North Carolina Private School Trends (10-Year)

880

Private Schools

+16.7% (+126 schools) 10-yr

137,480

Students

+16.4% (+19,368 students) 10-yr

$12,013

Avg. Tuition

+35.6% (+$3,156) 10-yr

Avg. Class Size

24%

Students of Color

+14.3% (+3.0 pp) 10-yr

10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

Enrollment & Diversity

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year	North Carolina (NC) Total	US Avg per State
2025	862	671
2024	887	703
2023	844	665
2022	767	612
2021	789	637
2020	827	684
2019	764	665
2018	776	677
2017	705	631
2016	727	644
2015	754	683

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Private schools down 25 in North Carolina, from 887 in 2024 to 862 in 2025.

# Students

137,480 Students

111,484 Students
avg. per state

View Largest North Carolina Private Schools

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Private School Students

Year	North Carolina (NC) Total	US Avg per State
2025	136,490	111,945
2024	134,532	113,628
2023	125,099	108,484
2022	114,015	104,892
2021	113,263	106,817
2020	113,174	109,411
2019	112,712	108,956
2018	112,031	109,868
2017	111,751	106,255
2016	113,682	107,443
2015	118,112	108,505

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Enrollment up 23,000 private school students in North Carolina rose from 113,682 in 2016 to 136,490 in 2025.

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

Grade	North Carolina
Nursery	2,793
Pre-K	16,184
Kind	11,794
1	9,484
2	9,250
3	9,716
4	8,920
5	8,909
6	9,665
7	9,334
8	8,968
9	8,212
10	7,587
11	7,391
12	6,833
Not Listed	2,440

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Pre-K has the most students with 16,184 in North Carolina private schools, far more than any other grade.

Average School Size

182 Students

179 Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Average School Size

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	179	179
2024	171	172
2023	169	174
2022	173	185
2021	166	180
2020	157	171
2019	162	175
2018	158	172
2017	175	180
2016	172	178
2015	164	167

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Average school size up 7 students in North Carolina, rising from 172 in 2016 to 179 in 2025 and matching the national average.

% Average Students of Color

24%

34%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	24%	34%
2024	23%	34%
2023	23%	33%
2022	21%	33%
2021	21%	32%
2020	20%	32%
2019	20%	31%
2018	19%	31%
2017	21%	32%
2016	21%	32%
2015	21%	32%

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Students of color up 3 points in North Carolina private schools, rising from 21% in 2016 to 24% in 2025 while the U.S. held at 34%.

Academics

# Teachers

13,777 Teachers

509,242 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

10:1

11:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	10:1	11:1
2024	10:1	11:1
2023	10:1	11:1
2022	10:1	11:1
2021	10:1	11:1
2020	10:1	12:1
2019	10:1	12:1
2018	10:1	12:1
2017	10:1	12:1
2016	10:1	12:1
2015	10:1	12:1

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Ratio steady at 10:1 in North Carolina private schools from 2016 to 2025, while the national ratio was 12:1 until 2020 and 11:1 afterward.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

48%

55%

View North Carolina Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

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

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	47%	55%
2024	47%	54%
2023	48%	54%
2022	47%	54%
2021	48%	54%
2020	47%	54%
2019	46%	53%
2018	45%	53%
2017	44%	53%
2016	42%	52%
2015	43%	52%

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Advanced degrees up 5 points in North Carolina faculty, from 42% in 2016 to 47% in 2025.

Average Class Size

15 students

16 students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	15	15
2024	15	15
2023	15	15
2022	15	15
2021	15	15
2020	15	15
2019	15	15
2018	15	15
2017	15	15
2016	15	15
2015	15	15

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Average Number of AP Courses

11 courses

13 courses

View North Carolina Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	10	12
2024	10	12
2023	10	11
2022	10	11
2021	10	11
2020	10	11
2019	10	11
2018	10	11
2017	10	10
2016	10	10
2015	10	10

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Average SAT score

1206

(Out of 1600)

1235

View Average Private School SAT Scores in North Carolina

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

SAT Score Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	1210	1233
2024	1208	1230
2023	1213	1228
2022	1213	1229
2021	1208	1229
2020	1225	1226
2019	1219	1226
2018	1215	1226
2017	1217	1233
2016	1284	1306
2015	1289	1258

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SAT score down 74 points in North Carolina private schools, from 1284 in 2016 to 1210 in 2025.

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

View Average Private School ACT Scores in North Carolina

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	26	26
2024	26	26
2023	26	26
2022	26	26
2021	26	26
2020	26	25
2019	26	25
2018	26	25
2017	25	25
2016	25	25
2015	25	25

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ACT score flat at 26 in North Carolina private schools from 2020 to 2025, matching the national average in 2025.

Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$12,013

$13,779

View North Carolina Private Schools By Tuition Cost

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	$11,412	$13,694
2024	$11,123	$13,340
2023	$10,670	$12,825
2022	$10,202	$12,321
2021	$10,068	$12,072
2020	$10,167	$11,784
2019	$10,077	$11,547
2018	$9,677	$11,280
2017	$9,488	$10,994
2016	$9,224	$10,614
2015	$8,857	$10,195

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Tuition up 24% in North Carolina, rising from $9,224 in 2016 to $11,412 in 2025.

Average Summer Program Cost

$743

$1,160

View Data

Summer Program Cost Trends (2019-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	$737	$1,152
2024	$697	$1,128
2023	$645	$1,156
2022	$644	$1,102
2021	$617	$1,125
2020	$762	$1,217
2019	$619	$1,305

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Summer cost down 3% in North Carolina, from $762 in 2020 to $737 in 2025, while the national average fell from $1,217 to $1,152.

Average % on Financial Aid

31%

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	30%	34%
2024	28%	34%
2023	28%	34%
2022	27%	33%
2021	27%	33%
2020	25%	32%
2019	24%	31%
2018	21%	30%
2017	21%	30%
2016	20%	29%
2015	20%	28%

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Financial aid up 10 points in North Carolina private schools, rising from 20% in 2016 to 30% in 2025.

Average Financial Aid Grant

$5,734

$7,693

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	$5,515	$7,073
2024	$5,459	$6,930
2023	$5,483	$6,469
2022	$4,974	$6,289
2021	$4,960	$6,055
2020	$5,013	$5,921
2019	$5,020	$5,795
2018	$4,398	$5,456
2017	$4,773	$5,319
2016	$4,840	$5,105
2015	$4,885	$5,030

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Grant aid up 675 dollars in North Carolina private schools, rising from $4,840 in 2016 to $5,515 in 2025.

Average Acceptance Rate

85%

View Most Selective Private Schools in North Carolina

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	86%	85%
2024	86%	85%
2023	87%	85%
2022	87%	85%
2021	86%	85%
2020	86%	85%
2019	86%	85%
2018	86%	85%
2017	86%	85%
2016	87%	85%
2015	88%	85%

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Average Endowment Size

$16.29 million

$31.69 million

View Average Private School endowment in North Carolina

View Data

Endowment Trends (2022-2025)

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	$18 M	$40 M
2024	$19 M	$39 M
2023	$18 M	$39 M
2022	$19 M	$40 M

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Students by Ethnicity

0.58

0.65

View North Carolina Private Schools Minority Statistics

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Trends

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	0.58	0.65
2024	0.58	0.65
2023	0.58	0.65
2022	0.56	0.64
2021	0.55	0.64
2020	0.54	0.64
2019	0.53	0.63
2018	0.53	0.63
2017	0.51	0.61
2016	0.51	0.61
2015	0.50	0.61

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Diversity score up 7 points in North Carolina private schools, rising from 0.51 in 2016 to 0.58 in 2025.

# American Indian Students

641 Students

29,810 Students

% American Indian Students

# Asian Students

4,214 Students

264,326 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Trends

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	4%	5%
2024	4%	5%
2023	4%	5%
2022	3%	4%
2021	3%	4%
2020	4%	4%
2019	3%	4%
2018	3%	4%
2017	3%	4%
2016	2%	4%
2015	2%	4%

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Asian share up 2 points in North Carolina private schools, from 2% in 2016 to 4% in 2025.

# Hispanic Students

5,799 Students

506,562 Students

% Hispanic Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	5%	9%
2024	5%	9%
2023	4%	9%
2022	3%	8%
2021	3%	9%
2020	3%	9%
2019	3%	8%
2018	3%	8%
2017	2%	8%
2016	2%	8%
2015	2%	8%

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Hispanic share up 3 points in North Carolina private schools, rising from 2% in 2016 to 5% in 2025.

# Black Students

9,646 Students

415,491 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Trends

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	7%	7%
2024	7%	7%
2023	7%	8%
2022	7%	7%
2021	7%	7%
2020	7%	8%
2019	7%	7%
2018	7%	7%
2017	6%	7%
2016	7%	7%
2015	7%	8%

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Black student share steady at 7% in North Carolina, matching the national 7% in 2025 after a brief dip to 6% in 2017.

# White Students

79,795 Students

2,925,942 Students

% White Students

59%

52%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Trends

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	59%	52%
2024	60%	52%
2023	59%	52%
2022	62%	54%
2021	63%	54%
2020	64%	54%
2019	64%	56%
2018	65%	56%
2017	66%	58%
2016	66%	58%
2015	67%	58%

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White share down 7 points in North Carolina private schools, from 66% in 2016 to 59% in 2025.

# Hawaiian Students

496 Students

20,065 Students

% Hawaiian Students

<1%

# Others Students

34,868 Students

1,473,041 Students

% of Others Students

26%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

Year	North Carolina (NC) Avg	National
2025	25%	26%
2024	24%	26%
2023	26%	25%
2022	25%	25%
2021	24%	25%
2020	22%	24%
2019	23%	24%
2018	22%	23%
2017	23%	22%
2016	23%	22%
2015	21%	21%

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Other-race share up 2 points in North Carolina private schools, from 23% in 2016 to 25% in 2025.

All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars & Sports

Average Number of Extracurriculars

9 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

8 sports

7 sports

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in North Carolina?

The top-ranked private schools in North Carolina include Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill, Cary Academy, and Cary Christian School.

How many private schools are located in North Carolina?

There are 880 private schools are located in North Carolina.

How much do private schools cost in North Carolina?

The average private school tuition in North Carolina is $11,560 for elementary schools and $12,537 for high schools

How diverse are private schools in North Carolina?

Approximately 24% of students in North Carolina private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).

What percentage of students in North Carolina go to private school?

8% of all K-12 students in North Carolina attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).

What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in North Carolina?

59% of private schools in North Carolina are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Baptist.

Which private schools in North Carolina are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of private schools in North Carolina include: New Manna Christian School vs. Nebo Crossing Academy, Grace Academy vs. Mountain Pathways School, Davidson Green School vs. Davidson Day School

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