Best North Carolina Private Schools Belonging to Membership Associations (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 500 private schools belonging to membership associations in North Carolina.

The most popular school membership associations are Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) (18% of schools), Cognia (14% of schools) and Other school association(s) (13% of schools).

Saint Mary's School Photo - Saint Mary's School, an all-girls, Episcopal, college preparatory, boarding and day high school located on a 23-acre, historic campus in the heart of Raleigh, N.C. More at www.sms.edu.

The Epiphany School Of Global Studies Photo - Our Mission: The Epiphany School of Global Studies, anchored in the Judeo-Christian commandment to Love God and Your Neighbor as Yourself, is a comprehensive college-preparatory and globally-focused school where dynamic and innovative learning is stretched beyond the classroom walls, emphasizing the knowledge, skills, creativity, adaptability, curiosity, and international experiences students will need to flourish in an increasingly globalized 21st century.

Carolina Adventist Academy Photo - Winners of the 9th Annual Leola Wade Oratorical Contest in Atlanta, GA.

Wake Christian Academy Photo - Located in Raleigh, N.C., we`ve been one of Wake County`s leading private Christian schools for more than 50 years. While we`re known for our strong K-12 academic program, dedicated faculty and staff, and winning fine arts and athletic programs, we`re first and foremost a Christ-centered school. We invite you to discover Wake Christian Academy for yourself!

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School Photo

Noble Academy Photo - Using research-based instructional strategies, teachers are able to meet the unique learning needs of their students.

Fusion Academy Raleigh Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Trinity Academy Photo - Innovative Classical Learning in an Authentic Christian Community

Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill Photo - Trinity is located in Durham, North Carolina on 22 acres bordered by trails, creeks, and forests. Trinity is a CSI and SAIS-accredited independent school where children flourish in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through grade 12. We educate within the framework of Christian faith and conviction, teaching the classical tools of learning; providing a rich yet unhurried education; and communicating truth, goodness,

Fusion Academy Charlotte Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

New Hope Christian Academy Inc Photo - Christmas party at the skating rink! So much fun.

Mount Pisqah Academy Photo - Jesus Lives at Mount Pisgah AcademyHe lives within our hearts!

St. Leo Catholic School Photo - Our School

Rocky Mount Academy Photo - Our youngest students start at four years old in our PK program. We already have college on our minds as we design the curriculum in our youngest grades. We know where they need to be as seniors to achieve their college dreams, and that vision determines the accelerated path that our youngest students start on at RMA.

Christ Classical Academy of Charlotte Photo

Top Ranked North Carolina Private Schools by Membership Association (2025)

Membership Association

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

AdvancED, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement

1,068

10%

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) or (School of Tomorrow)

1,796

33%

American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)

13,642

21%

American Montessori Society (AMS)

4,115

26%

Association for Experiential Education (AEE)

467

14%

Association Montessori International (AMI)

314

36%

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)

206

24%

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

33,745

21%

Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS)

798

14%

Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS)

3,491

12%

Association of Military Colleges and Schools

120

36%

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

408

21%

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

276

Christian Schools International (CSI)

2,793

16%

Cognia

23,581

17%

Council of Islamic Schools in North America (CISNA)

400

50%

Educational Records Bureau

1,594

33%

European Council for International Schools

118

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA)

154

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

984

14%

General Conference of SDA Church

78%

General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (GCSDAC)

912

52%

Institute for Independent Education

2,977

13%

International Baccalaureate (IB) World School

2,427

10%

International Montessori Council (IMC)

132

30%

Islamic School League of America (ISLA)

879

56%

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)

360

12%

Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

2,293

16%

Montessori Educational Programs International (MEPI)

134

13%

MSA-CESS Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

203

National Association for the Education of Young Children

1,348

27%

National Association of College Admissions Counselors

3,828

12%

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)

3,222

22%

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

24,978

23%

National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS)

238

27%

National Association of Private Schools

200

12%

National Association of Private Special Education Centers

375

39%

National Association of Secondary School Principals

1,035

National Catholic Education Association

242

17%

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

13,454

22%

National Christian School Association (NCSA)

1,152

21%

National Coalition of Girls

494

18%

National Council for Private School Accreditation

3,618

National Honor Society (NHS)

1,969

11%

National Independent Private Schools Association

821

21%

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

1,216

13%

National Lutheran Schools Accreditation

681

10%

National Middle School Association

306

20%

Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF)

461

99%

Other associations(s) for exceptional children

747

28%

Other Montessori association(s)

999

25%

Other religious school association(s)

6,931

21%

Other school association(s)

13,171

29%

Other special emphasis association(s)

2,403

19%

Solomon Schechter Day Schools (SSDS)

230

15%

Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS)

30,366

20%

Southern Association of Independent Schools

10,584

24%

Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS)

5,568

15%

State or regional independent school association

13,305

22%

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

1,001

19%

The Jewish Community Day School Association (SSDSA)

137

Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

319

21%

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