Schools

Private day schools are popular options for families seeking a high-quality education. Students receive a world-class education while maintaining their residence with their families. A great private day school—that is, a private high school without boarding facilities—will challenge students to achieve not only academic success, but personal success as well. (Compare our articles The 50 Best Public High Schools in the U.S. and The 50 Best Colleges in the U.S.)

The rankings below have been compiled on the basis of a number of factors. In terms of academic excellence, the schools on the following list maintain a superior level of instruction, quality relationships with top-tier colleges, and additional academic awards and honors. The majority of students who attend these day schools attend Ivy League universities or the colleges just underneath the Ivies in college ranking materials.
Because diversity of the student body is integral to preparing students for living and working in a connected, global society, we factor this into our criteria for the rankings. The diversity of a student population, as well as opportunities to connect to the world, are telling factors of a school’s commitment to preparing its students for the world outside of the school environment.
The third aspect assessed for this listing consists of intangible factors, such as innovative degree programs in the arts, current student satisfaction with their high school, quality and experience of the faculty, or modern lab or athletic facilities. Also, we have striven for as much geographical diversity as is consistent with our other criteria.
Note about boarding schools: Schools that receive day students along with boarding students will be included in a follow-up article on boarding schools. This article focuses on private high schools that do not provide boarding facilities.
Note about tuition: The tuition price comes from the most current figure posted on the school’s websites. Most of the numbers listed are exclusive of textbooks, lunches, and other fees.
Note about alumni/alumnae: In some cases, notable persons who attended a school, but did not graduate, are also listed.

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1. Trinity School (New York, NY)
Trinity School, founded in 1709, is an independent, co-ed school located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Trinity consistently ranks as the foremost private day school in the country, and for good reasons: over 80% of its faculty holds an advanced degree and the school funnels out students to the best colleges in the nation.
In addition to housing a full Classics department, Trinity also offers a huge array of special programs to ensure that students develop their interests outside the classroom.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Consistently ranked in the top ten of the Wall Street Journal’s Best High Schools Awards
• Named #1 school in the country by Forbes Magazine in 2010
• Alumni include tennis star John McEnroe, fashion consultant Stacy London, actors Humphrey Bogart and Larry Hagman, singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, novelists Truman Capote and Colson Whitehead, and filmmaker Oliver Stone
• Tuition: $39,125, grades 9–11; $39,625, grade 12

2. Roxbury Latin School (Boston, MA)
Located in southwest Boston, the all-men Roxbury Latin School is known for turning out National Merit Scholars, as well as Ivy-bound students.
Founded in 1645, Roxbury Latin is one the oldest, operating private schools in the country. Its rankings speak to its rigorous academic preparation and excellent faculty.
For a small school, the musical groups on campus are impressive: a glee club, an a capella group, a junior chorus, a jazz band, and various chamber ensembles are available for student participation.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #5 prep school by Forbes Magazine
• The top SAT average of any school in the country, according to Peterson’s Private Secondary Schools
• The highest matriculation rate to all 8 Ivies plus Stanford and MIT, according to a study by PrepReview.com
• Alumni include landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, experimental psychologist E.L. Thorndike, educator James B. Conant, and anthropologist Jared Diamond
• Tuition: $24,300

3. Brearley School (New York, NY)
The Brearley School, an all-women’s, non-denominational school located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side,  is a champion of diversity.  Forty-four percent of the student body is comprised of students of color.
Brearley’s emphasis on academics is witnessed by its high Ivy League/MIT/Stanford placement rate of 37%.
The school encourages its students to take advantage of its many study abroad and exchange programs, which include countries like India, China, and Vietnam, as well as the more traditional European study abroad destinations.
The school also has a thriving arts program.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #1 all-women’s school by Forbes Magazine
• Alumnae include anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson, novelists Anne and Katie Roiphe, actresses Jill Clayburgh, Sigourney Weaver, and Kyra Sedgwick, and philanthropist Caroline Kennedy
• Tuition: $36,800

4. Horace Mann School (New York, NY)
In the Riverdale section of the Bronx, one will discover the 18-acre campus of the Horace Mann School, which is recognized as one of the top feeder schools to the Ivies.
Horace Mann seeks to educate the whole person inside and outside of the classroom: In addition to offering an assortment of co-curricular activities, students are required to pass a swim test, learn CPR, and complete community service hours as part of their graduation requirements.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #2 school in the U.S. by Forbes Magazine in 2010
• Ranked #4 by the Wall Street Journal
• Most of its 21 student publications have earned recognition from the CSPA (Columbia Scholastic Press Association) and ASPA (Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors)
• Alumni include composer Elliott Carter, poet William Carlos Williams, novelist James Salter, philosopher John Searle, economist Robert Heilbroner, Pultizer Prize–winning author Robert Caro, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, and jazz pianist Peter Cincotti
• Tuition: $39, 100

5. Winsor School (Boston, MA)
The Winsor School, founded in 1886, is one of the top all-women’s prep schools in the country. Its academic excellence is evidenced by its high average combined SAT score of 2100 and its Ivy League/MIT/Stanford matriculation rate of 35%.
Winsor enrolls approximately 430 students from diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. For further enrichment, the school offers off-campus programs, exchanges to China and France, and semesters at the Mountain School in Vermont.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #10 on Forbes Magazine best prep list
• Alumnae include figure skater Tenley Albright and Harvard Law School Professor Martha Field
• Tuition: $37,100

6. College Preparatory School (Oakland, CA)
College Prep of Oakland, a co-educational, private school, is one of the most selective private day schools in the country, with a population of only 320 students.
The highly-selective admissions process guarantees a high-caliber student upon entrance, which typically results in these students’ becoming freshmen at the nation’s top colleges—22 students from College Prep have become Stanford students upon graduation during the last five years alone.
Students participate in Intraterm each year, a specialized program for enrichment the week before spring break.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 59% of the class of 2013 were recognized as either National Merit Semi-Finalists or Commended
• Ranked #17 private school in the country by Forbes Magazine in 2010
• Alumni include filmmaker Miranda July, Deputy U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Marchick, and Cher Wang, co-founder of smartphone manufacturer HTC
• Tuition: $35,410

7. Collegiate School (New York, NY)
Collegiate School, an all-men’s private school located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, traces back its history to 1628, making it one of the oldest schools in the U.S.
In addition to boasting a stellar average combined SAT score (2195) and Ivy League/MIT/Stanford acceptance rate (41%), Collegiate is distinguished by having the best soccer team in the state among private schools.
Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the school’s prime New York City location by enrolling in CITYterm, which uses the Manhattan cityscape as its classroom.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Named it the #1 school in the world for getting into the Ivies by the Wall Street Journal 
• Ranked #7 prep school in the country by Forbes Magazine
• Alumni include film directors Peter Bogdanovich and Whit Stillman, actor David Duchovny, and John F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the former president
• Tuition: $39,400

8. Spence School (New York, NY)
An all-women’s school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Spence School offers a global learning community within its campus.
Over 33% of the student body consists of students of color, and the curriculum at Spence is designed so that a student can identify herself and sees her culture and heritage reflected in her studies. The English Department hosts an array of classes focusing on literature from specific regions around the world.
Upper School students can choose from among 40 clubs and activities.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #9 by Forbes in the best prep schools list
• Alumnae include philanthropist Helen Cray Frick, author Francine du Plessix Gray, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow
• Tuition: $39,200

 9. Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles, CA)
Harvard-Westlake (H-W) is a private, co-ed school that spans two campuses on the west side of Los Angeles, between Bel Air and Beverly Hills.
A distinguishing feature of the school is its focus on character education and ethical leadership, which is built into the curriculum.
H-W allows for directed study and independent study. Travel is encouraged, both abroad or domestically (at the Mountain School or the High Mountain Institute).
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Over 1/3 of students in the class of 2011 received National Merit Recognition
• Ranked as one of America’s best prep schools from prepreview.com in 2008
• Ranked as #12 on the Forbes Best Schools list for 2010
• Alumni include actors Myrna Loy, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Shirley Temple, Candice Bergen, Elizabeth Montgomery, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as film director Jason Reitman and astronaut Sally Ride
• Tuition: $31, 350

10. Dalton School (New York, NY)
The Dalton school, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is the home of the Dalton Plan, an educational model adopted by schools globally. The plan comprises three parts (Home, Assignment, and Lab), as well as programs designed to meet a student’s individual needs.
Seniors stay busy at Dalton: On top of the senior initiative and project, the school mandates an internship program in the senior year to give students hands-on experience for post-grad life.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #13 on the Forbes Best Prep Schools list
• Alumni include actors Chevy Chase and Claire Danes, author Frances Fitzgerald, science fiction writer Samuel R. Delany, journalists Eric Schlosser and Matt Yglesias, and TV personalities Anderson Cooper and Andrew Zimmern
• Tuition: $40,220

11. Chapin School (New York, NY)
The Chapin School is an all-women’s school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. All students attend school under one roof to maintain a sense of continuity and community.
Chapin has an extensive network of partnerships for students to complete summer internships, including a partnership with the Foreign Policy Association.
Students may also enroll in an elective service-learning course that is designed to incorporate meaningful community service into teaching and learning about civic responsibility and social issues.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #3 in college placement by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumnae include author Anne Morrow Lindbergh, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, actresses Stockard Channing and  Sigourney Weaver, and fashion designers Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Wang
• Tuition: $36,500

12. Princeton Day School (Princeton, NJ)
Princeton Day School (PDS) is a private, co-educational day school.
PDS is naturally a feeder school for nearby Princeton University; however, many graduates go on to attend other top-ranked colleges such as NYU, Cornell, Tufts, and Georgetown.
Not only does PDS more than adequately prepare students for the best colleges in the country, it incorporates a number of special programs to nurture the student as a complete individual. There is a two-day celebration of creativity featuring guest artists and a five-week seminar for seniors, “A Life That Works,” which gathers seniors to investigate spiritual and practical dimensions of life relevant to shaping their futures.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• A third of the 2011 graduating class were honored as National Merit Semi-Finalists or Commended Scholars
• Alumni include actor Christopher Reeve, singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, and rock musician Trey Anastasio
• Tuition: $30,230

13. Saint Ann’s School (New York, NY)
Saint Ann’s School is a non-sectarian, co-educational, private day school located in the Brooklyn Heights section of New York City.
There are a couple of keys that separate Saint Ann’s school from the other schools on this list.
First, the school doesn’t have a grading system and prefers to have its teachers prepare full-page reports on each student to give what they deem a more accurate reflection of the learning that took place.
A spotlight on the arts is another feature unique to Saint Ann’s, in that the school considers the arts to be central elements to a student’s education.
Juniors and seniors help design their own curriculum.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Named one of the top 50 high schools by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include actresses Jennifer Connelly and Lena Dunham, and rap musician Mike D (Mike Diamond)
• Tuition: grades 9–11, $32, 400; grade 12, $33,100

14. Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, PA)
Germantown Friends School is a co-educational, private day school located in Philly’s historic Germantown neighborhood. The school maintains has its roots in, and maintains strong connections with, the Society of Friends.
Germantown Friends is known for its strong academic preparation: 10–20% of graduates enroll at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.
The school keeps it values close in mind both inside and outside of the classroom, making for a rich education in the development of the individual students.
In keeping with its spiritual values, Germantown Friends does not calculate GPA for class rank and does not have a Valedictorian or Salutatorian. Instead, graduating classes elect a faculty member and a classmate to deliver ceremonial speeches.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include Nobel Prize-winning physicists Owen Chamberlain and Saul Perlmutter, television producer Kara Vallow, and music producer and author Sandra Boynton
• Tuition: $29,795

15. National Cathedral School (Washington, DC)
The National Cathedral School (NCS)  is a private, all-women’s Episcopal day school in the McLean Gardens neighborhood of our nation’s capital.
NCS was built before the National Cathedral itself, and maintains its heritage through weekly chapel services by school division and ecumenical, thematic Friday services.
Thirty-five percent of the student body is made up of students of color.
Athletic participation, which includes dance and yoga classes as well as outdoor recreation, is mandatory for all students.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumnae include American U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and U.S. Congresswoman Beverly Byron
• Tuition: $35,120

16. University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Chicago, IL)
The Lab School (as it is universally known), which is located on the campus of the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood of the city, is a private, co-educational day school that takes pride in its diverse campus culture.
The school was founded in 1896 by Professor John Dewey, one of the foremost philosophers, educators, and public intellectuals in America’s history.
Students learn about cultural, communicative ethics, and civility education, and participate in an outstanding World Languages program.
Students at the Lab School are known for their excellence in scholastic journalism, as well.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #4 in the nation for its record of sending graduates to elite colleges and universities
• Alumni include U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, composer Ned Rorem, historian William McNeill, philosopher Leon Kass, biologist Lynn Margulis, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
• Tuition: $28,290

17. Collegiate School (Richmond, VA)
Collegiate School, which is located in Virginia’s state capital (and should not be confused with the New York City school of the same name), is a private, co-educational day school committed to academic and personal excellence.
All students participate in community service projects; seniors complete short internships prior to graduation as a graduation requirement. To prepare students for the world beyond academia, Collegiate weaves both economics education and global education into its entire curriculum.
Recently, Collegiate initiated a Global Education Mission, creating partnerships with schools in China, India, Mexico, and Spain, and expanded its oral proficiency requirements for foreign language study. It is also home to the International Emerging Leaders Conference.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The class of 2012 produced three National Merit Semi-finalists, one Achievement Semi-Finalist, and 14 Commended Scholars
• Alumni include U.S. Representative and current House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, film producer Michael Gottwald, TV writer Mike Henry, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
• Tuition: $21,520

18. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (Ridgeland, MS)
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, which is located just north of Jackson, Mississippi (and should not be confused with several other schools of the same name in other states), is an independent, co-ed, college prep school for students in grades pre-K through 12.
St. Andrew’s consistently leads the state in the percentage of National Merit Semi-finalists.   In addition to a fine academic tradition, St. Andrew’s students grow as individuals in a variety of ways, one of which is that they complete an astounding 100 hours of community service projects before graduation. The school has established a focus on global studies through the St. Andrew’s International Society, the Global Speakers program, and by providing exchange programs with schools in Japan, China, Mexico, Ghana, Scotland, Spain, France, and India.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The Class of 2011 included 12 National Merit Finalists, three National Achievement Finalists, and five Commended Students
• The Class of 2010 included 18 National Merit Finalists (more than any other school in the state), three National Achievement Finalists, and two Commendations
• St. Andrew’s has produced four Presidential Scholars in the last four years
• Thirty-five of 39 of Mississippi’s AP State Scholars have been St. Andrew’s students
• Tuition: $14,605

19. Delbarton School (Morristown, NJ)
Delbarton is a Catholic, all-men’s school located just west of Newark, New Jersey.
In addition to its commitment to academic excellence, Delbarton promotes the values of cooperative living in a global society.
Through its study abroad programs, notable international guest speakers, and an award-winning Model U.N., students gain significant insight into the outside world.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #9 among the nation’s schools by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include playwright Christopher Durang, actor Peter Dinklage, computer scientist Robert Tappan Morris, and Wall Street trader/martial arts fighter John Cholish
• Tuition: $30,200

20. Commonwealth School (Boston, MA)
Located in Boston’s Back Bay East neighborhood, Commonwealth is a private, co-ed day school with a prestigious academic standing. Historically, two-thirds of each graduating class is recognized by the National Merit Scholar program.
The school views community service as an integral part of developing the whole person; therefore, students are required to complete 70 hours of service by the beginning of their junior years.
Additionally, the school mandates that students participate in the on-campus Jobs Program, in which students sign up to complete a variety of practical, common tasks on a regular basis.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Three members of the Class of 2012 were Presidential Scholar Semi-finalists
• Physics department named best in the country by the College Board in 2004
• Ranked best private high school by Boston Magazine in 2009
• Alumni include historian Daniel Pipes, diplomat Peter Galbraith, film directors Kasi Lemmons and Jesse Peretz, actor Hamish Linklater, and model Cameron Russell
• Tuition: $34,704

21. Lakeside School (Seattle, WA)
A private school in the north part of Seattle, the Lakeside School presents an intense academic program that exceeds the rigor of AP classes; thus, AP classes are not offered.
Lakeside has one of the most diverse student populations, with over half of the student body comprised of students of color.
The history of engaging students in global affairs dates back to the famous 1984 chess match against Moscow School students. Today, the school’s Global Service Learning Program “aims at helping students gain a broader view of the world while helping the underprivileged around the world.”
Students also have numerous opportunities for study abroad, both domestically and internationally.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• The class of 2012 produced 31 National Merit Semifinalists, 40 National Merit Commended, four National Achievement Scholar Award winners, and three National Hispanic Recognition Award winners
• Alumni include Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and TV actor Adam West
• Tuition: $27,250

22. Regis High School (New York, NY)
An all-men’s, Catholic day school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Regis High School has a rigorous set of criteria for acceptance, and is widely regarded as a feeder school to the Ivies and other top U.S. colleges and universities.
Run by the Jesuit order, Regis combines a commitment to academic excellence with a focus on religiously guided values.
Annual class enrollment is limited to approximately 135 male students from the NY/NJ/CT  tri-state area. All students receive a tuition-free education.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include immunologist Anthony Fauci, writer and critic Luc Sante, book publisher and editor Robert Giroux, journalists Pete Hamill and Mark Mazzetti, and author Edward Conlon
• Tuition: $0

23. Rye Country Day School (Rye, NY)
Rye Country Day School, which was founded in 1869, is a co-ed day school in a town on Long Island Sound, north of New Rochelle on Connecticut border.
While Rye Country Day has a consistent rate of students who matriculate into top-tier schools, it also maintains a deep commitment to community service.
Diversity also plays a prominent role on campus: Out of the many co-curricular clubs and activities Rye offers, nine are student clubs that promote diversity on the campus.
The school requires a Senior Term mandatory graduation project. .
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #21 on a list of top schools by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Edward Albee, first lady Barbara Bush, and TV actor Nick Kroll
• Tuition: $34,600

24. Crystal Springs Uplands School (Hillsborough, CA)
Crystal Springs Uplands School, is an independent, co-ed private school located south of San Francisco, near San Mateo.
The school was among the first private schools to wave goodbye to the College Board’s AP courses. This was done so that teachers could design even more challenging coursework and students could initiate projects, internships, investigative research, and global experiences. However, students may elect to take the AP exams.
In terms of diversity, over 50% of the student population are students of color.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Alumni include heiress Patty Hearst, hip hop music producer Charlie Kubal, and TV actress Polly Draper
• Tuition: $35,700

25. Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Cambridge, MA)
The Buckingham School (1889) and Browne & Nichols School (1883) merged in 1974, creating a dynamic co-educational institution (BB&N). The three separate campuses are located within a few miles of each other in the western part of Cambridge, between the Charles River and historic Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
BB&N’s excellent academics prepares students for acceptance and success at the nation’s top colleges. Participation in sports is mandatory for all students.
BB&N students produce several publications, which have received national recognition.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 27 Presidential Scholars from Massachusetts
• Ranked #5 top private school in the Boston area by Boston Magazine in 2009
• Ranked among the top 50 schools in the world for university preparation by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Alumni include actor Anthony Perkins, Prison Fellowship founder Charles Colson, NPR radio broadcaster Sylvia Poggioli, U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy, III, billionaire businesswoman Abigail Johnson, and Netflix founder Reed Hastings
• Tuition: $38,030

26. St. Mark’s School of Texas (Dallas, TX)
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a nonsectarian, all-men’s day school located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of north Dallas. The school’s academic performance record shines in the light of its many graduates who attend the nation’s best colleges.
St. Mark’s makes concerted efforts towards environmental sustainability, for which the school has received accolades.
Outdoor education is an integral part of the St. Mark’s experience and is required of all students.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• 22 National Merit Scholars in the Class of 2011
• 35 Commended Scholars from the National Merit Program in the Class of 2011
• Seven Presidential Scholars since 2003
• Alumni include National Lampoon co-founder Robert Hoffman, singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs,and actors Tommy Lee Jones and Luke and Owen Wilson
• Tuition: $25,258–$26,914, depending on the grade level

27. San Francisco University High School (San Francisco, CA)
San Francisco University High School (popularly known as “University”) opened in 1975 as a co-ed private school in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of the city.
Independent learning and self-directed projects are a valuable and unique asset to the excellent curriculum the school offers.
At University, community service learning requirements are mandatory. Over 40% of the student body is composed of students of color.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Ranked #21 best high school based on university preparedness by the Wall Street Journal in 2007
• Ranked #8 best high school in the country for matriculation rate and success at top colleges and universities by the Washington Post in 2013
• Alumni include writer Ethan Canin, filmmaker and actor Ari Gold, National League pitcher Tyler Walker, and actor John Morris
• Tuition: $35,440

28. Marlborough School (Los Angeles, CA)
Founded in 1889, Marlborough School is a private, all-women’s day school located in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Central L.A. It is the oldest school for women in Southern California.
Marlborough hosts a premiere Visiting Scholars program. While Marlborough does not require community service from its students, it is a valued, encouraged, and integral part of daily student life.
Awards, Ranking, Alumni, Tuition:

• Science program has received national recognition
• Honors research program was featured in a 2005 New York Times article
• Alumnae include novelist Nell Freudenberger, author Anne Fadiman, actress and playwright Zoe Kazan, and MSNBC anchor Alex Wit
• Tuition: $28,950

29. Riverdale Country School (New York, NY)