By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Several private schools in Shelby County have been named among the best private high schools in the state by a national raking website, earning praise for top-notch academic offerings, a wide variety of extracurricular activates and solid athletic programs.

The Niche.com website recently released its 2018 list of the best private high schools in Alabama, and nearly every private school in Shelby County made the top 50.

“The 2018 Best Private High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents,” read the website. “Ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges that students consider, student-teacher ratio, private school ratings and more. Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users and the schools directly.”

Indian Springs School retained its ranking as the top private high school in the state, earning an A-plus for academics, an A for teachers, an A for clubs and activities, a B for diversity, an A-plus for college prep and a B-plus for sports. The school has an 8-to-1 ratio of students to teachers and reported a 100-percent graduation rate.

The Westminster School at Oak Mountain came in at No. 12 on the list, earning grades of A-plus for academics, B-plus for teachers, A-minus for clubs and activities, C for diversity and A-minus for college prep. Westminster has a 12-to-1 ratio of students to teachers.

Following just behind Westminster at No. 13 is Alabaster’s Evangel Classical Christian School, which posted grades of A-plus for academics, B-plus for teachers, A for clubs and athletics, C for diversity, A-minus for college prep and B-minus for sports. ECCS has an 8-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

Briarwood Christian School came in at No. 18 on the list, earning grades of A-plus for academics, B-plus for teachers, B for clubs and activities, C-minus for diversity, A-minus for college prep and A-minus for sports. BCS has a 99-percent graduation rate, and a 19-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

Kingwood Christian School came in at No. 39 on the list. The website posted grades for KCS of A-minus for academics, C-plus for teachers, C-minus for clubs and activities, C for diversity, B for college prep and C for sports. KCS has a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio, according to Niche.

Cornerstone Christian School in Columbiana ranked No. 49 on the list, posting grades of B-plus for academics, B-minus for teachers, C for diversity and B-minus for college prep. Cornerstone has a 7-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

To view the entire rankings, visit Niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/s/Alabama.