Best Private High School in Every State

Indian Springs School, located outside of Birmingham, is a boarding and day school for grades eight through 12. A small school of just over 300 students, there are only about seven students per teacher.

Students at the school generally perform well on standardized college admissions exams, and popular colleges and universities for Indian Springs alumni — including Vanderbilt, Brown, Duke, and Stanford — are among the most selective in the country

Holy Rosary Academy in Anchorage ranks as the best private high school in Alaska. A relatively small Catholic school, Holy Rosary enrolls only 147 students in grades K-12. With so few students enrolled, class sizes are small with only about nine students for every teacher at the academy, a lower student-to-teacher ratio than most private high schools in Alaska. As is the case in most schools on this list, virtually all Holy Rosary graduates go on to a four-year college.

College preparation is one reason many parents choose to send their children to private school. Based on Niche survey results, the average SAT score at Phoenix Country Day is 1370 — higher than in nearly every other private school in the state and higher than that of over 90% of all SAT test takers nationwide. With such competitive scores, many Phoenix Country Day graduates go on to enroll in competitive colleges and universities such as University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and Stanford.

Pulaski Academy is a PK-12 school located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Pulaski Academy’s high school offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes research and writing. The school’s average SAT score is higher than more than 80% of all SAT scores nationwide and virtually all enrolled students go on to graduate. Effectively all student survey respondents on Niche agree that the school is academically competitive.

The College Preparatory School in Oakland ranks as the best private school in California and one of the best in the United States. Competitive colleges and universities such as Stanford, Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, Brown, and Yale are all popular choices for school graduates.

Like most well-regarded private high schools, College Preparatory is expensive. One year tuition comes with a price tag of $48,300. However, financial aid is available to qualifying students, with an average assistance package of over $30,000.

The Kent Denver School is open to students in grades six to 12. It is located on a 200-acre campus in Englewood, just outside of Denver. School students have a higher SAT and ACT score than any other Colorado high school. The school’s graduation rate is a perfect 100%, and the school says all graduates eventually go on to a four-year college. The school costs over $31,000 per year, and nearly a quarter of its students get some kind of financial aid, according to the school, adding up to over $4 million per year in aid.

Connecticut is home to many prestigious private high schools, including Choate, Hopkins, and Kent, but Hotchkiss ranks as the state’s top private high school. Hotchkiss, located in the northwestern corner of the state, boasts a near lowest-in-the-nation 4:1 student-teacher ratio, a perfect graduation rate, and a 1410 average SAT score — higher than about 95% of all scores of all test takers. The school has a strong emphasis on diversity, and 36% of enrollees are students of color, and 16% are international students.

Like many schools on this list, Hotchkiss is expensive. Annual tuition is nearly $51,000 a year, and including boarding it is nearly $60,000.

Of all private high schools in Delaware, St. Andrew’s has the highest average SAT score — which, at 1370 is better than over 90% of all SAT scores nationwide. Students at the school, located in Middletown, benefit from small class sizes and a relatively diverse student body. Though annual tuition is over $55,000, 46% of students receive some financial aid.

The Ransom Everglades School is located in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood. It has a relatively low ratio of six students per teacher. This low student-to-teacher ratio can benefit students by providing them with individualized attention and promoting their participation in class. Students at Ransom Everglades have an average SAT score of 1400, ranking in the top 100 high schools in the country. Though the annual tuition is $38,400, the average financial aid is $29,569 for the 19% of pupils who receive it.

Nearly 1,900 Atlanta-area students, kindergarten through grade 12, attend The Westminster Schools. Like most other schools on this list, the school boasts a perfect graduation rate. It also has one of the 50 highest average SAT scores among all U.S. high schools, at 1420. Most schools on this list offer financial aid, and those that do typically offer assistance to over a quarter of students. Yet at Westminster only 13% of students receive aid.

The ‘Iolani School in Honolulu ranks as the best private high school in Hawaii. An Episcopal school, ‘lolani is a college preparatory school that emphasizes Christian values. The school boasts a perfect graduation rate, and popular colleges and universities for alumni include the University of Southern California, University of Washington, and Stanford.

Like other competitive private high schools, ‘lolani is expensive. Tuition alone is $25,325, and with room and board, a year at ‘lolani costs nearly $60,000.

The Riverstone International School in Boise has an education system based on both international school and community school models. The school boasts small class sizes and hundreds of students from over 45 countries. Tuition at Riverstone is $20,325 and for those students who board at the school, a year of enrollment costs $51,500.

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools are affiliated with the university they share a name with, and students benefit from the resources of the higher education institution — including libraries, performance theaters, laboratories, and museums.

Students also benefit from small class sizes, and a reported 98% of all graduates go on to a four-year college. Many of those schools are among the most selective in the country, as the average SAT score at the Laboratory Schools is 1430 — or at the 95th percentile.

Culver Academies in Indiana are an all girls private school and an all boys military school. The school offers small class sizes, with a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and the average SAT score among enrolled students is higher than about 86% of all scores nationwide. Attending Culver costs $42,135 per year, and an additional $10,000 for boarding fees.

The Maharishi School in Fairfield, Iowa, is a K-12 private school focused on college prep and inner development, incorporating yoga and mediation in the academic curriculum. The school has some of the smallest average class sizes in the country, with just six students for every teacher and a perfect graduation rate.

For admission, applicants must be interviewed and submit a completed application, a personal recommendation letter, an essay, and standardized test scores.

The Wichita Collegiate School is a 42-acre campus in Wichita enrolling about 850 students. As is the case in most schools on this list, the school has a small class size of about 15 students on average, with a student-teacher ratio of 9:1. Wichita Collegiate also offers 19 AP courses for upperclassmen — more than any other school in the region. Popular colleges and universities for graduates include the University of Kansas, Wichita State, Kansas State, and Stanford.

Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville is a K-12 school that offers small class sizes — an average of 16 students — and a student-teacher ratio of about 7:1. The school specializes in college prep. Popular higher education institutions among Country Day School alumni include University of Kentucky, Vanderbilt, University of Louisville, and Indiana University.

The Metairie Park Country Day School is a non-denominational private school for grades K-12 just outside of New Orleans. The school has a strong emphasis on preparation for college and adult life, and 100% of graduates go on to attend a four-year college. Many of those schools are highly competitive, as the average SAT score at Country Day is 1340 — higher than about 90% of all scores nationwide.

Waynflete, located in Portland, ranks as the best private school in Maine. The school boasts a 5:1 student-teacher ratio — nearly the smallest ratio of any private school on this list. The school also has a perfect graduation rate and a high average SAT score. Graduates go on to competitive colleges and universities in the state and the broader New England region, including Bowdoin, Tufts, Bates, and the University of Vermont.

Holton-Arms School is a century old all-girls private school in Bethesda, Maryland. The school has an 8:1 student-teacher ratio, and over 80% of faculty have advanced degrees. According to the school’s mission statement, Holton strives for a holistic education, developing not only students’ minds, but also their soul and spirit. Every graduate of Holton-Arms has been accepted to four-year colleges and universities. Tuition at Holton-Arms is a little over $40,000, though 23% of students receive some form of financial aid.

Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, ranks as the best private school in the United States. Almost as old as the country itself, Phillips Academy is the oldest incorporated boarding school in the country. There are only 13 students in the average class, and 11% of the student body are international, and 53% are students of color. The average SAT score at Phillips is 1470, tied for the highest among private schools in Massachusetts and above over 95% of all test scores nationwide among private schools.

The most popular universities for Phillips graduates are Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Stanford. Tuition at Phillips is $46,400 for day students and $59,850 for boarding students.

Cranbrook Schools, located on a 319-acre campus in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, enroll nearly 1,700 students — 800 of whom are in high school. There are seven students for every teacher at Cranbrook and four out of every five Cranbrook faculty members have a master’s or doctoral degree.

On average, Cranbrook students score better on college admissions exams than over 90% of all test takers nationwide. The most popular colleges and universities for Cranbrook graduates are University of Michigan, Michigan State, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard.

Mounds Park Academy, a private school in St. Paul, Minnesota, boasts one of the highest average SAT scores of any private school in the state, at 1400. The school, which opened in 1982, covers grades K-12 and boasts a perfect graduation rate. The high school curriculum at Mounds Park is focused on college prep, cultivating independent thought, and balancing academics with athletics and the arts.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Mississippi, was founded in 1947 and today ranks as the best private school in the state. The school’s curriculum is focused on college prep and service, as high school students take on a service learning project. Past projects include building houses in Mississippi with Habitat for Humanity and humanitarian work in Cuba.

Less expensive than most schools on this list, tuition at St. Andrew’s is $20,050, and the average financial aid package is nearly $8,000.

The John Burroughs School in St. Louis is nationally recognized for its STEM program. It also has a strong track record for preparing students for college admissions exams. The average SAT score at the schools is 1420 — higher than about 95% of all scores nationwide.

Though, with a tuition of over $30,000, John Burroughs is one of the most expensive private schools in the state, some students benefit tremendously from financial aid. The average financial aid package in the school is $22,751 — more than every other Missouri private school.

Billings Central Catholic High School ranks as the best private high school in Montana. Upon graduating, nearly all alumni from the school, which is affiliated with the Catholic church, go on to a four-year college. There are only 330 students at the school in grades nine to 12, and one teacher for every 10 students. The school is one of only two on this list where annual tuition is less than $10,000.

The Brownell Talbot School in Omaha, Nebraska, has a strong track record of preparing students for college entry exams. The average SAT score at Brownell Talbot is 1470, higher than or in line with the average score in all but two other schools on this list. Every student who graduates from Brownell Talbot goes on to a four-year college. While many graduates stay in state for college and attend the University of Nebraska, the University of Michigan, NYU, and Northeastern are also popular options for Brownell alumni.

The most expensive high school in Nevada also ranks as the best in the state. The Meadows School in Las Vegas costs $27,500 annually, and it beat out 14 other schools for Niche’s top ranking among all private high schools in the state. Like many of the other private high schools to rank as the best in their state, The Meadows School boasts a 100% graduation rate and an average SAT score of 1390, which leads the state.

Phillips Exeter Academy ranks not just as the best private high school in New Hampshire, but the second best private high school in the entire country, according to Niche. The yearly tuition is nearly $39,000, and with boarding the cost increases to nearly $50,000. The school’s test scores are among the best in the country. The average SAT score of 1440 and average ACT score of 33 both rank in the top 25 of all schools in the country.

The Lawrenceville School, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, between New York City and Philadelphia, received top marks from Niche in a number of key areas. Niche gave the grade nine to 12 private school an A+ score for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and its college prep. The relatively low 7:1 students-to-teacher ratio allows students to get more individualized attention.

With an average SAT score of 1380 and an average ACT score of 31, the Albuquerque Academy has the best test scores of any private high school in New Mexico. The non-denominational independent school educates nearly 1,200 students grades six to 12, emphasizing experiential education. The school’s tuition is over $25,000 per year, but about one-quarter of students get financial assistance.

Of the 257 private high schools in New York, Trinity School ranks as the best. The high school, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, has a 6:1 student teacher ratio, well below the typical nationwide ratio of 17:1. Such a low student-to-teacher ratio allows students to receive more individualized attention and participate more in class.

One of the main reasons Trinity ranks as the best private high school in New York is the students’ test scores. Students at the school average 34 on the ACT — tied with 11 other schools for the highest average among private high schools. The students’ average SAT score is 1500, one of just six private schools in the country where students score at least that high.

With an average SAT score of 1390 and an average ACT score of 32 among its students, Cary Academy in Cary, North Carolina, ranks first in the state and in the top 100 in the country for its university exam test scores. The school received A+ grades from Niche for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep. The school’s curriculum emphasizes four values — discovery, innovation, collaboration, and excellence.

Fargo’s Shanley High School & Sullivan Middle School is one of just nine private high schools in North Dakota. It is one of the smaller schools on this list, with just 541 pupils. According to a Niche poll, most students and parents feel that teachers at the school give engaging lessons and genuinely care about the students. Though the average ACT score of 28 among students is lower than most other schools on this list, it is the best of any private high school in the state. Shanley High School’s average SAT score of 1350 ranks second among private high schools in the state.

Hawken School is located in Gates Mills, Ohio, a village just a few miles East of Cleveland. The school’s student-to-teacher ratio of 5:1 is one of the lowest in the country, allowing students to get more personalized attention, which can benefit their education.

Though Hawken boasts one of the best average ACT score of any private Ohio high school, at 31, the school’s average SAT score of 1360 ranks eighth.

The Casady School in Oklahoma City is an Episcopal Montessori school teaching students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Casady received an overall A+ grade from Niche as well as A+ grades for its academics and college prep. Students from Casady are most interested in colleges like the University of Oklahoma, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University.

Portland’s Catlin Gabel School ranks as Oregon’s top private high school largely due to its high test scores. School students averaged a 1390 on the SAT, the best in the state and in the top 100 in the nation, among private high schools. Students also averaged a 32 on the ACT, tied for the highest among private schools in Oregon and in the top 50 among private schools in the country.

Catlin Gabel received an A+ grade overall as well as top marks in academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep. School students say they are interested in prestigious schools like Stanford University, Brown University, New York University.

Germantown Friends School is a private, coed, Quaker school for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 located in Pennsylvania. In addition to ranking as the best private high school in the state out of nearly 200 schools, it also ranks as the best high school in the state for STEM.

Germantown Friends has the top average SAT score in the state, at 1390. Likely related to these high test scores, students at the school report they are interested in prestigious universities like University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Yale University, and Columbia University.

The Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, is a Quaker school that educates students of all ages. The school received an overall A+ grade from Niche as well as an A+ for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, college prep, and sports. Though it costs nearly $40,000 in tuition, Moses Brown provides 41% of students with financial aid. The average amount is over $20,000.

Christ Church Episcopal School is a private Episcopal school for grades kindergarten through 12 located in the northwestern part of South Carolina. The school received A+ grades not only for its overall quality, but also for its academics, clubs and activities, and college prep. After graduating, all students go on to attend four-year colleges.

O’Gorman High School has a 15:1 student to teacher ratio, the highest ratio of any private school to rank as the best in its state. Yet this ratio is still lower than the national student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. The school also has the lowest annual tuition of any school on this list, at under $6,000. O’Gorman has one of the best average SAT scores in the nation, at 1400.

The University School of Nashville sits right across the street from Vanderbilt University. The school aims to prepare students for the rigors of a college education. The school has both one of the highest average SAT and ACT scores of any Tennessee private high school, and 100% of graduates from the school go on to attend a four-year college. It beat out over 100 other private schools in the state for the top ranking.

St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas is an Episcopal all boys school. It ranks as the best private high school out of 278 private high schools in the state. It also ranks as the best Texas high school for STEM out of more than 700 institutions.

The school has among the best test scores of any school in the country. The average SAT score of 1480 is tied for the the best in Texas and tied for seventh best in the nation. Its average ACT score of 33 is also tied for best in the state and one of the best in the nation.

The Waterford School in Sandy, Utah, about 12 miles South of Salt Lake City, received top marks in nearly all areas from Niche. It earned A+ grades not just for its overall quality, but also for its academics, teachers, college prep, sports, and clubs and activities. It also received an A- for diversity. The curriculum at Waterford emphasizes “independent thought, critical thinking, responsibility, passionate learning, and service to others.” The average SAT and ACT scores at the school are among the best in Utah.

At The Putney School in Putney, Vermont, there are just three students for every teacher, one of the lowest ratios of any private school in the country, and well below the average national ratio of 17:1. This type of small class size encourages participation from students and allows them to get individualized attention that can benefit their education. The Putney school received A+ grades for its college prep and academics from Niche.

The Potomac School is located in McLean, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The school’s average ACT score is 33, the highest in the state. No private high school anywhere in the country has an average ACT score higher than a 34. The average SAT score at the school of 1390 is in the top 100 private high schools in the country.

With an average SAT score of 1440 and an average ACT score of 33, the Lakeside School ranks first in Washington state among private schools and in the top 50 in the nation in both test scores. The Seattle school educates students grades five to 12. Lakeside school ranks as the best high school for STEM out of 181 Washington schools. It also earned A+ marks from Niche for its academics, teachers, clubs and activities, and college prep.

In addition to being the top private high school in West Virginia, The Linsly School is also the state’s most diverse private high school. The school has a perfect 100% graduation rate, and three-quarters of students say they like their school and feel happy there. The average SAT and ACT scores at the school both rank second among private West Virginia high schools. Though Linsly costs nearly $20,000 to attend, most students get financial aid. The average amount of financial aid among these students is $13,500.

The Brookfield Academy in Brookfield, Wisconsin, just West of Milwaukee, works to build the “character, their confidence, their intellect, and their sense of purpose and responsibility” of its students. Brookfield Academy ranks as both the best private high school and the best high school for STEM in Wisconsin. The school received A+ grades from Niche for its academics and its college prep.

Jackson Hole Community School in Jackson, Wyoming, ranks as the state’s best private high school in part because of the low student-to-teacher ratio. With just five students per teacher, pupils can receive individualized attention that can benefit them academically.

No Wyoming private school has better test scores than Jackson Hole Community School. School students averaged azores of 1320 on the SAT and 30 on the ACT. Though it costs a little over $25,000 per year, 40% of school students receive financial aid, at an average amount of $14,000.