Special Report

Best Private High Schools in Every State

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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

Courtesy of Indian Springs School

Alabama
> High school: Indian Springs School
> Students: 315
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $24,000

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Courtesy of Holy Rosary Academy via Facebook

Alaska
> High school: Holy Rosary Academy
> Students: 147
> Average SAT score: 1250
> Annual tuition: $9,250

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Courtesy of Phoenix Country Day School

Arizona
> High school: Phoenix Country Day School
> Students: 750
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $25,000

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Courtesy of Pulaski Academy

Arkansas
> High school: Pulaski Academy
> Students: 1,393
> Average SAT score: 1290
> Annual tuition: N/A

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Courtesy of The College Preparatory School via Facebook

California
> High school: The College Preparatory School
> Students: 364
> Average SAT score: 1470
> Annual tuition: $46,000

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Courtesy of Kent Denver School

Colorado
> High school: Kent Denver School
> Students: 713
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $29,930

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Courtesy of Choate Rosemary Hall

Connecticut
> High school: Choate Rosemary Hall
> Students: 850
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $45,710

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Courtesy of St. Andrew's School via Facebook

Delaware
> High school: St. Andrew’s School
> Students: 310
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $55,500

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Courtesy of Ransom Everglades School via Facebook

Florida
> High school: Ransom Everglades School
> Students: 1,094
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $38,400

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Courtesy of The Westminster Schools

Georgia
> High school: The Westminster Schools
> Students: 1,870
> Average SAT score: 1420
> Annual tuition: $30,330

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Courtesy of Punahou School via Facebook

Hawaii
> High school: Punahou School
> Students: 3,744
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $26,000

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Riverstone International School / Facebook

Idaho
> High school: Riverstone International School
> Students: 371
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $19,985

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AMPERIO / Wikimedia Commons

Illinois
> High school: University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
> Students: 2,051
> Average SAT score: 1450
> Annual tuition: $33,558

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Courtesy of Culver Academies via Facebook

Indiana
> High school: Culver Academies
> Students: 830
> Average SAT score: 1300
> Annual tuition: $42,135

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Courtesy of Maharishi School

Iowa
> High school: Maharishi School
> Students: 179
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $19,500

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Courtesy of Bishop Seabury Academy via Facebook

Kansas
> High school: Bishop Seabury Academy
> Students: 216
> Average SAT score: 1280
> Annual tuition: $13,995

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Courtesy of Louisville Collegiate School via Facebook

Kentucky
> High school: Louisville Collegiate School
> Students: 587
> Average SAT score: 1360
> Annual tuition: $24,240

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Courtesy of Metairie Park Country Day School via Facebook

Louisiana
> High school: Metairie Park Country Day School
> Students: 720
> Average SAT score: 1360
> Annual tuition: $19,980

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Courtesy of Waynflete via Facebook

Maine
> High school: Waynflete
> Students: 560
> Average SAT score: 1310
> Annual tuition: $31,715

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Courtesy of Holton-Arms School

Maryland
> High school: Holton-Arms School
> Students: 660
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $40,150

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Courtesy of Phillips Academy via Facebook

Massachusetts
> High school: Phillips Academy
> Students: 1,150
> Average SAT score: 1470
> Annual tuition: $43,300

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Courtesy of Cranbrook Schools via Facebook

Michigan
> High school: Cranbrook Schools
> Students: 1,659
> Average SAT score: 1400
> Annual tuition: $34,200

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The Blake School / Facebook

Minnesota
> High school: The Blake School
> Students: 1,380
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $29,025

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Courtesy of St. Andrew's Episcopal School via Facebook

Mississippi
> High school: St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
> Students: 1,172
> Average SAT score: 1340
> Annual tuition: $18,620

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John Burroughs School / Facebook

Missouri
> High school: John Burroughs School
> Students: 641
> Average SAT score: 1400
> Annual tuition: $29,400

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Courtesy of Missoula Catholic Schools via Facebook

Montana
> High school: Loyola Sacred Heart High School
> Students: 172
> Average SAT score: 1220
> Annual tuition: N/A

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Courtesy of Mount Michael Benedictine High School via Facebook

Nebraska
> High school: Mount Michael Benedictine High School
> Students: 239
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $11,875

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Courtesy of The Meadows School

Nevada
> High school: The Meadows School
> Students: 865
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $27,500

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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

New Hampshire
> High school: Phillips Exeter Academy
> Students: 1,085
> Average SAT score: 1430
> Annual tuition: $38,740

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Courtesy of The Lawrenceville School via Facebook

New Jersey
> High school: The Lawrenceville School
> Students: 822
> Average SAT score: 1440
> Annual tuition: $51,440

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Courtesy of Albuquerque Academy

New Mexico
> High school: Albuquerque Academy
> Students: 1,149
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $24,795

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Courtesy of Trinity School, NYC via Facebook

New York
> High school: Trinity School
> Students: 1,001
> Average SAT score: 1500
> Annual tuition: $47,965

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Cary Academy / Facebook

North Carolina
> High school: Cary Academy
> Students: 753
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $22,400

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Courtesy of Oak Grove Lutheran School via Facebook

North Dakota
> High school: Oak Grove Lutheran School
> Students: 455
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $8,480

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Courtesy of Hawken School via Facebook

Ohio
> High school: Hawken School
> Students: 1,082
> Average SAT score: 1350
> Annual tuition: $29,900

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Courtesy of Casady School

Oklahoma
> High school: Casady School
> Students: 939
> Average SAT score: 1340
> Annual tuition: $20,750

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Courtesy of Catlin Gabel via Facebook

Oregon
> High school: Catlin Gabel School
> Students: 769
> Average SAT score: 1390
> Annual tuition: $34,100

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Courtesy of Germantown Friends School via Facebook

Pennsylvania
> High school: Germantown Friends School
> Students: 1,017
> Average SAT score: 1400
> Annual tuition: $38,450

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Courtesy of The Wheeler School

Rhode Island
> High school: The Wheeler School
> Students: 768
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $37,900

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Courtesy of Christ Church Episcopal School

South Carolina
> High school: Christ Church Episcopal School
> Students: 1,107
> Average SAT score: 1300
> Annual tuition: $20,515

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Courtesy of Freeman Academy via Facebook

South Dakota
> High school: Freeman Academy
> Students: 70
> Average SAT score: N/A
> Annual tuition: N/A

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Courtesy of University School of Nashville via Facebook

Tennessee
> High school: University School of Nashville
> Students: 1,068
> Average SAT score: 1350
> Annual tuition: $25,776

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Courtesy of St. Mark's School of Texas

Texas
> High school: St. Mark’s School of Texas
> Students: 863
> Average SAT score: 1470
> Annual tuition: $29,496

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Ben P L / Wikimedia Commons

Utah
> High school: The Waterford School
> Students: 963
> Average SAT score: 1370
> Annual tuition: $24,430

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The Putney School / Facebook

Vermont
> High school: The Putney School
> Students: 235
> Average SAT score: 1290
> Annual tuition: $36,700

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Courtesy of The Potomac School

Virginia
> High school: The Potomac School
> Students: 1,060
> Average SAT score: 1380
> Annual tuition: $38,550

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Courtesy of Lakeside School

Washington
> High school: Lakeside School
> Students: 838
> Average SAT score: 1440
> Annual tuition: $32,000

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Courtesy of The Linsly School

West Virginia
> High school: The Linsly School
> Students: 465
> Average SAT score: 1230
> Annual tuition: $19,400

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University School of Milwaukee / Facebook

Wisconsin
> High school: University School of Milwaukee
> Students: 1,113
> Average SAT score: 1340
> Annual tuition: $27,922

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Courtesy of Jackson Hole Community School via Facebook

Wyoming
> High school: Jackson Hole Community School
> Students: 84
> Average SAT score: 1330
> Annual tuition: $25,100

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