While about 90% of all elementary and secondary school students in the United States attend public schools, there are some 5.8 million students who are enrolled in private schools.
Private schools are subject to less regulation than public schools, and can offer students a more specialized educational experience, such as a Montessori school, a religious school, or an all-boys or all-girls school. And like any other good or service, the quality of private schools varies heavily across the country and correlates with factors such as income and home value.
To determine the best private high school in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed rankings for all private schools from the 2020 Best Private High Schools in America list produced by school and neighborhood data clearinghouse Niche. Niche ranks private schools based on average SAT and ACT scores, the rank of the colleges that students are most interested in or go on to attend, college enrollment, culture and diversity, student-teacher ratio, and parent and student surveys. Data on the number of students, average SAT score, and annual tuition also came from Niche. When tuition data was not available from Niche, outside sources were used.
Wealthier, densely populated areas tend to have more high-quality public schools. In some states, the best private high school statewide ranks within the top 10 on a national level. Meanwhile, in others, the best private high school statewide ranks outside the top 1,000 on a national level. The same is true of those four states when it comes to the quality of their public high schools. This is a list of the best public high school in every state.
While recent studies suggest that, after controlling for family income, attending a private school has a negligible effect on overall student success, private school students tend to perform better on standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and reading and math proficiency tests. Among the schools on this list, the average SAT score ranges from 1220 to 1500 out of 1600. For context. the average national SAT score in 2019 was 1059. For more on standardized test performance by school, see the 50 smartest public high schools in the U.S.
Click here to see the best private high schools in every state.
Source: Courtesy of Indian Springs School
Alabama
> High school: Indian Springs School
> Location: Indian Springs
> Students: 315
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $24,000
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Source: Courtesy of Holy Rosary Academy via Facebook
Alaska
> High school: Holy Rosary Academy
> Location: Anchorage
> Students: 147
> Average SAT score: 1250
> Annual tuition: $9,250
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Source: Courtesy of Phoenix Country Day School
Arizona
> High school: Phoenix Country Day School
> Location: Paradise Valley
> Students: 750
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $25,000
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Source: Courtesy of Pulaski Academy
Arkansas
> High school: Pulaski Academy
> Location: Little Rock
> Students: 1,393
> Average SAT score: 1290
> Annual tuition: N/A
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
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Source: Courtesy of The College Preparatory School via Facebook
California
> High school: The College Preparatory School
> Location: Oakland
> Students: 364
> Average SAT score: 1470
> Annual tuition: $46,000
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Source: Courtesy of Kent Denver School
Colorado
> High school: Kent Denver School
> Location: Englewood
> Students: 713
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $29,930
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Source: Courtesy of Choate Rosemary Hall
Connecticut
> High school: Choate Rosemary Hall
> Location: Wallingford
> Students: 850
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $45,710
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Source: Courtesy of St. Andrew's School via Facebook
Delaware
> High school: St. Andrew’s School
> Location: Middletown
> Students: 310
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $55,500
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Source: Courtesy of Ransom Everglades School via Facebook
Florida
> High school: Ransom Everglades School
> Location: Coconut Grove
> Students: 1,094
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $38,400
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Source: Courtesy of The Westminster Schools
Georgia
> High school: The Westminster Schools
> Location: Atlanta
> Students: 1,870
> Average SAT score: 1420
> Annual tuition: $30,330
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Source: Courtesy of Punahou School via Facebook
Hawaii
> High school: Punahou School
> Location: Honolulu
> Students: 3,744
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $26,000
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Source: Riverstone International School / Facebook
Idaho
> High school: Riverstone International School
> Location: Boise
> Students: 371
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $19,985
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Source: AMPERIO / Wikimedia Commons
Illinois
> High school: University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
> Location: Chicago
> Students: 2,051
> Average SAT score: 1450
> Annual tuition: $33,558
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Source: Courtesy of Culver Academies via Facebook
Indiana
> High school: Culver Academies
> Location: Culver
> Students: 830
> Average SAT score: 1300
> Annual tuition: $42,135
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Source: Courtesy of Maharishi School
Iowa
> High school: Maharishi School
> Location: Fairfield
> Students: 179
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $19,500
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Source: Courtesy of Bishop Seabury Academy via Facebook
Kansas
> High school: Bishop Seabury Academy
> Location: Lawrence
> Students: 216
> Average SAT score: 1280
> Annual tuition: $13,995
See all stories featuring: Kansas
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Source: Courtesy of Louisville Collegiate School via Facebook
Kentucky
> High school: Louisville Collegiate School
> Location: Louisville
> Students: 587
> Average SAT score: 1360
> Annual tuition: $24,240
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Source: Courtesy of Metairie Park Country Day School via Facebook
Louisiana
> High school: Metairie Park Country Day School
> Location: Metairie
> Students: 720
> Average SAT score: 1360
> Annual tuition: $19,980
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
Source: Courtesy of Waynflete via Facebook
Maine
> High school: Waynflete
> Location: Portland
> Students: 560
> Average SAT score: 1310
> Annual tuition: $31,715
See all stories featuring: Maine
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Source: Courtesy of Holton-Arms School
Maryland
> High school: Holton-Arms School
> Location: Bethesda
> Students: 660
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $40,150
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Source: Courtesy of Phillips Academy via Facebook
Massachusetts
> High school: Phillips Academy
> Location: Andover
> Students: 1,150
> Average SAT score: 1470
> Annual tuition: $43,300
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Source: Courtesy of Cranbrook Schools via Facebook
Michigan
> High school: Cranbrook Schools
> Location: Bloomfield Hills
> Students: 1,659
> Average SAT score: 1400
> Annual tuition: $34,200
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Source: The Blake School / Facebook
Minnesota
> High school: The Blake School
> Location: Hopkins
> Students: 1,380
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $29,025
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
Source: Courtesy of St. Andrew's Episcopal School via Facebook
Mississippi
> High school: St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
> Location: Ridgeland
> Students: 1,172
> Average SAT score: 1340
> Annual tuition: $18,620
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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Source: John Burroughs School / Facebook
Missouri
> High school: John Burroughs School
> Location: St. Louis
> Students: 641
> Average SAT score: 1400
> Annual tuition: $29,400
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Source: Courtesy of Missoula Catholic Schools via Facebook
Montana
> High school: Loyola Sacred Heart High School
> Location: Missoula
> Students: 172
> Average SAT score: 1220
> Annual tuition: N/A
See all stories featuring: Montana
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Source: Courtesy of Mount Michael Benedictine High School via Facebook
Nebraska
> High school: Mount Michael Benedictine High School
> Location: Elkhorn
> Students: 239
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $11,875
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Source: Courtesy of The Meadows School
Nevada
> High school: The Meadows School
> Location: Las Vegas
> Students: 865
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $27,500
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire
> High school: Phillips Exeter Academy
> Location: Exeter
> Students: 1,085
> Average SAT score: 1430
> Annual tuition: $38,740
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Source: Courtesy of The Lawrenceville School via Facebook
New Jersey
> High school: The Lawrenceville School
> Location: Lawrenceville
> Students: 822
> Average SAT score: 1440
> Annual tuition: $51,440
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Source: Courtesy of Albuquerque Academy
New Mexico
> High school: Albuquerque Academy
> Location: Albuquerque
> Students: 1,149
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $24,795
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
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Source: Courtesy of Trinity School, NYC via Facebook
New York
> High school: Trinity School
> Location: New York City
> Students: 1,001
> Average SAT score: 1500
> Annual tuition: $47,965
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Source: Cary Academy / Facebook
North Carolina
> High school: Cary Academy
> Location: Cary
> Students: 753
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $22,400
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Source: Courtesy of Oak Grove Lutheran School via Facebook
North Dakota
> High school: Oak Grove Lutheran School
> Location: Fargo
> Students: 455
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $8,480
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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Source: Courtesy of Hawken School via Facebook
Ohio
> High school: Hawken School
> Location: Gates Mills
> Students: 1,082
> Average SAT score: 1350
> Annual tuition: $29,900
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Source: Courtesy of Casady School
Oklahoma
> High school: Casady School
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Students: 939
> Average SAT score: 1340
> Annual tuition: $20,750
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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Source: Courtesy of Catlin Gabel via Facebook
Oregon
> High school: Catlin Gabel School
> Location: Portland
> Students: 769
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $34,100
See all stories featuring: Oregon
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Source: Courtesy of Germantown Friends School via Facebook
Pennsylvania
> High school: Germantown Friends School
> Location: Philadelphia
> Students: 1,017
> Average SAT score: 1400
> Annual tuition: $38,450
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Source: Courtesy of The Wheeler School
Rhode Island
> High school: The Wheeler School
> Location: Providence
> Students: 768
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $37,900
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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Source: Courtesy of Christ Church Episcopal School
South Carolina
> High school: Christ Church Episcopal School
> Location: Greenville
> Students: 1,107
> Average SAT score: 1300
> Annual tuition: $20,515
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
Source: Courtesy of Freeman Academy via Facebook
South Dakota
> High school: Freeman Academy
> Location: Freeman
> Students: 70
> Average SAT score: N/A
> Annual tuition: N/A
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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Source: Courtesy of University School of Nashville via Facebook
Tennessee
> High school: University School of Nashville
> Location: Nashville
> Students: 1,068
> Average SAT score: 1350
> Annual tuition: $25,776
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
Source: Courtesy of St. Mark's School of Texas
Texas
> High school: St. Mark’s School of Texas
> Location: Dallas
> Students: 863
> Average SAT score: 1470
> Annual tuition: $29,496
See all stories featuring: Texas
Source: Ben P L / Wikimedia Commons
Utah
> High school: The Waterford School
> Location: Sandy
> Students: 963
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $24,430
See all stories featuring: Utah
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Source: The Putney School / Facebook
Vermont
> High school: The Putney School
> Location: Putney
> Students: 235
> Average SAT score: 1290
> Annual tuition: $36,700
See all stories featuring: Vermont
Source: Courtesy of The Potomac School
Virginia
> High school: The Potomac School
> Location: McLean
> Students: 1,060
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $38,550
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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Source: Courtesy of Lakeside School
Washington
> High school: Lakeside School
> Location: Seattle
> Students: 838
> Average SAT score: 1440
> Annual tuition: $32,000
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Source: Courtesy of The Linsly School
West Virginia
> High school: The Linsly School
> Location: Wheeling
> Students: 465
> Average SAT score: 1230
> Annual tuition: $19,400
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
Source: University School of Milwaukee / Facebook
Wisconsin
> High school: University School of Milwaukee
> Location: Milwaukee
> Students: 1,113
> Average SAT score: 1340
> Annual tuition: $27,922
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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Source: Courtesy of Jackson Hole Community School via Facebook
Wyoming
> High school: Jackson Hole Community School
> Location: Jackson
> Students: 84
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $25,100
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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