How Private Schools Work in Texas

Texas has a large and varied private school sector. Our database lists 1,362 schools across 257 cities, from Catholic parish schools in Amarillo to Montessori programs in the Dallas suburbs. The state treats these schools very differently from public schools, so the way you search, compare, and enroll is different too. This page explains who oversees private schools in Texas, how the market splits between big metros and small towns, and what to check before you commit.

A private school in Texas answers to its own board, a church or diocese, a school association, or a private owner. It does not answer to an elected school board. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) runs the public system and has no licensing role over private campuses. That gives schools freedom in curriculum, calendar, and admissions. It also puts more work on parents, who have to judge quality for themselves.

Think of the directory as a starting point. Each listing gives a name, address, county, and phone number. A call or a campus visit then tells you what the listing cannot.

What Texas Law Requires and What It Leaves to the School

Texas does not license private schools. The state requires children to attend school from age six until their 19th birthday, with exceptions, but a private school satisfies that rule. In a 1987 case, Leeper v. Arlington ISD, Texas courts held that a bona fide private school is exempt from public school attendance rules if it teaches reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship. In practice, a school can open, set tuition, and hire teachers without state approval.

That means the usual public school safeguards do not automatically apply. Teachers need no state certificate. The school does not have to follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and students do not sit for the STAAR exam. Some rules still reach private campuses. Immunization requirements from the Texas Department of State Health Services apply, and buildings must meet local fire, building, and health codes. A program that cares for very young children may also need a child care license from Texas Health and Human Services.

Accreditation is voluntary but useful. The Texas Private School Accreditation Commission is a council of recognized accrediting groups, and many Texas schools also hold regional or national accreditation. Catholic schools usually operate under a diocese, such as the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Diocese of Dallas, or the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Episcopal, Adventist, Baptist, and other church-linked schools often belong to their own associations. Athletics work differently too. Most private schools compete through groups such as the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools rather than UIL.

The practical result is simple. In Texas, the quality check is yours to make, and the school's own paperwork, references, and campus visit matter more than any state rating.

Where Private Schools Cluster in Texas: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio

Houston leads the state with 206 listings, and Harris County holds 280 across Houston, Spring, Katy, and other cities. Schools range from early learning programs, such as Abc 123 A Cat A Me on Cullen Boulevard, to faith-based and classical schools such as Grace Classical Academy in Katy. County lines matter here. Esprit International School sits in Spring but is listed under Montgomery County, and Cornerstone Christian Academy in Sugar Land falls under Fort Bend County. If you live near a county line, search both sides.

Dallas-Fort Worth is the second large cluster. Dallas County has 164 listings, including Dallas Christian Academy on North Central Expressway, Breckinridge Montessori School in Richardson, and Firewheel Christian Academy in Garland. Tarrant County has 105, among them Anderson Private School in Fort Worth and Burton Adventist Academy in Arlington. North of Dallas, Collin County has 61 listings, such as A Plus Prep School in Plano, Spanish Schoolhouse in Frisco, and Centennial Montessori Academy in McKinney. Prince of Peace Christian School in Carrollton appears under Denton County.

In Travis County, which has 80 listings, ACE Academy on Shoal Creek Boulevard in Austin is one example. San Antonio has 77 listings, including Central Catholic High School on North Saint Mary's Street. Both areas mix long-established church schools with newer independent programs.

Metro density gives families real choice. You can compare tuition, schedules, and teaching styles within one commute. It also means popular schools fill early, so start your research well before the school year you want.

Private Schools in El Paso, the Gulf Coast, and Smaller Texas Cities

Outside the big four metros, listings thin out, but they do not disappear. El Paso has 47, including Christian Joy Center Academy on Sumac Drive. Corpus Christi has 22, among them Most Precious Blood School on Saratoga Boulevard in Nueces County. In the Rio Grande Valley, First Baptist School in Brownsville is listed in Cameron County.

Mid-sized cities have local options as well. All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Crisman School in Longview, Bynum School in Midland, and St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Amarillo each appear in our data as a school in their city. Pearland Heritage Christian Academy in Brazoria County shows how Houston's outer suburbs now support their own schools.

West Texas distances are long. Amarillo and Midland sit far from the nearest large metro, so a school there can draw families from surrounding counties. Rural Texas looks different again. Many small towns have no private school at all, and families may drive to the nearest city or rely on a church-run program. Ask about transportation, because many private schools do not run buses. Ask about before-school and after-school care too, since a long commute can make that the deciding factor.

Checking a Texas Private School Before You Enroll

Because the state does not inspect private schools, a short checklist helps. Before you pay an application fee or deposit, work through these steps.

Timing matters. Many Texas private schools open applications in the fall or winter for the following August, and some popular schools keep waitlists. Midyear openings exist but are less predictable.

Cost is a major factor. Texas has created an education savings account program run through the Comptroller of Public Accounts, and many schools also offer their own aid. Ask both the school and the state about current rules before you count on any funding. Then use the county pages linked above to narrow your search, and call your top three choices.

Private schools in Texas 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. Texas 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 257 cities across Texas. They are spread across 120 counties.

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

Families in Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

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

Finding a Private School Near You in Texas

Texas is large, and the distance between listings matters as much as the school itself. A family in Plano can compare dozens of campuses within a short drive, while a family in Midland or Amarillo may have only a handful of options. Start with your county page, then narrow by city. The Bexar County page covers San Antonio schools such as Central Catholic High School, and the El Paso County page covers the far-west corner of the state, where Christian Joy Center Academy is listed.

Every record lists a phone number, so call before you drive. Ask whether the school is accepting applications for the coming year, what grades it serves, and how it schedules visits. Schools change names, merge, or close, and a directory cannot replace a direct conversation. If a listing shows a post office box instead of a street address, confirm the physical location first.

Bring a recent report card, an immunization record, and a birth certificate to your first meeting, since many schools ask for them. Compare at least three schools before you decide.

No. The Texas Education Agency oversees public schools and charter schools, but it does not license, inspect, or accredit private schools. A private school can open without state approval, which means quality varies. Many schools choose voluntary accreditation through groups such as the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, regional accreditors, or a Catholic diocese. Accreditation shows that an outside body has reviewed the school's programs, but it is not a guarantee. Ask the school which accrediting body it uses, then confirm directly with that organization. Also ask for written policies on admissions, discipline, and refunds before you pay a deposit.

No. Certification through the State Board for Educator Certification is required for public school teachers, not for private school teachers. Each private school sets its own hiring standards, so credentials differ widely. Some schools require a bachelor's degree and classroom experience, while others hire subject experts or recent graduates. Parents can ask what share of teachers hold advanced degrees, how long the average teacher has stayed, and how the school runs background checks. A direct answer from the principal or admissions director tells you a lot. Schools with a strong faculty usually share this information readily during a tour.

No. STAAR is the state assessment for public schools and open-enrollment charters. Private schools are not required to give it or to teach the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Schools choose their own curriculum, and many use nationally normed achievement tests instead. Ask which tests the school gives, how results are shared with parents, and where recent graduates go to college. If you may transfer back to a public school later, ask the district how it places students who come from private schools. Keep copies of report cards and test results so a move goes smoothly.

Texas immunization requirements set by the Department of State Health Services apply to students in private schools as well as public schools. A school generally expects an up-to-date immunization record before the first day of class. Texas allows limited exemptions, including medical reasons and reasons of conscience, but a conscience exemption requires an official affidavit form obtained from the state health department. Ask the registrar what the school needs at enrollment, since many also request a birth certificate, prior school records, and a physician's note. Start early, because gathering records from a former school can take time.

Texas passed an education savings account program in 2025, often called Texas Education Freedom Accounts, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts administers it. It is scheduled to begin with the 2026-27 school year. Eligibility, award amounts, application windows, and participating-school requirements are set by the state and may change, so read the Comptroller's current guidance rather than relying on a summary. Also ask each private school whether it plans to take part and whether it offers its own financial aid, scholarships, or payment plans. Many schools do.

Some small schools, especially those tied to a church or housed in shared space, use a mailing address for correspondence. In our data, Grace Classical Academy in Katy and Bynum School in Midland are listed with PO boxes. A PO box means a map app will not take you to the campus. Call the listed phone number, ask for the physical address, and confirm visiting hours. Also ask about the weekly schedule, since some programs do not run a standard five-day week. Do not send a deposit until you have seen the site and met staff.