Best private high schools in Louisiana

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 Louisiana 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.

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#25. Archbishop Hannan High School

- Location: Covington, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 659 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#24. Acadiana Christian School

- Location: New Iberia, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 300 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#23. Mount Carmel Academy

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 1,250 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#22. Archbishop Chapelle High School

- Location: Metairie, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 588 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#21. Ursuline Academy of New Orleans

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 588 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#20. Messiah Montessori School

- Location: Houma, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 125 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#19. Westminster Christian Academy Lafayette

- Location: Lafayette, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 518 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#18. Catholic High School

- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 1,220 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#17. Jesuit High School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 1,368 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#16. Cabrini High School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 302 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#15. St. Frederick High School

- Location: Monroe, LA
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 264 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#14. Brother Martin High School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 1,206 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#13. Academy of the Sacred Heart

- Location: Grand Coteau, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 200 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#12. De La Salle High School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 595 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#11. St. Mary's Dominican High School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: 8-12
- Enrollment: 891 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#10. St. Joseph's Academy

- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,128 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#9. The Dunham School

- Location: Baton Rouge, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 919 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#8. Louise S. McGehee School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 565 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#7. St. Martin's Episcopal School

- Location: Metairie, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 601 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#6. Ascension Episcopal School

- Location: Lafayette, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 597 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#5. Metairie Park Country Day School

- Location: Metairie, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 743 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#4. Episcopal School of Acadiana

- Location: Lafayette, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 523 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#3. Academy of the Sacred Heart

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 717 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#2. Isidore Newman School

- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 917 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+