Private School Review - Established 2003
St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School Top 3 · Oldest Founding Date (TN)
Saint Matthew Catholic School Top 9 · Lowest Acceptance Rate (TN)
Currey Ingram Academy

Best Tennessee Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 605 private schools serving 113,497 students in Tennessee, versus 1,907 public schools serving 1,000,990 students (10% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $13,549 for elementary schools and $14,623 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
68% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 605
  • # Students Served: 113,497
  • Average Tuition: $13,467
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 25%
  • Acceptance Rate: 84%
  • Average Class Size: 15 students
  • % Students of Color: 21%
  • View Tennessee School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 605
  • # Students Served: 113,497
  • Average Tuition: $13,467
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 25%
  • Acceptance Rate: 84%
  • Average Class Size: 15 students
  • % Students of Color: 21%
  • View Tennessee School Trends

Top Ranked Tennessee Private Schools (2026-27)

Chattanooga Christian School Photo
Chattanooga Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 1,386 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 15 | Extracurriculars: 25
Christian
3354 Charger Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37409
(423) 265-6411
(2)
View Profile
Christian Academy Of Knoxville Photo
Christian Academy Of Knoxville
Gr: PK-12 | 1,112 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 15 | Extracurriculars: 20
Christian
529 Academy Way
Knoxville, TN 37923
(865) 813-4225
(19)
View Profile
Concord Christian School Photo
Concord Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 1,510 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 14 | Extracurriculars: 23
Christian
11704 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37934
(865) 966-8858
(7)
View Profile
Currey Ingram Academy Photo
Currey Ingram Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 445 students
Avg. class size: 6 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 1
Special Education School
6544 Murray Lane
Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 507-3242
(1)
View Profile
The Ensworth School Photo
The Ensworth School
Gr: K-12 | 1,261 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 22
211 Ensworth Place
Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 383-0661
(3)
View Profile
Evangelical Christian School Photo
Evangelical Christian School
Gr: NS-12 | 965 students
Sports: 14
Christian
7600 Macon Road
Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 754-7217
(4)
View Profile
Girls Preparatory School Photo
Girls Preparatory School
Gr: 6-12 | 489 students
Avg. class size: 9 students
Sports: 17 | Extracurriculars: 57
All-girls
205 Island Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 634-7600
View Profile
Memphis University School Photo
Memphis University School
Gr: 6-12 | 665 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 14 | Extracurriculars: 22
All-boys
6191 Park Avenue
Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 260-1304
View Profile
Presbyterian Day School Photo
Presbyterian Day School
Gr: PK-6 | 439 students
Avg. class size: 17 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 6
All-boys (Christian)
4025 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
(901) 842-4600
(3)
View Profile
St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School Photo
St. Agnes Academy and St. Dominic School
Gr: PK-12 | 775 students
Avg. class size: 10 students
Sports: 14 | Extracurriculars: 66
Catholic
4830 Walnut Grove Rd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 435-5819
(7)
View Profile

Tennessee Private School Trends (10-Year)

605
Private Schools
+18.6% (+95 schools) 10-yr
113,497
Students
+35.7% (+29,852 students) 10-yr
$13,467
Avg. Tuition
+59.0% (+$4,995) 10-yr
15
Avg. Class Size
+7.1% (+1 student) 10-yr
21%
Students of Color
+5.0% (+1.0 pp) 10-yr
10:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-9.1% (-1.0) 10-yr
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (TN)
US
# Schools
605 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year(TN) Total Schools
2025604
2024631
2023584
2022535
2021549
2020580
2019561
2018569
2017532
2016546
2015510
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# Students
113,497 Students
5,689,068 Students

View Largest Tennessee Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
2025203179
2024197172
2023196174
2022210185
2021202180
2020190171
2019187175
2018181172
2017190180
2016184178
2015174167
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% Average Students of Color
21%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202520%34%
202420%34%
202319%33%
202220%33%
202120%32%
202019%32%
201920%31%
201819%31%
201721%32%
201621%32%
201520%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeTennessee
Nursey3,265
Pre-K15,158
Kind7,960
16,587
26,237
36,452
46,290
56,521
67,266
77,374
87,445
98,326
108,097
117,807
127,641
Not Listed1,071
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Academics
# Teachers
11,179 Teachers
508,541 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202510:111:1
202410:111:1
202310:111:1
202210:111:1
202110:111:1
202010:112:1
201910:112:1
201810:112:1
201710:112:1
201610:112:1
201511:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
55%
55%

View Tennessee Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202554%55%
202454%54%
202355%54%
202255%54%
202153%54%
202052%54%
201952%53%
201853%53%
201751%53%
201651%52%
201550%52%
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Average Class Size
15 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20251515
20241515
20231515
20221515
20211515
20201515
20191515
20181515
20171515
20161415
20151415
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Average Number of AP Courses
15 courses
13 courses

View Tennessee Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20251513
20241412
20231311
20221311
20211411
20201311
20191311
20181211
20171210
20161310
20151310
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Average SAT score
1274
(Out of 1600)
1234

View Average Private School SAT Scores in Tennessee

SAT Score Trends (2017-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202512741233
202412641230
202312651228
202212691229
202112711229
202012551226
201912501226
201812481226
201712341233
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Average ACT score
26
(Out of 36)
26

View Average Private School ACT Scores in Tennessee

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20252626
20242626
20232626
20222626
20212526
20202525
20192525
20182525
20172525
20162425
20152425
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$13,467
$14,950

View Tennessee Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
2025$13,484$15,012
2024$11,729$13,254
2023$10,860$12,626
2022$10,528$12,187
2021$10,285$11,800
2020$10,020$11,512
2019$9,588$11,293
2018$9,538$11,017
2017$8,676$10,708
2016$8,511$10,356
2015$8,472$9,939
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Average Summer Program Cost
$472
$1,152

Summer Program Cost Trends (2022-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
2025$405$1,152
2024$299$1,128
2023$188$1,156
2022$317$1,102
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Average % on Financial Aid
25%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202525%34%
202425%34%
202325%34%
202225%33%
202125%33%
202025%32%
201925%31%
201825%30%
201724%30%
201625%29%
201523%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$6,808
$7,249

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
2025$6,809$7,073
2024$6,443$6,930
2023$5,839$6,469
2022$5,804$6,289
2021$5,361$6,055
2020$5,594$5,921
2019$4,578$5,795
2018$4,636$5,456
2017$4,394$5,319
2016$4,594$5,105
2015$3,882$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
84%
82%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Tennessee

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202583%81%
202486%85%
202386%85%
202286%85%
202188%85%
202088%85%
201988%85%
201888%85%
201788%85%
201689%85%
201589%85%
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Average Endowment Size
$56.42 million
$63.49 million

View Average Private School endowment in Tennessee

Endowment Trends (2022-2025)

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
2025$43 M$39 M
2024$47 M$39 M
2023$51 M$39 M
2022$53 M$40 M
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Students by Ethnicity
0.56
0.65

View Tennessee Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20250.560.65
20240.560.65
20230.540.65
20220.530.64
20210.520.64
20200.520.64
20190.500.63
20180.500.63
20170.470.61
20160.460.61
20150.450.61
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# American Indian Students
307 Students
29,815 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
2,796 Students
264,651 Students
% Asian Students
3%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20253%5%
20243%5%
20233%5%
20222%4%
20212%4%
20202%4%
20193%4%
20183%4%
20172%4%
20163%4%
20152%4%
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# Hispanic Students
4,321 Students
506,732 Students
% Hispanic Students
4%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20254%9%
20244%9%
20233%9%
20223%8%
20213%9%
20203%9%
20192%8%
20183%8%
20172%8%
20162%8%
20152%8%
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# Black Students
7,090 Students
415,642 Students
% Black Students
6%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
20256%7%
20247%7%
20236%8%
20227%7%
20217%7%
20207%8%
20197%7%
20187%7%
20177%7%
20167%7%
20158%8%
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# White Students
68,608 Students
2,930,002 Students
% White Students
61%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202561%52%
202461%52%
202362%52%
202264%54%
202165%54%
202066%54%
201968%56%
201868%56%
201771%58%
201671%58%
201572%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
87 Students
20,065 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
28,634 Students
1,473,726 Students
% of Others Students
26%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearTennessee (TN) AvgNational
202526%26%
202425%26%
202326%25%
202224%25%
202123%25%
202022%24%
201920%24%
201819%23%
201718%22%
201617%22%
201516%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
12 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Tennessee?
The top-ranked private schools in Tennessee include St. Mary's Episcopal School, Lipscomb Academy, and Harpeth Hall School.
How many private schools are located in Tennessee?
There are 605 private schools are located in Tennessee.
How much do private schools cost in Tennessee?
The average private school tuition in Tennessee is $13,549 for elementary schools and $14,623 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Tennessee?
Approximately 21% of students in Tennessee private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Tennessee go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in Tennessee attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Tennessee?
68% of private schools in Tennessee are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.
Which private schools in Tennessee are often viewed compared to one another?

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