More parents in Wayne County are choosing private schools that offer individualized instruction, intimate class settings and a curriculum designed to prepare students for success in an increasingly competitive, global world.
To help families make informed choices, this list highlighting the best private schools in Wayne 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 Wayne County.
Read more: Best Private Schools in Metro Detroit
Private schools in Wayne County
This section features some of the best private schools in Wayne County and are based on public data, academic performance, community reviews and survey feedback to help families find the right fit.
University Liggett School
- Address: 1045 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods
- Why it stands out: Project-based learning, innovative curriculum and small class sizes let students reach the height of their academic potential.
University Liggett School is a PreK-12 private school with a focus on instilling confidence and curiosity.
Graduates of University Liggett School are well prepared to tackle intensive college programs and careers. Students also have the opportunity to play on sports teams, participate in clubs and attend school social events.
- Address: 8400 S. Cambridge Ave., Detroit
- Why it stands out: An all-boys school serving grades 7-12 in the Jesuit tradition with excellent academics, athletics and more.
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy is a premier Catholic all-boys school serving grades 7-12.
The school says a Jesuit education is “holistic, developing students’ moral character and spirituality along with their intellect.” Graduates are “servants of the common good, advocates for the vulnerable and adept at moral and spiritual discernment.”
As for academics, the academy offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes and rigorous honors courses. Students have the ability to earn college credit while still in high school–they have the option to virtually attend the state’s colleges and universities or take virtual classes through the Arrupe Learning Institute (AVLI).
- Address: 12555 McDougall St., Detroit
- Why it stands out: This faith-based institution serving grades PreK-12 serves as a hub for the Muslim community on the north side of the city.
This PreK-12 Islamic school located just north of Hamtramck seeks to build academic excellence and character in each student.
Al-Ikhlas offers small class sizes, a strong discipline policy, affordable tuition and an Islamic-based curriculum.Students learn with project-based activities and some classes are separated by gender.
The school offers limited financial aid in the form of scholarships for students with financial need.
- Address: 4000 Sylvia, Inkster
- Why it stands out: Peterson-Warren Academy allows students in grades K-12 to reach their full potential in a Christian environment centered on the Seventh-day Adventist faith.
At Peterson-Warren Academy located in Inkster, students learn in a personalized way in a truly Christian environment. The school follows the Seventh-day Adventist tradition.
Students learn in an environment with an organic garden on site, community service options, foreign language courses and have many field trips and enrichment opportunities.
- Address: 43065 Joy Road, Canton
- Why it stands out: The Plymouth Christian Academy has been awarded for its academic rigor. Students in grades PreK-12 learn in a biblically-centered space.
Plymouth Christian Academy facilitates learning in a bible-centered environment for grades PreK-12.
The private school is committed to raising the academic standard for its students. In 2024, it was recognized as an Advanced Placement (AP) honor roll school. Of its senior class, 66% of students took at least one AP exam and 45% scored a three or higher. Almost 10% of seniors took five or more AP exams during high school.
- Address: 15325 Pennsylvania Road, Riverview
- Why it stands out: This Catholic high school allows students to expand their knowledge with rigorous classes as well as their spiritual foundation.
This Catholic high school enriches students’ minds as well as their faiths.
Gabriel Richards students learn in a rigorous environment with 22 Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses and small class sizes with individualized attention. Most classes average 18 students or fewer.
The school says 100% of its recent graduates have been accepted into college.
- Address: 1001 North Silvery Lane, Dearborn
- Why it stands out: Divine Child High School provides rigorous academics and robust student life for a unique high school experience centered around God.
Divine Child High School is prepared to educate a wide range of students and to help each succeed.
For students who want to push themselves, the school offers 20 Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses. Learners in need of support have options with the school’s Instructional Support Program (ISP).
Athletics are a large part of student life at Divine Child High School. Athletes can choose from more than 30 sports. And with more than 40 state championships and over 100 Catholic High School League Championships, parents can be sure their children will be placed in a competitive environment.
- Address: 33740 Cowan, Westland
- Why it stands out: This school is known for its involved students and commitment to the greater community. Graduates of Hope Christian are prepared to become leaders and collaborators.
Hope Christian Academy (HCA) offers students in grades 6-12 an “innovative Christian education.” Academics are founded on four principles: Christ, communication, critical thinking and collaboration.
Students at Hope Christian Academy are highly involved. More than 75% of students participate in a co-curricular activity and student athletes have the opportunity to play multiple sports. Volunteering with the larger community is a fundamental part of education at this school.
For students with an interest in art, the academy has many options, including choir, yearbook, drama and jazz band. The HCA Band is also a member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association.
- Address: 15305 Wick Road, Allen Park
- Why it stands out: Students flourish at this college prep high school that prepares graduates for the future with a strong Catholic foundation.
For students committed to the Catholic faith and who learn best in a college prep environment, Cabrini High School in Allen Park is a great option.
The school offers many honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in an environment meant to prepare students for whatever comes next. The school’s mission to educate its students for the next stage of life includes creating a strong spiritual foundation.
Athletics at Cabrini High School are competitive. Its many sports teams have won championships over the years and continue to be successful.
- Address: 4700 Allen Road, Allen Park
- Why it stands out: Graduates of this school leave with well-developed critical thinking skills. Students also have the option to earn college credit while still in high school.
When students graduate from Inter-City Baptist School, they have a foundation of critical thinking skills to guide them for life.
Students at the Inter-City Baptist School are educated using cognitive skills programs. In grades K-6, learners follow the Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment program to cultivate critical thinking. Grades 7-12 follow the Great Books Program, whose mission is to “empower readers of all ages to become more reflective and responsible thinkers.”
Students participate in about three thinking skills sessions weekly which teach real-world applications of critical thinking skills. The school also offers an “Advance to College” program which allows students to earn college credit.
- Address: 33300 Cowan Road, Westland
Why It Stands Out: Lutheran High School Westland offers a Christ-centered education with a strong emphasis on academic excellence and character development. The school is known for its tight-knit community, dedicated faculty and commitment to preparing students for both college and life.
Lutheran High School Westland was founded in 1986 by the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Detroit. The school was created to provide a Lutheran secondary education option in the western suburbs of Detroit. It began in a former public school building, which was renovated to meet the needs of the new institution.
- Address: 5679 West Vernor Highway, Detroit
- Why it stands out: Detroit Cristo Rey is unique for its integration of rigorous academics with a work‑study model that enables students from families with limited means to afford a high‑quality Catholic education. Every student participates in the Corporate Work Study Program, working one day per week at local businesses—earning income that directly offsets tuition—and gaining real‑world experience, confidence and professional skills. It is also the only co‑educational Catholic high school located within Detroit proper and welcomes students from all faiths and backgrounds.
Detroit Cristo Rey High School opened in August 2008 on the campus of the former Holy Redeemer High School, which had closed in 2005. It’s part of the Cristo Rey Network, a national network of Catholic mission-driven schools serving underserved urban youth with a college-preparatory curriculum coupled with corporate work‑study. From its inaugural freshman class, the school has maintained strong academic outcomes, including a tradition of graduating seniors being accepted into college—one year marking eight consecutive graduating classes with 100% college acceptance.
- Address: 3003 Hannan Road, Wayne
Why It Stands Out: St. Michael Lutheran School is the only Christian school located in Portage, Michigan. It offers a comprehensive educational experience from preschool through eighth grade, with a focus on spiritual, social, emotional and cognitive growth. The school is known for its affordability, diversity and commitment to providing quality education to students of all backgrounds.
St. Michael Lutheran School has a long-standing tradition of providing Christian education in the Portage area. The school has been a cornerstone of the community, offering a nurturing environment for students to grow academically and spiritually.
- Address: 14492 N. Sheldon Road, Plymouth
Why It Stands Out: Roots Montessori School embraces the Montessori philosophy, focusing on individualized learning, freedom with limits and fostering a love for learning. The school emphasizes authentic Montessori practices, Christian values and the cultivation of character, ensuring that each child develops holistically.
The school was founded with the belief that children deserve an education as unique as they are. The school was established to provide an authentic Montessori experience that caters to the individual needs of each student, fostering both academic and personal growth.
- Address: 171 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms
Why It Stands Out: The Grosse Pointe Academy is situated on a historic 20-acre campus with buildings dating back to the late 19th century.
The school offers a rich blend of history and modern education, providing a unique learning environment that includes both traditional and innovative spaces.
- Address: 2555 Burns Ave., Detroit
- Why it stands out: Detroit Waldorf is distinctive as the only remaining private independent school in Detroit, highly rated and situated in a historic Albert Kahn–designed building in the Indian Village neighborhood. It provides an intentional, arts-integrated education based on the Waldorf philosophy—fostering creativity, social renewal and holistic development. The school emphasizes community, multi-generational bonds and integration of the arts into academics—goals that have helped it thrive despite urban challenges.
Founded in 1965 by Rudolf and Amelia Wilhelm in response to the lack of integrated private schooling options in Detroit, the school began as a nursery within Central United Methodist Church and quickly moved in 1966 to its current location, a former Liggett girls’ school designed by Albert Kahn. It was one of the first nine Waldorf schools in North America and a founding member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. Over decades, Detroit Waldorf weathered internal disagreements, economic downturns—including severe enrollment decline in 2008—yet persevered through community support, staff pay sacrifices and reinvention; enrollment has since rebounded significantly.
- Address: 11311 Hubbard St., Livonia
- Why it stands out: St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School in Livonia is recognized for its strong Catholic identity, commitment to moral formation and academic excellence from preschool through grade 8. It is one of the few Archdiocesan schools historically led by women religious, with the longtime principal Sister Carolyn Ratkowski among a small number of sisters still in school leadership roles in the Archdiocese.
The parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Livonia was established in 1931, with the school opening in 1942 under the direction of the Felician Sisters. Enrollment quickly grew—by 1944–45 it had 345 students. Over the decades, expansions were added, including a second story and additional facilities in the late 1940s and a major addition in 1997–98, which included a cafeteria, library, gymnasium, computer lab and new classrooms.
- Address: 18501 Rotunda Drive, Dearborn
- Why it stands out: The ECEC is exceptional as both a high‑quality early learning center and a model teacher‑preparation site and research lab. It is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and deeply informed by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education—emphasizing exploration, documentation and the education of the whole child. It serves as an academic and community bridge, offering services to children—including inclusive settings for children with and without disabilities—and providing invaluable practicum, research and interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities for university students and professionals.
Founded in 1971 by UM‑Dearborn students, faculty and parents under the guidance of Professor Rosalyn Saltz, the center began as a parent cooperative in shared campus spaces. In 1975 it became an official university center, then known as the Child Development Center, supporting courses across education and psychology programs. It earned national accreditation in 1990, added classrooms and kindergarten in 1991, and incorporated the Reggio Emilia method through faculty visits to Italy and implementation of documentation practices. In 2008, in partnership with Oakwood Healthcare, it moved to its current facility on Rotunda Drive and was renamed the Early Childhood Education Center, expanding its integrated early learning, teacher training and research mission.
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