Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Top 10 Private High Schools in Orlando
Curated by Chief Revenue Officer Kory White · CRO Syndicate
Top 10 Private High Schools in Orlando
Direct Answer
The Best Overall private high school in the Orlando area is Lake Highland Preparatory School, a large, well-resourced college-preparatory school whose strong AP and college-matriculation results, broad arts and athletics, and deep endowment place it at the top of Central Florida's independent schools.
The Best Value pick is Bishop Moore Catholic High School, a respected diocesan school that delivers strong college-prep outcomes and a full extracurricular slate at tuition well below the elite independents. This list is built for families and students comparing private high schools across the Orlando metro, focusing on academics, college outcomes, faith or program fit, and cost.
Every pick uses real, publicly reported information from the schools, U.S. News, Niche, and accreditation data.
How We Ranked the Top 10
We weighted each school against what Orlando-area families weighing private education report caring about, using published figures from U.S. News, Niche, accreditation bodies (SAIS, Cognia, NCEA), and each school's profile. The weighting:
- Academic performance (AP, college matriculation) - 25%
- College and post-grad outcomes - 20%
- Value relative to tuition - 15%
- Teachers, class size, and resources - 15%
- Environment, faith or mission fit - 15%
- Extracurriculars and arts/athletics - 10%
A school with a high price but thin outcomes falls; one delivering strong college prep, small classes, and value rises. The winners balance rigor, outcomes, and fit across both secular and faith-based options.
1. Lake Highland Preparatory School 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Type: Private, Independent (Nonsectarian) | Tuition: roughly $30,000/year | Best for: Families wanting a large, well-resourced college-prep school with deep programs
Lake Highland Preparatory School in downtown Orlando enrolls about 2,000 students across its divisions and is the area's flagship independent college-preparatory school. The upper school offers an extensive AP catalog, small classes, and strong college matriculation to selective national universities.
Lake Highland is known for nationally competitive athletics, robust arts, and academic teams, supported by a large campus and strong resources. Its college counseling is among the most thorough in the region, and graduates routinely place into top public and private universities.
Pros:
- Extensive AP catalog and thorough college counseling
- Strong matriculation to selective universities
- Nationally competitive athletics and robust arts
- Large campus and deep resources
Cons:
- High tuition
- Large enrollment for an independent school
Verdict: Lake Highland wins on balance - the deepest programs, resources, and outcomes among Orlando independents.
2. The First Academy
Type: Private, Christian (Nondenominational) | Tuition: roughly $20,000/year | Best for: Families wanting strong academics within a Christian college-prep mission
The First Academy in southwest Orlando enrolls about 1,300 students and combines a Christian college-preparatory mission with strong academics and athletics. The upper school offers a broad AP program, small classes, and strong college matriculation, alongside one of the metro's most competitive athletics programs.
The school emphasizes character and faith integration with rigorous academics, and its college counseling supports placement into selective universities. A well-resourced campus supports deep arts and activities.
Pros:
- Strong academics within a Christian mission
- Broad AP program and small classes
- Highly competitive athletics
- Strong college matriculation
Cons:
- Faith-based mission is not a fit for every family
- Premium tuition
Verdict: The top Christian college-prep choice in Orlando, pairing rigorous academics with competitive athletics.
3. Bishop Moore Catholic High School
Type: Private, Catholic (Diocesan) | Tuition: roughly $13,500/year | Best for: Strong Catholic college prep at a lower tuition 💎 BEST VALUE
Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando enrolls about 1,100 students and is the area's leading diocesan Catholic high school, delivering strong college-prep outcomes at tuition well below the elite independents. It offers a solid AP catalog, a faith-integrated curriculum, and a near-universal four-year college matriculation rate.
Bishop Moore is well known for athletics, service programs, and a strong community, and parish-affiliated tuition assistance widens access. The combination of strong outcomes, mission, and lower cost makes it the clearest value among Orlando privates.
Pros:
- Strong college matriculation at below-independent tuition
- Solid AP catalog and faith-integrated curriculum
- Strong athletics and service programs
- Tuition assistance widens access
Cons:
- Catholic mission is not a fit for every family
- Fewer resources than the elite independents
Verdict: The value champion - strong Catholic college prep and community at a far lower cost.
4. Trinity Preparatory School
Type: Private, Episcopal-affiliated (Independent) | Tuition: roughly $28,000/year | Best for: Rigorous independent academics in Seminole County
Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Seminole County, enrolls about 900 students in grades 6-12 and is one of Central Florida's most academically rigorous independent schools. It offers a deep AP catalog, small classes, and exceptional college matriculation to highly selective national universities.
Trinity Prep is known for strong academics, debate, and arts, and its college counseling is among the best in the region. The Episcopal affiliation informs a values-based but inclusive community, and the school's smaller size supports close student-faculty relationships.
Pros:
- Among the most rigorous independents in the metro
- Exceptional matriculation to selective universities
- Small classes and close faculty relationships
- Strong debate and arts
Cons:
- High tuition
- Competitive admission
Verdict: The top pick for rigorous, selective-college-focused independent academics in Seminole County.
5. Montverde Academy
Type: Private, Independent (Day & Boarding) | Tuition: roughly $25,000/year (day) | Best for: International, boarding, and elite-athletics families
Montverde Academy in Montverde, west of Orlando, enrolls about 1,500 students as a day and boarding school with a strong international population. It offers AP and a respected International curriculum, small classes, and strong college matriculation worldwide. Montverde is nationally famous for its elite athletics, especially basketball, and its boarding program draws students globally.
The diverse, international community and combination of academics with high-level athletics and arts make it distinctive among metro privates.
Pros:
- Day and boarding with a strong international community
- AP and international curriculum
- Nationally elite athletics
- Global college matriculation
Cons:
- Boarding focus is not for every family
- Located west of the metro core
Verdict: The standout for international, boarding, and elite-athletics families near Orlando.
6. Windermere Preparatory School
Type: Private, Independent (IB World School) | Tuition: roughly $27,000/year | Best for: Families wanting an International Baccalaureate diploma at an independent school
Windermere Preparatory School in Windermere enrolls about 1,400 students and is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the full IB diploma alongside a college-preparatory curriculum. It has a strong international community, small classes, and strong college matriculation in the U.S.
And abroad. Windermere Prep offers day and boarding options, robust arts and athletics, and the globally recognized IB pathway. Its modern campus and international focus appeal to families seeking a globally oriented education.
Pros:
- Full IB diploma at an independent school
- Strong international community and global matriculation
- Day and boarding options
- Modern campus with robust arts and athletics
Cons:
- Premium tuition
- IB workload is demanding
Verdict: The top independent choice for families set on the full IB diploma pathway.
7. Orangewood Christian School
Type: Private, Christian (Nondenominational) | Tuition: roughly $16,000/year | Best for: Christian college prep with small classes in Maitland
Orangewood Christian School in Maitland enrolls about 700 students and offers a Christian college-preparatory education with small classes and strong college matriculation. The upper school provides a solid AP catalog, faith integration, and competitive athletics and arts for its size.
Orangewood's smaller scale supports close student-faculty relationships and individualized college counseling. The school combines a clear Christian mission with strong academic outcomes at a moderate tuition relative to the elite independents.
Pros:
- Christian college prep with small classes
- Solid AP catalog and strong matriculation
- Close student-faculty relationships
- Moderate tuition for a private school
Cons:
- Smaller program catalog than larger privates
- Faith-based mission is not for every family
Verdict: A strong small-school Christian college-prep option with personal attention.
8. Lake Mary Preparatory School
Type: Private, Independent (Day & Boarding) | Tuition: roughly $24,000/year | Best for: International and IB-leaning families in Seminole County
Lake Mary Preparatory School in Lake Mary, Seminole County, enrolls about 800 students as a day and boarding school with a strong international community. It offers college-preparatory and IB-track options, small classes, and strong college matriculation. Lake Mary Prep's boarding program draws international students, and its smaller scale supports individualized attention and a tight community.
Robust arts and athletics round out a globally oriented program in a growing suburban area.
Pros:
- Day and boarding with international community
- College-prep and IB-track options
- Small classes and individualized attention
- Strong arts and athletics
Cons:
- Higher tuition
- Smaller than the largest metro independents
Verdict: A strong, globally oriented independent option for Seminole County families.
9. The Geneva School
Type: Private, Classical Christian (Independent) | Tuition: roughly $15,000/year | Best for: Families seeking a classical Christian education
The Geneva School in Casselberry enrolls about 500 students and offers a distinctive classical Christian education built around the trivium, great-books study, and integrated humanities. The upper school emphasizes rigorous writing, rhetoric, Latin, and strong college matriculation for its size.
Small classes and a clear classical mission produce a tight, intellectually focused community. The Geneva School appeals to families specifically seeking a classical, faith-based curriculum rather than a conventional AP-driven model.
Pros:
- Distinctive classical Christian curriculum
- Rigorous writing, rhetoric, and great-books study
- Small classes and strong matriculation for its size
- Moderate tuition
Cons:
- Classical model is a specific fit
- Smaller program range and athletics
Verdict: The pick for families set on a rigorous classical Christian education.
10. Central Florida Christian Academy
Type: Private, Christian (Nondenominational) | Tuition: roughly $12,000/year | Best for: Affordable Christian college prep in west Orlando
Central Florida Christian Academy in west Orlando enrolls about 700 students and offers an affordable Christian college-preparatory education with small classes and solid college matriculation. The school provides a faith-integrated curriculum, AP and honors courses, and competitive athletics for its size.
Its lower tuition relative to the elite independents widens access for families seeking a Christian environment, and its smaller scale supports individualized attention and counseling.
Pros:
- Affordable Christian college prep
- AP and honors courses with small classes
- Faith-integrated curriculum
- Individualized attention
Cons:
- Fewer resources than larger privates
- Smaller athletics and arts catalog
Verdict: A budget-friendly Christian college-prep option for west Orlando families.
What to Look For When Choosing a Private High School in Orlando
- College matriculation and AP outcomes - Ask where graduates enroll and how students perform on AP or IB exams; Lake Highland, Trinity Prep, and Windermere Prep post the strongest selective-college placement.
- Mission fit - Orlando's privates split between nonsectarian independents (Lake Highland, Trinity Prep), Catholic (Bishop Moore), and Christian (The First Academy, Geneva); choose a mission your family embraces.
- Tuition and aid - Tuition ranges widely, from about $12,000 at Christian schools to $30,000 at the top independents; ask about tuition assistance, which can substantially lower net cost at schools like Bishop Moore.
- Program type - Decide between AP-driven college prep, the full IB diploma (Windermere Prep), classical Christian (Geneva), or day-and-boarding (Montverde, Lake Mary Prep) based on your student.
- Class size and counseling - Smaller schools offer closer relationships and individualized college counseling; larger ones offer deeper electives, arts, and athletics.
- Athletics and arts - Lake Highland, The First Academy, and Montverde lead in competitive athletics, while several offer strong arts and activities.
What matters less than marketing implies: a single ranking number, the newest building, or prestige alone. College outcomes, mission fit, real program access, and value relative to tuition shape a student's experience far more than a headline figure.
FAQ
Which private high school is the best overall in Orlando? Lake Highland Preparatory School earns the top spot for its deep AP catalog, thorough college counseling, strong matriculation to selective universities, and nationally competitive athletics and arts.
What is the best value private high school in Orlando? Bishop Moore Catholic High School is our best value, delivering strong college matriculation, a faith-integrated curriculum, and a full extracurricular slate at tuition well below the elite independents, with tuition assistance available.
Which Orlando private school is best for the IB diploma? Windermere Preparatory School, an International Baccalaureate World School, is the top independent choice for families set on the full IB diploma, with a strong international community and global matriculation.
Are there strong faith-based private high schools in Orlando? Yes, Bishop Moore (Catholic), The First Academy (Christian), and The Geneva School (classical Christian) all offer strong faith-integrated college prep, with The Geneva School distinctive for its classical great-books model.
Which Orlando private school is best for athletics? Montverde Academy is nationally known for elite athletics, especially basketball, while Lake Highland Prep and The First Academy also field highly competitive teams.
How much does private high school cost in Orlando? Tuition ranges from roughly $12,000 at affordable Christian schools to about $30,000 at the top independents like Lake Highland; many schools, especially Catholic and Christian ones, offer tuition assistance that lowers net cost.
Bottom Line
For Orlando families, Lake Highland Preparatory School is our Best Overall private high school - the deepest AP catalog, thorough college counseling, strong selective-college matriculation, and nationally competitive athletics and arts. Bishop Moore Catholic High School is our Best Value, delivering strong college prep and a full extracurricular slate at far lower tuition with aid available.
If you want the full IB diploma, choose Windermere Prep; for rigorous independent academics, Trinity Prep; for boarding and elite athletics, Montverde; and for a classical Christian model, The Geneva School. Choose on college outcomes, mission fit, program access, and value relative to tuition rather than a single ranking, and your student will be well prepared for college and beyond.
Sources
- U.S. News - Best Florida High Schools rankings
- Niche - Best Private High Schools in the Orlando Area
- Lake Highland Preparatory School
- Trinity Preparatory School
- Bishop Moore Catholic High School
- Montverde Academy
- Windermere Preparatory School
- GreatSchools - Orlando-area private school ratings
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