Best private high schools in Missouri

 

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ’96 commencement address at Wellesley College, “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” If that’s the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It’s a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Missouri using 2027 rankings from Niche. Online schools were not included. Niche uses 10 weighted factors for its rankings, including: college enrollment, culture and diversity, parent/student surveys, top enrolled colleges, and student-teacher ratio. You can read more about Niche’s methodology here.

#25. Whitefield Academy

– Location: Kansas City, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 255 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#24. Nerinx Hall High School

– Location: Webster Groves, MO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 593 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#23. Missouri Military Academy

– Location: Mexico, MO
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 206 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#22. Christian Fellowship School

– Location: Columbia, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 475 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#21. Saint Paul Lutheran High School

– Location: Concordia, MO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 190 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#20. Greenwood Laboratory School

– Location: Springfield, MO
– Grades: K-12
– Enrollment: 429 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#19. Heritage Christian Academy

– Location: Fenton, MO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 73 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#18. Columbia Independent School

– Location: Columbia, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 481 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#17. Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School

– Location: Joplin, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 335 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A

 

#16. Crossroads College Preparatory School

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 119 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#15. Chaminade College Preparatory School

– Location: St. Louis, MO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 861 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#14. St. Teresa’s Academy

– Location: Kansas City, MO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 570 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#13. The Fulton School

– Location: Chesterfield, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 110 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#12. St. Louis University High School

– Location: St. Louis, MO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 1,011 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#11. Rockhurst High School

– Location: Kansas City, MO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 938 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#10. The Barstow School

– Location: Kansas City, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 787 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#9. Notre Dame de Sion High School

– Location: Kansas City, MO
– Grades: 9-12
– Enrollment: 317 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#8. Visitation Academy

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 615 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#7. Saint Louis Priory School

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 354 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#6. Principia School

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 520 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#5. The Whitfield School

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: 6-12
– Enrollment: 405 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#4. Pembroke Hill School

– Location: Kansas City, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 1,195 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#3. MICDS – Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: PK, K-12
– Enrollment: 1,242 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#2. Thomas Jefferson School

– Location: Saint Louis, MO
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 72 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+

 

#1. John Burroughs School

– Location: St. Louis, MO
– Grades: 7-12
– Enrollment: 664 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
– Niche grade: A+