Carolina Friends School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026)

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Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked NC School
Grades: Prekindergarten-12
Enrollment: 521 students
Yearly Tuition: $31,666
Acceptance rate: 46%
Average class size: 8 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 20 / rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Carolina Friends School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for:

School Facts

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Friends Council on Education (FCE)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
State or regional independent school association

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-12

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Carolina Friends School
Pre-K	38
Kind	31
1	31
2	31
3	31
4	31
5	35
6	35
7	38
8	40
9	45
10	45
11	45
12	45

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ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Year Founded

1962

Colors

White, Green

Campus Size

126 acres

Student Body

Total Students

521 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

27%

State avg.: 24%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

63 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

8:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

47%

Average Class Size

8 students

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

Adv BiologyAdv Chemistry

Adv FrenchAdv Physics

Adv SpanishAdv Statistics

Calculus 1Calculus 2

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Jan. 20 / rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$31,666

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Tuition varies by level.

% on Financial Aid

27%

Average Financial Aid Grant

$7,548

Acceptance Rate

46%

National avg.: 82%

College Acceptance Rate

100%

Admissions Director

Julee Laporte

Admissions Associate

Clay Thomas

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

11 sports

Sports

BaseballBasketball

Cross CountryDance

SoccerSwimming

TennisTrack and Field

Ultimate FrisbeeVolleyball

Winter Track

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

15 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Chess ClubDebate Club

Dungeons and Dragons ClubEnvironmental Club

Film ClubHawaiian Culture Club

Investment ClubJewish Affinity Group

Peer Tutoring ClubQuaker Youth Leadership

Sexuality and Gender Equity Alliance

Arts and Music Programs:

Dance ProgramMusic Program

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Fencing ClubRock Climbing Club

School Notes

Carolina Friends School is a preK-12 co-ed day school inspired by Quaker values, committed to excellence in all we do. We believe the best education amplifies a child`s curiosity, courage, and creative thinking.
Every day, we empower our students to question the world around them, discover their passions, think deeply and use their voices in service of the greater good.

Carolina Friends School is a vibrant and inclusive learning community empowering students to think critically, creatively, and independently. We foster active exploration and quiet reflection, individual endeavor and collaborative engagement. Inspired by Quaker values-pursuit of truth, respect for all, peaceful resolution of conflict, simplicity, the call to service-we teach our children that it is possible to change the world.

Founded in 1962 as an intentional integrated school, we remain commited to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We offer three Early School campuses, by Duke's Central Campus, by UNC Chapel Hill, and on our Main Campus on over 126 wooded acres near Duke Forest.
We offer 20 interscholastic athletic teams for Middle and Upper School students, a rich array of clubs and identity groups, and a wide variety of elective offerings.
Students in advanced classes are prepared to sit for Advanced Placement tests.
Our 2025 graduateswere all accepted to one or more of their top three college choices, with 68% accepted to UNC Chapel Hill. 53% enrolled in colleges and universities outside of North Carolina, including Cornell, Stanford, and U Penn.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Carolina Friends School cost?

Carolina Friends School's tuition is approximately $31,666 for private students and $395 for summer students.

What is the acceptance rate of Carolina Friends School?

The acceptance rate of Carolina Friends School is 46%, which is lower than the national average of 82%. Carolina Friends School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in North Carolina with low acceptance rates.

What sports does Carolina Friends School offer?

Carolina Friends School offers 11 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball and Winter Track. Carolina Friends School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for most sports offered.

What is Carolina Friends School's ranking?

Carolina Friends School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Largest student body, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.

When is the application deadline for Carolina Friends School?

The application deadline for Carolina Friends School is Jan. 20 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 20 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Calendar

View the Carolina Friends School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event

Date

School Closed for Labor Day

September 07, 2026 (Monday)

School Closed: Listening Sessions

September 18, 2026 (Friday)

School Closed - Staff Development

October 12, 2026 (Monday)

School Closed - ES/LS Conferences, MS/US Writing Days

November 12, 2026 (Thursday)

School Closed - ES/LS Conferences, MS/US Writing Days

November 13, 2026 (Friday)

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (2 reviews)

5 9/30/2014

I go to Carolina friends, and I like it a lot. I was in a public school before switching to CFS and I am much happier. I feel like the teachers pay way more attention to the students and there is not so much stress. It is very small, which is good for some people and not so good for others, but it really depends on you.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - Walte

5 2/21/2013

An outstanding school with an attentive, intelligent, caring and creative faculty. If one is looking for a place where their child will be known well by their teachers, and their child will be encouraged to grow as an individual while at the same time take care of their community, then CFS may be the right choice for you.

- Posted by Parent - sbrod

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Durham, NC is $17,894 for elementary schools and $22,601 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Durham, NC is 68% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).