I've been writing about private schools for more than twenty-five years. I always remember how little we knew about private schools when we started looking for schools for our girls. My late wife had attended several private schools when she was growing up in New York City, so she was at least familiar with them. She spoke favorably of the small classes and individual attention she received. I attended the Westmount Public Schools growing up in Montreal. Those schools were run along English public, that is, private, school lines and might as well have been private schools. They had small classes, lots of individual attention, and strict codes of discipline.
However, when it came to identifying private schools for our children, our choices seemed limited. Before the internet and smartphones became everyday tools, we had to research schools by phone and traditional mail. We asked around and learned about schools from friends and associates. Fortunately, we lived in the suburbs, which always seemed to have a school or two for us to consider. Today, in 2026, parents have access to some truly remarkable tools that make identifying the right private school much easier than it was even a decade ago. School websites, virtual tours, online reviews, and the powerful search tools available on Private School Review allow families to compare schools from virtually anywhere.
So, let me save you time and lay out a roadmap for your research. Your decision process will include consideration of cost, suitability of schools in your area, the reputation of schools and their teachers, curriculum, athletic programs, extracurricular activities, college counseling, and many other factors.
The first thing you need to do is decide when you want to send your child to private school. The easiest way to find schools in your area is to use the search tool on Private School Review.
For example, in the illustration below, I set the filters to list every school within ten miles of Evanston, Illinois.
That's too many schools to review. So, the next step is to refine your search by the grade level you want to explore.
I then set the grade level filter to Grade 10 because I wanted to see what high schools were available. As a result, the search results listed 53 high schools. Much more manageable, but still too many to review.
Next, I refined my search even further by adding filters under the Advanced Search options. Finally, I asked the search engine to look for Catholic girls' schools. I now had three schools to explore from an initial list of more than 150 schools.
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Grouped by Age
- PK
- Elementary
- Middle
- High School
- PK-12
Grouped by Sex
- Coeducational
- Boys
- Girls
Single-sex Education At A Glance offers an overview of single-sex schools. Don't take my word, or somebody else's, for it. Explore single-sex school websites. Visit the schools. Listen to the admissions staff explain how their school creates the right environment for a boy or girl to become all he or she can be. That is admirable. As you explore the option of sending your child to a single-sex school, when you find a school that meets your requirements and is the best fit for your child, don't give it another thought. Go for it.
Religious
If you want your child to attend a school with an emphasis on the religious component, you will find various options in the private school universe.
These include:
- Roman Catholic
- Christian
- Episcopal
- Seventh-day Adventist
- Lutheran
- Jewish
- Non-sectarian
I wrote Religious Schools: An Overview using data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Depending on where you live, you may have several excellent faith-based schools from which to choose. Families can also explore accreditation and school quality standards through the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) when researching independent schools.
This video offers a look at the Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati.
Military
You will discover that most military schools are residential schools. However, many private schools also offer Junior ROTC or leadership development programs. When Should You Consider A Military School? provides several reasons why military schools might be worth exploring.
Cristo Rey
Cristo Rey schools offer a compulsory work-study program. As deputy director of a private high school, I organized a similar work-study program for my juniors and seniors. Watching young people learn how to be on time for work, gain valuable lifelong skills, and take pride in their accomplishments is an experience I shall never forget.
Cristo Rey Schools: A Different Kind Of School gives you an overview of these outstanding schools.
Educational Philosophy
- Progressive
- Christian Classical
- International Baccalaureate
- Advanced Placement
I know what you're thinking.
"Private schools give me a choice of educational philosophies?"
They do indeed.
College preparatory schools generally offer Advanced Placement courses designed to prepare students for AP examinations. What Is AP? explains how this program works. Another common college preparatory curriculum is the International Baccalaureate. What Is IB? offers an excellent overview. Families interested in the IB curriculum can also learn more from the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Classical Christian education is a time-tested educational system that establishes a biblical worldview, incorporates methods based on natural phases of child development, cultivates Christian virtues, trains students in reasoning through the Trivium, and engages children in the "Great Conversation" through classic literature. Schools offering this approach continue to grow in popularity among families seeking a faith-based liberal arts education.
Finally, progressive schools offer a distinctive approach to education.
Progressive educational thought stems from the work of John Dewey and has as its central tenet the education of engaged citizens for a democratic society. Progressive schools value diversity of thought and culture while encouraging collaboration, creativity, and experiential learning. Although instructional methods have evolved with technology, these foundational principles remain largely unchanged.
Specific Focus
- Arts schools
- Sports schools
- Special needs
If you have a gifted musician, artist, or athlete, consider schools that emphasize specialized training. If your child has been diagnosed with learning differences or other special needs, you will find day schools in many metropolitan areas that offer specialized curricula and highly trained faculty. In some cases, however, you may need to consider a boarding school if local day schools do not provide the programs your child requires.
In the private school world, one size does not fit all. You will find one or more schools that fit your needs and requirements. Know what you are looking for before you begin your search.
