Best Private High Schools in Houston: We Invest in Your Daughter
Looking to enroll your daughter in one of the best private high schools in Houston? Learn what makes St. Agnes one of the top-ranked institutions in the Houston area.
Choosing the best high school for your daughter is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. With so many different private high schools to choose from in Houston, it can be difficult to know which learning environment would be the best fit for your child.
St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas, stands out as an exceptional choice for families seeking a supportive yet challenging academic environment for their high school students. As a Catholic, Dominican all girls private school, St. Agnes is dedicated to investing in your daughter's academic, personal, and spiritual growth while laying a solid foundation for her future success.
Let’s take a closer look at what sets St. Agnes apart as one of the best private high schools in Houston.
Achieve Excellence at One of the Best Private High Schools in Houston
St. Agnes has separated itself as a top-tier educational environment for Houston-area students. According to the Houston Business Journal, we rank as the #1 all-girls, private high school in Houston. And, we are #2 overall in Houston amongst private schools, following our all-boys companion school, Strake Jesuit.
We have achieved this ranking thanks to our long-standing tradition of academic excellence. Since our opening in 1906, St. Agnes has fostered the personal, academic, and spiritual development of our students.
In 1939, the lower school and middle school ceased operations, and the Academy’s attention became focused on upper school, where we now function exclusively as a college preparatory day school for young women in grades 9-12.
An Endearing Commitment to Academics
Our rigorous curriculum is designed to challenge students and prepare them for success in college and beyond. With small, manageable class sizes and an average student/teacher ratio of 10:1, we ensure that each student receives the personalized attention and support she needs to thrive.
Our academic offerings include a wide range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, honors classes, and electives that cater to each student’s diverse interests and talents. Our commitment to academic rigor is evident in our students' achievements:
- St. Agnes students consistently score above national averages on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT.
- Many of our graduates are accepted into prestigious colleges and universities across the country.
We think it’s fair to say that our strong track record with test scores and college acceptances is directly attributable to our strong foundation, the dedicated work of our faculty and staff, and achieving the level of rigor in our daily academic courses.
Our Theological Approach
The spiritual development of our students is of the utmost importance to the faculty and staff at St. Agnes. We believe that a strong faith foundation is essential for personal growth and moral development and that students with thriving spiritual lives are more likely to play vital roles within their future communities.
Because we are dedicated to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, theology courses are integrated directly into our core academic curriculum. Subsequently, all St. Agnes students receive equitable access to spiritual and theological instruction.
In addition to completing their required theological coursework, students may further develop their faith through a variety of extracurricular opportunities. Our campus ministry program offers students the chance to serve the St. Agnes community by leading prayer, serving at Mass, facilitating service projects, and more. Students can also choose to attend school-sponsored mission trips and prayer retreats throughout their time at the Academy.
Weekly Mass is held every Thursday morning on campus, and all students are welcome to attend. We also observe all Holy Days of Obligation and celebrate significant feasts that honor our Catholic, Dominican heritage. Students have the option to see a Priest for confession before or after Mass each week, should they so choose.
Extracurricular Activities
We believe that well-rounded students go on to achieve higher levels of personal, academic, and professional success. To that end, our extensive extracurricular program allows students to explore their interests, develop their talents, and build lasting friendships with peers of all backgrounds and abilities.
Our school offers a wide range of activities in a variety of different disciplines, including athletics, fine arts, computer science, and more. Speaking of athletics, our Tiger Athletics program is one of the best in the state, with 115 state titles in various sports to its name. We offer 12 different sports across three seasons, so students can participate in a broad spectrum of programming.
For many sports, students can choose to try out for either the junior varsity or varsity teams, so interested student-athletes can carve out a place for themselves on a team well-suited to their skill and experience levels.
We also provide students the option to participate in a variety of clubs and organizations on campus. Some of the clubs we offer include:
- American Sign Language Club
- Book Club
- Business Entrepreneurship Club
- Campus Ministry
- Diversity Club
- Intersectional Feminism Club
- Mental Health Club
- National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA)
- Peace Club
- Powder Puff Football
- South Asian Society
- Spanish Club
- STEM Club
- Voices of Black Youth
- Wellness Club
Students may also apply or audition for certain activities and organizations that require certain levels of skill or experience, such as the Future Medical Professionals Club, National English Honor Society, National Honor Society, and National Science Honor Society.
Community and Service
Service to others is another fundamental aspect of the St. Agnes experience.
We encourage our students to be servant leaders who make a positive impact in their communities. That’s why all St. Agnes students are required to complete 100 hours of meaningful service within their communities as a prerequisite for graduation.
These servant leadership projects integrate seamlessly with the curriculum taught during Junior and Senior theology courses, so students can put their faith into practice while making a meaningful difference in the world around them.
Comprehensive Support Services
In keeping with our mission to help our students thrive throughout every aspect of their lives, St. Agnes provides extensive support services designed to meet the diverse needs of our students throughout different points in their academic journeys. These services include the following.
1. Wellness Center
The Wellness Center is a safe, nonjudgmental, and confidential environment for students to manage their academic and personal lives. The center provides preventative programming, small group meetings, and individual counseling sessions to support students' mental and emotional health.
2. Student Success Center
The Student Success Center offers academic support for students with learning differences and disabilities. The center helps students develop study techniques, time management skills, and organizational strategies.
Our staff is also responsible for ensuring that students consistently receive any accommodations to which they are entitled and collaborates with teachers to provide students with necessary academic support.
3. College Counseling
We recognize the importance of your child choosing the right college or university, so our college counseling department guides upper-level students through the college admissions process.
With a collective 80 years of experience, our college counselors have a proven track record of providing personalized support and resources for students hoping to meet their college admissions goals.
Through parent nights, one-on-one advising, workshops, and other programming, our counselors encourage students and their families to take an active role in the college admissions process.
Inclusive Campus Culture
Research has shown that single-sex education can boost confidence and academic performance in young women, and we believe this advantage is well-demonstrated within our community.
Our single-gender learning environment fosters personal and academic growth, free from the distractions of co-educational settings. At St. Agnes, students are invited and encouraged to reach their highest potential without feeling limited by gender dynamics or stereotypes.
Our small class sizes allow for individualized attention, helping students build strong relationships with their teachers and peers. The St. Agnes faculty aims to lead by example at all times to show our students that they can be anything and achieve anything that they set their minds to.
As a result, many students report that their teachers become more like mentors. The close-knit nature of our private school in Houston contributes to the future successes of St. Agnes students – no matter where their educational journey takes them.
Find a Welcoming Learning Environment for Your Daughter
At St. Agnes, we invest in your daughter's future by providing a challenging academic program, enriching spiritual experiences, diverse extracurricular opportunities, and comprehensive support services.
Our commitment to delivering individualized academic experiences to students of all backgrounds, faiths, and abilities helps to ensure that all of our students are well-prepared for success in college and beyond.
If you are in the process of choosing between some of the best private high schools in Houston, look no further than St. Agnes. We are confident that our community will help your daughter thrive academically, personally, and spiritually.
- Are you interested in learning more about our admissions process or want to discuss why St. Agnes might be the right choice for your family? Contact our admissions today to learn how we support you and your daughter during her educational journey.
