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Best private high schools in Arizona

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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 Arizona using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.

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#30. St. Michael Indian School

- Location: Saint Michaels, AZ
- Enrollment: 330 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.

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#29. The Jones-Gordon School

- Location: Paradise Valley, AZ
- Enrollment: 167 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.

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#28. North Valley Christian Academy

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 625 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down.

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#27. Dream City Christian School

- Location: Glendale, AZ
- Enrollment: 776 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.

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#26. Veritas Christian Community School

- Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
- Enrollment: 117 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.

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#25. Wickenburg Christian Academy

- Location: Wickenburg, AZ
- Enrollment: 139 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.

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#24. Tri-City Christian Academy

- Location: Chandler, AZ
- Enrollment: 230 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student raising their hand in class.

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#23. Thunderbird Adventist Academy

- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
- Enrollment: 129 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.

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#22. 91st Psalm Christian School

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 200 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.

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#21. Desert Christian Schools

- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Enrollment: 402 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A row of empty desks with notebooks and pencils on them.

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#20. Valley Lutheran High School

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 147 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A hallway lined with green lockers.

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#19. Valley Christian Schools

- Location: Chandler, AZ
- Enrollment: 1,064 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.

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#18. St. Mary's Catholic High School

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 543 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty classroom as viewed from the back.

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#17. Redeemer Christian School

- Location: Mesa, AZ
- Enrollment: 61 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table.

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#16. Notre Dame Catholic College Preparatory High School

- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
- Enrollment: 898 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.

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#15. Yuma Catholic High School

- Location: Yuma, AZ
- Enrollment: 429 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.

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#14. Green Fields School

- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Enrollment: 150 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students using microscopes in science class.

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#13. Salpointe Catholic High School

- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Enrollment: 1,270 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.

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#12. Arizona Lutheran Academy

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 239 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students raising their hands for class participation.

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#11. Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory School

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 312 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.

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#10. Seton Catholic Preparatory

- Location: Chandler, AZ
- Enrollment: 552 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book.

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#9. Bella Vista College Preparatory School

- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
- Enrollment: 89 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.

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#8. Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 103 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.

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#7. The Orme School

- Location: Mayer, AZ
- Enrollment: 95 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.

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#6. Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 366 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library.

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#5. The Gregory School

- Location: Tucson, AZ
- Enrollment: 366 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background.

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#4. Verde Valley School

- Location: Sedona, AZ
- Enrollment: 124 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers.

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#3. Brophy College Preparatory

- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Enrollment: 1,407 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom.

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

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#2. Rancho Solano Preparatory School

- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
- Enrollment: 850 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class.

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#1. Phoenix Country Day School

- Location: Paradise Valley, AZ
- Enrollment: 768 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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