Top Private Schools in Nashville

Christ Presbyterian Academy, an educational ministry of Christ Presbyterian Church, assists Christian families in helping students come to know God, evaluate all knowledge and all life by His truth, and live transformed by His truth for His glory.

Open House Information:

Christ Presbyterian Academy offers campus visit mornings to provide a quality overview of the school and an in-depth understanding of curricula and programs. These group tours are for parents of prospective students, and students entering grades 4–12 are also invited to join for a shadow experience.

To register and view all upcoming dates, visit their website or call the Enrollment Office.

• Lower School: K-3rd Grade, Wednesday, September 24
• 4th-5th Grades, Thursday, October 2
• Middle School: 6th-8th Grades: Tuesday, September 16
• Upper School: 9th-12th Grades, Thursday, November 6

Father Ryan High School is Nashville’s trusted coeducational, college preparatory high school centered in Catholic values, where students are known, loved, and inspired. They combine academic excellence with personalized learning paths to help each student reach their full potential— spiritually, academically, and personally. For over a century, Father Ryan High School has built a compassionate community with a legacy of 14,000+ alumni leading lives of purpose, serving Nashville and the world.

Open House Information:

Join the Father Ryan community on Sunday, October 26, from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. for a preview of the Father Ryan experience. Explore their campus, attend classes, discover their academic programs and house system, and more.

RSVP here. Or if you are unable to attend Preview Day, schedule a personal tour here.

For more than 160 years, Harpeth Hall has held true to the idea that girls deserve an excellent education full of possibilities and purpose. Through the strength of community and opportunity, Harpeth Hall educates girls and young women to think critically, lead confidently, and live honorably.

Open House Information:

Prospective students and families are invited to join Harpeth Hall’s Admission Preview Day on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Registration begins on campus at 1:30 p.m., and the Preview Day program begins at 2 p.m.

No RSVP needed to attend. Learn more here.

Diversity, Humility, Unity

King’s Academy provides a first-class Christ-centered education for a student body that is both racially and socioeconomically diverse from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, currently enrolling through 8th grade. They seek to help each student see their inherent God-given dignity, as well as that of their peers, as they are empowered to step into who God has uniquely created them to be: sons and daughters of the King.

Open House Information:

Email [email protected] to schedule a tour. Tours are offered most days of the week from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Fall Tour and Preview dates will be released soon.

Montgomery Bell Academy is the oldest independent school for boys in Tennessee. Founded in 1867, MBA is home to 850 boys in grades 7-12. MBA offers young men an exemplary college preparatory experience in an inclusive community, assisting them to be “gentlemen, scholars, and athletes” and young men of wisdom and moral integrity who will make significant contributions to society.

Open House Information:

• Weekly parent coffees and tours are held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., beginning August 28 through December 4, and will resume on January 8
• Shadow visits for prospective students will begin in late September and continue through November 21, resuming January 12 and concluding February 27. Shadow visits require an inquiry form and advance reservation – both can be found on their website.
• Prospective students and families are invited to attend Admission Preview Day on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Learn more here

Overbrook Catholic School provides an excellent education to boys and girls in preschool through sixth grade in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. Inspired by the life of St. Dominic, Overbrook Catholic educates children to seek and embrace the truth, fostering in them a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Children are thus prepared in mind and heart to give joyful witness to the truth in their own lives. Beginning in preschool, Overbrook has prepared students with a love for learning and formed leaders since 1936.

Open House Information:

• Lunch & Learns are an informal event for prospective parents to enjoy lunch with leadership while learning about the school.
• Admissions Preview Day will take place on October 25 for prospective families to see faculty and staff and take tours.

To register for the events above, schedule a Parent Tour or a student Shadow Day, contact striansea@overbrook.edu.

As Nashville’s oldest private school, St. Cecilia Academy is a college preparatory school serving girls in grades 7 through 12. Since 1860, St. Cecilia has been providing a premier Catholic education for young women who have used their feminine genius to influence and shape their communities as confident leaders. Its rigorous, award-winning, liberal arts academic program teaches students how to think critically and navigate our complex world today.

Open House Information:

• Walk-In Wednesdays: Campus tour at noon on any Wednesday SCA is in session.
• Admissions Preview Day: Learn about the St. Cecilia experience and take tours on October 26.
• Fireside Chats: Informal event for prospective parents, including lunch.

Register here. To schedule a Personal Tour or a student Shadow Day, contact [email protected].

Open House Information:

• Davidson Academy will have a Fall Open House (mid-November), a Winter Open House (late January), and a Spring Open House (mid-March) for the 2025-2026 school year. See more here.
• There will also be designated Thursdays monthly during the school year when you can learn what it’s like to “BE A DA BEAR” for the day.

Check with Director of Admissions Lori Trew for setting up a shadow day visit at Davidson Academy. She can be reached at [email protected] or via phone.

Ensworth is a kindergarten through 12 grade, coeducational, independent school. They promote academic excellence and inspire students to be intellectually curious, to use their talents to the fullest, to be people of integrity, and to be contributors to society.

Open House Information:

• Kindergarten Admission Lunch: Wednesday, September 24 and Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Red Gables Campus at 11 a.m.
• Middle School Preview: Thursday, October 23, 2025 at Red Gables Campus at 6:30 p.m.
• High School Preview: Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Frist Campus at 2 p.m.

RSVP here.

At Galileo Preparatory Academy in Franklin, they believe students learn best when education revolves around them. Their flexible, mastery-based program empowers K–12 learners to move at their own pace, explore their interests, and develop real-world skills with confidence.

Open House Information:

Visit their website or call them (information listed below) to schedule a tour of their Cool Springs location.

Open House Information:

• September 28 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

St. Paul Christian Academy is an independent, interdenominational elementary school, serving grades junior fours through sixth grade in Green Hills. The school’s three pillars are Academic Excellence, Passion for Christ, and Leadership Development.

Open House Information:

• St. Paul offers private, individualized tours to prospective parents.
• Open Houses for families interested in attending St. Paul will take place on Thursday, October 23, and Thursday, November 6 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Please email Erin Curry at [email protected] with any questions.

Known for academic excellence and commitment to putting students first, what guides thinking at USN is the faculty’s development of an inclusive K-12 learning environment that reflects the diversity of Nashville and fosters a sense of belonging for each student. The 7-acre Edgehill Campus comprises academic buildings, a three-story library, two gymnasiums, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and an arts building. The 81-acre River Campus provides athletic fields and wetlands for science research.