Dallas supports exceptional private schools that rival the finest preparatory institutions in the Northeast while charging tuition 30% to 50% lower than comparable schools in Boston, New York, or San Francisco. These schools provide rigorous academics, small class sizes, individualized attention, and college placement results that consistently send graduates to Ivy League universities and elite colleges nationwide.
Hockaday School, an all-girls institution founded in 1913, ranks among the most prestigious girls' schools in the United States. The school educates approximately 1,100 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on a beautiful 100-acre campus in North Dallas. Tuition runs approximately $35,000 to $38,000 annually for upper school students. The school emphasizes academic excellence, character development, and leadership training. Average class sizes remain under 15 students, with student-teacher ratios around 8:1. College placement proves exceptional, with graduates attending Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, and other top universities regularly. The school offers 23 Advanced Placement courses and maintains extensive arts programs, competitive athletics, and community service requirements. Notable alumnae include business leaders, politicians, and cultural figures who credit Hockaday with foundational education.
St. Mark's School of Texas educates boys only from grade 1 through 12, maintaining similar academic standards and college placement results as Hockaday. The school enrolls approximately 870 students on a 40-acre campus adjacent to Hockaday. Tuition runs approximately $34,000 to $37,000 annually. The classical liberal arts curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, writing, mathematics, and sciences. Students take Latin or Greek in middle school, with many continuing classical language study through high school. The school offers extensive AP courses, honors sections, and advanced mathematics and science coursework. College placement includes consistent acceptances to top 20 universities, with many students gaining admission to highly selective institutions. Athletic programs compete successfully against public and private schools throughout Texas. The school culture emphasizes intellectual curiosity, ethical behavior, and community contribution.
Episcopal School of Dallas serves approximately 1,200 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on a 100-acre campus. The school maintains Episcopal affiliation while welcoming students of all faiths. Tuition runs approximately $30,000 to $34,000 annually depending on grade level. The college preparatory curriculum includes extensive AP offerings, honors courses, and advanced study options. Student-teacher ratios average 9:1, allowing personalized instruction and strong teacher-student relationships. College placement results show consistent acceptances to top universities including Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, Northwestern, and other selective institutions. The school emphasizes balanced education with strong academics, competitive athletics, fine arts programs, and character development through Episcopal values.
Cistercian Preparatory School educates boys only in grades 5 through 12, operating from a Catholic monastery tradition that emphasizes academic rigor, spiritual formation, and personal discipline. The school enrolls approximately 360 students on a 80-acre campus in Irving. Tuition runs approximately $26,000 to $30,000 annually. The classical curriculum includes required Latin study, advanced mathematics and science, humanities, and religious education. Small enrollment creates tight-knit community where teachers know students individually. College placement proves exceptional given the school's size, with graduates regularly attending University of Notre Dame, Georgetown, University of Texas, Texas A&M honors programs, and selective out-of-state universities. The school culture emphasizes intellectual seriousness, moral development, and service to others.
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas educates approximately 1,000 boys in grades 9 through 12, maintaining Jesuit educational traditions emphasizing intellectual rigor, spiritual formation, and service to others. Tuition runs approximately $24,000 to $27,000 annually. The school offers extensive AP courses, honors sections, and college preparatory curriculum. Students complete required community service hours and participate in retreat programs. College placement results show strong acceptances to selective universities including Boston College, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Rice, and University of Texas. The school's Dallas location and strong alumni network create advantages for students remaining in Texas for college and careers.
Ursuline Academy of Dallas educates approximately 900 girls in grades 9 through 12, continuing Catholic educational traditions dating to the school's 1874 founding. Tuition runs approximately $23,000 to $26,000 annually. The college preparatory curriculum includes extensive AP offerings, honors courses, and advanced study options. The school emphasizes leadership development, service learning, and spiritual growth within Catholic tradition. College placement proves strong, with graduates attending selective Catholic universities, major state universities, and competitive private colleges. The school maintains active alumnae network supporting current students and recent graduates.
Bishop Lynch High School serves approximately 1,100 students in grades 9 through 12 with Catholic education at more accessible price point. Tuition runs approximately $17,000 to $20,000 annually, making quality Catholic education available to broader population. The school offers college preparatory curriculum, AP courses, dual credit options through local colleges, and strong athletics and fine arts programs. College placement emphasizes Texas universities including UT Austin, Texas A&M, TCU, and SMU, with many students receiving substantial merit scholarships.
Parish elementary schools throughout Dallas provide Catholic education from pre-kindergarten through grade 8 at tuition rates around $8,000 to $12,000 annually. Schools including St. Monica Catholic School, St. Rita Catholic School, and Prince of Peace Catholic School offer small class sizes, religious education, and preparation for Catholic high schools or quality public high schools.
Highland Park Independent School District serves the Park Cities (Highland Park and University Park) with approximately 7,000 students across four elementary schools, one middle school, and Highland Park High School. The district consistently ranks among the best in Texas and the nation. Property tax rates supporting the district run high, but the quality proves exceptional. Elementary schools maintain student-teacher ratios around 15:1. Highland Park High School offers 29 AP courses, extensive fine arts programs, and competitive athletics. College placement rivals elite private schools, with graduates attending Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Duke, and other top universities regularly. The district benefits from affluent tax base, strong parent involvement, and community commitment to educational excellence.
Plano Independent School District serves approximately 53,000 students across 73 schools in one of the largest and highest-performing districts in Texas. The district operates multiple elementary, middle, and high schools maintaining strong academic standards. Schools including Plano West Senior High, Plano East Senior High, and Plano Senior High offer comprehensive AP programs, magnet academies, and specialized programs. The district invested more than $2.8 billion in facilities over the past two decades, creating modern schools with advanced technology, updated science labs, and state-of-the-art athletics facilities. Gifted and talented programs identify and serve high-achieving students beginning in elementary grades. The district offers dual-language immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese starting in kindergarten.
Frisco Independent School District serves approximately 65,000 students and growing, operating as one of the fastest-growing districts in the country. The district maintains high academic standards while managing rapid expansion. All high schools offer extensive AP courses, with many students completing 10 or more AP exams before graduation. The district emphasizes career and technical education alongside traditional academics, operating specialized centers for engineering, business, health sciences, and other career pathways. Recent bond programs totaling more than $700 million funded new school construction, technology upgrades, and facility improvements. The district offers International Baccalaureate programs at select schools, dual-language immersion in Spanish and Mandarin, and comprehensive special education services.
Coppell Independent School District serves approximately 12,500 students in northwest Dallas County with strong academic performance and community support. The district operates 16 schools maintaining small district feel while offering comprehensive programming. Coppell High School offers 33 AP courses, competitive athletics, and strong fine arts programs. The district invested $180 million through recent bond elections for new construction and facility upgrades. Graduation rates exceed 98%, with most graduates continuing to four-year universities.
School for the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center operates as a public magnet school within Dallas ISD serving grades 9 through 12. The school consistently ranks among the top high schools in the United States in national rankings. Admission requires competitive application process including testing, grades, and teacher recommendations. The school enrolls approximately 200 students per grade level, all of whom take rigorous college preparatory curriculum. Students complete extensive AP coursework, with many finishing 15 or more AP exams before graduation. College placement rivals elite private schools, with graduates attending Ivy League universities, MIT, Stanford, and other top institutions regularly. The school charges no tuition, offering world-class education at no cost to qualifying students.
Science and Engineering Magnet at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center serves students interested in STEM fields with specialized curriculum, research opportunities, and partnerships with local universities and corporations. Students complete advanced mathematics and science coursework, participate in science competitions, and conduct independent research projects.
Public school districts throughout Dallas offer gifted and talented programs beginning in elementary grades. Identification typically occurs through testing in first or second grade, with students receiving differentiated instruction, enrichment activities, and advanced coursework. Middle school GT programs provide pre-AP classes preparing students for high school AP coursework. The comprehensiveness and quality of public school GT programs often surprise families moving from states where gifted education receives minimal support.
Dual-language immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese begin in kindergarten in multiple districts. Students receive instruction in both English and the target language, developing bilingual proficiency while completing standard academic curriculum. These programs prove popular with families seeking language skills and cultural competency for children.
International Baccalaureate programs operate in select schools throughout the metroplex, offering rigorous international curriculum with emphasis on critical thinking, research skills, and global perspective. IB Diploma students complete extensive coursework, independent research, and community service while earning internationally recognized credential.
Montessori schools throughout Dallas provide child-centered education emphasizing independence, hands-on learning, and individualized pacing. Schools including Lakehill Preparatory School, Alcuin School, and numerous standalone Montessori schools serve families seeking alternative to traditional classroom instruction. Tuition runs $15,000 to $25,000 annually depending on school and grade level.
Classical education schools including Veritas Academy and Trinity Classical School offer curriculum based on classical trivium model emphasizing grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages. Students study Latin, classical literature, and traditional Western canon. These schools attract families seeking rigorous academic content and traditional educational values. Tuition typically runs $12,000 to $18,000 annually.
Waldorf education through Dallas Waldorf School provides education based on Rudolf Steiner's pedagogical philosophy emphasizing artistic expression, imaginative play, and developmentally appropriate academics. The school serves approximately 200 students pre-K through grade 8. Tuition runs approximately $15,000 to $20,000 annually.
Public school districts provide comprehensive special education services under federal and state mandates. Services range from speech therapy and occupational therapy through specialized instruction for students with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other needs. Larger districts operate specialized campuses serving students requiring intensive support.
Private schools including The Winston School, Shelton School, and Parish School specialize in serving students with learning differences including dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges. These schools provide small class sizes, specialized instruction, and therapeutic services helping students achieve academic success. Tuition runs $25,000 to $35,000 annually, with some families receiving support through public school district funding when appropriate placement cannot be provided in public settings.
Southern Methodist University operates as a private research university in University Park with approximately 12,000 students. SMU offers respected programs in business, law, engineering, and liberal arts. The university maintains high academic standards with selective admissions. Dallas location provides internship opportunities and career connections for students.
The University of Texas at Dallas has grown into a tier-one research university with approximately 31,000 students. The university offers particularly strong programs in computer science, engineering, business, and neuroscience. In-state tuition makes UTD excellent value for Texas residents seeking quality university education.
University of North Texas in Denton operates as a large public university with approximately 44,000 students. The university offers comprehensive programs including particularly strong music, hospitality, and education programs. In-state tuition provides accessible higher education option.
Texas Woman's University, despite its name, admits male and female students and offers respected programs in nursing, health sciences, and education. Dallas Baptist University provides Christian higher education with conservative theological perspective. Paul Quinn College operates as historically Black college serving students seeking supportive educational environment.
The education system in Dallas offers what every physician-parent seeks: academic rigor that prepares children for top universities, enrichment opportunities that nurture individual talents, and a supportive environment where your children don't just succeed academically but develop into confident, well-rounded individuals ready to make their own mark on the world. Whether you choose elite private schools that rival Phillips Exeter and Andover, strong public schools in affluent suburbs that outperform many private schools in other cities, or specialized programs serving gifted students or children with learning differences, Dallas provides educational options that justify relocation decisions and support your children's long-term success.
