Best Tampa Private Schools – 2025

February 26, 2025

If you are a parent residing in Tampa or one of the surrounding counties, and you are considering private school options for your children, then you have a difficult decision before you. Undoubtedly, there are countless considerations influencing your selection of which of the Tampa private schools will be best for your child. Are you seeking a boarding or day school? Do you want your child’s private high school to have a religious affiliation? What do friends and neighbors say about their experiences with various high schools you are considering? However, College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in Tampa will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each of the schools does at sending their graduates on to the region and nation’s premier 4-year schools.

Best Tampa Private Schools

Here’s a quick preview of the high schools that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Berkeley Preparatory School

2) Carrollwood Day School

3) Academy at the Lakes

4) Academy of the Holy Names

5) Admiral Farragut Academy

6) Calvary Christian High School

7) Canterbury School of Florida

8) Jesuit High School

9) Shorecrest Preparatory School

10) Tampa Preparatory School

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Tampa 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 our top institutions, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

Location
Tuition (9-12)
Enrollment (9-12)
Average SAT Score
Average ACT Score
Senior Class Size
College Admissions Highlights
Academic Highlights

Now, let’s dive in and examine the profiled high schools.

#1 Best Tampa Private Schools

Berkeley Preparatory School – Tampa

4811 Kelly Rd, Tampa, FL 33615

College Admissions Highlights: Over a recent 5 year period, Berkley has had more than 8 graduates attend Duke, Emory, FSU, GaTech, Georgetown, NYU, Northeastern, Tufts, UF, UMiami, UMichigan, Notre Dame, USF, Vanderbilt, Villanova, and Wake Forest. Between 5 and 7 students enrolled at BU, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Northwestern, UChicago, UVA, WashingtonU and Yale.

Academic Highlights: There are 40 honors, 30 AP and 13 Post-AP courses available. 91% of AP test-takers scored a 3 or better. Graduates have at least 76 hours of service. 70% of students compete on at least one of the 40 athletic teams. Award winning art program has unique opportunities in bagpipes, ceramics and wood-working.

Tuition (9-12): $35,510
Enrollment (seniors): 160
Average SAT Score: 1338
Average ACT Score: 28.8

#2 Best Tampa Private Schools

Carrollwood Day School – Tampa

1515 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL 33613

College Admissions Highlights: Graduates from the last five years have been accepted into schools such as Barnard, BC, BU, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Colby, Dartmouth, Duke, FSU, Georgetown, GaTech, Hofstra, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, UF, UGA, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, William & Mary, Wake Forest, and Wesleyan.

Academic Highlights: 48% of the faculty have advanced degrees. Offers an IB Diploma & students recently have a 92% IB pass rate. 92% of students scored 3 or higher on AP exams. 4 students were named National Merit Finalists in 2024. 75% of students play at least 1 sport; 21 competitive sports in upper school. 65 clubs & student activities. 18 honors societies.

Tuition (9-12): $28,890
Enrollment (seniors): 120
Average SAT Score: 1218
Average ACT Score: 26

#3 Best Tampa Private Schools

Academy at the Lakes – Tampa

2331 Collier Pkwy, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

College Admissions Highlights: A recent 4 year sample of college matriculations from Academy at the Lakes, include: Barnard, BC, BU, Bowdoin, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Duke, Emory, GaTech, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Macalester, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Purdue, Trinity, Tufts, UF, SMU, FSU USC, UNC Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, William & Mary, and Wesleyan.

Academic Highlights: Average class size is 14 students, with a 7:1 student/teacher ratio. 22 AP courses. Seniors complete a 1 week Senior Externship with local businesses. Each graduate has 150 community service hours. Outstanding fine arts program including chorus, orchestra, band, theater, & visual arts. 80% of students 6-12 participate in the 39 athletic teams.

Tuition (9-12): $29,300
Enrollment (Pk-12): 550
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#4 Best Tampa Private Schools

Academy of the Holy Names – Tampa

3319 Bayshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629

College Admissions Highlights: Over a four year period, students have matriculated into BC, BU, Carnegie Mellon, Claremont McKenna, William & Mary, Dartmouth, Emory, FSU, Georgetown, Howard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northeastern, Purdue, Tufts, UCLA, UF, UMiami, UMichigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Wellesley, Wesleyan, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: High School level is an all girls school. 12 AP Courses are offered. Of 659 AP exams taken, 82% scored a 3 or higher. 124 students were AP Scholars. Students can graduate is a transcript distinction in STEM and Fine Arts. 95% participate in interest and service clubs. 12 HS sports with 15 teams.

Tuition (9-12): $24,275
Enrollment (seniors): 117
Average SAT Score: 1212
Average ACT Score: 24.3

#5 Best Tampa Private Schools

Admiral Farragut Academy – Tampa

501 Park St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710

College Admissions Highlights: Recent graduates over a 5 year period have gone on to these fine universities and colleges: Amherst, BC, BU, Clemson, Drexel, Duke, Embry-Riddle, FSU, Howard, Michigan State, NYU, Purdue, RPI, Texas A&M, Citadel, UF, UMiami, UNC Chapel Hill, USF, Villanova, VaTech, VMI, US Air Force, US Naval, and US Military at West Point.

Academic Highlights: Boarding is an option, with a 5 or 7 day program. 15 AP Scholars. Signature programs include STEM/Engineering, Marine Science, Leadership, Naval Science, Aviation, and Scuba + AP Capstone Program. 78% of students participate in the 12 sports opportunities. Students graduate with 80 hours of community service.

Tuition (9-12): $29,100 (Day); $58,600 (Boarding)
Enrollment (9-12): 63
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#6 Best Tampa Private Schools

Calvary Christian High School – Tampa

110 McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759

College Admissions Highlights: In the last 4 years, graduates were accepted in the following highly-selective schools: Baylor, Barnard, Davidson, Duke, Embry-Riddle, Fordham, FSU, Hofstra, Howard, Lafayette, NYU, NC State, Northeastern, SMU, UT Austin, UF, UGA, UMiami, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pepperdine, SMU, Tennessee, UChicago, UF, UMichigan, Notre Dame, US Air Force Acad, US Military Acad, Vanderbilt, VaTech, Wake Forest, and WashingtonU.

Academic Highlights: 12:1 student to faculty ratio. 56% of teachers hold advanced degrees. 24% Multicultural diversity. 18 AP courses are offered. 78% of students passed AP exams with 3 or higher. All graduates complete 100 community service hours. 32 athletic teams with 6 state championships in the last 3 years. Extensive art program with choral, band, dance, theatre, visual, and digital.

Tuition (9-12): $17,875
Enrollment (seniors): 188
Average SAT Score: 1362
Average ACT Score: 29

#7 Best Tampa Private Schools

Canterbury School of Florida – Tampa

990 62nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

College Admissions Highlights: Recent college acceptances included Barnard, Brown, BC, BU, UCLA, Colgate, Columbia, Duke, Emory, FSU, GaTech, Hamilton, Johns Hopkins, NYU, UMiami, UNC Chapel Hill, Tulane, Vanderbilt, UVA, UF, Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, WashingtonU, and UW Madison.

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 12 students. Over the last two years, students have completed 7300 hours of community service. 20 AP courses are offered. In the last two years, they have had 17 AP Scholars with 1 National Merit Finalist. 54 seniors played the 13 different sports. Over 15 art courses including guitar and songwriting. 11th grade students do an intensive Marine Studies week long trip.

Tuition (9-12): $24,910
Enrollment (9-12): 490
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#8 Best Tampa Private Schools

Jesuit High School – Tampa

4701 N Himes Ave, Tampa, FL 33614

College Admissions Highlights: In the last five years, students have been admitted into the following institutions: BC, BU, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, FSU, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Macalester, NYU, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, US Air Force Acad, US Military Acad, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Chicago, UF, Mass, U Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Villanova, VaTech, Wake Forest, Washington U, William & Mary, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: This is an all boys high school. 35% of students identify as students of color. 29 AP + 1 Post AP courses are offered. The AP exam pass rate is 90.1% with over 10 national merit finalists recently. 12 athletic teams, in the past 9 years, Jesuit has finished #1 statewide 4 times in All-Sports rankings. Over 40 clubs.

Tuition (9-12): $21,700
Enrollment (seniors): 221
Mean SAT Score: 1281
Mean ACT Score: 25.9

#9 Best Tampa Private Schools

Shorecrest Preparatory School – Tampa

5101 1st St NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703

College Admissions Highlights: In the last five years, graduates been chosen to attend these fine institutions: American, BC, Brown, Cal Tech, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, FSU, GaTech, Harvard, Hofstra, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Princeton, Texas A&M, Ohio State, US Air Force Acad, U Chicago, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, USF, USC, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Va Tech, Wake Forest, and WashingtonU.

Academic Highlights: 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is 11 students. 29% students of color. 24 AP courses. 88% of students scored a 3 or above on AP exams. The average graduate completes 100+ community service hours. 60% students participate in the 45 athletic teams. 30+ performing/visual arts course offerings.

Tuition (9-12): $34,740
Enrollment (seniors): 88
Average SAT Score: 1261
Average ACT Score: 25.2

#10 Best Tampa Private Schools

Tampa Preparatory School – Tampa

727 W Cass St, Tampa, FL 33606

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last two years, graduates from Tampa Prep have been accepted to a number of prestigious institutions including: American, Amherst, Babson, Belmont, BU, Bowdoin, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, FSU, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Hofstra, Howard, Loyola, MIT, Macalester, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, RPI, Ohio State, Tennessee, Tufts, UC Berkeley, Florida, Miami, UNC Chapel Hill, USF, USC, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wesleyan, and William & Mary.

Academic Highlights: Student to teacher ratio is 18:1. 92% teacher retention rate. Tampa Prep offers 23 AP classes. There are more than 60 clubs and activities. 18 athletic teams with 9 facilities around downtown Tampa. Concentrations for students include the arts, biomedical sciences, global studies, and STEM/Engineering.

Tuition (9-12): $32,704
Enrollment (seniors): 111
Average SAT Score: 1254
Average ACT Score: 25.2

Final Thoughts – Best Tampa Private Schools

We hope you found our blog on private schools in Tampa 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.

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High School Success

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).