Faith in America’s public education system is fading in many parts of the country. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 28% of Americans have a high level of confidence in public schools, down from over 60% in the mid-1970s. While much of this distrust has been fueled in recent years by culture war issues, many public schools also face deeper, structural problems related to funding, staffing, and academic outcomes.
Partially as a result, millions of American parents opt to send their children to a private school. Though private schools charge tuition, they also tend to offer distinct advantages over a public education. (Here is a look at states where public schools are losing the most students.)
Private schools often have smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualized instruction and closer student-teacher and parent-teacher relationships. Many private schools also have more rigorous curriculums than public schools and emphasize a well-rounded education that extends beyond the classroom. Private school students tend to perform better on standardized tests and are more likely to later attend top-tier colleges and universities than public school students. Additionally, unlike public schools, private institutions can have a religious affiliation or a single-sex student body, which may be important to some parents.
Some private high schools are centuries old and 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. Still, just like public schools, private schools vary in quality and reputation.
Using data compiled by Niche, an education research platform, 24/7 Wall St. identified the best private high school in each state. 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.
It is important to note that while the schools on this list rank as the top private high school in their state, they may not rank especially high at the national level. In fact, most schools on this list do not rank among the top 100 private high schools nationwide.
Many of the nation’s top private high schools are concentrated in California and a handful of Northeastern states. Phillips Academy Andover, for example, ranks as the best private high school in Massachusetts and the U.S. as a whole. Meanwhile, Groton School, which ranks as the fifth best private high school in the United States, ranks as the second best Massachusetts, and therefore does not rank on this list. (Here is a look at the best private high schools in America.)
Still, the schools on this list tend to have strong academic outcomes, with relatively high standardized test scores and graduation rates at or near 100%. Tuition costs among the schools on this list range from about $8,500 to well over $50,000 a year. In many cases, these figures do not include room and board.
Click here to see the best private high school in every state.
Alabama: Indian Springs School
> Location: Indian Springs Village, AL (Birmingham area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $27,300
> Total enrollment: 327
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Alaska: Holy Rosary Academy
> Location: Anchorage, AK (Anchorage area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1250 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: N/A
> Annual tuition: $8,750
> Total enrollment: 162
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Arizona: Phoenix Country Day School
> Location: Paradise Valley, AZ (Phoenix area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $28,200
> Total enrollment: 750
Arkansas: Thaden School
> Location: Bentonville, AR (Fayetteville, AR area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 29 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $27,600
> Total enrollment: 317
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California: Harvard-Westlake School
> Location: Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1470 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $42,600
> Total enrollment: 1,620
Colorado: Kent Denver School
> Location: Cherry Hills Village, CO (Denver area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $34,648
> Total enrollment: 749
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Connecticut: Choate Rosemary Hall
> Location: Wallingford, CT
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $50,910
> Total enrollment: 868
Delaware: St. Andrew’s School
> Location: Middletown, DE
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $55,500
> Total enrollment: 310
Florida: Ransom Everglades School
> Location: Miami, FL (Miami area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $45,810
> Total enrollment: 1,141
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Georgia: The Westminster Schools
> Location: Atlanta, GA (Atlanta area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $34,106
> Total enrollment: 1,900
Hawaii: ‘Iolani School
> Location: Honolulu, HI (Honolulu area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $27,175
> Total enrollment: 2,181
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Idaho: Riverstone International School
> Location: Boise, ID (Boise area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1320 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 29 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $21,970
> Total enrollment: 416
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Illinois: University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
> Location: Chicago, IL (Chicago area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $33,558
> Total enrollment: 2,051
Indiana: Culver Academies
> Location: Culver, IN
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $57,000
> Total enrollment: 832
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Iowa: Maharishi School
> Location: Fairfield, IA
> Student-teacher ratio: 3:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1290 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 25 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $19,500
> Total enrollment: 165
Kansas: Wichita Collegiate School
> Location: Wichita, KS (Wichita area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $20,360
> Total enrollment: 875
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Kentucky: Kentucky Country Day School
> Location: Louisville, KY (Louisville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $25,900
> Total enrollment: 817
Louisiana: Isidore Newman School
> Location: New Orleans, LA (New Orleans area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1370 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $24,029
> Total enrollment: 917
Maine: Waynflete
> Location: Portland, ME (Portland, ME area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1320 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $35,465
> Total enrollment: 596
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Maryland: Holton-Arms School
> Location: Bethesda, MD (Washington, D.C. area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $48,250
> Total enrollment: 665
Massachusetts: Phillips Academy Andover
> Location: Andover, MA (Boston area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1470 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $51,380
> Total enrollment: 1,187
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Michigan: Cranbrook Schools
> Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI (Detroit area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $38,600
> Total enrollment: 1,659
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Minnesota: The International School of Minnesota
> Location: Eden Prairie, MN (Minneapolis-St. Paul area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1340 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $23,250
> Total enrollment: 310
Mississippi: St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
> Location: Ridgeland, MS (Jackson area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $21,240
> Total enrollment: 1,097
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Missouri: John Burroughs School
> Location: Ladue, MO (St. Louis area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1420 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $32,800
> Total enrollment: 660
Montana: Billings Central Catholic High School
> Location: Billings, MT (Billings area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1090 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 27 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $8,640
> Total enrollment: 330
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Nebraska: Brownell Talbot School
> Location: Omaha, NE (Omaha area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1360 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 29 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $19,950
> Total enrollment: 441
Nevada: The Meadows School
> Location: Las Vegas, NV (Las Vegas area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $30,380
> Total enrollment: 940
New Hampshire: Phillips Exeter Academy
> Location: Exeter, NH
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1440 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $38,740
> Total enrollment: 1,085
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New Jersey: Princeton International School of Math and Science
> Location: Princeton, NJ
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1490 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $43,000
> Total enrollment: 120
New Mexico: Albuquerque Academy
> Location: Albuquerque, NM (Albuquerque area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $26,176
> Total enrollment: 1,183
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New York: Trinity School
> Location: Manhattan, NY (New York City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1500 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 34 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $47,965
> Total enrollment: 1,001
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North Carolina: Cary Academy
> Location: Cary, NC (Raleigh area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $28,495
> Total enrollment: 787
North Dakota: Oak Grove Lutheran School
> Location: Fargo, ND (Fargo area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 27 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $8,480
> Total enrollment: 455
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Ohio: Western Reserve Academy
> Location: Hudson, OH (Cleveland area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $40,975
> Total enrollment: 441
Oklahoma: Casady School
> Location: The Village, OK (Oklahoma City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 29 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $22,120
> Total enrollment: 993
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Oregon: Catlin Gabel School
> Location: Portland, OR (Portland area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1400 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $38,800
> Total enrollment: 783
Pennsylvania: Germantown Friends School
> Location: Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1390 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $41,500
> Total enrollment: 1,129
Rhode Island: The Wheeler School
> Location: Providence, RI (Providence area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1350 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 32 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $41,830
> Total enrollment: 811
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South Carolina: Christ Church Episcopal School
> Location: Greenville, SC (Greenville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $23,125
> Total enrollment: 1,201
South Dakota: Freeman Academy
> Location: Freeman, SD
> Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
> Avg. SAT score: 840 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 26 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $8,905
> Total enrollment: 75
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Tennessee: University School of Nashville
> Location: Nashville, TN (Nashville area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $27,550
> Total enrollment: 1,071
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Texas: St. Mark’s School of Texas
> Location: Dallas, TX (Dallas-Fort Worth area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1480 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $29,496
> Total enrollment: 863
Utah: The Waterford School
> Location: Sandy, UT (Salt Lake City area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1410 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $27,530
> Total enrollment: 1,025
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Vermont: The Putney School
> Location: Putney, VT
> Student-teacher ratio: 3:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1300 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 29 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $42,400
> Total enrollment: 235
Virginia: BASIS Independent McLean
> Location: Tysons, VA (Washington, D.C. area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1460 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $33,000
> Total enrollment: 522
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Washington: Lakeside School
> Location: Seattle, WA (Seattle area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1460 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 33 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $32,000
> Total enrollment: 838
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West Virginia: The Linsly School
> Location: Wheeling, WV
> Student-teacher ratio: 9:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1220 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 27 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $19,850
> Total enrollment: 465
Wisconsin: Brookfield Academy
> Location: Brookfield, WI (Milwaukee area)
> Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1380 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 31 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $22,950
> Total enrollment: 842
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Wyoming: Jackson Hole Community School
> Location: Jackson, WY
> Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
> Avg. SAT score: 1310 out of 1600
> Avg. ACT: 30 out of 36
> Annual tuition: $25,100
> Total enrollment: 83
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