Chapel Hill KinderCare Photo - Lobby

Best Chapel Hill Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 7 private schools serving 853 students in Chapel Hill, NC (there are 23 public schools, serving 12,418 public students). 6% of all K-12 students in Chapel Hill, NC are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
The top-ranked private schools in Chapel Hill, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, Montessori Day School, and St. Thomas More Catholic School.
The average acceptance rate is 96%, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 81%.
29% of private schools in Chapel Hill, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other).

Top-Ranked Chapel Hill Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Emerson Waldorf School
Emerson Waldorf School Photo - Rose Ceremony at the beginning of the year
Special Program Emphasis
(9)
6211 New Jericho Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-1858
Gr: PK-12 | 287 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 Tuition listed
Montessori Day School
Montessori Day School Photo
Montessori School
1702 Legion Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-3339
Gr: PK-3 | 60 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Thomas More Catholic School
St. Thomas More Catholic School Photo - Altar Servers at school Mass
(Catholic)
920 Carmichael St
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-6242
Gr: PK-8 | 397 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Chapel Hill KinderCare
Chapel Hill KinderCare Photo - Lobby
Daycare / Preschool
210 South Elliot Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-7223
Gr: NS-PK
The Goddard School
The Goddard School Photo
Daycare / Preschool
1162 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 933-9022
Gr: NS-PK | 48 students Sports: 1 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
615 Old Lystra Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 590-9113
Gr: K-6 | 61 students
Knox Way KinderCare
Daycare / Preschool
27 Knox Way
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-1346
Gr: NS-PK
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
3501 Nc Highway 54 W Ste E
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-2700
Gr: PK-1 | 35 students

Overview

This Town (Chapel Hill)
This State (NC)
# Schools
7 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
853 Students
136,532 Students
% Average Students of Color
29%
24%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
94 Teachers
13,573 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
53%
47%
Average Class Size
19 students
15 students
Average SAT score
1130
(Out of 1600)
1210

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,000
$13,172
Average Summer Program Cost
$195
$758
Average % on Financial Aid
21%
30%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,400
$5,553
Average Acceptance Rate
96%
81%
Average Endowment Size
$25 million
$46.06 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.67
0.58
# American Indian Students
n/a
641 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
20 Students
4,215 Students
% Asian Students
3%
3%
# Hispanic Students
76 Students
5,804 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
4%
# Black Students
76 Students
9,651 Students
% Black Students
9%
7%
# White Students
387 Students
79,836 Students
% White Students
48%
60%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
496 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
243 Students
33,802 Students
% of Others Students
30%
25%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
4 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Chapel Hill, NC?
The top-ranked private schools in Chapel Hill, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, Montessori Day School, and St. Thomas More Catholic School.
How many private schools are located in Chapel Hill?
7 private schools are located in Chapel Hill.
How diverse are private schools in Chapel Hill?
Chapel Hill private schools are approximately 29% minority students, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of students in Chapel Hill go to private school?
6% of all K-12 students in Chapel Hill are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Chapel Hill?
29% of private schools in Chapel Hill are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other).
Which private schools in Chapel Hill are often viewed compared to one another?

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