Best private high schools in Mississippi

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 Mississippi 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. St. Patrick Catholic High School

- Location: Biloxi, MS
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 671 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#24. Northpoint Christian School

- Location: Southaven, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,070 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#23. Tunica Academy

- Location: Tunica, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 254 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#22. Russell Christian Academy

- Location: Meridian, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 460 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#21. Prentiss Christian School

- Location: Prentiss, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 182 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#20. Our Lady Academy

- Location: Bay St Louis, MS
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 225 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#19. Heritage Academy

- Location: Columbus, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 445 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#18. Clinton Christian Academy

- Location: Clinton, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 296 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#17. Madison-Ridgeland Academy

- Location: Madison, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,310 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#16. St. Joseph Catholic School

- Location: Greenville, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 266 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#15. Vicksburg Catholic School

- Location: Vicksburg, MS
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 480 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A-

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#14. Washington School

- Location: Greenville, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 466 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#13. Lamar School

- Location: Meridian, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 571 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#12. Cathedral School

- Location: Natchez, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 668 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#11. Presbyterian Christian School

- Location: Hattiesburg, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 954 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#10. Saint Stanislaus High School

- Location: Bay St. Louis, MS
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 342 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#9. Friendship Christian Academy

- Location: Victoria, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 75 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#8. Mt. Salus Christian School

- Location: Clinton, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 135 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#7. Bass Memorial Academy

- Location: Lumberton, MS
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 71 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#6. Jackson Preparatory School

- Location: Flowood, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 886 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#5. Lee Academy

- Location: Clarksdale, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 155 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#4. St. Joseph Catholic School

- Location: Madison, MS
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 382 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A

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#3. Jackson Academy

- Location: Jackson, MS
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,260 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A