Montessori Day School Photo

Best Chapel Hill Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private preschools serving 792 students in Chapel Hill, NC.
The top-ranked private preschools in Chapel Hill, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, St. Thomas More Catholic School, and Montessori Day School.
The average acceptance rate is 96%, which is higher than the North Carolina private preschool average acceptance rate of 80%.
17% of private preschools in Chapel Hill, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).

Top-Ranked Chapel Hill Private Preschools (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
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
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
792 Students
96,984 Students
% Average Students of Color
23%
23%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
87 Teachers
9,081 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
53%
45%
Average Class Size
19 students
16 students
Average SAT score
1130
(Out of 1600)
1207

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,000
$12,054
Average Summer Program Cost
$195
$415
Average % on Financial Aid
21%
28%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,400
$4,847
Average Acceptance Rate
96%
80%
Average Endowment Size
$25 million
$47.37 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.59
# American Indian Students
n/a
412 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
20 Students
2,681 Students
% Asian Students
3%
3%
# Hispanic Students
76 Students
3,227 Students
% Hispanic Students
10%
3%
# Black Students
15 Students
5,754 Students
% Black Students
2%
6%
# White Students
387 Students
53,176 Students
% White Students
52%
56%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
421 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
243 Students
29,873 Students
% of Others Students
33%
31%
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 preschools in Chapel Hill, NC?
The top-ranked private preschools in Chapel Hill, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, St. Thomas More Catholic School, and Montessori Day School.
How many private preschools are located in Chapel Hill?
6 private preschools are located in Chapel Hill.
How diverse are private preschools in Chapel Hill?
Chapel Hill private preschools are approximately 23% minority students, which is same as the North Carolina private school average of 23%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Chapel Hill?
17% of private preschools in Chapel Hill are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).
Which private preschools in Chapel Hill are often viewed compared to one another?

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