Fifteen months into the genocide against the people of Gaza, the institutions of western liberalism have made it clear to us what they actually think about Muslims. Gone are the fake language and brochures of DEI initiatives with a hijabi student in every photo. Now as we hear these institutions speak about social justice being a central part of their ethos, we understand that this is double speak, and is only true as long as it doesn’t impact their endowment, and the desires of a small group of legacy alumni who have even gone so far as to ban the critical usage of the term Zionism on campuses like New York University.
What began with the clear COINTELPRO program against Ward Churchill in 2005 at the University of Colorado-Boulder where he was fired for protected political speech, has now been normalized. As professors and teachers have been fired for speaking up about Palestine across the country and departments who have shown support for Palestine have had their funding cut or in the cases of some smaller programs they paused their programs and faced academic review. This is a broad crisis of education in the United States as education becomes further privatized and universities are focused on making money and are no longer about supporting students in becoming better humans. We are far from the time of Fatima al Fihri as she fasted for two years straight as her school Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and university in Fez, Morocco was being built in 859 CE, as the first public university in the world.
In public schools any remnant of a virtue based education is gone as the this system of training young people for factories is focused on identity today rather than any consideration of what it takes to raise ethical people. Visit almost any public or private school in the United States today and you see Black Lives Matter murals, and language of social justice but if a teacher voices their support for Palestine, then they can easily be fired. One friend who teachers in public schools in the Pacific Northwest was beaten up by a student in class as a hijabi and because of her views of Palestine, she was eventually fired and never protected by the district.
Private schools see the value of Muslims within their institutions but much like the universities who are thinking only about their endowments, the private schools are having to negotiate legacy donors with a desire for diversifying their student base.
The majority of Islamic Schools today are scrapping by with underpaid teachers, and curriculum models directly from the public schools. The majority of these schools are focused on creating a safe space for Muslim students with minimal Islamic Studies and Quran added on top of what is largely a public school education.
Educators know that early childhood education is perhaps the most important years in preparing your children for success, and yet we have almost no models of early childhood models rooted within the Islamic worldview and with simple things like access to halal food for our children at daycares. Our cities in the United States are filled with Spanish immersion, Mandarin immersion, and French immersion schools, but it is almost impossible to find an Arabic immersion daycare, let alone a bilingual Islamic school.
The School of the Ummah is a transformative education initiative that builds deep community in response to the crisis of Muslim education in the United States and around the world. Our critical interventions are focused in six primary areas:
Through interactive community workshops what we are calling Future Ummah Builders.
In year long youth leadership development programs focused on transitional education years fifth and sixth grades, ninth grade, 12th grade, and the first year of college.
Through Arabic immersion and bilingual education programs starting in early childhood education in preschools and daycares.
Through culturally relevant and Islamic rooted curriculum development and publishing focused on Islamic schools and parents who homeschool.
Through launching an online global Islamic high school, as a culturally relevant, college preparatory hub, rooted in the Islamic spiritual tradition.
And finally it is a continuing education platform to connect global educators to global parents and students.
If we are to change our condition as a community, then we must really reflect on the goals of education for us as Muslims. Most Islamic schools today are carbon copies of the US public education system that was designed a hundred years ago to send students into careers in factories that haven't existed in this country for generations, and to integrate diverse populations into the so called American dream, which we know has been a nightmare for much of our community. Today, the primary goal of most Muslims parents in educating their children is not for them to know Islam, but to know how to become a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, or anything that will allow us to live up to these capitalist fantasy's that we have been brainwashed by.
Meanwhile at the elite private schools in this country, they use diverse progressive models of education to understand the intellect, emotions, and physical well being of their students. All with the goal of producing the next generation of leaders of the society.
So as Muslims with intentions of transforming our world, our intentions should be to raise a great generation of scholars and leaders, with sound hearts. Then our goals should be to end the military industrial complex and unfettered capitalism that are destroying our world while building a world that is reflective of our faith and believes, as the great Syed Naqib Al Attas has named it, within the Worldview of Islam.
The Top 25 Islamic Schools in the United States for 2025 — Overview & Methodology
Over the last two years we have been researching Islamic school models globally. Inshallah we plan on publishing a list of the top Global Islamic Schools later this year. For this first list we relied heavily on Niche.com data while also looking at innovative schools launching across the US.
Every year Niche.com publishes a list of the Top 1000 private schools in the United States. The list takes into account public data sources and parent reviews from schools across the US including such factors as academics, college prep, diversity, teachers, sports and after school activities.
Over the last two years of monitoring these lists, in the top 1000 schools of 2024, 17 were Islamic Schools. For 2025 this list was expanded to include 20 Islamic Schools. In 2024 Niche did not have an individual article just for Islamic schools, for their 2025 list they created a list of the top Islamic schools nationally. But also featuring lists of the top Islamic schools by states with large Muslim populations including the best Islamic schools in:
Niche.com ranking 2024 #110 / 2025 - #185/ PK & K-12 / Austin, Texas / Tuition Cost $10,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 730 Students / Founded — 1997 / #1 Best Private School in Austin, Texas
Austin Peace Academy opened its doors in 1997 to provide a quality, rigorous academic education in a faith-based environment that addressed the whole development of the learner. Since its inception, APA has continuously dedicated itself to setting high standards and expectations of all and has succeeded in its efforts.
In this path, Austin Peace Academy expands program offerings each year. This includes the incredibly successful forensics program, boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, diverse elective offerings, and more. In addition, APA offers an online Asynchronous program for International High school and US students.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #496 / 2025 #450 / PK & K-12 / Houston, Texas / Tuition Cost $7,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered $3000 / 342 Students / Founded — 2008
Houston Quran Academy is a top rated, private, Muslim school located in HOUSTON, TX. It has 342 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. Tuition is $7,000 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #522 / 2025 #477 / PK & K-12 / Tampa Bay, Florida / Tuition Cost $12,800 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 830 Students / Founded — 1992/ #2 in Best High Schools for STEM in Tampa Area
Universal Academy of Florida is a top rated, private, Muslim school located in TAMPA, FL. It has 830 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. Tuition is $12,800 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 95% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #680 / 2025 #640 / 6-12 / Mansfield, Massachusetts / Tuition Cost $8750 / Average Financial Aid Offered — $1272 / 110 Students / Founded — 1996
Al-Noor Academy is a top rated, private, Muslim school located in MANSFIELD, MA. It has 110 students in grades 6–12 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Tuition is $8,750 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 95% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #689 / 2025 #654 / PK & K-12 / Pomona, California / Tuition Cost No Data Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 160 Students / Founded — 1992
At City of Knowledge, we aim to cultivate future leaders, scholars and intellectuals. We prepare our students for competitive universities and lucrative careers, all while being driven by principle, integrity, and social responsibility. Most importantly, we equip our students with the morals, ethics, and God consciousness, and these lessons are infused throughout their curriculum and over the years.
We are dedicated to rigorous academics. In addition to a competitive academic curriculum, we offer daily courses in Qur’an, Ethics (or Islamic Studies), and Arabic. We are also sensitive to the needs of our EL community and help develop English for those with alternative native languages.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #587 / 2025 #655 / PK & K-12 / Monmouth Junction, New Jersey / Tuition Cost $12,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 538 Students / Founded — 1993
Noor-Ul-Iman School is a top rated, private, Muslim school located in MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ. It has 538 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. Tuition is $12,000 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #692 / 2025 #661 / PK & K-12 / Tampa Bay, Florida / Tuition Cost $13,400 / Average Financial Aid Offered — $7025–90% of students recieve financial aid / 469 Students / Founded — 1996 / #3 Best private high school in the state of Arizona
Arizona Cultural Academy & College Prep is a Cognia-accredited, full-time private Islamic school offering a comprehensive curriculum within an Islamic ethos. Founded in 1996, we are the only K-12 Islamic school in Arizona, serving a diverse student population. We seek to empower students with knowledge, confidence, and a desire to serve the community at large. ACA is also ranked the third-best private K-12 school in Arizona by Niche.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #808 / 2025 #708 / PK & K-12 / Fishers, Indiana / Tuition Cost $8,500 / Average Financial Aid Offered — 50% of students receive financial aid / 399 Students / Founded — 2005 / #4 Best Private School in the State of Indiana
Founded in 2005, we have remained dedicated to our mission of providing students with a world-class education and faith-based environment. Located in Fishers, IN and educating students grades PreK-12th, Eman Schools is committed to guiding our students on a path of lifelong learning. Today, Eman Schools consists of 3 campus locations educating more than 400 students.
Niche.com ranking #758 / PK & K-12 / Ann Arbor, Michigan / Tuition Cost $6,800 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 323 Students / Founded — 1985 / #4 Best Private School in Michigan
Michigan Islamic Academy is a top rated, private, Muslim school located in ANN ARBOR, MI. It has 323 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1. Tuition is $6,800 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #982 / 2025 #799 / PK & K-12 / Union City, New Jersey / Tuition Cost $7,250 / Average Financial Aid Offered — 20% of students receive financial aid / 318 Students / Founded — 2009
The Islamic Education Center of North Hudson started in September of 2009 a new full time school to serve the community of North Hudson and its surrounding areas. Rising Star Academy (RSA) is staffed with qualified and experienced veterans in the field of education and pedagogy. RSA was founded to provide students of diverse backgrounds with comprehensive educational opportunities by inspiring students to become lifelong learners while pursuing academic excellence in a risk-free environment, conducive to the development of a strong Islamic moral character.
Niche.com ranking — 2024 Not Ranked / 2025 - #801 / PK & K-12 / Tampa, Florida / Tuition Cost — $11,900 / Average Financial Aid Offered — $7,623 and 90% of students receive financial aid / Students — 1165 / Founded —1992
American Youth Academy is a second home for over 1000 students in grades preschool through 12th in state-of-the-art facilities. It is one of the leading Muslim educational institutions in the Tampa Bay area nationwide. With a focus on academic excellence rooted in Islamic values, we are proud of a 100% graduation rate and our students’ high achievements, such as National Merit Finalists. American Youth Academy is Florida’s only Islamic International Baccalaureate (IB) School.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #733 / 2025 #812 / PK & K-12 / South River, New Jersey / Tuition Cost $5,500 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 282 Students / Founded — 1997
Built in 1929, Darul Arqam School served as the South River Public High School. Darul Arqam was founded in the fall of 1997 to provide basic Islamic education, Quranic recitation and memorization, Arabic language instruction, and Islamic values to young Muslims in their formative years. With the grace of Allah, in the summer of 2002, Darul Arqam acquired the current building to start a full-time school. With the support of the community, the building was renovated and in September 2002, the school started its operation offering full time education for students from pre-school up to eighth grade. Today it serves grades pre-school to 12th grade, expanding to include a Nursery. The School is a unique collaboration effort between the Darul Arqam founding community; the Muslim Center of Middlesex County (MCMC), and the Islamic Society of Monmouth County (ISMC).
Niche.com ranking 2024 #832 / 2025 #818 / PK & K-12 / Aurora, Colorado / Tuition Cost $8,030 / Average Financial Aid Offered —$2000 / 617 Students / Founded — 1993 / #5 in Best Private High Schools in Colorado
Crescent View Academy’s private Islamic School’s mission is to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating Islamic atmosphere to enable students to achieve a solid foundation of Islamic understanding according to the Quran, and life of Prophet Mohamed (SAW) with a true sense and pride of their Islamic identity. We want our students to achieve academic excellence and prepare our students to be morally and socially responsible citizens.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #822 /2025 #820 / 9-12 / Fremont, California / Tuition Cost $6,520 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 49 Students / Founded — 2010 / Of total graduates nearly 75% went to either a University of California School or Stanford after graduation
Averroes High School was founded in 2010 by a a group of educators eager to provide a strong option for the Muslim youth in the Bay Area. These Muslim educators joined together their classical teaching knowledge with their modern teaching skills along with a constant lens or morality and hope in supporting students for success. It is our goal to support our students with a strong sense of identity and clarity of vision.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #853 / 2025 #864 / PK & K-12 / Tigard, Oregon / Tuition Cost $8,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 191 Students / Founded — 1993 / #4 Best Private High School in Oregon
Islamic School of Muslim Educational Trust (MET) is a top rated, private, Muslim school located in TIGARD, OR. It has 191 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. Tuition is $8,000 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
Niche.com ranking 2025 #869 / PK & K-12 / South River, NJ / Tuition Cost $6,500 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 306 Students / Founded — 1997
Our mission is to provide an excellent Islamic and academic education within an Islamic environment to produce well-rounded Muslims and strong leaders. We seek to promote a safe, caring, and supportive environment where our children can attain the knowledge that would enable them to perform as effective citizens of the world, especially in today’s world of globalization. Our students will be attaining such worldly knowledge in a spiritual environment rich with Islamic teachings, values, and practices. We strive to have our parents, teachers, and community members actively involved in our students’ learning.
Niche.com ranking #915 / PK & K-12 / Edmond, Oklahoma / Tuition Cost No Data Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 484 Students / Founded — 1999
In 1999, a few people in Oklahoma City’s Muslim community got together and expressed their need for an Islamic institution for their children. They wanted someplace where their kids would be exposed to Islamic values five days a week, not just at Saturday School or their local mosque. Starting with only twelve students and located in a small office building, Mercy School Institute has now expanded to over 400 students.
Mercy School strives to cultivate balanced American Muslims who can contribute to the betterment of our society. As one of the few Islamic schools in Oklahoma, Mercy offers a rigorous academic curriculum as well as well-rounded Islamic education.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / 2025 #960 / PK & K-12 / Fairlawn, New Jersey / Tuition Cost — $7,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No Data Available / Students — 305 / Founded — Not Available
Noble Leadership Academy provides early childhood through twelfth-grade students the tools they need to thrive in the 21st century. We provide our students unique educational experiences rooted in the development of each student’s personal leadership capacity. The foundation we offer will sustain them as lifelong learners and empower them socially as they become active citizens in this global community.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / 2025 #988/ PK & K-12 / Peoria, Illinois / Tuition Cost — $5,160 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / Students — 206 / Founded —
At DU, we strive to provide students with the environment conducive to academic success with high academic standards while promoting and preserving Islamic morals and values in students who are conscious of Allah (SWT) and become productive and responsible members of our global society.
Niche.com ranking 2024 #920 / 2025 #993 / PK & K-12 / Tulsa, Oklahoma / Tuition Cost $5,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 221 Students / Founded — 1989 / #4 Best Private K-12 School in Oklahoma
During the month of Ramadan in 1989, a handful of community members decided to open an Islamic school for the Muslim community of Tulsa. The incorporation papers and non-profit 5013-C status followed. Peace Academy opened its doors as Peace Elementary in 1990 and rented its facility from the Tulsa Public Schools. In 1998, the school had grown to include middle school, and the name was changed to Peace Academy so that all levels of education could be included. In 1997, Peace Academy bought its building and grounds from Tulsa Public Schools and a new mosque was erected next door for worship. The school then underwent extensive renovations for the safety and comfort of our students. In May of 2005, Peace Academy witnessed its first graduating class. Since then, we have graduated ten classes. In 2009, we earned regional accreditation by the largest accrediting body in the world, AdvancEd. We have been engaged in a process of systematic continuous improvement ever since. We were re-accredited by AdvancED in 2014. Finally, we are proud to see the majority of our alumni returning to our school as volunteers, employees, and helpers in continuing the legacy of Peace Academy.
21. Razi School
Niche.com ranking 2024 #915 / 2025 - Not Ranked / PK & K-12 / Woodside, New York / Tuition Cost $5,700 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 134 Students / Founded — 1995
Razi School has a commitment to maintaining the highest possible educational and ethical standards. We believe that every student, no matter what your child’s background may be, should be given the opportunity to challenge themselves to the fullest extent. Therefore, we offer a strictly college preparatory curriculum at our school. We aim to provide an enriching environment, academic opportunities, and partnerships with area colleges and businesses that will enable our students to succeed as community leaders in a global society.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / PK & K-12 / Atlanta, Georgia / Tuition Cost $7,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 139 Students / Founded — 1968
Mohammed Schools of Atlanta (MSOA) is a Pre-K through 12th grade Islamic private school system in DeKalb County, Georgia within Metro Atlanta. The school is located in the East Atlanta area. MSOA is the only Pre-K through 12th grade Islamic school campus in Metro Atlanta. The elementary and middle schools within the system are Sister Clara Mohammed School (CMS) and the high school, Warith Deen Mohammed High School (WDMH).
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / K-7 / Los Angeles, California / Tuition Cost — No public tuition data available / Average Financial Aid Offered — No data available / 40 Students / Founded — 2014
Islah believes that by using a balanced instructional approach that teaches the “whole child” (physically, emotionally and spiritually), children can excel academically and socially. By utilizing our students’ natural talents, cultural and linguistic identities, they are able to master core subjects and skills needed to be successful 21st- century learners.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / PK & K-12 / Fridley, Minnesota / Tuition Cost — $7,100 / Average Financial Aid Offered — No Data Available / Students — 393 / Founded — 1994
Al-Amal School is a full-time accredited school established for the sake of Allah (SWT) to help Muslim families by providing an Islamic educational environment. This educational choice strives to provide the highest academic standards in all subjects with a special focus on the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Arabic, and Islamic studies.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / PK & K-12 / Richardson, Texas / Tuition Cost — $6,000 / Average Financial Aid Offered — $2,000 / Students — 100 / Founded — Not Available
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / PK / Fremont, California / Tuition Cost — Not Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — Not Available / Students — 100 / Founded — 2017
We are dedicated to designing irresistible & meaningful educational programs where the classroom is an urban farm and falling in love with Allah leads the way.
Whether you're looking for a meaningful program, a soulful farm-retreat amidst a warm community, or simply to host your party on a beautiful farm, there's something special for everyone here!
For those of you who remember our first urban farm project called Peace Village from about a decade ago, this effort deepens that vision!
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / PK & K-8 / Lafayette, California / Tuition Cost — Not Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — Not Available / Students — 70 / Founded — 2003
For more than a decade, ILM Tree families have come together to collectively homeschool our children in the East Bay. ILM Tree families believe in the importance of a childhood which includes time for exploration of individual interests, time spent with family, chores at home, community service, and meaningful “work” outside of the classroom. These priorities are met through a weekly co-op schedule which considers these specific needs for the children. Homework is kept to a minimum in the younger grades and is purposeful in the older grades. Class sizes are kept small to ensure that a bulk of the “learning” happens in class with their mentor-teachers. All co-op classes are optional so that parents can choose a schedule that works best for their family.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / Pre School / San Ramon, California / Tuition Cost — Not Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — Not Available / Students — 20 / Founded — 2022
The name Nuh’s Ark was chosen in honor of one of the greatest prophets in our Islamic tradition. Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) called his people to God for nearly 1,000 years in a time when most people were not willing to hear his invitation or his warnings. He promised to provide them with a safe haven and a means of salvation. In our days, when many children are being exposed to a myriad of negative influences during their formative years, Nuh’s Ark aims to be a safe haven for Islamic values, etiquettes, and lessons. Our hope is to nurture the fitra (primordial nature) of children to contemplate and know their Lord through His signs.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / K-6 / Lynwood, Washington / Tuition Cost — Not Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — Not Available / Students — 75 / Founded — 2015
Over the last ten years families in the Pacific Northwest have joined forces in growing Cordoba Academy from a small home schooling collective into a growing Islamic School in the Northern suburbs of Seattle. Cordoba Academy strives to empower Muslims in the acquisition of knowledge by integrating an authentic understanding of Islam in a modern cultural context. The aim is to provide an environment where the timeless practice of teaching and learning is being experienced by students through qualified educators and authentic scholarship.
Our vision is to establish an institution where the intellectual, ethical, social, physical, emotional, and most importantly, spiritual development of young American Muslims can be nurtured; producing confident, spiritual, and professional leaders who will be an asset to our society.
Niche.com ranking — Not Ranked / Middle School - Grades 6-7 / Kirkland, Washington / Tuition Cost — Not Available / Average Financial Aid Offered — Not Available / Students — 10 / Founded — 2024
At RISE, our vision is to create an educational environment where academic rigor and Islamic principles intertwine seamlessly, nurturing students who are not only academically proficient but also deeply rooted in their faith and committed to making a positive impact on the world. We aspire to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and character to succeed in both this world and the Hereafter.
We foster a culture of excellence (“ihsan”) where students are encouraged to strive for personal growth and excellence in all endeavors, guided by moral and ethical principles. Through aim to cultivate compassionate leaders who contribute positively to society.
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So happy to see City of Knowledge getting the recognition it deserves! Amazing place
Great list work Br Dustin!