Private School Review - Established 2003
Crane Brook Academics
St. Catherine Catholic School

Best Highlands County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 9 private schools serving 2,156 students in Highlands County, FL (there are 24 public schools, serving 12,535 public students). 15% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the FL state average of 14%).
The average acceptance rate is 95%, which is higher than the Florida private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
100% of private schools in Highlands County, FL are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Quick Facts (2026)

  • # Private Schools: 9
  • # Students Served: 2,156
  • Average Tuition: $6,858
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 54%
  • Average Class Size: 16 students
  • % Students of Color: 39%
  • View Highlands County, FL School Trends

Quick Facts (2026)

  • # Private Schools: 9
  • # Students Served: 2,156
  • Average Tuition: $6,858
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 54%
  • Average Class Size: 16 students
  • % Students of Color: 39%
  • View Highlands County, FL School Trends

Top Ranked Highlands County Private Schools (2026)

Crane Brook Academics Photo
Crane Brook Academics
Gr: K-12 | 49 students
Avg. class size: 14 students
10405 US Why 27 S
Sebring, FL 33876
(863) 464-0559
(2)
View Profile
Map of Grove City Christian School
Grove City Christian School
Gr: K-12 | 625 students
Church of the Nazarene
1400 C R 17-a North
Avon Park, FL 33825
(614) 875-3000
View Profile
Map of Heartland Christian School
Heartland Christian School
Gr: K-12 | 315 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 3
Christian
1160 Persimmon Ave
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 385-3850
(1)
View Profile
Map of Walker Memorial Academy
Walker Memorial Academy
Gr: K-12 | 265 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Seventh Day Adventist
1525 W Avon Blvd
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 453-3131
View Profile
Map of Cornerstone Christian Academy
Cornerstone Christian Academy
Gr: K-12 | 135 students
Baptist
2600 N Highlands Blvd
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 453-0894
(9)
View Profile
Map of Lake Placid Christian School
Lake Placid Christian School
Gr: 7-9 | 48 students
Christian
148 E Interlake Blvd
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 465-5491
View Profile
Map of Lakeview Christian School
Lakeview Christian School
Gr: PK-8 | 138 students
Avg. class size: 14 students
Methodist
503 Kent Ave
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 465-0313
View Profile
Map of Parkview Prep Academy
Parkview Prep Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 210 students
Christian
507 Rich St
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 212-8000
(1)
View Profile
St. Catherine Catholic School Photo
St. Catherine Catholic School
Gr: NS-8 | 218 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 10
Catholic
2835 Kenilworth Blvd.
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 385-7300
(4)
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (FL)
US
# Schools
13 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearHighlands County Total Schools
202513
202413
20238
20228
20218
202010
20199
20189
20178
20168
201511
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Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.

# Students
2,156 Students
479,900 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
2025166182179
2024164175172
2023152179174
2022129185185
2021122178180
202098166171
201996176175
201876173172
201787186180
201687181178
201580166167
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% Average Students of Color
39%
48%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202539%47%34%
202439%47%34%
202347%46%33%
202240%45%33%
202143%45%32%
202044%45%32%
201946%42%31%
201854%42%31%
201747%37%32%
201647%39%32%
201544%41%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
183 Teachers
41,743 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202512:112:111:1
202412:112:111:1
202311:112:111:1
202211:112:111:1
202111:111:111:1
202010:112:112:1
201911:112:112:1
201810:112:112:1
201711:112:112:1
201611:112:112:1
201510:112:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
41%
52%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202541%51%55%
202442%51%54%
202342%51%54%
202242%50%54%
202143%50%54%
202043%49%54%
201915%48%53%
201811%47%53%
201711%46%53%
201611%47%52%
201515%46%52%
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Average Class Size
16 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
2025161615
2024151515
2023151515
2022141515
2021121515
2020121515
2019151515
2018131515
2017131515
2016131515
2015131515
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$6,858
$13,840

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
2025$6,483$14,120$15,012
2024$6,183$11,299$13,254
2023$5,917$10,452$12,626
2022$4,683$9,929$12,187
2021$3,275$9,496$11,800
2020$3,275$8,947$11,512
2019$4,750$8,878$11,293
2018$5,100$8,498$11,017
2017$5,100$8,019$10,708
2016$5,100$7,729$10,356
2015$4,833$7,558$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
54%
48%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202553%47%34%
202453%46%34%
202353%45%34%
202224%44%33%
202124%42%33%
202024%41%32%
201938%41%31%
201834%37%30%
201734%36%30%
201634%34%29%
201532%32%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$5,042
$6,294

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
2025$4,935$6,131$7,073
2024$4,935$5,922$6,930
2023$4,935$5,401$6,469
2022$1,210$5,252$6,289
2021$1,210$4,799$6,055
2020$1,210$4,597$5,921
2019$1,685$4,489$5,795
2018$1,685$4,153$5,456
2017$1,685$4,108$5,319
2016$1,685$3,814$5,105
2015$1,685$6,007$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
95%
81%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2020-2025)

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202595%80%81%
202495%84%85%
202395%85%85%
202295%85%85%
202195%86%85%
202095%86%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.73

Diversity Score Trends

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
20250.630.730.65
20240.630.730.65
20230.710.730.65
20220.700.720.64
20210.710.720.64
20200.720.720.64
20190.720.710.63
20180.770.710.63
20170.730.690.61
20160.730.680.61
20150.730.680.61
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# American Indian Students
11 Students
1,211 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
39 Students
13,035 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
20252%3%5%
20242%3%5%
20234%4%5%
20224%3%4%
20214%3%4%
20204%3%4%
201915%3%4%
201820%3%4%
201712%2%4%
201612%3%4%
201511%3%4%
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# Hispanic Students
371 Students
91,012 Students
% Hispanic Students
17%
19%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202517%19%9%
202417%20%9%
202322%19%9%
202215%18%8%
202116%18%9%
202017%18%9%
201912%18%8%
201815%18%8%
201713%16%8%
201613%16%8%
201513%16%8%
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# Black Students
247 Students
55,353 Students
% Black Students
11%
12%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202511%12%7%
202411%12%7%
20237%11%8%
20226%11%7%
20216%11%7%
20207%12%8%
20194%10%7%
20185%10%7%
20177%9%7%
20167%9%7%
20158%9%8%
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# White Students
1,210 Students
182,468 Students
% White Students
56%
39%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202556%39%52%
202456%39%52%
202343%39%52%
202234%41%54%
202136%42%54%
202037%42%54%
201925%43%56%
201831%44%56%
201741%47%58%
201641%47%58%
201544%48%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
8 Students
1,211 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
274 Students
129,674 Students
% of Others Students
13%
27%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearHighlands County AverageFlorida (FL) AverageNational Average
202513%27%26%
202413%26%26%
202323%27%25%
202239%27%25%
202136%26%25%
202033%25%24%
201943%26%24%
201828%25%23%
201726%26%22%
201626%25%22%
201523%24%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Highlands County, FL?
The top ranked private schools in Highlands County, FL include Grove City Christian School, Heartland Christian School, and Walker Memorial Academy.
How many private schools are located in Highlands County?
9 private schools are located in Highlands County.
How diverse are private schools in Highlands County?
Highlands County private schools are approximately 39% minority students, which is lower than the Florida private school average of 48%.
What percentage of students in Highlands County go to private school?
15% of all K-12 students in Highlands County are educated in private schools (compared to the FL state average of 14%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Highlands County?
100% of private schools in Highlands County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).
Which private schools in Highlands County are often viewed compared to one another?

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