Choosing the right school is one of the most personal decisions a family can make. And if you’ve started looking into private schools in Orlando, you’ve probably realized one thing quickly: there are a lot of them. From faith-based options and rigorous college-prep programs to schools focused on the arts or individualized learning, Central Florida offers a wide range of options for families seeking something beyond the traditional classroom.

What’s changed in recent years is accessibility. Through programs like Florida’s Step Up For Students scholarship, more families are finding that private school is no longer out of reach, opening the door to environments that better fit their child’s needs and learning style.

With so many choices, finding the right fit can feel overwhelming. These standout schools are a great place to begin your search.

The Best Private Schools in Orlando

FAITH-BASED SCHOOLS

Bishop Moore Catholic High School

• Address: 3901 Edgewater Dr. Orlando, FL 32804
• Grades: 9—12
• Size: 1,500 students
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

Bishop Moore offers a faith-based high school experience that blends strong academics with a close-knit, community feel. Rooted in the Catholic tradition, the school focuses on developing the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) while encouraging service, leadership, and personal responsibility.

Along with college-prep academics, advanced coursework, athletics, arts, and extracurriculars, students also have access to specialized Programs of Distinction in areas like aviation, engineering, biomedical sciences, business finance, and computer science, giving them opportunities to explore future career paths early.

The school is also a 1:1 iPad campus, integrating technology into everyday learning, and offers additional academic support through resources like The Writing Center, where students can receive guidance on everything from school assignments to college essays. There’s also a strong sense of school pride and tradition here, which many families are drawn to.

The Christ School

• Address: 106 East Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801
• Grades: Preschool—8
• Size: 500 students
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

Located right in the heart of downtown Orlando, The Christ School serves students from Pre-K through 8th grade. It’s an interdenominational Christian school that balances strong academics with faith and character development, all while keeping learning hands-on and engaging for kids.

What stands out most is how personal it feels. Teachers really know their students and meet them where they are—whether that means stretching them academically or giving extra support when it’s needed.

One of the most unique parts of The Christ School is The Bridge program, a nationally recognized, Orton-Gillingham-accredited program designed specifically for students with dyslexia. It’s one of the only programs of its kind in Florida and a huge resource for families looking for specialized learning support within a traditional school setting.

The First Academy

• Address: 2667 Bruton Blvd. Orlando, FL 32805
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 1,500
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

The First Academy offers a Christ-centered, college-preparatory experience where faith is woven into everyday learning. More than weekly chapel services, the school integrates a biblical worldview into every aspect of the student experience, from the classroom to athletics, fine arts, and daily campus life.

One of the biggest things that sets The First Academy apart is its personalized approach to education to meet the unique needs of every student and family. In addition to its traditional college-prep program, the school offers a Hybrid Home + School model for K–12 students that combines on-campus instruction two days a week with teacher-directed learning at home alongside a parent learning partner.

There’s also the Distinct Abilities Learning program, designed to support students with unique learning needs.

The Geneva School

• Address: 1775 Seminola Blvd. Casselberry, FL 32707
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 700
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

The Geneva School is a non-denominational classical Christian school that emphasizes language, logic, and rhetoric as students move through each stages of learning. There is a strong focus on literature, writing, history, and the arts—all woven together with a biblical worldview. It’s the kind of environment where students are encouraged to slow down, engage deeply with ideas, and develop strong communication and critical thinking skills through discussion-based and experiential learning.

What makes The Geneva School unique is its intentional focus on community and culture. In the upper school, students are placed into one of four houses that stay together throughout high school, creating opportunities for mentorship, leadership, friendly competition, and connection across grade levels. 

The Master’s Academy

• Address: 1500 Lukas Lane, Oviedo, FL 32765
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 1,200
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

The Master’s Academy offers a Christ-centered education that focuses on strong academics while also placing a big emphasis on spiritual growth, character development, and leadership. Set on a beautiful 31-acre campus in Oviedo, students have access to a wide range of opportunities in athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities that help create a well-rounded experience both inside and outside the classroom.

What stands out is the school’s intentional focus on helping students grow in confidence and step into leadership roles that challenge and stretch them. The Master’s Academy offers a Learning Support Program for students with exceptional learning needs, providing individualized support through collaboration between families, teachers, and staff.

One School of the Arts & Sciences

• Address: 1675 Dixon Road, Longwood, FL 32779
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 500
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

One School of the Arts & Sciences is intentionally designed to feel very different from a traditional school experience. It’s a Christ-centered community where students are referred to as scholars and learning is designed to engage both the heart and mind through a blend of academics, creativity, critical thinking, and authentic community. Students experience hands-on, arts-integrated learning across areas like performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and media and communication, along with approaches like “Whole Brain Teaching” that support a future-focused education.

What really sets One School apart is the culture, as families often describe it as deeply relational, where students are known, encouraged to discover their individual spark, and supported.

Orangewood Christian School

• Address: 1300 West Maitland Blvd. Maitland, FL 32751
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 1,000 students
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

Orangewood Christian School is a non-denominational Christian school serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade. It’s a place that blends strong academics with a faith-based foundation, focusing just as much on character, leadership, and service as it does on what’s happening in the classroom.

One thing that stands out is that Orangewood is an Apple Distinguished School, which means technology is part of how students learn every day. Kids are using digital tools to collaborate, create, and build real-world skills that go beyond the textbook. Along with college-prep academics, students have access to athletics, arts, and a variety of extracurriculars that help them explore their interests. 

NON-RELIGIOUS AFFILIATED SCHOOLS

Lake Forrest Preparatory School

• Address: 866 Lake Howell Rd. Maitland, FL 32751
• Grades: Preschool—8
• Size: 200
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

Lake Forrest Preparatory School is known for blending strong academics with a very intentional focus on character development, creating a school environment that feels structured but still warm and family oriented. Lake Forrest’s guiding philosophy is rooted in “Love and Logic”—an approach that emphasizes empathy, clear expectations, and allowing students to learn through natural consequences. Instead of over-directing every moment, the school focuses on helping kids build responsibility, decision-making skills, and confidence in their choices.

A huge perk for working parents, the school operates on a schedule designed for real life, with extended care hours and built-in flexibility. Included in tuition, Lake Forrest offers non-academic days when other schools are closed, which can be a game-changer for families juggling work schedules and school breaks.

Lake Highland Preparatory School

• Address: 901 Highland Ave. Orlando, FL 32803
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 2,000
• Accepts state scholarships: No

Lake Highland Preparatory School offers a college-preparatory experience designed to help students grow with confidence, curiosity, and purpose. Set on a beautiful 43-acre lakefront campus near downtown Orlando, the school blends strong academics with hands-on learning experiences that encourage creativity, exploration, and real-world problem solving.

What really stands out about Lake Highland is its forward-thinking approach to education. Students are introduced to innovation and engineering studies as early as Pre-K and continue building skills in areas like coding, entrepreneurship, finance, digital literacy, and cultural exploration throughout their academic journey.

Beyond the classroom, students have countless opportunities to explore their interests through athletics, arts, leadership, and service programs, creating a well-rounded experience that focuses just as much on personal growth as academic success.

Lake Mary Preparatory School

• Address: 650 Rantoul Lane, Lake Mary, FL 32746
• Grades: Preschool—12
• Size: 500
• Accepts state scholarships: Yes

Lake Mary Preparatory School focuses on developing the whole child (academically, socially, and emotionally) without feeling overly rigid or one-size-fits-all. Students are encouraged to balance academics, extracurriculars, and family life as part of a broader whole-person approach. Counselors work directly with each student to create a personalized learner profile, helping guide course selection and activities based on their strengths and future goals.

The school places a strong emphasis on STEAM education, integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and math into hands-on learning experiences across all grade levels.

Another unique offering is Lake Mary Prep’s global learning focus. Students have opportunities to participate in annual international trips where they can experience classroom concepts firsthand through travel and cultural immersion abroad.

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Feature Image Credit: One School of the Arts and Sciences