Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
1 / 25#25. Whitefield Academy
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 255 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Best private high schools in Missouri
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Missouri using 2027 rankings from Niche. Online schools were not included. Niche uses 10 weighted factors for its rankings, including: college enrollment, culture and diversity, parent/student surveys, top enrolled colleges, and student-teacher ratio. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
You may also like: Counties with the most veterans in Missouri
Studio KIWI // Shutterstock
2 / 25#24. Nerinx Hall High School
- Location: Webster Groves, MO
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 593 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock
3 / 25#23. Missouri Military Academy
- Location: Mexico, MO
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 206 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
4 / 25#22. Christian Fellowship School
- Location: Columbia, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 475 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Mircea Moira // Shutterstock
5 / 25#21. Saint Paul Lutheran High School
- Location: Concordia, MO
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 190 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
You may also like: Septembers with the most precipitation in Missouri since 1895
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
6 / 25#20. Greenwood Laboratory School
- Location: Springfield, MO
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 429 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
7 / 25#19. Heritage Christian Academy
- Location: Fenton, MO
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 73 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 25#18. Columbia Independent School
- Location: Columbia, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 481 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 25#17. Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School
- Location: Joplin, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 335 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
10 / 25#16. Crossroads College Preparatory School
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 119 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Coldest Julys in Missouri since 1895
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
11 / 25#15. Chaminade College Preparatory School
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 861 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
12 / 25#14. St. Teresa's Academy
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 570 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
13 / 25#13. The Fulton School
- Location: Chesterfield, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 110 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
maroke // Shutterstock
14 / 25#12. St. Louis University High School
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,011 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
sirtravelalot // Shutterstock
15 / 25#11. Rockhurst High School
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 938 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 90s in Missouri
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 25#10. The Barstow School
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 787 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 25#9. Notre Dame de Sion High School
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 317 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock
18 / 25#8. Visitation Academy
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 615 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
maroke // Shutterstock
19 / 25#7. Saint Louis Priory School
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 354 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
20 / 25#6. Principia School
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 520 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: The truth about minimum coverage requirements in Missouri
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
21 / 25#5. The Whitfield School
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 405 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock
22 / 25#4. Pembroke Hill School
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,195 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Joyseulay // Shutterstock
23 / 25#3. MICDS - Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,242 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
24 / 25#2. Thomas Jefferson School
- Location: Saint Louis, MO
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 72 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
25 / 25#1. John Burroughs School
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 664 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Easy as pie: See the most uniquely popular pie in Missouri
