Studio KIWI // Shutterstock
1 / 25#25. Davidson Academy
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 838 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Best private high schools in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 born-and-bred residents in Tennessee
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
2 / 25#24. Harding Academy of Memphis
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 701 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock
3 / 25#23. St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
- Location: Sewanee, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 175 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
maroke // Shutterstock
4 / 25#22. Pope Saint John Paul II Preparatory School
- Location: Hendersonville, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 718 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
5 / 25#21. Franklin Road Academy
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,157 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
You may also like: Stars, stripes and shopping carts: What Americans buy for the Fourth of July in Tennessee
maroke // Shutterstock
6 / 25#20. University School of Jackson
- Location: Jackson, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,103 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
7 / 25#19. St. Agnes Academy
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 554 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
8 / 25#18. Central Baptist School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 144 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
9 / 25#17. Pleasant View School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 404 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
10 / 25#16. Lipscomb Academy
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,426 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Most commonly seen birds in Tennessee
Mircea Moira // Shutterstock
11 / 25#15. Girls Preparatory School
- Location: Chattanooga, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 489 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
12 / 25#14. Christian Brothers High School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 725 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
13 / 25#13. Webb School of Knoxville
- Location: Knoxville, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,068 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
14 / 25#12. Hutchison School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 797 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
15 / 25#11. The Webb School
- Location: Bell Buckle, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 295 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Pint-sized obsessions: Tennessee's favorite ice cream flavors and brands, according to Instacart data
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
16 / 25#10. St. Andrew's School
- Location: Sevierville, TN
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 47 (2:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Joyseulay // Shutterstock
17 / 25#9. Memphis University School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 630 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
18 / 25#8. Harpeth Hall School
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: 5-12
- Enrollment: 734 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LBeddoe // Shutterstock
19 / 25#7. Baylor School
- Location: Chattanooga, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 1,079 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
sirtravelalot // Shutterstock
20 / 25#6. Montgomery Bell Academy
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: 7-12
- Enrollment: 850 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Biggest cities in Tennessee 150 years ago
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 25#5. St. Mary's Episcopal School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 783 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock
22 / 25#4. The Ensworth School
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 1,280 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 25#3. University School of Nashville
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Grades: K-12
- Enrollment: 1,074 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
24 / 25#2. Lausanne Collegiate School
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 881 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 25#1. McCallie School
- Location: Chattanooga, TN
- Grades: 6-12
- Enrollment: 992 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 50s in Tennessee
