In Washtenaw County, families are increasingly turning to private schools known for their tailored instruction, smaller class sizes and globally-focused academics that equip students for future success.
To help families make informed choices, this list highlighting the best private schools in Washtenaw County, uses a combination of publicly available data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Census Bureau, along with community reviews, survey feedback, and academic performance indicators such as test scores and college readiness.
Read on for our guide to the top private schools in Washtenaw County.
Read more: Best Private Schools in Metro Detroit
Best private schools in Washtenaw County
Greenhills School, Ann Arbor (A+)
- Address: 850 Greenhills Drive, Ann Arbor
- Why it stands out: Greenhills School is well known for its excellent academics and student enrichment offerings. From its prime location in Ann Arbor, Greenhills School is able to benefit from its relationship to the nearby University of Michigan.
Greenhills School students earn a progressive education in a welcoming environment.
The school’s refrain of “bringing out brilliance” is a guiding principle–teachers are wholly engaged in their students. Academics at Greenhills School are rigorous with an emphasis on whole-child learning.
Greenhills School will soon offer families a K-5 education in addition to the grades 6-12 it currently serves. In the 2026-27 school year, the Summers-Knoll School will become Greenhills’ lower school.
Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor (A+)
- Address: 2775 Newport Road, Ann Arbor
- Why it stands out: A holistic approach to learning is a hallmark of the Waldorf education method. Students are encouraged to become the truest versions of themselves.
Rudolf Steiner School operates by the principles of a Waldorf curriculum. The school is focused on enriching the whole child–from social emotional health to academics.
An example of its unique approach to education is the Pentathlon, which the school celebrates as a coming-of-age competition. Waldorf students study Greek history in fifth grade, and at the end of the lesson, students participate in the event. Students are judged not just on athleticism in the modern sense, but also how graceful they are and as well as their conduct.
Michigan Islamic Academy, Ann Arbor (A+)
- Address: 2301 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor
- Why it stands out: The Michigan Islamic Academy offers a secular and religious curriculum. The school is one of few in the area to offer an Islamic studies curriculum.
The Michigan Islamic Academy, located in Ann Arbor, serves grades PreK-12. This private school celebrates and upholds Islamic values.
Teaching the Qur’an is an integral part of the education a student receives at the academy. The Islamic Studies curriculum uses the National Islamic Studies Standards for grades 2-8 and the Yaqeen Curriculum for 9-12.
Students benefit from the close-knit environment between the school and larger community.
Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor (A-)
- Address: 4333 Whitehall Drive, Ann Arbor
- Why it stands out: An enriching environment across the board, with standout academics, athletics and arts from a Catholic perspective.
This co-ed, Catholic high school aims to graduate a cohort of high achievers with a foundation of faith.
The school’s college prep environment includes 12 Advanced Placement (AP) courses as well as honors. Students participate in the fine arts, with two concerts and four full-scale theater productions every year.
Student athletes at Father Gabriel choose from 43 teams across 29 sports. The school says it strives to develop each student’s “god-given talents.”
Clonlara School, Ann Arbor (A-)
- Address: 1289 Jewett Ave., Ann Arbor
- Why it stands out: Clonlara offers an individualized education for kids in grades K-12 in a multi-age classroom setting.
Students thrive using Clonlara’s highly personalized learning approach.
The school follows the Clonlara Full Circle Learning Model, which encourages students to dig deeper on subjects that capture their attention. The research backed approach allows for a deeper understanding of the whicher topic sparks a student’s interest.
Students learn in multi-age classrooms with a low student to teacher ratio and are part of a global learning community.
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