2023 Best Private High Schools in New Jersey

• Princeton, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.94 out of 5  17 reviews

Freshman: Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science offers an educational experience like no other! For any student interested in STEAM-related subjects, PRISMS is a dream come true. The faculty are passionate and helpful, and the scientific equipment is college-level! While sports are not prioritized, Varsity volleyball, soccer, and basketball are offered. PRISMS is a great community, filled with incredible educators, a STEAM-centered curriculum, and top-notch scientific equipment.... Read 17 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 120

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Lawrenceville, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  172 reviews

Alum: I loved my three years there! I have had invaluable once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and experiences here and I have grown so much from my journey! Fair warning, it is pretty rigorous academically and, and especially a rather sharp learning curve if you enter after freshman year ,(I was a new sophomore) but, once you find or reach out to the necessary people, it'll make the adjustment so much easier. Though your schedule will most likely almost always be packed, that also means you have a plethora of opportunities to stretch and apply yourself, not just in fields that you cam into high school good at, but in new subject areas and co-curriculars you might have never even heard of before.... Read 172 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 822

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Basking Ridge, NJ•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  144 reviews

Senior: Pingry has been most impactful in its ability to show me the value of community during each individual's highs and lows in life. The Pingry community has always wrapped its arms around me during both my greatest triumphs and biggest struggles, which has been instrumental in helping me succeed. I would say the quality that Pingry has nurtured most within me is the drive or enthusiasm to continue learning and be curious in all of my pursuits. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in the studio, both students and faculty work to push one another to our greatest heights in order to continue pursuing all of our goals. I believe Pingry has also helped me further develop my collaboration and interpersonal skills, which are crucial no matter what field of study.... Read 144 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Livingston, NJ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  128 reviews

Middle School Student: As a student who goes to Newark Academy, there are many things about NA that you won’t find at any other school. This school has an amazing community where students and teachers are able to have a good relationship. The Equity and Inclusion team makes sure that you belong and that others understand you. The arts program is wonderful and has a variety of things for everyone. The academics go beyond the books and are very hands on. I would recommend this school to anyone in the area who cares about their child and wants them to have a good future!... Read 128 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 674

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Morristown, NJ•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  126 reviews

Sophomore: Love it! It is just the best. I am a current sophomore here and I cannot help but note how amazing the staff, students, and all people involved in Delbarton are!... Read 126 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 648

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Hightstown, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  152 reviews

Sophomore: Peddie makes an effort to inform prospective students of its academic rigor. And oh, is school hard at Peddie! The typical school day is packed with a class of challenging math, a productive discussion in Humanities, lectures and labs in Chemistry, Biology or Physics, and more. Students can explore and succeed in a many fields including Computer Science, the Arts or an additional language. After school, students are engaged in a required extracurricular activity. Many students opt for sports, which all have practices in state-of-the-art facilities with the guidance of devoted coaches. I've been on the swim team for the past year, and have found team culture to be wonderful and supportive. Other activities include being in the cast or set crew of musicals, Robotics (FRC), and community service. Dorm life is great too, the lounges are open and spacious, and SNAs (Saturday Night Activities) are aplenty.... Read 152 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 532

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Englewood, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  65 reviews

Alum: I loved my time at D-E! I joined in 9th grade, and throughout my 4 years, I found that every teacher truly wanted me to strive to do my best in my classes and extracurricular activities. The campus is beautiful and I can tell that the faculty truly love what they do and want to see each of us succeed. The college counseling office is also super on top of things, and I am grateful to be going furthering my education at WashU thanks to their guidance.... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 947

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Summit, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  62 reviews

Alum: Academically excellent, great leadership opportunities, and supportive staff. The school should have much higher rankings given how well it prepares well rounded and intelligent future leaders. In 2007, The Wall Street Journal already listed Kent Place School as one of the world's top 50 schools for its success in preparing students to enter top American universities. The school has excellent academical cuticulum, strong STEM resources, and abundant student activities. At KPS learning with purpose, leading with ethics, thriving in community, and investing in one another are the priorities. These priorities are rooted in the school's core strengths, enriched by our long history of understanding how high-achieving girls learn best, and deepened by the story that every student brings to our community. KPS has a long history. Since 1894, KPS has dedicated to empowering girls. The results have been spectacular. KPS has sent students to many top institutions in the world.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 649

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Princeton, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  129 reviews

Parent: PDS is a diverse independent school with many great characteristics. The academics and curriculum are very thorough and definitely help students get ready for what comes next. This school also has many sports facilities that are utilized for skating, squash, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and hockey. The cafeteria, in the center of the building, holds a vast amount of people with booths and tables. The food, aside from being delicious, is organic and comes from the garden. There is additionally a chicken coop and garden classroom. Besides these, the school has a well developed art and music system. The fourth grade operetta and eighth grade musical are just some of the performing arts opportunities students get when attending this school. Princeton Day School also supports orchestra, band, and choir members as they have great teachers and conductors. In general, the school, students, and teachers are welcoming and provide great assistance!... Read 129 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 969

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Somerset, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  110 reviews

Junior: The academics at Rutgers Prep are very strong. The teachers are very caring and know a lot about the subjects they are teaching. In general, everyone is super friendly and welcoming. There are lots of clubs and sports that students can partake in. However, the food is not very good and the overall academic environment is quite competitive. Most of the kids here take their studies seriously. There are also some teachers that make their class almost impossible for no reason.... Read 110 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 640

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Blairstown, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  104 reviews

Parent: We have had a wonderful experience at Blair; our daughter is thriving. Blair has helped her develop academically and socially. We love Blair's challenging school curriculum, especially that each student is assigned two advisors - an academic and a personal one. Our daughter has made wonderful relationships with girls and boys across a wide range of backgrounds. We cannot say enough good things about the way Blair handled COVID - school was open last year and many fun outdoor activities were planned to keep the kids entertained and engaged. This year the head of Blair told families from day one that they were going to co-exist with COVID and did they ever! Our daughter has challenged herself trying and falling for a new sport, enrolling in advanced courses and starting a new club. We feel so luck to be a Blair family... Read 104 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 465

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Montclair, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  120 reviews

Junior: MKA is a school with a lot of academic rigor, and it is clear that most of the teachers care for the student's academics. Keyword most, because some teachers (especially at the middle school) did not care as much for student's academics and/or wellbeing. Besides that, the reason that I'm giving 4 stars and not 5 is because of the community in the school, especially the upper school. Although the school says that they are trying to fix issues within the community (ex. yearly surveys, mental health clubs, etc.), there are many microaggressions against minorities, women, and especially lower-income people. There is an underlying "competition" of who is richer, dresses up the preppiest, brings a sports car, etc. It is also clear (and the school has recognized) that many minorities and women feel unsafe around certain cliques and friend groups because of said microaggressions being spread. Overall, good academics, administration needs to work on making the community a safer place.... Read 120 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,052

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Edison, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  86 reviews

Sophomore: It is a great school! The Wardlaw+Hartridge School provides a great education preparing students for the future. It helps you learn how to be independent, in order to have a bright future! It’s a school that will surely prepare each student for college! The Wardlaw+Hartridge School expects there students to exceed at what they do and the staff are always willing to help you succeed! Staff is great they always put in their best effort to understand you and put time aside ti be able to help you in anything you need!... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 471

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Princeton, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  90 reviews

Niche User: Stuart really provides a very individualized education for girls. I have noticed an attention to the specific learning styles, interests, and needs of every student. The ability of the teachers to bring high quality programing through distance learning has not been matched by any school in the area. It was clear they were committed to delivering the same quality education, activities, and community events remotely that they are known for in a traditional setting. I could not be more impressed with the school's transition during a very challenging time. Thank you teachers for a job well done!... Read 90 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 334

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Pennington, NJ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: Our son is a senior who has attended The Pennington School since his freshman year and his experience has been tremendous! He has friends from all over the world, his classes have had about 8 to 13 students in each which has translated to personalized and high-level instruction with active student engagement/participation every day, he's participated in sports and multiple activities, clubs and fundraisers all 4 years including tutoring students in Malawi, being part of the Global Studies program, and serving on the "Green Team" where he has been able to make an environmental impact. We hosted 2 international students his soph year who have become family. And he is already set up with where he will attend college next year. This school offers so much that it has been a gift that he has been able to attend for his high school years. I recommend The Pennington School to anyone looking to enrich their child's school experience and to prepare them for the future.... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 534

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Princeton, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.61 out of 5  107 reviews

Senior: As a student who has attended the Wilberforce school from 8-12th grade with siblings currently in the lower and middle school, I have experienced much of the school in its entirety. I transferred from a local public school and a couple things I would highlight: 1. The Wilberforce school functions on a classical curriculum. Therefore, everyone takes mostly all the same classes. Personally, I love the small classes and intimate learning environment that Wilberforce fosters. Whereas I experienced a lot of Chromebook work in public school, there is a focus on discussion and paper and pen work at Wilberforce which made it easier for me to learn. 2. The teachers are AMAZING. They have not only helped me to grow in areas I previously had low confidence in (ie math, public speaking), but also have grown me as a whole person. Humane letters class is an unparalleled experience. 3. I have been heavily involved in the musical and it has been one of the highlights of my time here!... Read 107 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 343

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Princeton, NJ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  135 reviews

Sophomore: I have thoroughly enjoyed Hun. The classes are challenging, the teachers engaging, the extracurriculars are what you make them and the sports teams are both welcoming and as competitive ad you want. The POC are welcome and I have not experienced or seen or heard of any difficulties with students or teachers. The school has a vibrant international population and a nice mix of day students where we can all be friends. Hun is a very welcoming community of learners. The administration is very thoughtful. Glad I chose Hun and I look forward to another great year unmasked! I will be working more with college counseling which seems to be a phenomenal group according to friends in their junior year. This has been a great school for me.... Read 135 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 665

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• West Orange, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  75 reviews

Parent: As the parent of three alumni, I can't recommend Golda Och Academy more! My children gained an exceptional general studies and Judaic education in a truly caring community. The teachers all really care about their students and help them shine. There are so many extra-curricular activities to choose from and the Israel experiences are unique and can't be found anywhere else! My alumni children were well prepared for college and all were admitted to their top choice colleges. They gained leadership skills and today are confident young Jewish leaders. GOA is an incredible gift for your children and family!... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 420

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Tinton Falls, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.51 out of 5  35 reviews

Parent: My son started at Ranney this fall and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. We feel so fortunate that our son has teachers who challenge him, recognize his potential, and help him to be the best version of himself every day. While the academics are incredibly strong, administrators/staff focus on the social-emotional learning as well. Kindness, empathy, and respect are woven into the fabric of the Ranney culture and are actively modeled by administrators and staff. Perhaps the most important gift that Ranney has given our son is happiness. He wakes up every morning excited to go to school. He comes home and excitedly talks about his day, his learnings, and his peers. It is the greatest feeling to know that your child not only feels connected to his school community, but is also valued for who he is within that community. We are so thankful that we made the decision to send our son to Ranney and are thrilled that our youngest son will be attending next year as well!... Read 35 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 736

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Morristown, NJ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  121 reviews

Parent: What a great place this is! The kids here are genuinely happy and spirited. The culture is upbeat and supportive. Teachers really get to know their students well, and it is abundantly evident that they care about them. The curriculum is innovative. Advanced seminars are offered, as well as independent study. There are traditional AP classes as well as Honors courses. Athletics are great, and there is a strong theater and arts program. Some prospective parents worry that MBS is not rigorous enough, and that their child won't get into an elite college. In fact, I was one of them. Turns out that simply was not true! Your child can get a great education here, and will be well prepared for college, whichever one they choose. Oh, and bonus - they will have a wonderful and well rounded high school experience. What more could a parent hope for?... Read 121 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 616

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Wayne, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  86 reviews

Parent: Pioneer Academy is a great school, both on the academic level and ethical level. It provided a safe and nourishing environment for both my kids, the elder of them attended Pioneer for the 4 years of high school and helped him a lot. He finished the school last year and now is enrolled in a highly ranked engineering college in New Jersey. My youngest son has been attending Pioneer since 3rd grade. He is now in 8th grade and enjoying the school with all that it offers, good teachers, great learning facilities, different sports activities and safe environment. Pioneer is a small school in numbers and may lack some facilities like an indoor gym, but it is really like a big family for the kids!... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 395

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Moorestown, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  83 reviews

Senior: Moorestown Friends is as advertised, inspiring kids to perform academically, to pursue interdisciplinary study, and to break the mold of a student fitting a single archetype. It's a place where most are committed to producing results: the girl at the top of the class is also a double varsity athlete, AP art student, etc. MFS does a great job of creating a culture that rewards success. However, it can be exhausting. MFS can be difficult for high-achievers experiencing burnout. One thing I will say is that the emotional strain placed on a student to perform may impact their mental health. It can be exhausting to perform out of fear of failure, and the mental health resources are a tad subpar. Our school counselor is a wonderful woman, but ultimately it comes down to "I-know-you're-depressed-but-your-grades-are-good-so-stick-it-out!" TL;DR: It's a great mix of pre-professional and creative, has amazing resources for all sorts of study and projects, but can be unhealthily competitive.... Read 83 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 634

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Westwood, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.73 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: Wonderful school for intellectually curious children. Low student:teacher ratios, sub-specialty teachers for dedicated subjects starting in Pre-K. Most importantly the children love going to school!... Read 11 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 95

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Watchung, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  183 reviews

Parent: When our family relocated to New Jersey we looked at numerous schools for our younger daughter and selected Mount Saint Mary Academy for their strong curriculum, welcoming culture, college prep and dedicated administration and teachers. It was absolutely the right decision for our daughter and our family! During her three years at The Mount our daughter took advantage of many of the clubs and activities, the AP courses and student government. The Mount prepared our daughter extremely well for college and graduated with honors from NYU where she received a partial scholarship. Thank you Sr. Lisa, and the entire Mount family, for such a wonderful high school experience for our daughter.... Read 183 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 266

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Summit, NJ•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  85 reviews

Parent: My daughter is currently a freshman at OKS and this is her first year. I can't speak highly enough not just about the academics, but the sense of community and service as well. The teachers are nothing short of amazing and are invested in each student's success and journey. There are such a variety of activities and clubs to suit multiple interests, whether it be athletic, career-oriented, interest-oriented, etc. Definitely visit and see how amazing OKS truly is!... Read 85 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 326

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1