Summer vacation has only just begun for most American schools, which means a break for many parents and kids. But for some, this is a time of preparation for applications for private high school. Many such schools across the country begin accepting applications in the fall or even in some cases the late summer.
Most American children are enrolled in public, taxpayer-funded schools, but millions of parents still opt to pay for what they believe is a superior education. Private schools charge tuition, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, but many do offer advantages over public options.Â
Private schools frequently have smaller class sizes, allowing for more personalized instruction and closer student-teacher and parent-teacher relationships. A number of private schools also have more rigorous academic standards than public schools and emphasize a well-rounded education that extends beyond the classroom. Private school students tend to have higher standardized test scores and are more likely to later attend top-tier colleges and universities than those with a public education. Additionally, unlike public schools, private institutions can have a religious affiliation or a single-sex student body, which may be important to some parents.Â
There are over 30,000 private institutions to choose from, so parents who can afford it and wish to have plenty of options. However, some private high schools stand out and have a reputation for offering an especially high-quality education.Â
Using data compiled by education research platform Niche, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 best private high schools in America for 2023. Niche ranked schools based on a weighted index of six measures, including class size, self-reported standardized test scores, post-graduate college enrollment, and parent and student surveys. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here. (Also check out: the best public high schools in America.)
Most of the private high schools on this list are in the Northeast, particularly in New York state and the New England region, though California alone is home to 14, the most of any state. Some of these schools are centuries old, and many have a distinguished group of alumni, including U.S. presidents, senators, and supreme court justices, as well as notable artists, writers, athletes, and business leaders.Â
It is important to note that while some of these schools offer financial assistance packages, tuition costs are beyond what most families can likely afford. A single year at nearly every high school on this list costs more than $30,000, and half of them charge over $50,000. In many cases, these figures do not include room and board.
Click here to see the best private high schools in America.
Source: Courtesy of The Overlake School via Facebook
50. The Overlake School
> Location: Redmond, WA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $34,355
> Total enrollment: 529
[in-text-ad]
Source: AMPERIO / Wikimedia Commons
49. University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
> Location: Chicago, IL
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $33,558
> Total enrollment: 2,051
Source: Courtesy of The Thacher School via Facebook
48. The Thacher School
> Location: Ojai, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $53,670
> Total enrollment: 259
Source: Courtesy of The Westminster Schools
47. The Westminster Schools
> Location: Atlanta, GA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $34,106
> Total enrollment: 1,900
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Middlesex School via Facebook
46. Middlesex School
> Location: Concord, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $55,970
> Total enrollment: 409
Source: Courtesy of Rye Country Day School via Facebook
45. Rye Country Day School
> Location: Rye, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $50,000
> Total enrollment: 951
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of The Quarry Lane School via Facebook
44. The Quarry Lane School
> Location: Dublin, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $41,902
> Total enrollment: 850
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Cate School via Facebook
43. Cate School
> Location: Carpinteria, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $49,700
> Total enrollment: 298
Source: Courtesy of Milton Academy via Facebook
42. Milton Academy
> Location: Milton, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $57,800
> Total enrollment: 1,020
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Lakeside School
41. Lakeside School
> Location: Seattle, WA
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $32,000
> Total enrollment: 838
Source: Courtesy of Concord Academy via Facebook
40. Concord Academy
> Location: Concord, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $52,740
> Total enrollment: 398
[in-text-ad]
Source: aimintang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
39. The Loomis Chaffee School
> Location: Windsor, CT
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $49,670
> Total enrollment: 726
Source: Courtesy of Head-Royce School via Facebook
38. Head-Royce School
> Location: Oakland, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $51,000
> Total enrollment: 900
Source: Courtesy of Sidwell Friends School via Facebook
37. Sidwell Friends School
> Location: Washington, DC
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $51,650
> Total enrollment: 1,145
[in-text-ad-2]
36. The Spence School
> Location: New York, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1500 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $60,880
> Total enrollment: 751
Source: Courtesy of Polytechnic School via Facebook
35. Polytechnic School
> Location: Pasadena, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $41,900
> Total enrollment: 872
[in-text-ad]
34. The Harker School
> Location: San Jose, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $56,650
> Total enrollment: 1,972
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
33. John Burroughs School
> Location: St. Louis, MO
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $32,800
> Total enrollment: 660
Source: Courtesy of Newark Academy via Facebook
32. Newark Academy
> Location: Livingston, NJ
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $47,120
> Total enrollment: 674
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: UmerPK / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
31. Hopkins School
> Location: New Haven, CT
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $48,650
> Total enrollment: 712
Source: Courtesy of Georgetown Day School
30. Georgetown Day School
> Location: Washington, DC
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $46,682
> Total enrollment: 1,075
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Ransom Everglades School via Facebook
29. Ransom Everglades School
> Location: Coconut Grove, FL
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $45,810
> Total enrollment: 1,141
Source: Courtesy of Noble and Greenough School via Facebook
28. Noble and Greenough School
> Location: Dedham, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $54,500
> Total enrollment: 614
Source: JannHuizenga / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
27. The Bishop’s School
> Location: San Diego, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $41,040
> Total enrollment: 800
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Convent of the Sacred Heart - 91st Street via Facebook
26. Convent of the Sacred Heart
> Location: New York, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1430 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $58,600
> Total enrollment: 699
Source: Courtesy of Collegiate School New York via Facebook
25. Collegiate School
> Location: New York, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $53,900
> Total enrollment: 651
[in-text-ad]
Source: jeremyiswild / iStock via Getty Images
24. Flintridge Preparatory School
> Location: La Canada Flintridge, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $41,500
> Total enrollment: 530
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of The Pingry School via Facebook
23. The Pingry School
> Location: Basking Ridge, NJ
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $47,336
> Total enrollment: 1,197
22. Deerfield Academy
> Location: Deerfield, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $44,735
> Total enrollment: 658
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Horace Mann School Alumni via Facebook
21. Horace Mann School
> Location: Bronx, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $59,800
> Total enrollment: 1,802
20. Regis High School
> Location: New York, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1470 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: N/A
> Total enrollment: 532
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of The Lawrenceville School via Facebook
19. The Lawrenceville School
> Location: Lawrenceville, NJ
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $73,220
> Total enrollment: 822
Source: Courtesy of Castilleja School via Facebook
18. Castilleja School
> Location: Palo Alto, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1460 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $56,500
> Total enrollment: 416
Source: Courtesy of St. Paul's School via Facebook
17. St. Paul’s School
> Location: Concord, NH
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $62,000
> Total enrollment: 531
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Crystal Springs Uplands School
> Location: Hillsborough, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1480 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $56,620
> Total enrollment: 569
15. Princeton International School of Math and Science
> Location: Princeton, NJ
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: N/A
> Annual tuition: $43,000
> Total enrollment: 120
[in-text-ad]
Source: Adrien Delessert / Wikimedia Commons
14. The Hotchkiss School
> Location: Lakeville, CT
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $65,490
> Total enrollment: 599
24/7 Wall St.
Source: smolaw11 / iStock via Getty Images
13. The Brearley School
> Location: New York, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1520 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $58,700
> Total enrollment: 772
Source: Courtesy of Stanford Online High School via Facebook
12. Stanford Online High School
> Location: Redwood City, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1480 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $28,160
> Total enrollment: 903
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: / Flickr
11. Riverdale Country School
> Location: Bronx, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $51,295
> Total enrollment: 1,273
Source: Courtesy of The Nueva School via Facebook
10. The Nueva School
> Location: Hillsborough, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1500 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $53,350
> Total enrollment: 853
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of Commonwealth School via Facebook
9. Commonwealth School
> Location: Boston, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $52,502
> Total enrollment: 154
Source: Courtesy of The College Preparatory School via Facebook
8. The College Preparatory School
> Location: Oakland, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1480 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $51,990
> Total enrollment: 370
Source: Courtesy of St. Mark's School of Texas
7. St. Mark’s School of Texas
> Location: Dallas, TX
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1480 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $29,496
> Total enrollment: 863
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Courtesy of Trinity Valley School
6. Trinity School
> Location: New York, NY
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1500 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $47,965
> Total enrollment: 1,001
Source: Courtesy of Groton School via Facebook
5. Groton School
> Location: Groton, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $46,720
> Total enrollment: 380
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
4. Phillips Exeter Academy
> Location: Exeter, NH
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1450 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $38,740
> Total enrollment: 1,085
Source: Courtesy of Choate Rosemary Hall
3. Choate Rosemary Hall
> Location: Wallingford, CT
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $50,910
> Total enrollment: 868
Source: Courtesy of Harvard-Westlake School
2. Harvard-Westlake School
> Location: Los Angeles, CA
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1470 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $42,600
> Total enrollment: 1,620
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Phillips Academy Andover
> Location: Andover, MA
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1470 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT score: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $51,380
> Total enrollment: 1,187
Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
