2018 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

Best Schools

18,440 results

Horace Mann School
Private School
Bronx, NY
K-12
102
1 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: Academically speaking, Horace Mann offers a lot to each student. The courses are challenging and really help develop your thinking skills, rather than just memorizing a bunch of facts to get good grades. Teachers here really care about what you write - they rarely, if ever, just slap a grade on. Good grades are earned solely through showing the teacher your thought process. There are a plethora of clubs and it's super easy to start one if the school lacks an organization that you're interested in. However, I felt excluded a lot, as most of my peers were extremely wealthy and Jewish. I, coming from a middle-class background, struggled a lot with the reality of my situation and my friends who seemed to looked down on the poor.
Read 102 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,694 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Harker School
Private School
San Jose, CA
PK, K-12
105
2 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Freshman: I've been attending Harker since kindergarten (I'm going to be a freshman), and I really love it! The academics are amazing, and the teachers are committed to educating and are full of knowledge. The athletics program is getting better and better every year. However, some problems I have are the dress code and the administration favoring those whose parents donate lots of money to the school. Overall, Harker is an amazing school and is worth the exorbitant tuition.
Read 105 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,044 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Trinity School
Private School
New York, NY
K-12
43
3 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Parent: Trinity has been an amazing experience for my daughter. She came in 9th grade from an all girls school (Brearley) and my daughter had the fortune of choosing between Trinity, Dalton, Horace Mann and Exeter. We were worried about the academic intensity but my daughter was well-prepared by her time at Brearley and thrived in an environment where students are constantly challenged and pushed to do their very best. She loves her classmates, and finds the school much more diverse than Brearley. Overall a great experience so far!
Read 43 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,001 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Sidwell Friends School
Private School
Washington, DC
PK, K-12
38
4 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: Sidwell Friends School has been an amazing place to foster my intellectual growth. Sidwell is a Quaker school and Quaker values (especially community and integrity) are very present within the school environment. Students are very involved in the school community and participate in various activities including club, plays, athletics, orchestra, chorus, and jazz. Teachers are always available to help and foster students that are sensible, compassionate and bright. At Sidwell I have been surrounded by students that genuinely care about whats going on the world around them, want to change the world, and are using their education to do so.
Read 38 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,145 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Polytechnic School
Private School
Pasadena, CA
K-12
90
5 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Junior: There are so many opportunities at the school, that you can honestly do anything you want to pursue your passion. The teachers are always there for you, and are there to help you improve all the time. The academics are strong, and it's honestly so manageable.

Poly does truly have a really competitive environment. Because the school is so small, you get to know everyone, and you realize the amount of competition that exists within every grade. Sometimes, you really just feel stupid in a class (I know I have). But I love this school so so much, and I have honestly met some of the best people in the whole world. Though it is competitive, everyone is welcoming, and once you feel a part of the Poly community, you feel like you can conquer the world. I am so happy I chose this school and don't regret my decision to come. GO POLY!
Read 90 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
858 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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St. Mark's School of Texas
Private School
Dallas, TX
1-12
35
6 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Parent: Great challenging academic curriculum. Also they have the best college counseling staff I have ever seen!
Read 35 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
863 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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BASIS Independent McLean
Private School
McLean, VA
PK, K-12
6
Parent: Our son is currently in the 2nd grade. He has been at the school for two years, and it has been a wonderful experience. The enthusiasm of the teachers, who are truly experts in the subjects they teach, is infectious. They consistently set high standards for all students at every stage of their academic career. This is a school that prioritizes academics and the students themselves; it is targeted to students with intellectual curiosity and a strong work ethic. We are very happy here!
Read 6 Reviews
NG
Overall Niche Grade
375 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Cranbrook Schools
Private School
Bloomfield HIlls, MI
PK, K-12
198
7 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Parent: I like the curriculum, but the homework policies and practices need to be relaxed a bit. It is overwhelming and unreasonable to have 6 hrs of homework each night if they expect students to have balanced lives that include extracurricular, and social activities.....both of which are important to being well rounded individuals and responsible citizens in the school community and the communities in which we all live. The campus is absolutely beautiful. The art museum and science center are incredible resources that enrich the culture of the school and offer inspiration to the students. They offer a wide range of clubs, and sports for students to get involved with. They support and actively pursue diversity and inclusion.
Read 198 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,670 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Westminster Schools
Private School
Atlanta, GA
K-12
143
8 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Alum: Westminster gave me the challenges, opportunities and support to become the person I am today. I'm getting my degree at my university but I got my education at Westminster. Now having the chance to compare my high school experience to that of my friends in college it is even more clear that Westminster is an incredibly special place. I have always loved to learn and I think at any other school that love might have diminished instead of being nurtured. I will always treasure my time there!
Read 143 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,862 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Collegiate School
Private School
New York, NY
K-12
17
9 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: Been here 13 years, amazing place, produces articulate and athletic boys who know it. Teachers are almost entirely college level professors with sophisticated appreciation of the material.
Read 17 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
651 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Riverdale Country School
Private School
Bronx, NY
PK, K-12
26
10 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Alum: Riverdale has an excellent college preparatory program and prepares its students well for their future endeavors in life. Wit capstone classes such as Constructing America and Integrated Liberal Studies, students will leave Riverdale ready to take on whatever challenges life throws at them. The faculty and staff at the school are so supportive of any initiative that students may want to take on, and the students tend to be as talented on the field as in the classroom.
Read 26 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,154 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Hockaday School
Private School
Dallas, TX
PK, K-12
110
11 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: My high school experience at The Hockaday School has been amazing. The all-girls education has empowered me to embrace my beliefs while being open-minded to many other perspectives. Help and support are always available through teachers, advisors, and students. I get to do community service during school, complete a lot of homework during school, and I still have time to relax and chat with friends. I am so honored and grateful to be apart of the Hockaday Class of 2018.
Read 110 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,089 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Detroit Country Day School
Private School
Beverly Hills, MI
PK, K-12
104
12 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Alum: I spent 12 years at DCD and it is impossible to think of all the ways the school helped me become the person I am today. Country Day taught me more than just what you learn in class. I was constantly learning. In the classroom with teachers who genuinely cared about our well-being and success. On the field with coaches who pushed us to give our best effort. In the hallways with friends who understood just how lucky we were to be there.
Country Day did everything it set out to do for me, and I couldn't be more grateful.The demanding workload helped me understand how to not only balance studies, sports, clubs, and a social life, but thrive while doing so.
I'll always love everything about my school!
Read 104 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,522 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Nysmith School for the Gifted
Private School
Herndon, VA
PK, K-8
4
Alum: Our 3 kids attended Nysmith from pre-K to 8th grade and it was the best decision of our lives! They never wanted to miss a day of school, because Nysmith knows how to make learning fun. Our kids went on to a great high school (TJ), that was perfect for their math/science/technology interests, and attended their #1 college choices. They were not only ready academically after Nysmith, but they were also happy and confident. The teachers, who are experts and passionate about the subjects they teach, treated the kids with kindness and respect, welcomed their questions, nurtured their curiosity, and helped my kids discover their gifts and abilities - sometimes before they even knew what they were. I highly recommend Nysmith. Or, better yet, don't listen to me...look at their website, see how their alums are doing, schedule a tour and a couple of student visit days for your child. See for yourselves what Nysmith is all about!
Read 4 Reviews
NG
Overall Niche Grade
570 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Dalton School
Private School
New York, NY
K-12
60
13 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Middle School Student: The Dalton School is an amazing school with fantastic and caring teachers. Each teacher is hardworking and dedicated. We have fantastic resources and the food is the best. Great school!
Read 60 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,322 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Germantown Friends School
Private School
Philadelphia, PA
PK, K-12
51
14 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: GFS is a school where academics really are the priority. The teachers are ridiculously excellent and the entire faculty just wants you to succeed. Everyone is accepting and there's no popularity, cliques, etc. It really is a school for people who are self-motivated and ready to work because there is a lot of work and a lot of stress, pressure, etc. that accompanies the work and the teachers are there to help you but it's up to you to know when you need to ask for that help. Overall I could not be happier with my experience at GFS I love it and my friends and I would absolutely without a doubt recommend to anyone who genuinely enjoys learning because that is the mindset that GFS fosters.
Read 51 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
906 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Greenhill School
Private School
Addison, TX
PK, K-12
69
15 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Alum: The sense of community at this school is amazing and something I definitely miss having graduated. My decision to attend this high school was by far the best decision I've made and prepared me so well for college. Couldn't have possibly wished for a better high school and definitely can't imagine my life without Greenhill in it! Athletics played a huge role in my time at Greenhill and I really don't understand why sports is rated so poorly on here. Football isn't the only sport at the school - they did struggle for a while but they're a great team now anyways. But regardless, Greenhill definitely has good sports teams and athletes. By far one of the strongest SPC schools in many different sports. In addition, the bonds of teams and the tight-knight relationships/friendships formed through athletic teams at Greenhill is priceless.
Read 69 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,290 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Milton Academy
Private School
Milton, MA
K-12
92
16 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: Milton Academy is one of the best things in my life, but also the most stressful. The opportunities at Milton are endless and I feel incredibly privileged to have teachers that care about my well being, activities and clubs, a beautiful campus, and a seemingly endless supply of resources (such as art supplies, computers labs, food).
Our food selection is incredible with a food for every person in any mood. The staff is always kind which just adds to the joy of lunchtime.
While there are teachers I have heard about that are hard to work with or learn from(which happens anywhere), I have been very lucky to only have dealt with one teacher I didn't like (out of more than 25). I appreciate the skill level that the teachers have and the personal relationship that students can build with them throughout the year.
I think that the faculty is very fair and thorough when dealing with disciplinary issues and I completely agree with the standards of respect and honesty that we are held up to.
Read 92 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,000 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
Private School
Cambridge, MA
PK, K-12
44
17 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Alum: I had the good fortune of graduating from BB&N about 10 years ago. I enrolled in BB&N in 9th grade.

Simply put, BB&N is one of the top high schools in the United States. I will not list the statistics that prove this out because they are easily available online. If you are a young person who is dedicated to their studies, the BB&N experience offers endless academic and intellectual challenges. If I compare the academic and professional trajectory of my BB&N classmates and that of my university classmates, my BB&N classmates more consistently find themselves doing impactful research, working for interesting companies and nonprofits, and helping to shape American politics.
Read 44 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
1,017 Students
7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Private School
Chicago, IL
PK, K-12
102
18 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Parent: The school's history and track record for preparing kids for the very best universities is well documented and continues through today. Being attached to the U. Of Chicago is a great asset to the school. The rigor is quite high for academics generally and faculty are quite established / successfully over a long period. Teachers are quite open to meet with parents and often do in planned events and at request of parents.

It is a grind for the kids here. It is quite a challenge for most...we see a lot of growth from our student.

Campus is classic and wonderful. New facility additions are done well, and great new spaces for arts and community.

Security is present, and the school is good about enforcing procedures.
Read 102 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
2,051 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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St. John's School
Private School
Houston, TX
K-12
68
19 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: St. John's faculty are super engaged, hands on, and truly passionate about what they are teaching. They seem to genuinely care about every student. They are available to simply talk to whether you need help to understand a concept or are having a bad day. Similarly, the students are almost all just as engaged and interested in what they are learning. I do have some comments/complaints. The school and the students at the school have A LOT of money that is used for the most boujee things imaginable. 10 thousand dollars on cookie cake? Yes. Getting too lazy to water the grass so they spray paint the lawn green? Of course! Building a new baseball field, realizing it faces the wrong way, and then rebuilding it again to make it face the other way? Yep. The school is constantly under construction building many often unnecessary buildings and fields.
Read 68 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
353 Students
10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Head-Royce School
Private School
Oakland, CA
K-12
49
20 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Alum: I went here from 9 to 12 and currently attend a top 10 university. I was better prepared for university than any of my college friends, many of whom went to other prestigious private high schools. One thing that sets Head-Royce apart is the dedication to teaching a curriculum that is designed to do more than maximize AP classes. I entered college with "only" 4 AP class credits (which has not been detrimental in any way) because I took classes about the philosophy of western civilizations, art history, Islam today, and molecular genetics. I find these classes to be far more interesting and impactful upon my intellectual development than AP literature or any other classes taught purely for the purpose of passing a test.
Read 49 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
875 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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The Chapin School
Private School
New York, NY
K-12
70
21 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: Though Chapin is a diverse and open community and has progressed to take more active stands social justice issues over the years, there is always room to improve. I think we need to focus more on action in our community. I have been thinking about this for some time, and I think Chapin should hold its own high-school wide diversity conference during a town hall meeting slot in which we would simulate some of the same discussions and activities from the Student Diversity Leadership Conference for all of us to experience. I think that, if that meeting were successful, it would be eye-opening to then include other inter-school students in this discussion, and host our own Diversity day. Also, as an individual I will of course continue to try to make our community as safe a space as possible both by voicing my own experiences and also, as an ally to other marginalized groups, by giving space for others to use their own voices.
Read 70 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
725 Students
6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Dwight-Englewood School
Private School
Englewood, NJ
PK, K-12
43
22 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: I think I’m one of those kids who adapt to their environment easily. However that doesn’t necessarily describe the culture of your environment, just that I’m adaptable. My school is economically, socially and racially diverse. I always thought my neighborhood, mostly Latinos and Portuguese, and myself a Korean/Colombian was as diverse as they come. No! Having different culture/nationalities in your neighborhood doesn’t qualify as being diverse. Diversity is a community of different backgrounds in a where we learn, share and understand different ideas. This is the Dwight Englewood culture.
Read 43 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
947 Students
9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Princeton Day School
Private School
Princeton, NJ
PK, K-12
63
23 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: I had a great experience at PDS and would do it again. The school has great academics across all departments, although historically the history and arts departments have stood out. That said, the science department has advanced impressive amounts in the past few years. PDS has some extraordinary teachers, ones with significant success in their respective fields. There are, however, just like any school, those teachers who are simply okay.
The sports teams have seen a high degree of success in the past few years, as well as increasing amounts of recruits.
The school culture and community are also generally good, although school spirit seems to be somewhat down this year. The administration could also stand to be a little more involved, as sometimes it seems interactions with students are at arm's length.
Overall, this is a great school with some areas that can be improved, and I expect the school to become only more nationally well-known and ranked as the school expands and improves.
Read 63 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
950 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Chadwick School
Private School
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
K-12
70
24 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Parent: What an amazing place Chadwick is! Academically, the small class sizes allow the teachers time to adapt to the needs of the kids. In my own experience at the school I was amazed when I went to college and found classes almost universally to be a breeze thanks to Chadwick. The school entirely subscribes to a whole child philosophy, where you can load up your schedule with as many challenging classes as you like with a talented group of students, but they strongly encourage going beyond traditional academics: Outdoor ed – Each year your child will embark upon an outdoor education trip as a class where they form friendships and lifelong bonds and challenging themselves mentally and physically in ways you just can’t in the classroom. Performing and visual arts – Your child will be strongly encouraged to get outside of their comfort zone and participate in a rigorous, well-developed arts curriculum. I can confidently say Chadwick is a very special place.
Read 70 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
830 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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Hackley School
Private School
Tarrytown, NY
K-12
51
25 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
Senior: I began at Hackley School in ninth grade, and since then I've had an amazing time. The teachers are always helpful and available to meet, open to extra credit assignments and help, and my writing has improved immensely since I began here. The students are friendly and ambitious, and the community is incredibly helpful for shaping young minds. I was fortunate enough to take advantage of the amazing athletics facilities, performing arts department, and peer tutoring opportunities. The sky is the limit here, if you know what you're looking for in a high school.
Read 51 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
834 Students
8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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1 of 738

Horace Mann School

The Harker School

Trinity School

Sidwell Friends School

Polytechnic School

St. Mark's School of Texas

BASIS Independent McLean

Cranbrook Schools

The Westminster Schools

Collegiate School

Riverdale Country School

The Hockaday School

Detroit Country Day School

Nysmith School for the Gifted

Dalton School

Germantown Friends School

Greenhill School

Milton Academy

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

St. John's School

Head-Royce School

The Chapin School

Dwight-Englewood School

Princeton Day School

Chadwick School

Hackley School