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Best Mississippi Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 248 private schools serving 55,099 students in Mississippi (there are 1,028 public schools, serving 432,864 students). 11% of all K-12 students in Mississippi attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $10,115 for elementary schools and $11,358 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in Mississippi include St. Andrew's Episcopal School, St. Joseph Catholic School, and Vicksburg Catholic School.
The average acceptance rate is 88% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 19% and the student-teacher ratio is 12:1.
81% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.

Overview

This State (MS)
US
# Schools
248 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
55,099 Students
5,690,156 Students
% Average Students of Color
19%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
4,484 Teachers
507,981 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
47%
55%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
10 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1315
(Out of 1600)
1234
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$10,278
$14,930
Average Summer Program Cost
$174
$1,150
Average % on Financial Aid
26%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,631
$7,220
Average Acceptance Rate
88%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$61.78 million
$62.96 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.48
0.65
# American Indian Students
93 Students
29,824 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
1,695 Students
264,947 Students
% Asian Students
3%
5%
# Hispanic Students
1,230 Students
506,920 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%
# Black Students
5,464 Students
415,825 Students
% Black Students
9%
7%
# White Students
41,482 Students
2,930,641 Students
% White Students
70%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
34 Students
20,066 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
9,393 Students
1,472,250 Students
% of Others Students
16%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
7 sports

Top-Ranked Mississippi Private Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
3
1,120
22%
3
266
4%
2
694
44%
3
425
13%
2
797
15%
1
187
8%
1
325
30%
1
247
16%
3
582
19%
4
495
12%
2
700
17%
3
137
5%
12
3,698
10%
8
2,452
12%
1
410
10%
4
904
15%
15
2,936
9%
31
6,411
17%
1
242
9%
1
163
13%
9
1,040
4%
1
296
12%
4
895
7%
1
201
21%
4
1,032
12%
5
698
13%
7
1,573
13%
2
705
21%
8
1,020
7%
4
1,007
20%
5
1,444
21%
7
1,381
14%
11
4,562
22%
3
614
15%
3
595
14%
1
129
3%
1
323
23%
1
-
<1%
1
185
7%
1
44
3%
2
970
17%
3
442
7%
1
33
2%
4
913
13%
1
154
16%
12
3,283
13%
1
157
23%
4
839
22%
1
105
4%
3
671
18%
2
669
18%
1
222
12%
1
79
2%
8
1,769
21%
9
1,430
18%
1
269
8%
1
294
27%
2
503
17%
3
715
19%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Mississippi?
The top-ranked private schools in Mississippi include St. Andrew's Episcopal School, St. Joseph Catholic School, and Vicksburg Catholic School.
How many private schools are located in Mississippi?
There are 248 private schools are located in Mississippi.
How much do private schools cost in Mississippi?
The average private school tuition in Mississippi is $10,115 for elementary schools and $11,358 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Mississippi?
Approximately 19% of students in Mississippi private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Mississippi go to private school?
11% of all K-12 students in Mississippi attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Mississippi?
81% of private schools in Mississippi are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.
Which private schools in Mississippi are often viewed compared to one another?

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