Three Lexington Schools Earned Top Private Rankings
Three local schools secured spots in the top 25 of a new state list evaluating private education.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you prioritize school rankings when deciding where your children should receive an education?
Three private institutions in Lexington have been recognized among the top 25 private K-12 schools in Kentucky on the 2027 Niche rankings. These schools join top-ranked Kentucky Country Day in Louisville on the annual list.
Why it matters
The ranking reflects Niche's updated methodology, which removed SAT and ACT scores to align with the broader de-emphasis of standardized testing in college admissions.
The rankings are determined by evaluating student-teacher ratios and the quality of colleges that graduates consider. Niche moved away from using SAT and ACT scores as a performance metric for the 2027 list.
The players
Sayre School
Sayre School is a private independent school in Lexington that was ranked fifth in the state.
Trinity Christian Academy
Trinity Christian Academy is a private school in Lexington that placed tenth on the state rankings.
Lexington Christian Academy
Lexington Christian Academy is a private institution in Lexington that secured the 17th spot.
Kentucky Country Day
Kentucky Country Day is a private school based in Louisville that was ranked as the top school in the state.
The details
Sayre School claimed 5th place, Trinity Christian Academy placed 10th, and Lexington Christian Academy earned the 17th position. Kentucky Country Day, located in Louisville, topped the list at number one.
Timeline
The rankings were released for the 2027 list.
Culture Shift
The updated ranking methodology reflects a broader societal shift away from standardized testing in college admissions. By prioritizing student-teacher ratios, these lists now mirror the changing evaluation standards used by higher education institutions.
Families evaluating private schooling options in Lexington can use these metrics to understand how local institutions compare based on student-teacher ratios. The shift in ranking criteria suggests that parents should prioritize school climate and college preparedness over standardized test results when choosing an academy.
The takeaway
The exclusion of test scores encourages families to look closer at the day-to-day student experience, such as classroom size and college outcomes. Parents should focus on these long-term indicators of success rather than outdated testing benchmarks when selecting a school.
Further reading
For more information on local academic trends, visit the Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lexington Herald Leader.
Live Poll
Do you prioritize school rankings when deciding where your children should receive an education?
