By community
Private & church schools in Best Southwest & Ellis County
DeSoto, Duncanville, Cedar Hill and Lancaster (the Best Southwest cities) plus Ellis County: Red Oak, Ovilla, Midlothian, Waxahachie, Ferris and Ennis. Church schools, small independent academies and Prenda microschools make up most of the private map, with one Catholic parish school in Waxahachie. We list 19 K-12 private schools here, and 14 of them were in the TEFA finder.
Where this comes from. Whether a school takes TEFA comes from the Texas Education Freedom Accounts participating-school finder (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts), which we checked on October 12, 2026. Enrollment, grades and religious affiliation come from the NCES Private School Survey (U.S. Department of Education). Neither source publishes tuition, so confirm current tuition and fees with the school directly.
19
K-12 private schools in our directory14
In the state TEFA finder (October 12, 2026)9
Religiously affiliated0
Report special-education services or a learning-differences focus7
Serve grade 12766
Students reported to the federal private school surveyBy type: Independent & Nonreligious Schools (10) · Schools Through Grade 12 (7) · Christian Day Schools (7) · Microschools & Part-Week Programs (3) · Parish & Catholic Schools (2).
Local districts: families living in DeSoto ISD, Duncanville ISD, Cedar Hill ISD, Lancaster ISD, Red Oak ISD, Midlothian ISD, Waxahachie ISD, Ferris ISD, Ennis ISD held 1,568 funded TEFA accounts on July 29, 2026 (district totals include residents outside this area).
All 19 K-12 schools in Best Southwest & Ellis County
| School | Type | Community | Grades | TEFA | Students* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Hill Preparatory Academy 1513 S Hwy 67, Cedar Hill 75104 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | 1-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Christa Mcauliffe Academy School of Arts and Sciences (CMASAS) 101 S 3rd St, Midlothian 76065 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | K-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Cox Legacy 829 Clearwater Dr, Midlothian 76065 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | K-5 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| DeSoto Children's Academy 901 N Polk St, Ste 340, DeSoto 75115 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-6 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| DeSoto Private School & Day Care Center 301 E Belt Line Rd, DeSoto 75115 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-6 | ✓ TEFA | 157 |
| Ferris Christian Academy 425 W 6th St., Ferris 75125 | Christian Day Schools Baptist | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-5 | Not listed | 62 |
| First Christian Day School 1109 Brown St., Waxahachie 75165 | Christian Day Schools Disciples of Christ | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-8 | Not listed | 64 |
| Gardner Preparatory School II 100 N Houston School Rd, Lancaster 75146 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-1 | Not listed | 13 |
| Mercy Preparatory Academy 108 Center St, Waxahachie 75165 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Ovilla Christian School 3251 Ovilla Rd, Red Oak 75154 | Christian Day Schools Baptist | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | 357 |
| Prenda Microschool: Grassroots Education Microschool Red Oak 126 Red Pine Dr, Red Oak 75154 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | K-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Prenda Microschool: the Academy of Potential Duncanville 414 Ave C Duncanville, Duncanville 75116 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | K-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Prenda Microschool: the Learning Lighthouse Desoto 201 E Belt Line Rd, Ste 111, DeSoto 75115 | Independent & Nonreligious Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | K-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Southwest Christian Academy 611 N Cedar Rdg, Duncanville 75116 | Christian Day Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-10 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| St. Joseph Catholic School 506 E Marvin Ave, Waxahachie 75165 | Parish & Catholic Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-8 | Not listed | 105 |
| St. Joseph Catholic School Waxahachie 506 E Marvin Ave, Waxahachie 75165 | Parish & Catholic Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-8 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Trinity Christian Preschool 1231 E Pleasant Run Rd, Cedar Hill 75104 | Christian Day Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
| Turning Point Christian Academy 1221 E Parkerville Rd, DeSoto 75115 | Christian Day Schools Christian (non-denominational) | Best Southwest & Ellis County | 6-12 | Not listed | 8 |
| Waxahachie Preparatory Academy PO Box P, Waxahachie 75168 | Christian Day Schools | Best Southwest & Ellis County | K-12 | ✓ TEFA | — |
* K-12 enrollment reported to the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24 or 2021-22). "Not listed" means the school wasn't in the state TEFA finder when we checked on October 12, 2026.
TEFA pre-K providers in Best Southwest & Ellis County (29)
| TEFA pre-K provider | Area | Ages/grades | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Academy 103 Houston School Rd, Red Oak 75154 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 617-2223 |
| Ardent Academy 118 S State Highway 342, Red Oak 75154 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 820-9529 |
| Brown's Early Discovery School 550 W Danieldale Rd, Duncanville 75137 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (469) 917-7500 |
| Cambridge Academy 1121 E Pleasant Run Rd, DeSoto 75115 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (972) 357-0998 |
| Cambridge Academy - Cedar Hill 513 Straus Rd, Cedar Hill 75104 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (254) 405-2551 |
| Dallas Darlings Daycare Licensed Child Care Home 924 Red Oak Creek Dr, Red Oak 75154 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 530-9007 |
| Discovery Childrens Academy 111 Roundabout Dr, Midlothian 76065 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 775-5600 |
| Everstar Academy of Discovery 1401 Ferris Ave, Waxahachie 75165 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 937-8300 |
| First Methodist School 403 S Main St, Duncanville 75116 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (972) 298-5890 |
| Journey of Faith Christian Learning Center 321 Cooper St, Cedar Hill 75104 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 744-2366 |
| Kid's University Learning Center 639 W Wintergreen Rd, Lancaster 75134 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 218-0808 |
| Kids University 205 S Main St, Ste 1601, Red Oak 75154 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 552-6465 |
| Kidz Are People Too Early Childhood Academy 107 W Danieldale Rd, Duncanville 75137 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 670-2476 |
| Kidz N Heart 901 N Polk St, DeSoto 75115 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (469) 397-4810 |
| Kosmic Kids 1101 E Pleasant Run Rd, DeSoto 75115 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 567-4543 |
| Life Christian Academy 129 W Wintergreen, Cedar Hill 75104 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 850-5433 |
| Life Christian Academy 950 I-35 E, Lancaster 75146 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 274-7900 |
| Linda Jackson 1513 Honey Bee Ln, Lancaster 75134 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (817) 455-5778 |
| Londons Kings and Queens Academy 625 W Pleasant Run Rd, Lancaster 75146 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 227-1118 |
| Mini Scientist Academy 509 Ferris Ave, Waxahachie 75165 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (214) 280-5208 |
| New Harmony Academy 200 Rea Ave, Lancaster 75146 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 293-5590 |
| Olives Lil' Angels Learning Center 1021 N Joe Wilson Rd, Cedar Hill 75104 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 337-8472 |
| Pcpmf Learning Academy 1321 Gentle Rain Dr, Lancaster 75134 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 468-6601 |
| Stepping Stones of Knowledge 206 E Red Bird Ln, Duncanville 75116 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (972) 572-3601 |
| Storytime Child Care 737 Twin Creek Dr, DeSoto 75115 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (469) 853-8428 |
| The Ubuntu Learning Academy 1422 W Danieldale Rd, Duncanville 75137 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 394-6744 |
| Tiny Tots University 1403 Levee Ln, Cedar Hill 75104 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK-K | (214) 517-3096 |
| Wise Academy 125 W Wintergreen Rd, Cedar Hill 75104 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (972) 293-0191 |
| Ya Ya's Yuniversity 323 Kirksey St, Waxahachie 75165 | Best Southwest & Ellis County | PK | (469) 502-3681 |
IEP funding for families here
| Home district | TEFA-funded students (Jul 29, 2026) | IEP: speech only (00) | IEP: mainstream (40) | IEP: resource / self-contained (41-44) | IEP: residential facility (81-89) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto ISD | 263 | $11,437 | $17,078 | $16,017 | $26,401 |
| Duncanville ISD | 248 | $11,390 | $16,792 | $15,710 | $25,583 |
| Cedar Hill ISD | 186 | $11,408 | $16,915 | $15,822 | $25,896 |
| Lancaster ISD | 142 | $11,381 | $16,734 | $15,662 | $25,443 |
| Red Oak ISD | 129 | $11,432 | $17,086 | $15,953 | $26,286 |
| Midlothian ISD | 226 | $11,443 | $17,162 | $16,016 | $26,467 |
| Waxahachie ISD | 278 | $11,429 | $17,063 | $15,934 | $26,231 |
| Ferris ISD | 40 | $11,512 | $17,507 | $16,517 | $27,706 |
| Ennis ISD | 56 | $11,385 | $16,761 | $15,684 | $25,508 |
Totals are the $10,474 base plus the district add-on from the Comptroller's 2026-27 Special Education Funding Table, capped at $30,000. Funded counts come from the TEFA Annual Demographic Report (data as of July 29, 2026); districts with fewer than 30 participants aren't listed in that report. All Dallas-area districts →
ZIP codes: 75104, 75115, 75116, 75134, 75137, 75146, 75154, 75165, 75167, 75168, 76065, 75125, 75119
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