The full ranking
College-prep powerhouses from River Oaks to Preston Hollow, ranked by selectivity and elite-college matriculation. Texas's most prestigious private schools, by consensus.
St. John's School (River Oaks, Houston)
Houston's most prestigious K-12 day school, set on a Collegiate Gothic stone campus in River Oaks and known for an exceptional record of Ivy League and top-university matriculation. Small classes, a rigorous thirteen-year college-prep sequence, and elite college counseling make it the clear leader among Texas private schools.
St. Mark's School of Texas (Preston Hollow, Dallas)
A nonsectarian college-preparatory boys' day school in Preston Hollow, consistently ranked among the top private schools in the nation and a perennial leader in National Merit Scholars. Rigorous academics, a planetarium, and research labs feed a long pipeline to the Ivy League and Stanford.
The Awty International School (Spring Branch, Houston)
Houston's premier international school, where students graduate with the International Baccalaureate Diploma or the French Baccalauréat after a fully bilingual, immersion-based education. More than 1,800 students from over 50 countries make it one of the largest and most globally connected private schools in Texas.
The Hockaday School (Preston Hollow, Dallas)
The Southwest's most prestigious all-girls college-preparatory school, founded in 1913 on an 88-acre Preston Hollow campus. Hockaday pairs a rigorous PK-12 curriculum with strong arts and athletics and sends graduates to the most selective colleges in the country.
St. Stephen's Episcopal School (West Lake Hills, Austin)
Central Texas's leading independent boarding and day school, set on a 370-acre Hill Country campus overlooking Austin. Its college-prep program, full boarding option, and arts and outdoor offerings make it the top private school in the Austin area.
The John Cooper School (The Woodlands, Houston)
The Woodlands' premier PK-12 college-preparatory school, an independent, non-sectarian day school known for strong academics, an average SAT well above the national mean, and broad arts and athletics participation. It is consistently the top-ranked private school in the Greater Houston area.
Greenhill School (Addison, Dallas)
A nonsectarian PK-12 independent day school in Addison, the oldest secular private school in North Texas and a longtime leader in college placement. Its diverse community, strong arts, and rigorous academics keep it among the highest-ranked private schools in the Dallas area.
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (North Dallas, Dallas)
A Catholic, Jesuit college-preparatory school for young men in North Dallas, founded in 1942 and known for forming 'men for others' alongside rigorous academics. Strong matriculation to selective national universities and Texas flagships anchors its reputation.
The Village School (Energy Corridor, Houston)
A Nord Anglia international day and boarding school in Houston's Energy Corridor, offering the International Baccalaureate and an internationally minded, STEAM-focused curriculum. Its global network and college outcomes draw families from across Houston and abroad.
The Episcopal School of Dallas (Midway Hollow, Dallas)
An Episcopal PK-12 independent day school in Dallas, known for its honor code, outdoor education program, and strong college counseling. Small classes and a values-driven culture place it among the top private schools in North Texas.
Ranked across 3 sources: Niche · 2026 Best Private High Schools in Texas; PolarisList · Best Private High Schools in Texas (HYPSM matriculation) 2025; Test Innovators · 50 Most Sought-After Private Schools 2025 (Texas). Full scoring is on the Methodology tab above.
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