings opportunity.
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: Baylor, BC, Brown, Clemson, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Cuke, Emory, Furman, George Washington, Harvard, MIT, NYU, NC State, Providence, Purdue, Stanford, Texas A&M, US Air Force Acad, UGA, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Wake Forest, and WashingtonU.
Academic Highlights: 25 AP & 2 Advanced courses. 72% of AP Exam takers scored a 3 or higher in 2023. 3 National Merit Scholarship winners for the 2022 class. 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.
St. David’s School – Raleigh
- 3400 White Oak Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
College Admissions Highlights: Colleges and universities the class of 2023 were accepted to include: Auburn, Baylor, Bates, Bucknell, Clemson, Davidson, Drexel, Duke, FSU, Furman, Hamilton, Hofstra, Kenyon, NYU, NC State, Purdue, Tennessee, TCU, UF, UGA, UMass, UMiami, UNC Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Wheaton, William & Mary, Wisconsin-Madison, and VaTech.
Academic Highlights: Average class size 12, with a 1:8 teacher to student ratio. 78% of upper school faculty hold advanced degrees. 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.
Saint Mary’s School – Raleigh
- 900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh NC 27603
College Admissions Highlights: Students from Saint Mary’s have gone onto these fine institutions from 2021-23: American, BC, Bryn Mawr, Case Western, Columbia, Davidson, Drexel, Duke, Emory, Furman, NYU, NC State, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, TCU, UCLA, UGA, UMiami, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, UVA, VaTech, Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, 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 6 countries represented in student body. 21 AP classes. The 2024 Chorale program is invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. 19 athletic teams in 12 sports. 30+ clubs and student organizations.
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.
Trinity Academy – Raleigh
- 10224 Baileywick Road Raleigh, NC 27613
College Admissions Highlights: From 2019-2023, Trinity graduates have been accepted to these fine colleges and universities: App State, BU, Clemson, Davidson, Duke, Embry-Riddle, Furman, George Washington, GaTech, Howard, NC State, Purdue, Texas A&M, Tennessee, UGA, UMass, UNC Chapel Hill, UVA, UWashington, UWisconsin, VaTech, Wake Forest, and William & Mary.
Academic Highlights: 38-acre campus. Faculty to student ratio 1:9. 62% of upper school faculty have a graduate degree. 9 AP courses. 88% scored a 3 or higher on AP Exams. All students participate in the school’s 24 athletic teams. Logic & Rhetoric curriculum. Fine arts include visual, music and theatre with the option for private lessons in Guitar, Piano, Viola & Violin.
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.
Best Private Schools in Raleigh – 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 Dataverse, Blog, and List-Building Tool.
