As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a ā96 commencement address at Wellesley College, āYour education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.ā If thatās the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
Itās 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.
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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 Florida using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings.
A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.
![#30. Academy of the Holy Names A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign19ISF9_2.png)
Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock
#30. Academy of the Holy Names
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Enrollment: 994 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#29. Saint Andrew's School A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign1833CA_1.png)
Achira22 // Shutterstock
#29. Saint Andrew's School
- Location: Boca Raton, FL
- Enrollment: 1,335 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#28. Community School of Naples A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign17QOMA.png)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
#28. Community School of Naples
- Location: Naples, FL
- Enrollment: 838 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#27. Academy at the Lakes A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign160LLP_2.png)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
#27. Academy at the Lakes
- Location: Land O Lakes, FL
- Enrollment: 445 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#26. The Cushman School Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign1546PL_1.png)
Mircea Moira // Shutterstock
#26. The Cushman School
- Location: Miami, FL
- Enrollment: 789 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#25. Carrollwood Day School A high school student doing a chemical experiment.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign14XZVA_1.png)
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
#25. Carrollwood Day School
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Enrollment: 1,237 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#24. Belen Jesuit Preparatory School A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign137C68_0.png)
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
#24. Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
- Location: Miami, FL
- Enrollment: 1,360 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#23. Lake Highland Preparatory School A student raising their hand in class.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign110B0F_0.png)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#23. Lake Highland Preparatory School
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Enrollment: 2,073 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#22. Montverde Academy An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign96WHE_1.png)
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
#22. Montverde Academy
- Location: Montverde, FL
- Enrollment: 1,313 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#21. Riviera Schools A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign109PNX.png)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
#21. Riviera Schools
- Location: Miami, FL
- Enrollment: 835 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#20. Tampa Preparatory School A row of empty desks with notebooks and pencils on them.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign8PR6M_0.png)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
#20. Tampa Preparatory School
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Enrollment: 710 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#19. IMG Academy A hallway lined with green lockers.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign7EZMX_1.png)
SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock
#19. IMG Academy
- Location: Bradenton, FL
- Enrollment: 1,351 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#18. North Broward Preparatory School A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign6JDIF_4.png)
sirtravelalot // Shutterstock
#18. North Broward Preparatory School
- Location: Coconut Creek, FL
- Enrollment: 2,019 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#17. Sagemont Preparatory School An empty classroom as viewed from the back.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign5F8SI_1.png)
maroke // Shutterstock
#17. Sagemont Preparatory School
- Location: Weston, FL
- Enrollment: 420 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#16. Windermere Preparatory School A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign4VGTI.png)
Studio KIWI // Shutterstock
#16. Windermere Preparatory School
- Location: Windermere, FL
- Enrollment: 1,600 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#15. Scheck Hillel Community School A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign3SV7K_1.png)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
#15. Scheck Hillel Community School
- Location: North Miami Beach, FL
- Enrollment: 1,278 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#14. Gulliver Preparatory School An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign2SP8N_0.png)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#14. Gulliver Preparatory School
- Location: Pinecrest, FL
- Enrollment: 2,226 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#13. Canterbury School Students using microscopes in science class.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign1PPJ6_2.png)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
#13. Canterbury School
- Location: Fort Myers, FL
- Enrollment: 776 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#12. Trinity Preparatory School of Florida High school students studying and reading together in their school library.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign21LGDX_3.png)
Joyseulay // Shutterstock
#12. Trinity Preparatory School of Florida
- Location: Winter Park, FL
- Enrollment: 892 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#11. Palmer Trinity School Students raising their hands for class participation.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign20HMD2_1.png)
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
#11. Palmer Trinity School
- Location: Miami, FL
- Enrollment: 770 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#10. Posnack Jewish Day School A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign19L83Q_0.png)
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#10. Posnack Jewish Day School
- Location: Davie, FL
- Enrollment: 879 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#9. Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart Two students sharing a book.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign11AGKF_0.png)
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#9. Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
- Location: Miami, FL
- Enrollment: 864 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#8. Donna Klein Jewish Academy A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign10UD8N_0.png)
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#8. Donna Klein Jewish Academy
- Location: Boca Raton, FL
- Enrollment: 687 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#7. Miami Country Day School A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign808MI_0.png)
Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock
#7. Miami Country Day School
- Location: Miami, FL
- Enrollment: 1,250 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#6. NSU University School Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign7ATEF_0.png)
LBeddoe // Shutterstock
#6. NSU University School
- Location: Davie, FL
- Enrollment: 1,849 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#5. American Heritage Schools, Palm Beach Campus Bookshelves at a high school's library.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign5LOUO_1.png)
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#5. American Heritage Schools, Palm Beach Campus
- Location: Delray Beach, FL
- Enrollment: 1,797 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#4. Pine Crest School - Fort Lauderdale Campus A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign4PHJ0_0.png)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
#4. Pine Crest School - Fort Lauderdale Campus
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Enrollment: 1,803 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#3. Berkeley Preparatory School Two rows of red lockers.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign3M30J.png)
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#3. Berkeley Preparatory School
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Enrollment: 1,420 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#2. Ransom Everglades School Empty desks in a high school classroom.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign2M7GM_0.png)
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
#2. Ransom Everglades School
- Location: Coconut Grove, FL
- Enrollment: 1,168 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
![#1. American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus A closeup of a student taking notes in class.](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/1280x720/s3/Untitleddesign1PPGO_1.png)
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#1. American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus
- Location: Plantation, FL
- Enrollment: 2,794 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: GradeĀ A+
This story features data reporting byĀ Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.