Greater Tampa Bay’s Top Private Schools

Quality education at private schools can place students on the fast track to a successful life after graduation. These schools offer advanced curriculum, many extracurriculars and enrichment classes that provide valuable knowledge and meaningful experiences. They offer a direct path toward the best colleges and careers, preparing students to triumph through obstacles in life.

Parents can be more involved in their children’s education and form relationships with teachers at private schools. Families have plenty of quality private schools available to them in Greater Tampa Bay, which offer innovative learning methods to suit every unique mind, learning style, ability and aspiration.

Multiple review sites highly rank many local private schools. Among GTB’s highest-rated private institutions are Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa and Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, both K-12 schools.

Factoring together the next-level education that private schools provide, with the abundance of highly ranked institutions in the area, it becomes clear that local students will have every opportunity for success in GTB.

Top-Ranked Private K-12 Schools in Greater Tampa Bay

Berkeley Preparatory School (A+) — Tampa
Shorecrest Preparatory School (A+) — St. Petersburg
Tampa Preparatory School (A+) — Tampa
Carrollwood Day School (A+) — Tampa
Academy of the Holy Names (A+) — Tampa
Academy at the Lakes (A+) — Tampa
Jesuit High School (A+) — Tampa
Universal Academy of Florida (A+) — Tampa
Canterbury School of Florida (A) — St. Petersburg
Cavalry Christian High School (A) — Clearwater
Admiral Farragut Academy (A) — Tampa
Tampa Catholic High School (A) — Tampa
Saddlebrook Preparatory School (A) — Tampa
Genesis Preparatory School (A) — Clearwater
American Youth Academy (A) — Spring Hill

— Niche, 2023

Hillsdale Christian Academy – Tampa
The Montessori House Day School – Tampa
Victory Cristian Academy – Tampa
Academy of the Holy Names – Tampa
American Youth Academy – Tampa
Admiral Farragut Academy – St. Petersburg
Canterbury School of Florida – St. Petersburg
Our Savior Lutheran School – St. Petersburg
Allendale Academy Private School – Clearwater
Cavalry Christian High School – Clearwater
Elfers Christian School – New Port Richey
Saint Anthony Catholic School – San Antonio
Academy at the Lakes – Land O’ Lakes
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School – Spring Hill
First Christian Academy – New Port Richey

– Private School Review, 2023

Best of Class

Berkeley Preparatory School

Mission Statement: “To establish and maintain a school dedicated to providing the best possible environment within which to nurture the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical development of each student; to aid students attending the school to achieve academic excellence in preparation for higher education, and to instill in them a strong sense of morality, ethics and social responsibility so that they may eventually attain their highest potential as human beings; to offer a challenging and demanding curriculum which will stress the importance of religious values and will provide comprehensive programs in the sciences, arts and athletics; and to promote the moral and spiritual values of the Christian tradition as professed by the Episcopal Church.”

Berkeley Prep has certainly earned its place at the top of the rankings in GTB. Students shine in all areas, with 80% participating in athletics, 86% passing AP exams, 100% of students going to college after graduation and 20% of the Class of 2021 recognized as National Merit Scholars. Educators lead with intelligence and experience. The average instructor has 18 years of experience in the teaching profession, more than 70% have advanced degrees, and all continue to develop and learn in their careers.

This Episcopal school educates approximately 1,400 children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. In addition to academics and athletics, Berkeley students thrive in a diverse and supportive social environment.

Florida Rankings

Best Christian High Schools in Florida — No. 1
Best Private K-12 Schools in Florida — No. 5
Best College Prep Private High Schools in Florida — No. 5

National Rankings

Best Christian High Schools in America — No. 17
Best Private K-12 Schools in America — No. 54
Best College Prep Private High Schools in America — No. 90

— Niche, 2023

Berkeley Preparatory Schools ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Florida

Most AP courses offered — 22

— Private School Review, 2023

Shorecrest Preparatory School

Mission Statement: “Shorecrest is a college preparatory school that educates a diverse community of students to become lifelong learners in the pursuit of personal and academic excellence, physical well-being, creative achievement and the development of a commitment to social responsibility.”

The approach to learning at Shorecrest is student-centered, as well as both progressive and pragmatic. Students are challenged to take risks, set goals, let their creativity shine and strive for excellence in academics, athletics, arts and personal development. Meanwhile, they master practical skills like problem solving, effective communication, research and critical thinking that directly apply to real-world situations.

Students’ growth and development are supported through every stage at Shorecrest. Children as young as 3 years old begin their journey of learning through the Experiential School of Tampa Bay at Shorecrest. Students advance through the lower, middle and upper schools, gaining autonomy and direction. One-on-one guidance in the College Center helps upper school students identify the right fit for them, resulting in senior students’ 100% acceptance rate into their choice of college or university.

Florida Rankings

Best College Prep Private High Schools in Florida — No. 14
Best Private K-12 Schools in Florida — No. 14
Best Private High Schools in Florida — No. 19

National Rankings

Best College Prep Private High Schools in America — No. 240
Best Private K-12 Schools in America — No. 204
Best Private High Schools in America — No. 359

— Niche, 2023

Shorecrest Preparatory School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Florida

Highest average SAT scores — 1320
Highest average ACT scores — 28
Most AP courses offered — 26
Most sports offered — 14
Most extracurriculars offered — 42

— Private School Review, 2023

Tampa Preparatory School

Mission Statement: “Tampa Prep is a place to…

Think — Where a rigorous grounding in skills and knowledge is just the beginning — where teachers and students share inquiry, reflection and analysis on the path to personal understanding.

Create — Where people celebrate the imagination in geometric proofs and formal essays, on canvas, computer and stage, in poetry readings and morning assemblies.

Be Yourself — Where people respect differences and can find their place in a diverse community.

Aspire to Excellence — Where students develop winning attitudes in academics, athletics and arts.

Go Beyond — Where Florida Keys, North Carolina mountains, museums, concert halls and community service become classrooms that foster deeper understandings of one’s self, others and the world.”

Tampa Prep strongly emphasizes community, collaboration and serving a higher purpose beyond oneself. Students in sixth through 12th grades are guided by five core values — curiosity, honesty, kindness, respect and responsibility. Nurturing students’ social, mental and emotional well-being and encouraging them to be themselves is integral to education at Tampa Prep.

College Knowledge

Tampa Prep also prides itself on its innovative and progressive approach to learning. By adopting several unique practices to benefit students, including a delayed school start time of 8:50 a.m., wellness seminars for mental health, active learning environments, innovative flipped classrooms, student involvement in interviewing faculty, making athletics part of the school schedule, internships for seniors, meditation at the start of most classes and a culture of creativity and innovation.

Approximately 700 students attend Tampa Prep, which has served the Tampa community since 1974.

Florida Rankings

Best College Prep Private High Schools in Florida — No. 17
Best Private High Schools in Florida — No. 23

National Rankings

Best College Prep Private High Schools in America — No. 267
Best Private High Schools in America — No. 408

— Niche, 2023

Tampa Preparatory School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Florida

Most AP courses offered — 25
Most sports offered — 16
Most extracurriculars offered — 39

— Private School Review, 2023

Honorable Mention

Academy at the Lakes

Mission Statement: “Academy at the Lakes is a learning community of shared values dedicated to the success of each individual at school, in the community and in the world. We celebrate the love of learning and the joy in the journey.”

Academy at the Lakes is a top-rated private school. With over 470 students, and a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, Academy offers a rigorous academic program along with ample opportunities for athletics and extracurriculars. 

With a school-wide average ACT score of 28 and SAT score of 1280, Academy is widely known for academic excellence while also focusing on leadership and character development. 