St. Joseph Catholic School Photo - Mrs. Smith fourth graders celebrate Saints Day.

Best Manatee County Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 16 private preschools serving 3,465 students in Manatee County, FL.
The top-ranked private preschools in Manatee County, FL include St. Joseph Catholic School, Manatee Learning Academy, and Bradenton Christian School.
The average acceptance rate is 91%, which is higher than the Florida private preschool average acceptance rate of 80%.
56% of private preschools in Manatee County, FL are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Manatee County Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Manatee Learning Academy
Manatee Learning Academy Photo
(2)
6210 17th Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 794-0088
Gr: PK-12 | 159 students Tuition listed
Bradenton Christian School
(Christian)
(1)
3304 43rd St W
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 792-5454
Gr: PK-12 | 891 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 10
Community Christian School
(Baptist)
5500 18th Street E
Bradenton, FL 34203
(941) 756-8748
Gr: PK-12 | 406 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 4 Tuition listed
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School Photo - Mrs. Smith fourth graders celebrate Saints Day.
(Catholic)
2990 26th St W
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 755-2611
Gr: PK-8 Avg. class size: 288 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Saint Stephen's Episcopal School
Saint Stephen's Episcopal School Photo - Located on the McLewis Bayou, SSES is the only area school with direct access to the Manatee River and Gulf of Mexico. The school capitalizes on that premier location by teaching One Ocean, a custom-designed Pre-K through grade 12 marine science curriculum that provides an opportunity for each student to study the wonders of the ocean environment.
(Episcopal)
(14)
315 41st St. W.
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 746-2121
Gr: PK-12 | 680 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 16 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
West Coast Christian Academy
(Seventh Day Adventist)
1112 49th Avenue East
Bradenton, FL 34203
(941) 755-9667
Gr: PK-12 | 50 students Avg. class size: 12 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Bowen Primary Academy
1116 35th Street West 1202
Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 748-6648
Gr: PK-4 | 10 students
Center Montessori School
Montessori School
(2)
6024 26th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34207
(941) 753-4987
Gr: PK-8 | 134 students Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Core Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
605 13th Ave W
Palmetto, FL 34221
(941) 729-9069
Gr: K | 42 students
Dba-sunshine Academy
(Church of God)
2520 43rd St W
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 794-3143
Gr: PK-8 | 154 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition listed
Family Life Community School
(Christian)
1616 59th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 792-7911
Gr: NS-8 | 77 students Avg. class size: 10 students Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
The Goddard School
The Goddard School Photo
Daycare / Preschool
14534 Arbor Green Trail
Bradenton, FL 34202
(941) 752-6600
Gr: NS-K Tuition listed
Pinnacle Academy
Special Education School
(2)
6215 Lorraine Road
Bradenton, FL 34202
(941) 755-1400
Gr: PK-12 | 160 students Avg. class size: 8 students Tuition listed
Primrose School At Lakewood Ranch Town Center
Daycare / Preschool
9127 Town Center Pkwy
Bradenton, FL 34202
(941) 373-6363
Gr: PK-K | 194 students
Providence Community School
(Christian)
5512 26th St W
Bradenton, FL 34207
(941) 727-6860
Gr: PK-12 | 152 students Avg. class size: 8 students
Risen Savior Academy
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
(5)
14605 59th Ave E
Bradenton, FL 34211
(941) 756-7545
Gr: NS-K | 97 students
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Manatee County, Florida

Manatee County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
7431 Manatee Avenue W
Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 792-7500
Gr: 6-12 | 76 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Esthers School (Closed 2025)
Special Education School (Christian)
1200 Glory Way Blvd
Bradenton, FL 34212
(941) 358-0802
Gr: K-9 | 23 students
7700 Cortez Rd. W.
Bradenton, FL 34210
(941) 792-1000
Gr: NS-12 | 46 students Tuition listed

Overview

This County (Manatee County)
This State (FL)
# Schools
16 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
3,465 Students
324,399 Students
% Average Students of Color
24%
45%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
297 Teachers
27,690 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
60%
48%
Average Class Size
12 students
17 students
Average Number of AP Courses
13 courses
14 courses
Average SAT score
1178
(Out of 1600)
1194
Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
25

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$12,837
$13,791
Average % on Financial Aid
28%
37%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$4,000
$5,655
Average Acceptance Rate
91%
80%
Average Endowment Size
$8 million
$42.41 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.71
# American Indian Students
4 Students
732 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
112 Students
7,843 Students
% Asian Students
4%
2%
# Hispanic Students
346 Students
53,743 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
17%
# Black Students
172 Students
27,605 Students
% Black Students
5%
9%
# White Students
2,015 Students
120,396 Students
% White Students
60%
38%
# Hawaiian Students
7 Students
947 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
691 Students
109,590 Students
% of Others Students
21%
34%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Manatee County, FL?
The top-ranked private preschools in Manatee County, FL include St. Joseph Catholic School, Manatee Learning Academy, and Bradenton Christian School.
How many private preschools are located in Manatee County?
16 private preschools are located in Manatee County.
How diverse are private preschools in Manatee County?
Manatee County private preschools are approximately 24% minority students, which is lower than the Florida private school average of 45%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Manatee County?
56% of private preschools in Manatee County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist).
Which private preschools in Manatee County are often viewed compared to one another?

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