The Goddard School Photo

Best Bel Air Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 10 private schools serving 2,053 students in Bel Air, MD (there are 16 public schools, serving 12,624 public students). 14% of all K-12 students in Bel Air, MD are educated in private schools (compared to the MD state average of 14%).
The top-ranked private schools in Bel Air, MD include Harford Day School, Hickory Child Development Center, and St. Margaret School.
The average acceptance rate is 85%, which is higher than the Maryland private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
50% of private schools in Bel Air, MD are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Bel Air Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Harford Day School
Harford Day School Photo
(1)
715 Moores Mill Rd
Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 838-4848
Gr: NS-8 | 339 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Hickory Child Development Center
Daycare / Preschool (Church of the Nazarene)
2430 Conowingo Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 838-8290
Gr: K | 83 students
John Carroll School
John Carroll School Photo - Our 72-acre campus, located in Harford County
(Catholic)
703 E Churchville Rd
Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 838-8333
Gr: 9-12 | 715 students Avg. class size: 19 students Sports: 23 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Margaret School
St. Margaret School Photo
(Catholic)
205 N Hickory Avenue
Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 879-1113
Gr: K-8 | 545 students Avg. class size: 23 students Sports: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Bel Air Kiddie Academy
Daycare / Preschool
2235 Old Emmorton Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 515-0111
Gr: PK-K | 34 students
Bridges Montessori School
Montessori School
2529 Conowingo Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 836-0833
Gr: NS-6 | 93 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 1 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Emmorton Baptist Academy
(Baptist)
106 Plumtree Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 569-0585
Gr: K-12 | 39 students
The Goddard School
The Goddard School Photo
Daycare / Preschool
2017 Emmorton Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 569-9888
Gr: NS-K
Grace Classical Academy
Grace Classical Academy Photo - Our Christ-centered, classical approach to education is designed to cultivate joy, confidence, and a love for learning in our students.
(Christian)
(7)
2416 Creswell Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 734-6111
Gr: PK-12 | 136 students Avg. class size: 11 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Highlands School
Special Education School
2409 Creswell Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 836-1415
Gr: PK-8 | 69 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Bel Air, Maryland

Bel Air, Maryland Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
2416 Creswell Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015
(410) 734-0560
Gr: 6-12 | 35 students
603 Vale Rd
Bel Air, MD 21014
(410) 877-1576
Gr: 9-12 | 7 students Avg. class size: 3 students Tuition listed

Overview

This Town (Bel Air)
This State (MD)
# Schools
10 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
2,053 Students
143,378 Students
% Average Students of Color
14%
38%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
206 Teachers
14,895 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
50%
56%
Average Class Size
15 students
16 students
Average Number of AP Courses
19 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1285
(Out of 1600)
1227

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$17,317
$16,235
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,615
$1,273
Average % on Financial Aid
48%
34%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$3,667
$6,342
Average Acceptance Rate
85%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.38
0.66
# American Indian Students
3 Students
359 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
43 Students
4,681 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%
# Hispanic Students
41 Students
6,179 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
4%
# Black Students
112 Students
23,452 Students
% Black Students
5%
17%
# White Students
1,607 Students
71,800 Students
% White Students
78%
50%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
548 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
263 Students
35,861 Students
% of Others Students
13%
25%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
3 extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Bel Air, MD?
The top-ranked private schools in Bel Air, MD include Harford Day School, Hickory Child Development Center, and St. Margaret School.
How many private schools are located in Bel Air?
10 private schools are located in Bel Air.
How diverse are private schools in Bel Air?
Bel Air private schools are approximately 14% minority students, which is lower than the Maryland private school average of 38%.
What percentage of students in Bel Air go to private school?
14% of all K-12 students in Bel Air are educated in private schools (compared to the MD state average of 14%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Bel Air?
50% of private schools in Bel Air are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Baptist).

Recent Articles

Private School Closures and Consolidations: Warning Signs to Watch
Private School Closures and Consolidations: Warning Signs to Watch
Learn the financial, enrollment, and leadership warning signs that may indicate a private school is at risk of closure or consolidation, and how families can prepare.
AI Tutoring in Private Schools: Innovation or Risk?
AI Tutoring in Private Schools: Innovation or Risk?
Discover how AI tutoring is changing private education, the benefits and risks for students, and what parents should ask before enrolling.
What New Cell Phone Laws Mean for Private School Families
What New Cell Phone Laws Mean for Private School Families
Learn how new cell phone laws are affecting private schools, what parents should expect, and how to evaluate school technology policies in 2026.