Skip to Main Content

2019 Best Private K-12 Schools in AmericaAbout this List

The 2019 Best Private K-12 Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents. Ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges that students consider, student-teacher ratio, private school ratings, and more. Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users, and the schools directly. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 21,743
Best Schools
21,743 results

  1. Trinity School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 51
    #1 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 51 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,001 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  2. St. Mark's School of Texas

    • Private School
    • Dallas, TX
    • 1-12
    • 44
    #2 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Senior: Attending St. Mark's has been very enlightening and experiential. From the classroom to the playing field, I've always been challenged and pushed to think differently. Camaraderie, collaboration, and citizenship is found in every student activity from the Community Service Board to the Telos Leadership and Ethics program. The famous Pecos experience for rising freshmen allows students to learn more about themselves and their classmates. Teachers' offices are always open for discussion or outside-of-class help. This education has definitely helped me become the man I am now.
    Read 44 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 863 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Collegiate School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 21
    #3 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Freshman: Overall incredible experience after my first ten years. Can't wait to see what comes of my last three. My brother goes to Trinity, and we can both agree Collegiate is a way more superior institution. Collegiate is forward-looking, fresh, vigorous, immeasurably fun, and overall great school
    Read 21 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 651 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  4. Sponsored

    Roanoke Catholic School

    • Private School
    • Roanoke, VA
    • PK, K-12
    • 58

    Alum: I attended RCS since 5th grade, and absolutely loved it. This school provides an excellent college prep education while being centered on Catholic teaching. The teachers deeply care for their students, and definitely push them to be better students, but also better people. Theology classes certainly teach the beliefs of the Church but also allow for questions and discussion about the Catholic faith, which gives students the opportunity to own their faith rather than know about their faith. I would highly recommend this school to any family interested in a high quality, holistically minded, education.
    Read 58 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 501 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  5. The Harker School

    • Private School
    • San Jose, CA
    • PK, K-12
    • 109
    #4 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Alum: I had an amazing experience at The Harker School, partly due to my transformative athletic experience in the high school. Harker's athletic directors and coaches work hard to facilitate a high quality student-athlete experience, and they are constantly improving the facilities so that the available equipment is state-of-the-art. I am sure that the skills of time management and teamwork that I developed as an athlete bolstered my performance in the Harker classroom, and since I was studying so much, it was very healthy for me to be committed to a physical extracurricular activity through team sports. From my experience, like the teachers who work at Harker, the coaches in Harker athletics care deeply about the overall well-being of Harker students and understand that rigorous sports not only can complement but also can support and extend the rigor of intellectual pursuit. I can't recommend Harker athletics and Harker coaches enough!
    Read 109 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,048 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Horace Mann School

    • Private School
    • Bronx, NY
    • K-12
    • 113
    #5 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Senior: Going to Horace Mann challenged me both mentally and emotionally. I had never experienced a curriculum as stimulating prior to me going to Horace Mann. Their facilities, resources and academic opportunities have allowed me to be both socially and politically conscious of the environment around me. The students that you meet strive for nothing less than perfection. But I will admit that this yearning for perfection can be emotionally and mentally taxing on students. It can be hard to be in a school where almost everyone is a perfectionist and where the school grooms you for college from the very beginning. It can be overwhelming and tiring to have such expectations placed on you. But without the pressure put on by teachers and administration, I would not be as ready for college as I am now. Horace Mann guided me every step of the way through the college process and helped tremendously with anything I needed financially. The challenge is worth it, and so is attending Horace Mann.
    Read 113 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,694 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Polytechnic School

    • Private School
    • Pasadena, CA
    • K-12
    • 92
    #6 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Senior: My experience at Poly has been unforgettable. I entered as a freshman and immediately became involved in the sports and clubs they offered. The school offers several ways for students to follow their passions including student-run clubs, classroom projects, and service opportunities. The school also ensures students grow outside the classroom through international trips and outdoor education trips. I traveled to Nicaragua for a week with peers and teachers to teach the students there English, and it was an eye opening experience. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to go on the trip, and I'm thankful Poly made it financially possible for me to go too! The teachers are also incredibly supportive and make it their priority to help students reach their full potential. My chemistry teacher met with me before school at 7:30 in the morning just to go over topics that I was struggling with. Overall, Poly is a great place, and I could not imagine high school anywhere else!
    Read 92 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 859 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Sidwell Friends School

    • Private School
    • Washington, DC
    • PK, K-12
    • 43
    #7 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 43 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,145 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Dalton School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 65
    #8 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Parent: Dalton offers an incredibly challenging academic environment for it’s students. As a School with a progressive philosophy expect students to be charged with managing there studies and responsibilities on there own from a very young age. Music and arts a a focus but sports are somewhat of an afterthought. A quick poll of parents will have you believe that every child is easily getting A’s. Don’t believe it. The use of tutors is pervasive. The amount of homework is staggering. I have a student there and the teachers share test and project grade averages. Trust me when I say all kids are not getting A’s. For those kids who can cope with the homework and absorb the material Dalton will turn them into super students. Word on the street is that after Dalton, college is a breeze for these kids. Then again all those kids may have been the ones that easily got A’s :-)
    Read 65 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,322 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  12. Milton Academy

    • Private School
    • Milton, MA
    • K-12
    • 97
    #9 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 97 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,000 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  14. The Westminster Schools

    • Private School
    • Atlanta, GA
    • K-12
    • 156
    #10 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Sophomore: In order to succeed or even survive at Westminster you need to be a very specific type of learner (the standardized test target). The decision to switch to four classes per day really helped everyone focus on each individual class more easily, though. The main problem at this school is stress. Even the smartest students are under immense pressure. On the forefront of everyone's mind is college applications, which may seem good, however this is the main contributor to Westminster's inherently competitive environment. You can tell the deans/grade chairs mean well when they sign you up for sites that tell you whether or not you'll get into college, but this constant reminder that students aren't perfect enough does more harm than good. To add onto that, Westminster's competitive environment tends to make any friendships/relationships inherently toxic, as you will constantly be comparing yourself to everyone around you. It’s like a cage fight--two hundred go in, one goes to Oxford.
    Read 156 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,874 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Head-Royce School

    • Private School
    • Oakland, CA
    • K-12
    • 53
    #11 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Senior: I've absolutely loved my experience at Head-Royce. There are a few things that I'd want to change. As a minority at a predominantly white school, I can often feel alienated and without a voice. Minority students either abandon their culture completely or are extremely cultural, both of these being ways of survival in an environment thta does not look like them. There really is not a middle ground. but it is relatively easy to find small group of close friends and teacher who will support you. The academics are absolutely amazing, and the college counseling team is stellar. You're sure to attend an amazing university, if you attend Head-Royce.
    Read 53 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 875 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Brearley School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 41
    #12 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Parent: Brearley School is wonderful K-12 school which has a diverse community. The school has a terrific financial aid policy and helps support all each girl's endeavors. The teachers here are incredible. The curriculum is well thought out and the faculty does an excellent job of working closely with each and every student. Every family who comes here feels very welcome in the Brearley community. The school prepares students exceptionally well for college. The school is one of the safest out there, excellent security. There are many clubs and activities for the students to get involved in. Academics are top notch and the girls who come here have fun while learning!
    Read 41 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 719 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Cranbrook Schools

    • Private School
    • Bloomfield HIlls, MI
    • PK, K-12
    • 201
    #13 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Junior: The teachers and administration really do care about your well-being. Sometimes that manifests itself as tough love but you always come out a better person after. They also want to help you in any way they can. Personally, my advisor has worked with me to get me in the classes I want and encouraged me to take risks with classes I hadn't thought about before. The college counseling is top-notch. The campus itself is extremely nice, but the girls' bathrooms leave something to be desired. The student body is incredibly diverse; I have close friends of all colors, from places like Russia, Vietnam, China, Korea, etc. The diversity of perspective is the diversity of the campus ten-fold. The people I have encountered here are some of the nicest, most thoughtful people I have ever met. They are outgoing, accepting, everything you could want from classmates. Overall, my experience here has been amazing, and I highly recommend this school to others.
    Read 201 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,659 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  20. University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

    • Private School
    • Chicago, IL
    • PK, K-12
    • 107
    #14 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Parent: Plus:
    Extreme college prep (getting tired of other parents telling me how their child thinks MIT was easy after Lab), theme of asking "why" in addition to "what" in every pursuit, general consistency in teaching excellence, well-organized academic programs, culture of excellence among students, nifty vibe on UChicago campus, good facilities, no-cut athletic programs

    Minus:
    This school is very religious (religion of liberalism, social justice, and multiculturalism--which are all laudable, but they lay it on very thick), too many helicopter parents, too much homework, superficial diversity (does not represent the actual SouthSide--seems like most of the black/hispanic kids have rich or famous parents. In general, minimal socioeconomic diversity), virtually no school spirt in a traditional sense (sports, school sweatshirts, dances).
    Read 107 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,051 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Georgetown Day School

    • Private School
    • Washington, DC
    • PK, K-12
    • 38
    #15 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Junior: GDS is in so many ways an ideal learning environment. The teachers are engaging, supportive, and rigorous, the extracurriculars are multifaceted and enjoyable, the athletics are fun and competitive. GDS exemplifies it’s mission, as it leaves students more prepared for life after high school, while instilling them with a crucial sense of right and wrong, and the tools to go out into the world and right some of those wrongs. More than anything else, GDS is what it is because of the students. Collaborative, intellectual, kind, and engaging, the community truly is like no other. People genuinely care about both each other and the school, and that aditude leads to a community that isn’t just in school from 8:15-3:15 and then gone, but one that keeps the building lively at all hours. GDS is truly an incredible place, and I hope that this convinces someone to either apply or attend. I promise you won’t regret it!
    Read 38 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,075 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Riverdale Country School

    • Private School
    • Bronx, NY
    • PK, K-12
    • 32
    #16 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Senior: Riverdale Country School is a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is located on two campuses covering more than 27 acres in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York, United States.
    Read 32 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,154 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Pine Crest School

    • Private School
    • Fort Lauderdale, FL
    • PK, K-12
    • 104
    #17 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Junior: I have been attending Pine Crest School since I was 4 years old. The educational experience received at Pine Crest is extraordinary. There is an extensive list of extracurriculars for students to get involved with. Although challenging, teachers are always helping students with time management. The school provides students with a College Admissions Office that helps students from choosing their classes freshman year through the college application process. The athletic facilities are top of the line, but the teams aren't all fantastic. The reason for this is because the culture at Pine Crest strongly promotes an academics-first mindset. Overall, I have had a great experience at Pine Crest and would definitely recommend it to anyone.
    Read 104 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,636 Students
    • 5:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  26. The Chapin School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 70
    #18 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
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Germantown Friends School

    • Private School
    • Philadelphia, PA
    • PK, K-12
    • 56
    #19 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Middle School Student: Academics are very good. Diversity could be improved. Teachers are wonderful. We have plenty of security guards to keep us safe. The school works very hard to create a open and welcoming environment. Sports are good but not great, the coaches are not very educated in the sports they coach. The food selection is very wide and it is good quality and healthy, however it is VERY overpriced (chicken and pasta was $9.25) Facilities could use improvement. In old buildings heat and air conditioning is poor and bathrooms are disgusting.
    Read 56 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,017 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  28. The Pingry School

    • Private School
    • Basking Ridge, NJ
    • K-12
    • 79
    #20 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Parent: Yes, Pingry has a reputation for being academically intense and it is certainly well-deserved. Expectations are high at every grade level, but the academic rigor is worth every penny. Having had children in other local private schools I can say Pingry is solidly a grade level ahead- if not two. Our child learns a week’s worth of material in a day and Loves every minute. Our public schools are excellent and I feel like it’s tough to justify dropping $40k a year, but with Pingry I can say I sign that check without hesitation. The value is there.
    Read 79 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,128 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  29. The Hockaday School

    • Private School
    • Dallas, TX
    • PK, K-12
    • 121
    #21 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Junior: Hockaday is amazing, it has cultivated me into becoming the girl I am today! My teachers, since 5th grade, have taught me inside and outside of the classroom. I have the opportunity of watching my classmates excel at their respective passions while finding some of my own, ranging from lacrosse to Model UN.
    Read 121 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,089 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Greenhill School

    • Private School
    • Addison, TX
    • PK, K-12
    • 77
    #22 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Alum: As a recent alum, I can say with certainty that Greenhill is easily the top private school in the state of Texas. While its academics are level with those of St. Marks and Hockaday, where the school truly distinguishes itself is in the environment of spirit, inclusion, and pride. The School actively cultivates an environment which fosters both the individual student and community participation. From many discussions with my friends that attend other schools, it's obvious to me that Greenhill's care of each student goes above and beyond her peer schools, and as a student for 13 years, that made all the difference. Greenhill's attitude towards constant improvement also goes markedly against the other schools in the area which often seem to be stuck in outdated traditions. I am now attending a top tier university and feel that my time at Greenhill prepared me academically, socially, and athletically (I'm a D1 athlete) and I could not be more grateful for my time on the Hill.
    Read 77 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,315 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your School

  32. Hackley School

    • Private School
    • Tarrytown, NY
    • K-12
    • 53
    #23 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Sophomore: As a sophomore currently in Hackley, I can only highly recommend the school. The academic program is one of the most rigorous out there even if it isn't noticeable in the school. Various AP classes and advanced electives are the common practice beginning sophomore year and beyond and some freshmen may even take some as well.

    The English Department is considered the bane of most students' existence and goes into such analytical depth that it rivals any AP English course out there.

    Transitioning from a public school to this could be difficult, especially if it's into the Upper School. The rigorous curriculum will challenge you, and lower grades than usual will appear. Our strongest science and math students who take on AP Physics C and Multivariable Calculus in senior year are subject to the two most difficult classes in the school, classes that can give test grades as low as 40 on a regular basis. It's worth it though, the experience is unforgettable.
    Read 53 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 834 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  33. St. John's School

    • Private School
    • Houston, TX
    • K-12
    • 75
    #24 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 75 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,258 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  34. The Nueva School

    • Private School
    • Hillsborough, CA
    • PK, K-12
    • 26
    #25 Best Private K-12 Schools in America

    Junior: The main appeal of the Upper Nueva School is the quality of education. A remarkably low teacher-to-student ratio ensures that each student receives a personalized, tailored, and accessible educational plan with a well-defined expectation of success.

    Beyond this, students have vast educational freedom. People have access to an extensive library, couches or isolated workspaces, and peer help. Outside of midterm and finals week, I complete my homework at school more often than not.

    The main drawback is that the administration tries too hard to differentiate us from similar schools. For example, during finals week, the administration took 25 minutes to unravel a massive yarn ball- literally- and connect it to 400+ student. When people tried to chat with friends, we were shut up. When introverts reached for their phones, stern faculty yanked them away. We do something like this every Monday.

    A remarkable school in terms of education, but the administration is downright terrible.
    Read 26 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 605 Students
    • 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  35. Sponsored

    BASIS Independent McLean

    • Private School
    • McLean, VA
    • PK, K-12
    • 12

    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 12 Reviews

    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 375 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  36. Sponsored

    Charlottesville Catholic School

    • Private School
    • Charlottesville, VA
    • PK, K-8
    • 7

    Parent: Our family LOVES CCS! Our two boys went through CCS and are much better young men and students as a result. The overall environment at the Catholic School is exceptional. Academically, the students are encouraged, supported, and pushed to do their very best in the classroom. The teachers do an amazing job of reaching each student individually which translates into a trusting, caring, and successful school experience for the student, the parent(s), and also the teacher. In and out of the classroom the teachers and staff also do an extraordinary job of instilling discipline, self-respect and respect for others, thoughtfulness, and a sense of community and personal responsibility. Our boys continue to excel each and every year both as students and as young men in our community and I believe those valuable traits are a direct result of the foundation, mentorship, and guidance that they received as students at the Charlottesville Catholic School.
    Read 7 Reviews

    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 337 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  • 1 of 870