2023 Best Schools in America

• Andover, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  161 reviews

Alum: The great class of ‘75. We were the last class “de prepped “. We were two years apart and two years combined with Abbot. We met John Mason Kemper and carried on with “Doc” Sizer. We survived “Rinkydink” days and witnessed “Mother Phillips”. After all that, I’m totally jealous of what the students are offered and have available today. It’s awesome! And with “Need Blind” admission, who can compete! Go Big Blue!... Read 161 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,187

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Studio City, CA•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  162 reviews

Parent: Joyful pursuit of excellence! My two daughters are attending Harvard-Westlake. One is in lower school and the other is a junior in the upper school. For the past several years they have been evolving and focusing on the health and well-being of the students! Late starts for high school students, days off for high school students, day trips to Disneyland! Head of School Rick Commons and Associate Head of School Laura Ross are incredible! The teachers are passionate, enthusiastic, outstanding (they often incorporate curbed grading) and there's a supportive team/learning specialists, psychologists who are there for students and parents no matter where they are on their journey! My kids are learning to listen effectively. work collaboratively, enhancing their emotional intelligence quotient. Applying historical-cultural insights to contemporary moments, have a richer appreciation for the need to be an engaged active glocal and global citizen and are more than ready for college!... Read 162 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,620

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Wallingford, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  169 reviews

Parent: Now that our son is a senior, I have actual experience to agree that Choate is the best school out there for our son. We are grateful for his continued growth as caring and kind young man, making life-long friends, with a solid academic foundation. Listening to his interests expand and develop in academic areas that we never expected really impressed us on how great Choate's teachers are engaging students to pursue their interests. In a conversation, our son said, "my friend xxx" and we didn't know who he was and asked which dorm he was in, and our son said, "he teaches." It was really wonderful to hear that he genuinely thinks some of his teachers are his friends. It makes a huge difference to have such mentors in boarding school. Not to mention, the community and environment is nurturing with good guidance for young adults in learning to make effective choices. In addition, he's an athlete committed to play D1 sports. These 4 years have been awesome.... Read 169 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 868

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Exeter, NH•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  306 reviews

Senior: Truly rigorous classes with students who have a wide range of interests. Nothing can beat a boarding school with a billion dollar endowment that they can use to fund your passion projects and overall academic experience. Living with your classmates in this tiny New Hampshire town really forces you to battle the chem tests and history essays as a team. I have met my best friends at Exeter—that's why our alumni network is so strong. You only stay at Exeter for 4 years but they stick with you. Yes, the academics are hard. If you're not looking for challenge then don't come to Exeter. No, it's not a school full of boring workaholics—we have fun too! Yes, there is wealth, but Exeter offers great financial aid and people are generally humble. And of course, Exeter >>>>> Andover. Our campus is prettier, the dorm system better, and I've heard our student body culture is way less toxic than theirs.... Read 306 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,077

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Groton, MA•

• Private School•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 4.52 out of 5  62 reviews

Alum: At Groton, I feel that I have been able to become a more independent and conscientious person during my time at this school. The best thing about this school is the resources that it provides the students. Here, I feel that I can be whoever I like because the teachers, dorm parents, coaches, and community is supportive of everyone's quirks, interests, and dreams. The teachers are approachable and dedicated, and work hard to provide students with a positive experience and I have made some of the truest and most diverse background friends. However, while at my time here, I have noticed that there is a toxically competitive culture here. Moreover, sometimes it is hard to get leadership positions in clubs because one has to be "connected" or popular, and the unsafe hook-up culture NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! Overall, a great school, and despite the school's imperfections, I would not trade my experience at Groton for anything else in the world.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 380

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  76 reviews

Junior: My overall school experience has been very positive! The teachers(with 1 or 2 exceptions) and academics have been outstanding so far, and it seems like I can do whatever I put my mind to here. There are plenty of options for clubs, and plenty of motivated students who participate in them. When I first entered the school, I thought a lot of the students would be aloof trust-fund kids. However, for the majority of students, that thankfully doesn't hold true. My only 2 complaints are: 1)the math curriculum, which for me is too repetitive and not challenging enough; and 2)the behavior of the administration(especially during covid), which can be paternalistic at times.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,001

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Dallas, TX•

• Private School•

• 1-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  75 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 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 911

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Oakland, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: I feel that my child has gained self confidence, self awareness, and self acceptance by attending this school. The diversity of the student body, faculty, and staff is reflective of the world we live in today and creates an environment where all cultures are celebrated. Sure, it is academically challenging; but that is what makes it great. They are developing students to think so that one day they can change our world for the better. By attending College Prep, my child has risen to the occasion and is reaching his full potential . Yes, my child participates in sports here; and they CAN play sports! The 2022 NCS Boys Fall Soccer Championship Division 2 went to CPS. These students are the Champion Pacesetter Scholars: Intelligent and Athletic. No high school is perfect, but in my humble opinion, this one comes pretty close.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 370

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  133 reviews

Senior: The academics here are excellent. When coupled with the wide array of academic opportunities, speakers, and cultural activities on campus, students constantly learn. However, the social aspect of the school can be hard, as students who do not venture out of their dorm rooms or are not acclimated to a residential lifestyle will have an underwhelming experience. My biggest issue is the lack of consistency across the same class. Taking core chemistry with one teacher will not be the same as another, not just in terms of teaching style but also the workload. Many students have varying experiences and can struggle heavily because of an unlucky schedule with many difficult courses.... Read 133 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Boston, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.82 out of 5  34 reviews

Parent: Commonwealth is wonderful! The faculty demand high academic rigor at the same time as giving the students all the support and scaffolding they need to reach their limits. All the adults in the school are extraordinarily attentive and approachable. The small size and the intellectual levels of the kids mean most of the classes are interactive and discussion based. The quality of attention in faculty and staff creates a mirror culture within the students as well. They are an accepting and collegial bunch.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 152

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Hillsborough, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.54 out of 5  65 reviews

Sophomore: Nueva is an amazing school! There are so many opportunities all just waiting for anyone who is motivated. There is a 230+ page course catalog and a wide range of extracurriculars to take your passions to the next level. The students are kind and cool (everyone's smart but not everyone's a nerd). There are fun social events like dances, coffeehouses, musical performances, sports games, spirit rallies, and more! Nueva provides excellent STEM education (humanities as well), and the teachers are genuinely interested in you and want you to succeed.... Read 65 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 853

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  68 reviews

Parent: I am parent whose children attend Riverdale Country School. The River Campus is such a warm and welcoming space for the younger children. At the Lower School, they create an environment where children are encouraged to explore and experiment, appreciate nature, and develop a true love of learning. My children enjoy school and are excited to attend everyday - as a parent, that means the world to me. My eldest child is now on the Hill Campus. The Upper School, offers students a challenging academic environment and many opportunities to get involved in their school community. I have found the teachers to be supportive yet have high expectations and encourage the students to reach their full potential. Our entire family has found community at Riverdale, it is truly an incredible place.... Read 68 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,273

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Redwood City, CA•

• Online School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.66 out of 5  160 reviews

Sophomore: Stanford OHS is a rigorous academic environment that promotes curiosity through every academic subject. The courses offered at the school are fascinating and so unique, especially the Core track classes (interdisciplinary courses) that are required for every full time student. The teachers have an amazing curriculum for every class, and a flipped classroom method helps classes be much more engaging and enjoyable. Students prepare before class with readings, homework, and bigger projects, and class time is used more as a discussion space for diving deeper into the material. The community at the school is also very good. All of my peers are so interested in our classes and excited to learn, which is something I’ve found very different from other schools. It is really refreshing to be around people who share my love of learning. Overall, OHS creates an amazing learning environment through every course.... Read 160 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 923

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: My daughter has been at Brearley since kindergarten and we have had a wonderful experience throughout the years. She is now in high school and I can say that Brearley has really helped her develop academically as well as socially. The academics ramps up dramatically in upper school but the school generally prepares the students well in middle school to handle the increased workload. Because the classes are fairly small, the students develop a sense of agency about their own learning and by high school they are very adept at exploring their own interests and engaging with the teachers. Finally, I cannot say enough good things about how Brearley handled COVID. Brearley was one of the first private schools to return to in-person classes and they were incredible about following all available guidance. It made a world of difference this past year for my daughter to at least be able to go to class with other girls in her grade. We feel lucky to be a Brearley family!... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 772

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Lakeville, CT•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: The Hotchkiss School is very generous with financial aid, and our student was supported well for all four years. Now that they are in college, some of the rough edges are smoothing out over time and they are more positive about their experiences on this campus. However, our student was a fine math student but felt that after precalculus, the math curriculum was not solid. So they have chosen to repeat calculus and other college level math courses taken at Hotchkiss in order to continue as a mathematics major at University. We cannot speak highly enough of the liberal arts education, especially in writing, literature, the classics and humanities, and of course, the uniquely beautiful setting in Lakeville. Over all, a very positive boarding school experience.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 599

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Princeton, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  17 reviews

Alum: PRISMS is an amazing place! The diverse student body from across the world is unique and everybody here is extremely talented. The teachers are wonderful and the research equipment is college-level (PCR machine, AFM, laser cutter, CNC, lots of 3D printers, etc.). If you are looking for a STEM-focused education, PRISMS is the right place for you!... Read 17 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 120

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Hillsborough, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  46 reviews

Freshman: Crystal has been one of the best schools I've ever been to! They have excellent teachers that are always there to help you, the academics are advanced and are made to put you one step ahead of everyone else. If you can come here, do it. It's an experience you won't regret.... Read 46 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 569

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Concord, NH•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  93 reviews

Parent: If you want a well-rounded high school experience, St. Paul's is the place to go. It is clear that the school genuinely cares about its students, faculty, and staff. They've done a lot of research on diversity programs and, consequently, have done a great job of building a friendly and inclusive environment. Teachers are also very receptive and genuinely concerned about their student's well-being and success. SPS has had the most impact on our son's life. He adores his school classmates, deans, and advisers. As parents, we couldn't ask for a better school for our son! We are so relieved we decided to go with St. Paul's!... Read 93 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 530

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Palo Alto, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  57 reviews

Senior: I am currently a senior at Castilleja, and I would never choose to attend another high school. When I first came, I was a little nervous as I had heard of Casti's reputation as rigorous and competitive. After four years, I have found that the academic rigor has only improved my experience and has never lead to competition between classmates. With sixty girls in one grade, it would seem that competition would be prevalent, especially during the college process. However, the community is one of care, and everyone at the school aims only to celebrate your achievements and encourage you to put forth your best work. Every single one of my classmates will become amazing women when they grow up, and Castilleja has been instrumental in developing our confidence, poise, ability to express ourselves, and compassion for others. Thank you Castilleja! My life is forever changed and I will bring the lessons you have taught me throughout the rest of my life.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 416

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chicago Public Schools, IL•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  418 reviews

Senior: I've been here for all four years and I love this school! Truly, the best part of the school is the teachers. Of course, you'll have a few that aren't your favorite, but I've found teachers I really admire. They are here because they love to teach. The student body as a whole is also really great, at least for my years here. We went through a lot of administration struggles, but what pulled us together was our support for our teachers and the shared values that we have as students. The course load is challenging but manageable, but I also felt really well prepared from my elementary school. All that being said, Payton has many normal issues like any high school (some student drama, mediocre/bad food, people that you like and don't like, etc).... Read 418 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,191

• Student-teacher ratio —

• Reno, NV•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  72 reviews

Junior: Throughout my years as a student I have been to private, public, magnet, and online schools, but none of those experiences compare to the DA online campus. When I first joined Davidson I was worried. I had been to two other schools just the year before (one magnet and one public) and neither had worked. Not to mention my online school experience was very small as I had only taken a few asynchronous online classes before. But at Davidson, the live sessions were stimulating and engaging, the teachers were invested in my learning, the work was actually interesting, and my peers were amazing! I’ve made strong friendships and connections throughout my two years. Davidson has helped be become a successful student too. I’d always had trouble taking notes, planning, and studying but DAO has let me create my own strategies for each! The school is meant for gifted kids and it shows in everything they do. Thanks to Davidson I finally feel at home at school.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 165

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Lawrenceville, NJ•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  169 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 169 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 822

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  145 reviews

Freshman: As a current frosh at Regis High School, it is extraordinary. Regis is a Catholic high school for young men with a reputation for being one of the best education environments in the country while having a substantial history of placing many of its students into highly competitive colleges. The admissions process is challenging due to Regis's adroitness and demands its best from its students. The curriculum requires students' concentration and management of themselves and their time to thrive while promoting independence. The jump from middle school to high school was an impactful transition that left me in a shell-shocked state for some time as I was out of my comfort zone. However, the helpfulness and accessibility of the faculty and the kindness of the student body allowed that panicking moment of change to become a beautiful moment of growth. Not even a year has elapsed, yet I am thankful for my acceptance and decision to attend this school.... Read 145 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 532

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  148 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 148 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,802

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Deerfield, MA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  69 reviews

Parent: Deerfield is the Columbia University of the Ivy League. Exeter/Andover is the Harvard/Yale. DA is compact, efficient, structured & fun. It has the hardest grading w severe grade deflation. There is only 1 GPA on a scale of 100. If you magically break 93, you are high honors. If you want the best odds of your child getting into an Ivy or Elite or Top LAC, Deerfield admit stats are up with the Top 5 feeders in the country. DA looks/feels like a country club, but the kids here work extremely hard unless you are shoo-in as recruited athlete or legacy. Regular Sit-down dinners force you to meet everyone in the school. Mandatory 1st or 2nd waiter duties teach humility. You get out of Deerfield, what you put into it because the resources are limitless. It's a tough place if your child needs coddling. But the best school if you want your kid to be an independent thinker and doer. The teachers and admin are unbelievably competent! It should be ranked 2nd/3rd but all these rankings are bunk... Read 69 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 658

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1