Gaston Day School Photo - Pamela Kimbrell Warlick Performing Arts Center

Best North Carolina Private Schools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) (2025-26)

For the 2025-26 school year, there are 58 private schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) serving 25,552 students in North Carolina. You can also find more schools membership associations in North Carolina.
The top ranked private schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in North Carolina include Saint Mary's School, Durham Academy, and Cary Academy.
The average tuition cost is $22,270, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average tuition cost of $13,454.
34% of private schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in North Carolina are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Episcopal).

Top Ranked Private Schools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in North Carolina (2025-26)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Cannon School
Cannon School Photo
(1)
5801 Poplar Tent Rd
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 786-8171
Gr: PK-12 | 1,039 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Hill Learning Center
Hill Learning Center Photo - Hill Learning Center's campus is located at 3200 Pickett Road in Durham.
Special Education School
(4)
3200 Pickett Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 489-7464
Gr: 1-12 | 166 students Avg. class size: 4 students Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
HOPE Academy
HOPE Academy Photo - HOPE Academy is an AdvancEd accredited Kindergarten through 12th grade University Model School serving the Concord and Greater Charlotte North Carolina areas. In this unique hybrid school parents are supported with professional instruction and curriculum for both in-class and at-home learning.
(Christian)
(9)
7655 Bruton Smith Boulevard
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 999-2436
Gr: K-12 | 279 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition listed
The Raleigh School
The Raleigh School Photo - At the elementary school, we engage children's hands, hearts and minds every day — in the classroom as well as in our many outdoor spaces. Using an inquiry-based approach, our teachers help build critical and creative thinking skills.
(13)
1141 Raleigh School Drive
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 546-0788
Gr: NS-5 | 404 students Avg. class size: 22 students Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
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)
900 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 424-4100
Gr: 9-12 | 315 students Avg. class size: 14 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 56 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Noble Academy
Noble Academy Photo
Special Education School
(1)
3310 Horse Pen Creek Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 282-7044
Gr: 2-12 | 133 students Avg. class size: 8 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1901 Dobbs Farm Road
Kinston, NC 28504
(252) 522-4222
Gr: PK-12 | 674 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 12 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
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.
360 Asheville School Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 254-6345
Gr: 9-12 | 299 students Avg. class size: 13 students Sports: 23 | Extracurrculars: 29 Tuition listed
The Burlington School
The Burlington School Photo
(8)
1615 Greenwood Terrace
Burlington, NC 27215
(336) 228-0296
Gr: PK-12 | 424 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition listed
Canterbury School
Canterbury School Photo - Canterbury School's mission is to develop the whole child by challenging the mind and nourishing the spirit in a diverse community guided by Judeo-Christian values. Our motto is To Learn, To Love, To Serve: To Live.
(Episcopal)
(4)
5400 Old Lake Jeanette Road
Greensboro, NC 27455
(336) 288-2007
Gr: NS-8 | 318 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Cape Fear Academy
Cape Fear Academy Photo
(6)
3900 S College Road
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 791-0287
Gr: NS-12 | 800 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 38 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Carolina Day School
Carolina Day School Photo - Seniors and Juniors ring the bell before the Upper School Awards Ceremony
(1)
1345 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 407-4442
Gr: PK-12 | 583 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Carolina Friends School
Carolina Friends School Photo - Interscholastic sports are available for Middle and Upper School students.
(2)
4809 Friends School Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-6602
Gr: PK-12 | 513 students Avg. class size: 13 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 14 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Cary Academy
(1)
1500 N Harrison Avenue
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 677-3873
Gr: 6-12 | 789 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Charlotte Christian School
Charlotte Christian School Photo - The new upper school building opened in August of 2007.
(Christian)
(7)
7301 Sardis Rd
Charlotte, NC 28270
(704) 366-5657
Gr: K-12 | 1,181 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 17 Tuition listed
1440 Carmel Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
(704) 943-4530
Gr: PK-12 | 1,722 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 18 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
9502 Providence Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
(704) 846-1100
Gr: NS-12 Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
212 Boyce Rd
Charlotte, NC 28211
(704) 366-5994
Gr: PK-8 | 425 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Christ School
Christ School Photo
All-boys (Episcopal)
500 Christ School Rd
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 684-6232
Gr: 8-12 | 302 students Avg. class size: 11 students Sports: 17 Tuition listed
Davidson Day School
Davidson Day School Photo
750 Jetton Street
Davidson, NC 28036
(704) 237-5200
Gr: PK-12 | 572 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Duke School
Duke School Photo - Welcome to Duke School! Our students love learning; visit us and see why!
3716 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 416-9420
Gr: PK-8 | 497 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
Durham Academy
3501 Ridge Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 489-3400
Gr: PK-12 | 1,253 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 38 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Fayetteville Academy
Fayetteville Academy Photo - The Fayetteville Academy Boys' Soccer Team - The 2012 NCISAA 2A State Champions!
(7)
3200 Cliffdale Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28303
(910) 868-5131
Gr: PK-12 | 413 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 29 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Fletcher Academy
The Fletcher Academy Photo - TFA students interact with a guest speaker.
Special Education School
400 Cedarview Court
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 782-5082
Gr: 2-12 | 160 students Avg. class size: 5 students Sports: 6 Tuition listed
Forsyth Country Day School
Forsyth Country Day School Photo
(2)
5501 Shallowford Road, Lewisville
Lewisville, NC 27023
(336) 945-3151
Gr: NS-12 | 924 students Sports: 14
Gaston Day School
Gaston Day School Photo - Pamela Kimbrell Warlick Performing Arts Center
(4)
2001 Gaston Day School Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 864-7744
Gr: PK-12 | 466 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 14 Tuition listed
Greensboro Day School
Greensboro Day School Photo
(24)
5401 Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC 27455
(336) 288-8590
Gr: NS-12 | 1,023 student Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 19 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Hanger Hall School
Hanger Hall School Photo
All-girls
64 W T Weaver Boulevard
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 258-3600
Gr: 6-8 | 84 students Avg. class size: 14 students Sports: 14 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Immaculata Catholic School
Immaculata Catholic School Photo - With small class sizes, our students form deep and lasting friendships.
(Catholic)
(1)
721 Burch Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5847
Gr: PK-8 | 487 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 12 Tuition listed
The Nest Academy
6740 Albemarle Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28212
(704) 493-7043
Gr: K-12 | 69 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Neuse Christian Academy
Neuse Christian Academy Photo - High School Chorus
(Baptist)
7600 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 844-6496
Gr: K-12 | 360 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
New Garden Friends School
New Garden Friends School Photo
(Friends)
(7)
1128 New Garden Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 299-0964
Gr: NS-12 | 215 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The O'Neal School
The O'Neal School Photo - A comment from a parent survey states, "It's the sense of community that allows for education to be more... natural and organic somehow. - students learn when they're comfortable. It all goes hand in hand."
(8)
3300 Airport Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(910) 692-6920
Gr: PK-12 | 427 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 28 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Oak Ridge Military Academy
Oak Ridge Military Academy Photo - 2019 Homecoming March
Special Program Emphasis
(5)
2317 Oak Ridge Rd.
Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(336) 515-8040
Gr: 7-12 | 120 students Avg. class size: 8 students Sports: 14 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
The Oakwood School
The Oakwood School Photo - At The Oakwood School, we challenge young minds in grades PK3-12. Come be a part of something remarkable! Together, we are Oakwood Strong!
(3)
4000 Macgregor Downs Rd
Greenville, NC 27834
(252) 931-0760
Gr: PK-12 | 427 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 11 | Extracurrculars: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Show 23 more private schools in North Carolina (out of 58 total schools)
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