Saint Mary's School Photo - Saint Mary's School, an all-girls, Episcopal, college preparatory, boarding and day high school located on a 23-acre, historic campus in the heart of Raleigh, N.C. More at www.sms.edu.

Oldest Private Schools in North Carolina

The average private school in North Carolina was founded around 1980 (2025).
The oldest private school in North Carolina is St. James Day School, founded in 1729.
Year Founded Range: 1729 1909 Avg. Year Founded: 1880

Oldest Private Schools in North Carolina (2025)

School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
St. James Day School
Daycare / Preschool (Episcopal)
Founding Date: 1729
Grades: PK-K
25 S 3rd St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 762-7537
Rank: #22.
Salem Academy
Salem Academy Photo - For over 250 years, Salem Academy has been helping girls transform into exceptional women!
All-girls
(2)
Founding Date: 1772
Grades: 9-12
601 South Church Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 721-2643
Rank: #33.
St. Johns Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1798
Grades: K-4
2126 Saint Johns Church Rd
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-4071
Rank: #44.
Sharon Baptist Weekday School
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
Founding Date: 1831
Grades: NS-PK
6411 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 28210
(704) 552-2194
Rank: #55.
Saint Mary's School
Saint Mary's School Photo - Saint Mary's School, an all-girls, Episcopal, college preparatory, boarding and day high school located on a 23-acre, historic campus in the heart of Raleigh, N.C. More at www.sms.edu.
All-girls (Episcopal)
(2)
Founding Date: 1842
Grades: 9-12
900 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 424-4100
Rank: #66.
Oak Ridge Military Academy
Oak Ridge Military Academy Photo - 2019 Homecoming March
Special Program Emphasis
(5)
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: 7-12
2317 Oak Ridge Rd.
Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(336) 515-8040
Rank: #77.
Ravenscroft
Ravenscroft Photo - Ravenscroft serves students in grades PreK-12 and has a 135-acre campus nestled in the heart of North Raleigh. Our extraordinary facilities include: center for student life; two dining halls; innovation and technology centers; Fine Arts Center with a gallery space, 460-seat theatre and a 200-seat flexible performance space; many STEM labs; dedicated Health Center and so much more.
(15)
Founding Date: 1862
Grades: PK-12
7409 Falls Of Neuse Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 847-0900
Rank: #88.
Wilmington Sda School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
Founding Date: 1863
Grades: 1-8
2833 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 762-4224
Rank: #99.
St. Mary Catholic School
(Catholic)
(1)
Founding Date: 1869
Grades: PK-8
217 South 4th St.
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 762-5491
Rank: #1010.
Millbrook Baptist Kindergarten
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
Founding Date: 1875
Grades: K
1519 Millbrook Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 876-4030
Rank: #1111.
St. Pauls Episcopal Preschool
Special Program Emphasis (Episcopal)
Founding Date: 1876
Grades: PK
520 Summit St
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 723-4395
Rank: #1212.
Concordia Christian Day School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1878
Grades: PK-8
215 5th Avenue SE
Conover, NC 28613
(828) 464-3011
Rank: #1313.
Sacred Heart Catholic School
(Catholic)
(2)
Founding Date: 1882
Grades: PK-8
385 Lumen Christie Ln
Salisbury, NC 28147
(704) 633-2841
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
St. Paul Catholic School
St. Paul Catholic School Photo - Art Class is fun!
(Catholic)
(2)
Founding Date: 1886
Grades: PK-8
3007 Country Club Rd
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 633-0100
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
The School At Thompson
Alternative School
Founding Date: 1886
Grades: 1-10
6801 Saint Peters Ln
Matthews, NC 28105
(704) 644-4380
Rank: #1616.
Methodist Home
Alternative School (Methodist)
Founding Date: 1899
Grades: 6-10
1638 Old Airport Road
New Bern, NC 28562
(252) 514-2625
Rank: #17 - 1917. - 19.
Arden Christian School
(Baptist)
Founding Date: 1900
Grades: 2-12
2568 Hendersonville Rd
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 687-0704
Rank: #17 - 1917. - 19.
Asheville School
Asheville School Photo - Asheville School is for those who dare to be extraordinary. It is a privilege to learn and live at Asheville School, a small and special enclave among ancient mountains.
Founding Date: 1900
Grades: 9-12
360 Asheville School Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 254-6345
Rank: #17 - 1917. - 19.
Christ School
Christ School Photo
All-boys (Episcopal)
Founding Date: 1900
Grades: 8-12
500 Christ School Rd
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 684-6232
Rank: #2020.
Eliada Academy
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1903
Grades: 1-11
2 Compton Drive
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 575-2522
Founding Date: 1904
Grades: 11-12
125 Mcgirts Bridge Rd
Laurinburg, NC 28352
(910) 276-0684
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
1st United Methodist Preschool & Kindergarten
Daycare / Preschool
(1)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: PK-K
100 S Church St
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 977-0475
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Englewood Baptist Weekday School
Daycare / Preschool (Baptist)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: PK-K
1350 S Winstead Ave
Rocky Mount, NC 27803
(252) 937-9829
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
The Increase Learning Center, Inc.
(Christian)
(1)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: PK-6
605 Montgomery St
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336) 349-5270
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Montessori Learning Center Of Wilkes
Montessori School
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: PK-K
601 Boston Avenue
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
(336) 667-4356
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Mt. Sheba Christan Academy
(Baptist)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: 5-12
20 Old Jupiter Rd
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 658-1417
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: 1-11
110 3rd St Se
Hildebran, NC 28637
(828) 397-3075
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
St. Joseph Academy
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: 2-12
175 Rich Cove Rd
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-5385
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Timbersong Black Mountain
All-girls | Alternative School
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: 4-10
530 Upper Flat Creek Rd
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 419-8100
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Trinity Baptist Academy
(Baptist)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: PK-12
2722 Us Highway 601 S
Mocksville, NC 27028
(336) 284-4590
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Tutor All School
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: 1-9
214 Charles St
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(125) 233-5980
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Victory Christian Academy
(Christian)
(2)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: K-12
2073 Oregon Hill Rd
Ruffin, NC 27326
(336) 939-3566
Rank: #22 - 3322. - 33.
Yancey County Christian School
(Baptist)
Founding Date: 1905
Grades: K-12
694 Tine Swamp Rd
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 682-5034
Rank: #3434.
Birds Nest Montessori School
Montessori School
Founding Date: 1907
Grades: K
6867 Raeford Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 867-4073
Rank: #35 - 3735. - 37.
Cardinal Gibbons High School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1909
Grades: 9-12
1401 Edwards Mill Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 834-1625
Show 100 more private schools in NC (out of 541 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the North Carolina average private schools founding year?
The North Carolina average private schools founding year is 1980 for 2025.
What are the private schools with oldest founding year in North Carolina?
The top ranked private schools in North Carolina include St. James Day School, Salem Academy and St. Johns Lutheran School.
What is private high school and private elementary school with the oldest founding year in North Carolina?
The private high school with the oldest founding year in North Carolina is Salem Academy, with a year of 1772. The private elementary school with the oldest founding year is St. Johns Lutheran School, with a year of 1798.

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