Private School Review - Established 2003
Pinewoods Montessori Schoolcorp
Hillsborough Christian Academy
Emerson Waldorf School

Orange County Private Schools

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 8 private schools serving 931 students in Orange County, NC (there are 40 public schools, serving 21,683 public students). 4% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
The average acceptance rate is 94%, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 85%.
25% of private schools in Orange County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Quick Facts (26-27)

Top Ranked Orange County Private Schools (2026-27)

Hillsborough Christian Academy Photo
Hillsborough Christian Academy
Gr: NS-11 | 139 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Extracurriculars: 6
Christian
121 Orange High School Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-0888
(6)
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Pinewoods Montessori Schoolcorp Photo
Pinewoods Montessori Schoolcorp
Gr: PK-6
Avg. class size: 20 students
Extracurriculars: 2
Montessori School
109 Millstone Drive
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-2090
(17)
View Profile
Emerson Waldorf School Photo
Emerson Waldorf School
Gr: PK-12 | 287 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 5
Specialized Curriculum
6211 New Jericho Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-1858
(9)
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Fusion Academy Chapel Hill Photo
Fusion Academy Chapel Hill
Gr: 4-12
Avg. class size: 1 student
Alternative School
101 Glen Lennox Drive, Suite 130
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(877) 673-8893
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Montessori Day School Photo
Montessori Day School
Gr: PK-3 | 60 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Extracurriculars: 5
Montessori School
1702 Legion Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-3339
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St. Thomas More Catholic School Photo
St. Thomas More Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 397 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 11
Catholic
920 Carmichael St
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-6242
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Chapel Hill KinderCare Photo
Chapel Hill KinderCare
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
210 South Elliot Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-7223
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The Goddard School Photo
The Goddard School
Gr: NS-PK | 48 students
Sports: 1 | Extracurriculars: 1
Daycare / Preschool
1162 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 933-9022
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[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Orange County, North Carolina

Orange County Private Schools (Closed)

Map of Our Playhouse Preschool & Kindergarten
Our Playhouse Preschool & Kindergarten
Gr: PK-1 | 35 students
Daycare / Preschool
3501 Nc Highway 54 W Ste E
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-2700
View Profile
Map of St. Mary Catholic School
St. Mary Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 147 students
Catholic
7500 Schley Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-7200
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (NC)
US
# Schools
8 Schools
# Students
931 Students
137,480 Students
% Average Students of Color
24%
24%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
134 Teachers
13,777 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
53%
48%
Average Class Size
16 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
21 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1130
(Out of 1600)
1206

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,000
$12,013
Average Summer Program Cost
$195
$743
Average % on Financial Aid
21%
31%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,400
$5,734
Average Acceptance Rate
94%
85%
Average Endowment Size
$25 million
$16.29 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.58
# American Indian Students
0 Students
641 Students
% American Indian Students
0%
1%
# Asian Students
24 Students
4,214 Students
% Asian Students
3%
3%
# Hispanic Students
80 Students
5,799 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
4%
# Black Students
25 Students
9,646 Students
% Black Students
3%
7%
# White Students
455 Students
79,795 Students
% White Students
49%
59%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
496 Students
% Hawaiian Students
<1%
<1%
# Others Students
347 Students
34,868 Students
% of Others Students
37%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
5 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
4 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Orange County, NC?
The top ranked private schools in Orange County, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, St. Thomas More Catholic School, and Montessori Day School.
How many private schools are located in Orange County?
8 private schools are located in Orange County.
How diverse are private schools in Orange County?
Orange County private schools are approximately 24% minority students, which is same as the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of students in Orange County go to private school?
4% of all K-12 students in Orange County are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Orange County?
25% of private schools in Orange County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).
Which private schools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?

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