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Arizona, or The Grand Canyon State, is one of the most beautiful states of the United States, with several national parks, monuments, and forests. Although the state is quite famous for many things, including Arizona State University, it is not easy for parents to search for the best private schools in the region.
As per 2023 reports, there are approximately 477 private schools offering education to nearly 68,978 children in Arizona, and close to 6% of all K-12 students are enrolled in private schools. So, to narrow down your search, we bring you a list of Arizona’s 8 best private schools!!
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| S.No. | Table Of Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix Country Day School |
| 2 | Valley Christian School |
| 3 | Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep |
| 4 | Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory School |
| 5 | Rancho Solano Preparatory School |
| 6 | Verde Valley School |
| 7 | The Gregory School |
| 8 | The Omre School |
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1. Phoenix Country Day School
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1380
- Average Financial Aid: $12,500
- Yearly Tuition: $28,200
Website: https://www.pcds.org/
Location: 3901 E STANFORD DR. PARADISE VALLEY, AZ 85253
Phone: 602-955-8200
First on our list is Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS), a co-educational college preparatory school located in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The school spread out over a 40-acre campus, was founded in 1961 and offers a comprehensive education to students in grades Pre-K through 12. Its rigorous curriculum is designed to prepare kids for success in college.
PCDS boasts a highly qualified faculty, with 85% of the Upper School faculty holding advanced degrees in their fields. The school provides Advanced Placement (AP) courses and individualized counseling sessions to students to help them prepare for college admissions. PCDS proudly has students gaining entry into over 125+ different colleges all over the country!!
PCDS has a thriving arts program, with opportunities for students to participate in theater productions, choral and instrumental music ensembles, and visual arts classes. The school also has a robust athletic program, with over 40 sports teams in various sports, including football, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and more.
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2. Valley Christian Schools
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1220
- Average Financial Aid: $7,524
- Yearly Tuition: $14,950
- Website: https://valleychristianaz.org/ Location: 6900 W GALVESTON ST CHANDLER, AZ 85226 Contact: 480-705-8888
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The 2nd best private school in Arizona is Valley Christian Schools which is a private Christian school located in Chandler, Arizona, USA. Founded in 1982, they offer high-quality education for students from preschool through 12th grade. They are affiliated with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Christian Schools of Arizona (CSA).
Since its founding, VCS annually provides more than 1,100 students with a Christian education that includes top academics centered around state-of-the-art STEM programs. Our students are prepared for the future and given the ability to make a difference because they are invested in their education and faith. VCS offers a demanding, technologically advanced STEM curriculum to better prepare our students for future challenges.
This intentionality begins in Kindergarten and culminates with four distinct pathways for high school students. Freshmen at VCS High School must enroll in a semester-long course called “Freshmen STEM Survey,” which introduces them to several career paths and the alternatives available to each student through project-based learning and excursions.
Apart from academics, at the high school level, the school has over 30+ athletic teams across 20 different sports. Arizona State Championships in the AIA have been won by Valley Christian athletic teams 76 times since 1989. Included is a current run of 31 years in which a VCS team has won the state championship. Moreover, Trojan teams have won over 150 conference titles and placed second in the state 37 times.
Moreover, The AIA Director’s Cup Award for Overall Excellence was given to Valley Christian, who has also won the Don F. Stone Overall Excellence Award seven times. Athletic Management honored Valley Christian as the Top Women’s Athletic Program in 1999.
Valley Christian Schools has four campuses in Chandler, Arizona, including a preschool campus, an elementary campus, a junior high campus, and a high school campus. The school commits to providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for success in college and beyond while also instilling Christian values and principles.
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3. Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1230
- Average Financial Aid: $11,750
- Yearly Tuition: $7,025
- Website: https://www.azacademy.org/ Location: 7810 S 42ND PL PHOENIX, AZ 85042 Contact: 602-454-1222
Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep is a private Islamic school in Phoenix, Arizona. The school provides education from preschool to 12th grade, focusing on Islamic values and academic excellence. The school offers a challenging curriculum that includes math, science, social studies, English, Arabic, and Islamic studies courses.
The school has a strict dress code and uniform where it is expected that students observe the standards of Islamic clothing, moderation, and good taste also includes a long list of rules to be followed by girls. Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep is one of the schools accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission and recognized by the Arizona Department of Education.
Students are urged to enroll in AP or (Advanced Placement) courses. Students in grades 8 through 12 can enroll in and take additional classes for certain subjects during Bonus Hour in addition to their existing courses. This aims to make students much more prepared for college admissions.
The school offers extracurricular activities like athletics, as well as volunteering opportunities, also placing a lot of emphasis on spiritual development and character building.
4. Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory School
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1220
- Average Financial Aid: Available but not disclosed
- Yearly Tuition: $11,824
- Website: https://paradisevalleychristian.org/ Location: 11875 N 24TH STREET PHOENIX, AZ 85028 Contact: 602- 992-8140
Fourth on our list is Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory School which is a private Christian school located in Paradise Valley, Arizona, United States. The school offers a Christ-centered education with a strict focus on achieving academic success for Pre-K through 12th-grade students.
Together with core topics, including language arts, mathematics, physics, social studies, and Bible studies, the school’s curriculum also offers electives such as music, physical education, and foreign languages.
In addition to its strong academic curriculum, the school also offers a strong athletics program, with PVCP Panthers competing in the Cactus Christian Schools League at the Middle School level and the Canyon Athletic Association at the Upper School level. The focus is always to help children attain spiritual, physical, mental, social, and emotional growth.
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the AdvancED accreditation agency accredited the school. The school is also an Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) member.
The PVCP strives to provide a well-rounded education that prepares kids for success in life and has been recognized as one of the state’s top options for providing children with quality Christian education.
5. Rancho Solano Preparatory School
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1270
- Average Financial Aid: $12,500
- Yearly Tuition: $21,000
- Website: https://ranchosolano.com/ Location: 9180 E VIA DE VENTURA SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85258 Contact: 480-646-8200
Rancho Solano Preparatory School, or RSPS, is a private day and boarding school in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school was founded in 1954 and offers a rigorous curriculum for students from preschool through 12th grade.
The school has 63% of faculty holding a master’s degree and instills a knack for learning and creativity in its students, both of which are necessary to succeed in a multicultural society. The school curriculum remains focused on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math), humanities, and the arts.
RSPS has several AP (Advanced Placement) courses as well as a college counseling process that begins as early as Grade 6; their students have made their way into a few of the top universities, such as the University of Arizona, UCLA, Arizona State University, Harvard, Princeton, Brown, and Pepperdine.
The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities in addition to its highly competitive academic and athletics programs. Students are urged to join groups, organizations, and sports teams, which allows them to discover their talents, develop their leadership abilities, and learn the art of socializing.
6. Verde Valley School
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1240
- Average Financial Aid: $17,000
- Yearly Tuition: $23,000
- Website: https://www.vvsaz.org/ Location: 3511 VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL RD SEDONA, AZ 86351 Contact: 928-284-2272
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Next is Verde Valley High School which emphasizes competition with oneself over with others, pushing students to reach their full potential in all areas—academics, athletics, service, the arts, and more. The school’s grounds are ideal for year-round outdoor pursuits like horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, soccer, golf, basketball, trail, and cross-country running since it is encircled by national forest territory on three sides.
The curriculum encourages global citizenship, intercultural awareness, environmental stewardship, the importance of manual labor, and selfless devotion to humanity. Founded in 1948, it has been committed to producing students who are not only outstanding scholars but also global citizens who want to make a good impact on humanity.
As an IB World School, we equip our students with the skills necessary to become engaged, kind, and compassionate lifelong learners who recognize that other people can be correct despite their differences.
7. The Gregory School
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1280
- Yearly Tuition: $20,550
- Website: https://www.gregoryschool.org/ Location: 3231 N CRAYCROFT RD TUCSON, AZ 85712 Contact: 520-327-6395
Serving students in grades 5 through 12, Gregory School, an independent, coeducational institution located in Tucson, Arizona, is also on our list. The School, which was first established in 1980 as St. Gregory High School, is proud that its core values and ethos have not changed since the school’s 2014 rebranding.
The 35-acre Gregory School campus is on the Rillito River, where the city and the foothills meet. From here, it offers stunning views of the Catalina Mountains. The campus features an abundance of spaces for gathering, studying, playing, and relaxing, as well as a farmyard and vegetable garden, a riparian area made by students, beautiful greenery, and plenty of shade.
A Gregory School education includes a tasty, nutritious lunch prepared on-site from scratch using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
8. The Orme School
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
- College Preparation: Yes
- Graduation Rate: 100%
- Average SAT Score: 1230
- Average Financial Aid: $24,000
- Yearly Tuition: $51,500
- Website: https://www.ormeschool.org/ Location: 1000 E ORME SCHOOL RD MAYER, AZ 86333 Contact: 928-632-1566
The Orme School is a coed, boarding school in north central Arizona that prepares students for college. It’s for students in grades 8 through 12.
Founded in 1929, the goal is to help students thrive in life and at the college of their choosing by fostering good character, intellectual curiosity, and scholastic advancement. Therefore, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on subject-matter knowledge.
English as a Second Language (ESL) and AP English Language and Literature are two of the courses offered. Four years of mathematics are offered, including AP Calculus and AP Statistics. Additionally, there is a history program with multiple AP courses and electives, and a science department with state-of-the-art labs for AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and AP Chemistry.
There you go!! The five best private schools in Arizona were analyzed and picked for you to consider for your child’s education.
These schools not only hone your kids academically but also push them to explore their hidden talents while developing their spirituality to ensure they become responsible citizens of this global community.
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Update: This article was last updated on 16th November 2023 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
What is the best school (K-12) in Tucson, AZ?
Catalina Foothills High School is one of the best schools. Teachers are very supportive. Infrastructure and environment is excellent
What are the differences between the East Valley and metro Phoenix in terms of education for children?
Here are the basic differences:
Location of school.School typeStrength of studentsSchool feesSpecial Programs