2024 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

• Hillsborough, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  67 reviews

Freshman: I love it here! I have never been more supported at school. There's tutorials, teachers are always flexible to meet anytime. You can email, sign up on calendly, or find them anytime at their desk. There is also WRC writing tutoring support as well as student peer tutors in all kinds of subjects. It's really just a safe environment where you feel comfortable talking to anyone of all ages, whether it's the college counselor, admissions officers, or cracking jokes with the head of school. And I'm excited that trips this year are out of state again!... Read 67 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 853

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Basking Ridge, NJ•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  149 reviews

Sophomore: At the Pingry School, everyone can find their place. Whether it is the plethora of student interest clubs, diverse student body, the openness and willingness of the teachers to help at every turn, or just the smile on everyone's faces in the morning, it really is a joy to be a member of the Pingry Community. The level of trust and camaraderie among the community is unparalleled, and Pingry really sticks to the tenets of its Honor Code. But there really is no better way to experience the Pingry Community than to come see it for yourself!... Read 149 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  76 reviews

Parent: Our two children attended Riverdale Country School from 6th through 12th grades, and it has been our pleasure to be members of the Riverdale community for the past eleven years. Both have now graduated, and our daughter is following in her older brother’s footsteps to attend her first choice college this fall. We have loved being Riverdale parents and watching our children thrive. The school excels on so many levels — from extraordinarily qualified and dedicated teachers and school leaders who really get to know your children, to a wide range of course offerings in every subject, to all the after-school athletics and arts, and a true school spirit running through it all. Just as an example, both children had the chance to perform independent research side-by-side with a teacher/supervisor in their senior years, in areas of study they developed themselves. What an amazing experience!... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,299

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.56 out of 5  113 reviews

Parent: We have two daughters at Chapin, both of whom started in Kindergarten, and could not be happier with the school. As parents, our desire is to help our daughters become independent thinkers who love to learn. So far, Chapin has been incredible in this regard. Chapin combines intense academics and social-emotional learning in a way that develops thoughtful, emotionally mature, successful students. The school's access to resources and extracurricular offerings is incredible, enabling the girls to try out sports and activities. Having K-12 under one roof is a real plus, especially with easy access to Carl Schurz park, Asphalt Green, and Randall's Island. Overall, we couldn't be happier with our choice of Chapin for our family!... Read 113 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 814

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Houston, TX•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  113 reviews

Alum: St. John's is an incredible school with tons of opportunities for participation and excellence in and out of the classroom. Even though it is considered probably the "nerdiest" school in Houston, the people here excel in extracurricular activities as well, including sports theater, the arts, and so much more. I absolutely loved my time at St. John's and the class I graduated with, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!... Read 113 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,424

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  150 reviews

Alum: The school is excellent in every regard except for the student culture. Everyone is extremely nice and there haven't been any problems with bullying, but it comes at the cost of near complete grade-centrism. Grades are so important that, in many cases, comprehension and enjoyment of the subject falls second. It creates tension and competition, and I'm pretty sure the stress took more than a few years off my life. Still, I've loved attending here and from my parent's perspective, the administration was unbelievably organized and generally very responsive to issues. Also, if you're interested in engineering like I was during high school, there were only two classes with engineering in the name. To make up I joined one of the (several) robotics teams and took all the math, physics and compsci classes I could, which were excellent, but it's a noticeable hole in the school's diverse curriculum.... Read 150 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,793

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Dallas, TX•

• Private School•

• 1-12

• •
  Rating 4.63 out of 5  79 reviews

Parent: I have friends who are attending various private and public schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area from grades 5 on through 12. In sitting down with the other dads it is undoubtedly true that no school has done more to prepare post the outbreak of the pandemic then St Mark’s. Not only their children but their administration and teachers are out of this world! Not only did the school literally review replace hundreds of things across the campus, they’ve also implemented a fantastic screening program, testing program, and communications program for SARS-COVID19. I know that when selecting schools grades, scores and college admissions are the number one priority. I never thought I would pick a school based upon their ability to handle a medical global outbreak. The school has literally blown us away! We are thankful that our son is there and hope that other schools can use them as a benchmark going into the winter of the pandemic.... Read 79 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 911

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  83 reviews

Sophomore: I am receiving a truly fantastic education at Brearley, and for that I am grateful! The school provides students with valuable resources and opportunities to expand and customize their learning experience. The culture of competition can be overwhelming, but I think the stressful atmosphere is perpetuated by the students, rather than the administration. The adults I’ve interacted with at Brearley have generally been supportive and understanding, while some of the kids can be cutthroat and aggressively driven.... Read 83 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 776

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  80 reviews

Senior: Lots of opportunities to do things and the worst part was when there was the opportunity, but I could figure out how to get to it. Generally good with Financial Aid with some exceptions like having to be in a music program in order to get music lessons, but largley only being able to be in a program if you already played something. The athletic options were good, both on teams and otherwise. The art department was fantastic and many students were close with the teachers. Though other kids' experiences varied, I liked all my teachers. We learned a lot and had easy accessibility to things outside of the classroom, including trips, (moderately) job opportunities, hearing from speakers and alumni, community service, general get-to-gethers/events, and more.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,001

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Mclean, VA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  62 reviews

Parent: My 2 children have attended Basis for 6 years, since elementary age and are currently in middle and high school. My children are thriving both socially and academically, they are challenged! It is an environment that will teach self advocacy, independence, executive functioning skill sets that will bring out your child's grit. It will make them stronger, more confident in themselves and their abilities. It isn't for the faint at heart when it comes to work, time management is taught and is critical in grades 8 and above. Every school has its share of issues, but if you want a stellar education and a place where they will learn resilience, commitment and discipline then consider Basis. I gave it 4 stars only because they lack high quality PE facilities that other private high schools in the area have.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 588

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Plantation, FL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.49 out of 5  741 reviews

Alum: American heritage is an amazing private school with so many opportunities. The different pre-professional tracks, including pre-law, pre-med, engineering, biomedical engineering, computer science, and business are taught by professionals in the real field. The academic workload is intense at times but the teachers are (for the most part) great! The clubs outside of school are also great as well. There’s many competitive clubs like debate, robotics, model UN, math, olympiads, science research, and so much more. I had a very positive experience at American heritage overall and I highly recommend this high school for any student.... Read 741 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,794

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.6 out of 5  99 reviews

Parent: The Lycée Français de New York is the humanities, literature and philosophy school par excellence, providing an outstanding preparation for university and beyond by developing critical and analytic skills in dual language and method. Student's perspective: the LFNY's strong focus on the French language, on HLP and the development of critique, coupled with continual availability and support from the teaching staff through built-in, after-class 'dialogue' (tutoring) hours, the Lycée excels in its preparation of the students' readiness for the Baccalaureate exams. In terms of student life and school spirit: regardless of their cultural origin, the students are united and bonded by the common thread of the French language. Parent's perspective: from lunch helper in Primary to participation in event committees and/or occupying a position in the APL (parent liaison to the school administration), parental involvement while voluntary is welcome and encouraged.... Read 99 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,150

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  76 reviews

Parent: My child started at Sidwell in 9th grade and absolutely loved it! He came from a school without grades, so we weren’t sure how it would go at a place we had heard was pretty intense, but it was wonderful. He loved the Quaker ethos and silent meetings and loved the challenge of his classes. He was able to participate in theater, music, and sports, and he felt that the program completely supported his desire to try new things. He excelled at the sport he tried for the first time there and felt the camaraderie of the team was one of the best parts of his school life. The friendships he made at Sidwell are still his closest. He did very well academically and surprised us by heading off to an Ivy League School with a generous scholarship (and not a sports recruit). Can’t say enough good things.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,142

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.51 out of 5  75 reviews

Parent: Head Royce School in Oakland is exceptional! The dedicated teachers, engaged parent community, and focus on holistic student development make it an outstanding choice. Our 4th and 2nd graders have thrived here since kindergarten, benefiting from top-notch education, inclusive environment, and diverse extracurricular activities. Highly recommended!... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 900

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  30 reviews

Senior: I have gone to Spence my entire life and I am so grateful for that experience! I definitely enjoyed high school the most out of my 13 years there because of the opportunities, teachers, friends and unique learning experience. I feel close to all the staff and administration there and I truly believe that they want to help you succeed.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 751

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.66 out of 5  110 reviews

Senior: Sacred Heart is a unique school, with incredible facilities. It helps girls find their voice and encourages us to explore different paths to problem solving. Even though we are in a competitive environment, we are always supportive of each other and encourage each other to do our best. Whether it was in class or during sports, we had fun and enjoyed our time together. I’ve made a great group of diverse friends I know I will keep forever. I also feel very prepared for college. I was excited to be accepted to my top choice university. Sacred Heart has great college placement and an exceptional college counseling group. It’s been a wonderful experience, and I will be sad to leave. But, I know I always have a home at Sacred Heart!... Read 110 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  59 reviews

Parent: Exceptional, phenomenal, and superb! Those are just a few words to describe our experience at The Nightingale-Bamford School. This school has delivered everything it promised during the application process, and much more. The strong, close community is a stand-out at Nightingale. We felt welcome and a sense of belonging right from the start, and this has truly allowed our daughter to thrive. The teachers are exceptional, they make strong efforts to know our daughter and challenge her in appropriate, thoughtful ways. As a result of their approach, she has gained incredible skills across the board including reading, writing, and math, and grown exponentially. At Nightingale, she has developed confidence, a strong voice, independence, and public speaking skills starting at a young age thanks to the wonderful instruction here.  She looks forward to going to school everyday - where Nightingale educates her heart and mind.  We know that she is reaching her full potential here.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 710

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  85 reviews

Alum: I went through Dalton's K-12 program and, overall, I think it was a great success. Up until middle school, I didn't feel challenged but learned through creative projects and collaboration with fellow classmates. My middle school experience aided me to learn the tools needed for high school with an introduction to culminating assessments (which were extremely nerve-racking at the time) but I learned the importance of them in retrospect. Unfortunately, my view of Dalton high school is skewed due to Covid19 and other tragic events in the community. Freshman year of high school was when I found my first group of friends. I was thrilled but was soon ripped away from them and isolated. Dalton stayed on Zoom from March 2020 to January 2021, switching 55-minute class times to 30 minutes and then a whopping 80. To say the least, Dalton does not handle change well - but does anyone really? Junior and Senior years were somewhat back to normal. Dalton has helped me understand what I want and need.... Read 85 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,331

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.79 out of 5  53 reviews

Freshman: This is my first year at GDS, and so far it's been amazing! All of my teachers are excellent, the classes are challenging, and I've been learning so much. I've been able to go in person two days a week, which is great, and most of my teachers have been on campus as well. The facilities are nice and modern, the students are interesting, and everyone is really kind. The clubs are well-run, too. I would recommend GDS to anyone who is willing to put in work at school and pay the tuition.... Read 53 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,075

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chino , CA•

• Online School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.84 out of 5  63 reviews

Parent: My son was enjoying learning for the first time in his life. He felt like his teachers knew his name and cared about his success and that made a big difference for him. They also made learning fun and applied the lessons to his life. In public school they have assignments and sent you home, but in this school my son said the lessons were relatable and interesting. The teachers applied them to our normal life and so it made sense. He feels like AIA teachers teach people, rather than lessons and that has made all the difference. He loves it here and never wants to go back to our local high school. We are so so grateful to have found this school!... Read 63 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 631

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Arcadia, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.84 out of 5  61 reviews

Freshman: My son applied for admission to RA for two reasons. First, he heard that the basketball atmosphere at the school is excellent, and the school's basketball team has competed at both the state and national levels, winning the state championship. Second, after coming here, the academic teachers not only arrange class schedules flexibly based on our basketball training time but also provide additional academic tutoring when we have extra learning needs. At the same time, the basketball atmosphere at the school is really good. The school has hired a renowned basketball coach in the California region to guide our school team and participate in various levels of competitions. Thanks to the basketball achievements of school team, my son successfully applied to his ideal university through the NCAA.... Read 61 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 258

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Pasadena, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  107 reviews

Sophomore: Poly offers so many vast opportunities for learning, growth, change, challenge and mastery. My teachers and my classmates are supportive and the community as a whole is welcoming. I couldn't think of what I would change about Poly. The greatest challenge that I see Poly facing is time. There are not enough hours in a day or week to be able to enjoy all the opportunities it allows for, however that challenge has forced me to utilize my time more efficiently.... Read 107 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 872

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Dublin, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  197 reviews

Alum: Since 2016, Quarry Lane School has been an integral part of my life, and I am incredibly grateful for the education and support it provided. The dedicated teachers and staff members created a nurturing and intellectually stimulating environment that not only helped me achieve academic success but also prepared me for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Quarry Lane's tight-knit community and inclusive culture fostered personal, social, and emotional growth, equipping me with the skills and confidence necessary to pursue my passion for computer science at Harvey Mudd College this fall and beyond. I express immense gratitude for the incredible experiences I've had at Quarry Lane School. It has truly become a second home to me!... Read 197 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 975

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  140 reviews

Alum: The school is what you make of it. There are a lot of amazing teachers with a passion for their material, but if you don't make any effort to learn then you're not going to get much. I started coming during 8th grade and I think this was great timing. I wouldn't have been able to come before for a mixture of financial, mental, and academic reasons. It gave me time to transition into high school and meet new people, although I'd say I found my core group more near the end of sophomore year. It has a reputation as a 'professor's kid daycare' school but that's not fully accurate. The majority of kids are children of UChicago or Lab employees, but they have a diverse pool of jobs and aren't generally that preppy.... Read 140 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,051

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  31 reviews

Middle school student: Collegiate School, with its modern campus and commitment to a safe, nurturing environment, amazes me as a middle school student. It's an innovation hub with cutting-edge facilities and technology in interactive classrooms and advanced labs, fueling our curiosity. What's remarkable is Collegiate's unwavering safety dedication, prioritizing our well-being through secure access, surveillance, and vigilant staff. Safety isn't just physical; it's part of the culture, fostering diversity and discouraging bullying, creating an accepting, supportive atmosphere. Our teachers are experts and approachable mentors, guiding us through challenges and celebrating our achievements. The sense of community enriches the learning experience. In summary, Collegiate School offers a modern, safe, inspiring environment where innovation meets security, diversity thrives, and learning flourishes.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 656

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1