Special Report

Most Expensive Private High Schools in America

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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

Courtesy of Léman Manhattan Preparatory School via Facebook

50. Léman Manhattan Preparatory School
> Yearly tuition: $50,850
> Enrollment: 880
> Student teacher ratio: 9:1
> Location: New York, New York

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Courtesy of The Hewitt School via Facebook

49. The Hewitt School
> Yearly tuition: $50,900
> Enrollment: 525
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: New York, New York

Courtesy of Middlesex School via Facebook

48. Middlesex School
> Yearly tuition: $51,212
> Enrollment: 409
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Concord, Massachusetts

Courtesy of The Rivers School via Facebook

47. The Rivers School
> Yearly tuition: $51,400
> Enrollment: 504
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Weston, Massachusetts

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Courtesy of The Lawrenceville School via Facebook

46. The Lawrenceville School
> Yearly tuition: $51,440
> Enrollment: 822
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Courtesy of Concord Academy via Facebook

45. Concord Academy
> Yearly tuition: $51,455
> Enrollment: 401
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Concord, Massachusetts

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Courtesy of Milton Academy via Facebook

44. Milton Academy
> Yearly tuition: $51,460
> Enrollment: 1,020
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: Milton, Massachusetts

Courtesy of Marymount School of New York via Facebook

43. Marymount School of New York
> Yearly tuition: $51,750
> Enrollment: 759
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: New York, New York

Courtesy of Trevor Day School via Facebook

42. Trevor Day School
> Yearly tuition: $52,600
> Enrollment: 785
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: New York, New York

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Courtesy of Shattuck-St. Mary's School via Facebook

41. Shattuck-St. Mary’s School
> Yearly tuition: $52,750
> Enrollment: 501
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Faribault, Minnesota

Courtesy of Squaw Valley Academy via Facebook

40. Squaw Valley Academy
> Yearly tuition: $52,950
> Enrollment: 62
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Olympic Valley, California

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Courtesy of American University Preparatory School via Facebook

39. American University Preparatory School
> Yearly tuition: $53,000
> Enrollment: 23
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Los Angeles, California

Courtesy of Horace Mann School via Flickr

38. Horace Mann School
> Yearly tuition: $53,200
> Enrollment: 1,694
> Student teacher ratio: 8:1
> Location: Bronx, New York

Courtesy of Collegiate School via Facebook

36. Collegiate School (tied)
> Yearly tuition: $53,900
> Enrollment: 651
> Student teacher ratio: 8:1
> Location: New York, New York

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Courtesy of St. Thomas More School via Facebook

36. St. Thomas More School (tied)
> Yearly tuition: $53,900
> Enrollment: 110
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Oakdale, Connecticut

Courtesy of Linden Hall via Facebook

35. Linden Hall
> Yearly tuition: $54,200
> Enrollment: 212
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Lititz, Pennsylvania

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Courtesy of Learning Prep School via Facebook

34. Learning Prep School
> Yearly tuition: $54,849
> Enrollment: 194
> Student teacher ratio: 2:1
> Location: West Newton, Massachusetts

Courtesy of The MacDuffie School via Facebook

33. The MacDuffie School
> Yearly tuition: $55,450
> Enrollment: 274
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Granby, Massachusetts

Courtesy of St. Andrew's School via Facebook

32. St. Andrew’s School
> Yearly tuition: $55,500
> Enrollment: 310
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Middletown, Delaware

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Courtesy of Grier School via Facebook

31. Grier School
> Yearly tuition: $55,900
> Enrollment: 300
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Birmingham, Pennsylvania

Courtesy of Vincent Smith School via Facebook

30. Vincent Smith School
> Yearly tuition: $56,300
> Enrollment: 57
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Port Washington, New York

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Courtesy of Avenues: The World School via Facebook

29. Avenues: The World School
> Yearly tuition: $56,400
> Enrollment: 1,537
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: New York, New York

Courtesy of Eagle Hill School via Facebook

28. Eagle Hill School
> Yearly tuition: $57,200
> Enrollment: 210
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Hardwick, Massachusetts

Courtesy of Woodberry Forest School via Facebook

27. Woodberry Forest School
> Yearly tuition: $57,250
> Enrollment: 399
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: Woodberry Forest, Virginia

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Courtesy of South Kent School via Facebook

25. South Kent School (tied)
> Yearly tuition: $58,000
> Enrollment: 170
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: South Kent, Connecticut

Courtesy of The Churchill School & Center via Facebook

25. The Churchill School & Center (tied)
> Yearly tuition: $58,000
> Enrollment: 399
> Student teacher ratio: 7:1
> Location: New York, New York

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Courtesy of Kent School via Facebook

24. Kent School
> Yearly tuition: $58,450
> Enrollment: 575
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Kent, Connecticut

Courtesy of Midland School via Facebook

23. Midland School
> Yearly tuition: $58,600
> Enrollment: 75
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Los Olivos, California

Courtesy of The Hill School via Facebook

22. The Hill School
> Yearly tuition: $59,050
> Enrollment: 525
> Student teacher ratio: 8:1
> Location: Pottstown, Pennsylvania

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Courtesy of Northwood School via Facebook

21. Northwood School
> Yearly tuition: $59,920
> Enrollment: 193
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Lake Placid, New York

Courtesy of Chamberlain International School via Facebook

20. Chamberlain International School
> Yearly tuition: $60,000
> Enrollment: 77
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Middleboro, Massachusetts

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Courtesy of Landmark School via Facebook

19. Landmark School
> Yearly tuition: $60,400
> Enrollment: 475
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Prides Crossing, Massachusetts

Courtesy of Episcopal High School via Facebook

18. Episcopal High School
> Yearly tuition: $60,900
> Enrollment: 451
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Courtesy of Salisbury School via Facebook

17. Salisbury School
> Yearly tuition: $61,000
> Enrollment: 310
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Salisbury, Connecticut

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Courtesy of Newgrange School via Facebook

16. Newgrange School
> Yearly tuition: $61,189
> Enrollment: 87
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Hamilton, New Jersey

Courtesy of The Storm King School via Facebook

15. The Storm King School
> Yearly tuition: $61,700
> Enrollment: 198
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

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Courtesy of St. Paul's School via Facebook

13. St. Paul’s School (tied)
> Yearly tuition: $62,000
> Enrollment: 534
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Concord, New Hampshire

Courtesy of Trinity-Pawling School via Facebook

13. Trinity-Pawling School (tied)
> Yearly tuition: $62,000
> Enrollment: 286
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Pawling, New York

Courtesy of Wasatch Academy via Facebook

12. Wasatch Academy
> Yearly tuition: $62,300
> Enrollment: 296
> Student teacher ratio: 6:1
> Location: Mt Pleasant, Utah

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Courtesy of Aaron School via Facebook

11. Aaron School
> Yearly tuition: $62,750
> Enrollment: 152
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: New York, New York

Courtesy of IMG Academy via Facebook

10. IMG Academy
> Yearly tuition: $63,000
> Enrollment: 994
> Student teacher ratio: 12:1
> Location: Bradenton, Florida

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Courtesy of Berkshire School via Facebook

9. Berkshire School
> Yearly tuition: $64,200
> Enrollment: 408
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Sheffield, Massachusetts

Courtesy of The Lang School via Facebook

8. The Lang School
> Yearly tuition: $65,000
> Enrollment: 50
> Student teacher ratio: 2:1
> Location: New York, New York

Courtesy of Mary McDowell Friends School via Facebook

7. Mary McDowell Friends School
> Yearly tuition: $66,010
> Enrollment: 398
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Brooklyn, New York

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Courtesy of The Oxford Academy via Facebook

6. The Oxford Academy
> Yearly tuition: $67,000
> Enrollment: 48
> Student teacher ratio: 2:1
> Location: Westbrook, Connecticut

Courtesy of The Woodhall School via Facebook

5. The Woodhall School
> Yearly tuition: $74,500
> Enrollment: 42
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Bethlehem, Connecticut

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Courtesy of The Quad Preparatory School via Facebook

4. The Quad Preparatory School
> Yearly tuition: $74,850
> Enrollment: 113
> Student teacher ratio: 2:1
> Location: New York, New York

Courtesy of Brehm Preparatory School via Facebook

3. Brehm Preparatory School
> Yearly tuition: $77,500
> Enrollment: 64
> Student teacher ratio: 4:1
> Location: Carbondale, Illinois

Courtesy of Forman School via Facebook

2. Forman School
> Yearly tuition: $78,600
> Enrollment: 230
> Student teacher ratio: 3:1
> Location: Litchfield, Connecticut

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Courtesy of Shortridge Academy via Facebook

1. Shortridge Academy
> Yearly tuition: $85,000
> Enrollment: 40
> Student teacher ratio: 5:1
> Location: Milton, New Hampshire

Methodology

To identify the most expensive private high schools in America, 24/7 Wall St. pulled yearly tuition data for 3,000 private schools in the U.S. from Niche. Schools that withheld tuition information, or schools where the cost of tuition is dependent on a variety of factors (income, grades, etc.), were excluded from consideration. The number of students, student-to-teacher ratio, and the schools overall rank in the nation also came from Niche.

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