Pinewoods Montessori Schoolcorp Photo - An elementary student doing her math work using Montessori materials. The Montessori math curriculum includes using concrete methods of learning abstract concepts.

Best Orange County Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 7 private preschools serving 1,079 students in Orange County, NC.
The top-ranked private preschools in Orange County, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, Montessori Day School, and St. Thomas More Catholic School.
The average acceptance rate is 94%, which is higher than the North Carolina private preschool average acceptance rate of 80%.
29% of private preschools in Orange County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).

Top-Ranked Orange County Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Hillsborough Christian Academy
Hillsborough Christian Academy Photo
(Christian)
(6)
121 Orange High School Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-0888
Gr: NS-11 | 139 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Pinewoods Montessori Schoolcorp
Pinewoods Montessori Schoolcorp Photo - An elementary student doing her math work using Montessori materials. The Montessori math curriculum includes using concrete methods of learning abstract concepts.
Montessori School
(17)
109 Millstone Drive
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-2090
Gr: PK-6 | 148 students Avg. class size: 20 students Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition listed
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
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Orange County, North Carolina

Orange County 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
7500 Schley Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-7200
Gr: PK-8 | 147 students

Overview

This County (Orange County)
This State (NC)
# Schools
7 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,079 Students
97,052 Students
% Average Students of Color
22%
23%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
121 Teachers
9,105 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
47%
45%
Average Class Size
18 students
16 students
Average SAT score
1130
(Out of 1600)
1207

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,000
$11,925
Average Summer Program Cost
$195
$429
Average % on Financial Aid
21%
28%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,400
$4,898
Average Acceptance Rate
94%
80%
Average Endowment Size
$25 million
$45.39 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.59
# American Indian Students
n/a
412 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
24 Students
2,681 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%
# Hispanic Students
80 Students
3,227 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
3%
# Black Students
25 Students
5,754 Students
% Black Students
3%
6%
# White Students
455 Students
53,176 Students
% White Students
44%
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
444 Students
29,899 Students
% of Others Students
43%
31%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private preschools in Orange County, NC?
The top-ranked private preschools in Orange County, NC include Emerson Waldorf School, Montessori Day School, and St. Thomas More Catholic School.
How many private preschools are located in Orange County?
7 private preschools are located in Orange County.
How diverse are private preschools in Orange County?
Orange County private preschools are approximately 22% minority students, which is lower than the North Carolina private school average of 23%.
What percentage of private preschools are religiously affiliated in Orange County?
29% of private preschools in Orange County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Catholic).
Which private preschools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?

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