Florida's private schools range from small church-run preschools to Catholic high schools, Montessori programs, and a sports-focused boarding campus. Our database lists 1,700 of them across 275 cities and 66 of the state's 67 counties. No single office runs these schools. Each one is a business or nonprofit, often tied to a congregation, that sets its own admissions rules, tuition and calendar. This page explains who oversees them, how the picture changes between Miami and the Panhandle, and what to check before you book a tour.

Who Oversees Private Schools in Florida

Florida treats private schools as independent institutions. Section 1002.42 of the Florida Statutes sets the basic framework. The Florida Department of Education keeps the official records through its Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. Each private school is expected to file an annual survey with that office, which is how a school lands in the state's directory. Filing is not the same as approval. The state does not license private K-12 schools, accredit them, or review their curriculum.

The law does set a few basics. Schools must follow local fire, health and sanitation codes. Those inspections come from local fire marshals and county health departments, not from the school district. Schools also keep attendance and immunization records. Florida requires children from age six to sixteen to attend school. A private school is one lawful way to meet that rule, alongside public school and home education, which families register separately with their district superintendent.

Schools that accept state scholarship students take on more. They must be registered with the state, meet financial and testing requirements, and screen owners and staff. Those extra obligations make scholarship participation a useful signal when you compare schools.

Preschool programs, such as Argyle Christian Preschool and Kindergarten in Jacksonville, may also fall under child care licensing. That is handled separately by the Department of Children and Families or a local licensing agency. Some private providers also take part in Voluntary Prekindergarten, a free program for four-year-olds run through local early learning coalitions.

Because the state sets a low bar, quality checks are voluntary and come from outside groups. Common accreditors include Cognia, the Florida Council of Independent Schools, the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International. Catholic schools answer to their local diocese, and Florida has seven of them. Ask any school which accreditor it uses, and ask to see proof.

Miami to Pensacola: How Private School Options Differ Across Florida

South Florida carries the heaviest load. Miami-Dade County has 336 listings, the most in the state, led by Miami (133) and Hialeah (59). The range is wide. American Christian School & Art Center in Hialeah, Alexander Montessori School in South Miami, Clara Mohammed School in Miami Gardens and Barrington Academy in Homestead all sit in one county. It is a good place to start if you want to compare religious, Montessori and college-prep options within a single commute.

Along the southeast coast, Boca Raton (27 listings) and Fort Lauderdale (24) add dense clusters. Broward's Davie and Hollywood contribute AEF Schools and Emerald Hills School.

Central and northeast Florida follow a similar pattern at smaller scale. Jacksonville has 104 listings, and Duval County schools include Argyle Christian Preschool and Kindergarten on Argyle Forest Boulevard. In Orlando, Beeman Park Preparatory School sits on Ridge Avenue in Orange County. Beacon Academy, on West Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, is one of many schools across Hillsborough County.

Between the coasts, the options are more spread out. Examples include Ascension Catholic School in Melbourne, Blessed Trinity Catholic School in Ocala, Brentwood School in Gainesville and Calvary Church in Lakeland.

The Gulf Coast mixes year-round residents with seasonal families. Cedar Montessori School in Naples, Crestwell School in Fort Myers, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota and IMG Pendleton School in Bradenton show the spread. Some families split the year between Florida and another state, so ask each school about mid-year enrollment.

The Panhandle looks different. Tallahassee (27 listings) and Pensacola (25) anchor the region, with schools such as Community Christian School in Tallahassee and BB C Christian Academy in Pensacola. Outside the metro areas, a rural county may have only one or two church-run schools. A drive of 30 minutes or more each way becomes a real factor, so ask whether the school offers transportation.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Private schools make their own closure and reopening decisions, and these can differ from the local district's. Ask how the school notifies families.

Types of Private Schools You Will Find in Florida

The word "private" covers very different programs. Our listings fall into several broad groups:

Class size, religious instruction, uniform policy and grade range vary widely, even inside one category. A school that ends at fifth grade will send you back to the search in a few years. Check the top grade as carefully as the entry grade.

Paying for and Vetting a Florida Private School

Tuition is set by each school, and it is the biggest practical question for most families. Florida funds several scholarship programs for private school students. Step Up For Students, a nonprofit scholarship funding organization, handles applications for many of them. Since the 2023-24 school year, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options has been open to Florida K-12 students regardless of household income. Lower-income families receive funding priority. Students with certain disabilities may qualify for a separate unique abilities scholarship. Only participating schools can accept the money, so confirm this before you apply. Scholarship students also take an annual standardized assessment approved under state rules.

Before you commit, take four steps. First, confirm the school appears in the state's private school directory and ask which accreditor it uses. Second, visit on a regular school day and ask to see the classroom your child would use. Third, request the written tuition, fee and withdrawal policy, and read the refund terms. Fourth, call the number listed and confirm it is current, since small schools change addresses and phone numbers more often than public ones. The names, addresses and phone numbers on this page give you a place to start those calls.

Private schools in Florida are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Florida may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 275 cities across Florida. They are spread across 66 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Florida exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Florida comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Florida hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Florida to find the nearest location.

Planning Your Florida Private School Search Around the Calendar

Most Florida private schools start classes in mid-August and finish between late May and early June, but each school publishes its own calendar. Admissions usually run about a year ahead. Popular schools in Miami, Orlando and Tampa may fill grades through early applications, testing or interviews, and some keep waiting lists. If you are moving to Florida over the summer, start calling schools in the spring and ask about openings in your child's grade.

Treat every listing as a starting point. Small schools change names, move, or close. Some listings show a mailing address rather than a campus. Achievers Academy High School in Miami, for example, appears with a PO Box, so confirm the physical location before you drive there. Other listings carry a congregation's name, such as Elim Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Petersburg or Calvary Church in Lakeland, because a school operates from church property. Call first.

Broward County lists 144 schools and Palm Beach County lists 89, so South Florida families can compare many options without crossing county lines. Pinellas, Brevard, Polk and Seminole counties each have dozens more.

When you tour, bring your child's latest report card, the immunization record, and a short list of questions about class size, discipline, tuition increases and what happens if you withdraw mid-year.

No. Florida does not license, accredit or approve private K-12 schools. Under section 1002.42 of the Florida Statutes, a private school files an annual survey with the Florida Department of Education, which maintains the state's private school directory. Inspections that do happen are local: the fire marshal checks fire safety, and the county health department checks sanitation. Schools that accept state scholarship money face added requirements, such as registration, staff screening and annual testing. Because the state does not vouch for quality, visit in person, ask about accreditation and read the enrollment contract before paying a deposit.

No, accreditation is voluntary. Many schools choose it anyway because it signals outside review and can ease transfers and college applications. Groups active in Florida include Cognia, the Florida Council of Independent Schools, the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International. Catholic schools operate under their diocese, which sets its own standards. When a school says it is accredited, ask by whom, and check with that accreditor. Do not confuse accreditation with being listed in the state directory, which only shows that the school filed its annual survey.

The main option is the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, open to Florida K-12 students regardless of household income since the 2023-24 school year. Lower-income families receive funding priority, so apply early. A separate scholarship supports students with qualifying disabilities. Step Up For Students, a nonprofit, handles applications for many of these programs. The school must be an approved participant, so ask its office whether it accepts the scholarship and whether tuition exceeds the award. Any difference is typically paid by the family.

Requirements vary by school, but expect to provide proof of age, previous report cards or transcripts, and the Florida immunization certificate (Form DH 680), which state law requires for entry to any school, private ones included. Many schools also ask for a school-entry health exam. Add an application fee, a family interview or placement testing in some cases. Private schools set their own kindergarten age cutoffs, which can differ from the public-school rule. Ask the admissions office for a written checklist and deadlines, and gather the vaccination record early, since the county health department may need time to update it.

Search the Florida Department of Education's private school directory by school name or county. Schools that filed the annual survey appear there. Take the address and phone number from our listings and match them against the state record. A school missing from the directory may be new, closed, or not filing, so ask the school directly. The department's Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice can answer questions about private school requirements. For child care and preschool programs, ask separately about licensing through the Department of Children and Families or a local licensing agency.

Many Florida congregations run a school or preschool on their property, and public records often capture the host organization rather than the school's own name. Elim Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Petersburg and Calvary Church in Lakeland are examples in our listings. Call the number shown and ask whether a school operates there, which grades it serves, and whether it files with the state. Ask for the school's exact name so you can find it in the state directory. Church-run schools often welcome visitors by appointment, though policies vary.