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Best private high schools in Michigan

Written by:
April 10, 2024
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Best private high schools in Michigan

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Michigan using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.
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#30. The Leelanau School

- Location: Glen Arbor, MI
- Enrollment: 41 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#29. West Michigan Lutheran High School

- Location: Wyoming, MI
- Enrollment: 25 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.
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#28. Hackett Catholic Prep

- Location: Kalamazoo, MI
- Enrollment: 235 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#27. Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School

- Location: Waterford, MI
- Enrollment: 415 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.
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#26. Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School

- Location: Saint Joseph, MI
- Enrollment: 335 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.
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#25. Spring Vale Christian School

- Location: Owosso, MI
- Enrollment: 68 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.
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#24. De La Salle Collegiate

- Location: Warren, MI
- Enrollment: 537 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student raising their hand in class.
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#23. Everest Collegiate High School & Academy

- Location: Clarkston, MI
- Enrollment: 418 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.
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#22. Marian

- Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Enrollment: 368 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.
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#21. Father Gabriel Richard High School

- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Enrollment: 501 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A row of empty desks with notebooks and pencils on them.
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#20. Oakdale Academy

- Location: Waterford, MI
- Enrollment: 194 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A hallway lined with green lockers.
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#19. University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy

- Location: Detroit, MI
- Enrollment: 887 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.
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#18. Genesee Academy

- Location: Swartz Creek, MI
- Enrollment: 259 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty classroom as viewed from the back.
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#17. Andrews Academy

- Location: Berrien Springs, MI
- Enrollment: 261 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table.
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#16. Auburn Hills Christian School

- Location: Auburn Hills, MI
- Enrollment: 251 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.
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#15. St. Mary's Preparatory School

- Location: Orchard Lake, MI
- Enrollment: 533 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.
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#14. Detroit Catholic Central High School

- Location: Novi, MI
- Enrollment: 935 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students using microscopes in science class.
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#13. Notre Dame Preparatory School

- Location: Pontiac, MI
- Enrollment: 1,044 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.
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#12. Southfield Christian School

- Location: Southfield, MI
- Enrollment: 605 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students raising their hands for class participation.
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#11. Academy of the Sacred Heart

- Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Enrollment: 320 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.
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#10. Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor

- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Enrollment: 299 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book.
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#9. Mercy High School

- Location: Farmington Hills, MI
- Enrollment: 557 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.
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#8. Michigan Islamic Academy

- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Enrollment: 299 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.
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#7. University Liggett School

- Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
- Enrollment: 638 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.
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#6. The Roeper School - Grades 6-12

- Location: Birmingham, MI
- Enrollment: 260 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library.
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#5. Interlochen Arts Academy

- Location: Interlochen, MI
- Enrollment: 576 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#4. Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit

- Location: West Bloomfield, MI
- Enrollment: 125 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers.
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#3. Detroit Country Day School

- Location: Beverly Hills, MI
- Enrollment: 1,515 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom.
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#2. Greenhills School

- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
- Enrollment: 694 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class.
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#1. Cranbrook Schools

- Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Enrollment: 1,659 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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