2023 Best Private Schools in the Waco Area

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.65 out of 5  209 reviews

Parent: Working in college admissions for 18+ years, I’ve visited countless high schools, read thousands of school profiles and transcripts, and seen a wide variety of educational choices and models. Because of those experiences, I have high standards to compare against and I can confidently attest that Waco is fortunate to have a school the caliber of Vanguard in its community. The quality of academic instruction, the high standards it sets for its students inside and outside of the classroom, the intentionality behind teaching its students character and ethics, the way it encourages and supports students to engage in a plethora of extra-curricular activities, to its top-notch administration, faculty and staff – Vanguard’s value is un-matched in Waco. Over the past 3 years our student has been challenged intellectually, risen to and met high expectations, developed a close-knit community of friends, and even as a teenager, genuinely enjoys going to school! We are so grateful!... Read 209 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 268

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  15 reviews

Senior: Live Oak is the best! It is an amazing, close-knit culture of students who work hard to achieve excellence in rigorous academic coursework and are always eager to learn more. The students rally around fun school traditions and sporting events, creating a culture of students who encourage their classmates and teammates.... Read 15 reviews

• grade A

• Students 392

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  81 reviews

Parent: My son has been at this school for almost a year, and we have enjoyed it for the most part. The administration has been wonderful, and I believe they are working hard to make the school even better. The majority of teachers are fantastic and work with the students to make sure they are successful. The facilities are very nice, clean and seem to be well taken care of. The classrooms are big, and we have never been concerned about safety. I do feel like the school is lacking in the music and arts availability. It would be nice if band and/or theater were offered. For the most part, the school is a tight-knit community. Many of the families gather together for events, Friday night football games and other sporting events. There is also quite a bit of parent involvement at the events the school hosts. The school is also quite diverse with kids from different backgrounds and cultures. Finally, the school offers both normal and more challenging classes, which is helpful.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A

• Students 354

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  20 reviews

Parent: ECA has the best staff and administrators! The moment you walk in, it is evident that this is a caring place, greeted with friendly smiles and welcoming attitude. It is a small close community, that provides a well-rounded education; addressing academics as well as emotional, spiritual, physical well-being of the children. Our two children have been there for a year, and are flourishing! They offer art, music, PE, tech and Spanish as part of the curriculum. When I talk to the teachers they say , 'This is the best place to work' - the teachers feel supported and their happiness is reflected in the classroom.... Read 20 reviews

• grade B

• Students 168

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• 1-12

• grade B

• Students 49

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-6

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  13 reviews

Niche User: WMS is a happy place. The students are engaged and display a genuine love of learning, fueled by their teachers and the effectiveness of the Montessori method. I would choose this school over and over again.... Read 13 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 256

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Woodway, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: I absolutely love Woodway Christian School. We have two children in school there, one started in pre-school and is now a 1st grader, and one started in 4th grade and is now a 6th grader. They do such an amazing job of teaching our children empathy and care for others. Their curriculum covering Christianity and the bible is the best I've ever seen. My daughter frequently comes home and is teaching me about things I didn't even know. Our older child struggled in his previous school with finding his groove, and that's never been a problem at WCS. The kindness that exudes from the teachers, support staff, and fellow students melts my heart and makes me extremely proud to tell folks about where my children go to school. Nothing but raving positivity from this parent.... Read 5 reviews

• grade unavailable

• Students 250

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Waco, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-6

• grade unavailable

• Students 227

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• West, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: There are many reasons I give St. Mary's 5 stars, but here are my top three: 1) Prayer I love that each day starts with prayer. In the craziness of life and sometimes hectic mornings...the first thing my children experience at school each day is to slow down and focus on God. 2) Service In a world full of selfies, St. Mary's requires students to look outside themselves and find ways to serve others. 3) High Expectations St. Mary's has high expectations for their students. I truly feel that high expectations enable children to achieve the best possible outcomes in both their academic achievement and their well-being. I feel confident that when my children graduate from St. Mary's they will be well prepared academically for high school, but more than that I feel they are given tools to help them be successful in life.... Read 1 review

• grade unavailable

• Students 150

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• China Spring, TX•

• Preschool

• grade unavailable

• Students 132

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Hillsboro, TX•

• Private School•

• PK, K

• grade unavailable

• Students 16

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Woodway, TX•

• Preschool

• grade unavailable

• Students 11

• Student-teacher ratio —