As the summer comes to an end, an estimated 56.6 million American children and teens will soon attend school. Some 3.7 million students are expected to graduate from high school at the end of the academic year — and about 9% of them will receive diplomas from private, rather than public institutions. 

Unlike public schools, which are largely funded by local taxes, private schools derive revenue from tuition fees. For many parents, tuition costs are worth it for some of the benefits private schools typically offer. These can include flexibility in curriculum design, smaller class sizes, the option for a single sex education, and perhaps most importantly, a better quality education as evidenced by higher overall standardized test scores. 

For these and other advantages a private high school education can provide, some parents are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars a year. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed yearly tuition data for over 3,000 private high schools to identify the most expensive private high schools in America. Tuition costs came from Niche, a school data clearinghouse. 

For many American students, high school is a stepping stone to college — and college admissions are more competitive now than ever before. A private high school education can often provide students with a leg-up in the college admissions process. This can be especially important for those with the goal of getting into the best college or university possible. These are the hardest colleges to get into in each state.

It is important to note that tuition cost is not necessarily an indication of school quality and reputation. While this list certainly includes some of the most prestigious private high schools in the country, there are also many renowned institutions with lower tuitions than any schools on this list. Here is a list of the best private high school in each state.

Click here to see the most expensive private high schools in America
Click here to read our methodology