These are the highest-rated private high schools in Texas

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 Texas 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.

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A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.

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#30. Saint Thomas’ Episcopal School

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 635 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.

Achira22 // Shutterstock

#29. The Brook Hill School

– Location: Bullard, TX
– Enrollment: 850 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.

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#28. Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 763 (8:1 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. Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

– Location: Dallas, TX
– Enrollment: 1,153 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.

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#26. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

– Location: Austin, TX
– Enrollment: 981 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+

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#25. Episcopal High School

– Location: Bellaire, TX
– Enrollment: 824 (7:1 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. Fort Worth Country Day School

– Location: Fort Worth, TX
– Enrollment: 1,097 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A student raising their hand in class.

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#23. TMI Episcopal

– Location: San Antonio, TX
– Enrollment: 580 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.

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#22. St. Agnes Academy

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 935 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.

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#21. Dallas International School

– Location: Dallas, TX
– Enrollment: 570 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+

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#20. British International School of Houston

– Location: Katy, TX
– Enrollment: 950 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A hallway lined with green lockers.

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#19. Trinity Valley School

– Location: Fort Worth, TX
– Enrollment: 1,037 (10:1 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. Cistercian Preparatory School

– Location: Irving, TX
– Enrollment: 357 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ An empty classroom as viewed from the back.

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#17. The Episcopal School of Dallas

– Location: Dallas, TX
– Enrollment: 1,189 (8:1 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. Alcuin School

– Location: Dallas, TX
– Enrollment: 587 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+

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#15. The Emery/Weiner School

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 604 (5:1 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. Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 1,396 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ Students using microscopes in science class.

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#13. The Kinkaid School

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 1,469 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ High school students studying and reading together in their school library.

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#12. Vanguard College Preparatory School

– Location: Waco, TX
– Enrollment: 300 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ Students raising their hands for class participation.

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#11. Saint Mary’s Hall

– Location: San Antonio, TX
– Enrollment: 727 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+

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#10. The Hockaday School

– Location: Dallas, TX
– Enrollment: 1,110 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ Two students sharing a book.

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#9. Keystone School

– Location: San Antonio, TX
– Enrollment: 500 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.

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#8. Austin Peace Academy

– Location: Austin, TX
– Enrollment: 730 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.

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#7. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School

– Location: Austin, TX
– Enrollment: 707 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.

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#6. Greenhill School

– Location: Addison, TX
– Enrollment: 1,373 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+

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#5. The Village School

– Location: Houston, TX
– Enrollment: 1,559 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: Grade A+ A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background.