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2020 Best Schools in the New York City AreaAbout this List

Explore the best schools in your area based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 1,715
Best Schools
1,715 results

  1. Trinity School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 54 reviews
    #5 Best Private High Schools in America

    Niche User: Amazing school. Superior academic, athletic, and fine and performing arts programs. Great teachers. Bright, academically driven students. Great facilities. Superior financial aid and college placement programs. Strong and successful commitment to diversity. Half the senior class gains admission to at least one ivy league college; a record unmatched by any other high school in America. For the right student, one who is bright, highly motivated, task oriented, and talented in one or more non academic areas, Trinity is a superb fit. For students who don't possess a first class work ethic, Trinity can and will knock you down, even bury you. All in all, for a bright, talented, and highly motivated student, you really can't do any better.
    Read 54 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,001 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  2. Regis High School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • 9-12
    • 117 reviews
    #11 Best Private High Schools in America

    Alum: Recent graduate (2019) - review limited to 1000 characters.

    Academics: superb accelerated + honors classes, but no APs.

    Diversity: plenty of geographical, racial, political diversity. Lots of commuters. There's a focus on underprivileged students.

    Teachers: go above and beyond.

    Clubs & Activities: major ones are sports, speech/debate (Hearn), theater (Regis Rep), and student publications (Owl = newspaper, etc) + many smaller clubs that meet every 1-2 weeks

    School Culture: small/connected - students make friends with their classmates and study with them, low competition

    Administration: They fire teachers they don't like, censor the curriculum, and make daily life harder for students. But at least they've finally started saving money.

    Sports: Limited facilities due to Manhattan location, but teams do well in their divisions.

    Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks available every day. Good (pricey) food.

    Facilities: Great building but aging. They renovate one big thing a year.
    Read 117 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 532 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  3. Horace Mann School

    • Private School
    • Bronx, NY
    • K-12
    • 121 reviews
    #12 Best Private High 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 121 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,694 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  4. Collegiate School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 22 reviews
    #13 Best Private High 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 22 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 651 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Brearley School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 57 reviews
    #15 Best Private High Schools in America

    Parent: My daughter began in Kindergarten and (still) loves it! She’s now in high school. It's a nurturing place for learning. The staff and faculty are incredibly supportive. They know each child. The curriculum is top-notch. There is a methodical approach to the curriculum that begins in the Lower School and continues in the Upper School. One example is in the writing program and how it evolved from Kindergarten, building on each girl’s capacity and capability, each year. Our daughter now produces papers for many courses that are well-written and well-argued! We feel that Brearley is our second home in the city. My daughter has life-long friends. Our family has also found families who will remain in our lives for a very long time.
    Read 57 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 720 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. The Pingry School

    • Private School
    • Basking Ridge, NJ
    • K-12
    • 81 reviews
    #20 Best Private High 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 81 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,125 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  9. Stuyvesant High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 2, NY
    • 9-12
    • 942 reviews
    #4 Best Public High Schools in America

    Senior: I am a rising senior, class of 2019. There’s a whole array of students here. But the majority of the students are academically driven. It’s not too hard to stay on top of your courses if you work for it. There will me many sleepless nights if you procrastinate. But if you can manage you time efficiently and are dedicated to your schoolwork, then classes will be doable. There are so many elective to take. Personally, I don’t have the best academics because I wanted to ensure that I could also fully enjoyed my high school experience. It’s been a stressful three year. I’ve come close to a lot of meltdowns, but I’ve also had a lot of pleasant memories here!
    Read 942 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3,368 Students
    • 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  10. Dalton School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 67 reviews
    #32 Best Private High Schools in America

    Senior: Dalton has a pretty rigorous academic curriculum that is definitely not the right fit for everyone, but in my opinion has done a good job of preparing students for college and beyond. Many classes are discussion based so it can be difficult to fade into the background or not do your work, and the environment is generally really competitive, especially in later years when college comes into the picture. One great thing about the school is that it gives laptops to each student for the whole school year, but you're paying for that and more with the price of tuition.
    Read 67 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,322 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  11. Bergen County Academies

    • Public School
    • Hackensack, NJ
    • 9-12
    • 456 reviews
    #5 Best Public High Schools in America

    Senior: One's time spent at BCA will heavily be influenced by their academy. Even though each academy has different workloads, there are some academies with bigger workloads than others, meaning students in those academies have to sacrifice more of their time to get the same high grades as students of other academies. Some classes are geared to a specific academy, meaning students only of a certain academy are allowed to take them. However, there are many clubs, electives, societies, and sports students can take to enrich themselves in various ways. Also, the school is structured like college, having multiple free times throughout a day, allowing students to relax, have fun, take extra classes, or work on schoolwork throughout the day. BCA's student environment can get very competitive, but at end of the day all the students are respected by others. The students thrive with the help of teachers, administrators, and, of course, their peers.
    Read 456 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,069 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. Rye Country Day School

    • Private School
    • Rye, NY
    • PK, K-12
    • 86 reviews
    #36 Best Private High Schools in America

    Alum: I transitioned from a rigorous private school in UK or RCDS. Transition has was wonderfully smooth and incredibly easy. Academics are top notch and rigorous- on-par with UK standard of rigour. I’m so glad I studied here. A warm metropolis is how I remember RCDS to be. A great place. Wonderful and supportive teachers. The headmaster was excellent and made sure the school was run like a finely tuned machine but a warm kind machine!
    Read 86 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 924 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  13. The Chapin School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 72 reviews
    #37 Best Private High Schools in America

    Senior: I have been at Chapin since Kindergarten, and they have supported me through my entire journey. During my time here I learned I have dyslexia and other learning disabilities and Chapin's learning resources and faculty have been there to guarantee my success. They have excellent resources for all your needs and if you feel like Chapin is lacking in a department they will help fill that hole. I can attest to the fact the Chapin tries to keep up with the times as they have changed a lot during my time here. For example, they have always been at the forefront of the newest strategies to best educate the students such as getting rid of AP classes and implementing new teaching techniques like more class discussions. I highly recommend you send your child or come here because I would not have wanted to grow up in development in any other institution. I am not saying that Chapin is without faults, but they always have good intentions to make this environment the best it can be.
    Read 72 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 725 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  14. Riverdale Country School

    • Private School
    • Bronx, NY
    • PK, K-12
    • 40 reviews
    #40 Best Private High Schools in America

    Middle School Student: I have been at this school for 3 years. While I have a great group of friends, there are some white kids who feel privileged and may make you feel less than. The teachers are great and the resources and campus are great! We have our own pool and every student gets their own Chromebook in 6th grade. I would recommend this school because it has many opportunities to discover your talents.
    Read 40 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,189 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  15. Newark Academy

    • Private School
    • Livingston, NJ
    • 6-12
    • 76 reviews
    #41 Best Private High Schools in America

    Middle School Student: Newark Academy is an amazing school! Everyone is so nice and open and everyone has a group to associate with. The academics give opportunities to people who want to excel past their level and all of the teachers are very friendly and willing to help. Overall, Newark Academy has made me extremely happy as a student and I wouldn't wish to be anywhere else!
    Read 76 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 613 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  16. High Technology High School

    • Public School
    • Lincroft, NJ
    • 9-12
    • 84 reviews
    #7 Best Public High Schools in America

    Senior: Overall, my high school experience has been anything but ordinary. HTHS as a school demands hard work and dedication to your studies, and if you are not able to work at this high caliber and keep up with the rigorous coarse work, you can find yourself in a bit of trouble. All of the teachers are wonderful and supportive, and are really some of the best teachers I have every had. The students are competitive, but that is to be expected when you are thrown in a pool with so many intelligent and driven people. Although some students prefer to read their physics textbooks over having face-to-face human conversations, HTHS is charming in a nerdy way. Accommodations for health issues, however, are far and few in between which really puts a damper on all of the other positive attributes of the school. However, High Tech is still a great school full of opportunities for those willing to work hard and take on the challenge that is High Technology High School.
    Read 84 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 291 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  17. The Spence School

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • K-12
    • 19 reviews
    #45 Best Private High Schools in America

    Freshman: The Spence School has an amazing community of girls while also maintaining its academic rigor. Every day, I come into school with a smile on my face because I am so excited to go into school- because I know that it means not only learning and seeing my friends, but it also means partaking in numerous after school activities at Spence. I also feel that I am challenged in so many new ways each day but classes are still fun and hands on!
    Read 19 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 751 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  18. Union County Magnet High School

    • Public School
    • Scotch Plains, NJ
    • 9-12
    • 123 reviews
    #12 Best Public High Schools in America

    Junior: Union County Magnet High School is an excellent school! The student community feels like family and the teachers are available to their students often. It’s a very safe environment both physically and emotionally. There are no sports through Magnet, but students can participate in the programs of their “sending districts”, which is nice. It would be great if they fixed the sinks in the bathrooms, but other than that there isn’t much to complain about.
    Read 123 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 298 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. Delbarton School

    • Private School
    • Morristown, NJ
    • 7-12
    • 102 reviews
    #60 Best Private High Schools in America

    Parent: As a parent, I would implore any parent who has a son to visit Delbarton for a couple of hours one day. Walk the grounds. Speak with the teachers. More importantly, speak with the boys that currently attend the school. The curtain will be pulled back and you will be able to experience the benfits of the Delbarton community. The brilliance and respect of the young men at the school is incredibly impressive. The campus is stunning and you can hear and see the dedication to the students by the teachers first hand. Wonderful institution for any young man to earn a stellar education, lifelong friends and a bright future!
    Read 102 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 588 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  22. Staten Island Technical High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 31, NY
    • 9-12
    • 609 reviews
    #15 Best Public High Schools in America

    Freshman: Staten Island Technical High School provides students with many opportunities through rigorous courses and clubs celebrating diversity. Students take Russian for three years (four, if they choose to). This gives students something rare to put on their resumés. However, there aren’t as many sports for females as there are for males. This gives males more chances to succeed athletically. On the other hand, the school is full of encouraging staff members. The school even has a therapy dog for students who need to relieve stress! We are also taught about substance addiction prevention. The teacher helps us open up about problems and questions we have. The school enforces a strict policy against academic dishonesty, and always reminds students to be honest about their work. For instance, the guidance counselor advises students who do not have enough time for an assignment to ask the teacher for an extension instead of cheating.
    Read 609 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,313 Students
    • 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  23. Hackley School

    • Private School
    • Tarrytown, NY
    • K-12
    • 54 reviews
    #65 Best Private High 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 54 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 834 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  24. Townsend Harris High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 25, NY
    • 9-12
    • 566 reviews
    #19 Best Public High Schools in America

    Alum: It's been a few years that I've graduated from Townsend and I have to say, it prepared me so well for college. I ended up going to an ivy after high school and not only was I prepared academically, but I was more than prepared to face the competitive environment surrounding me. I realized early on in Townsend that you should not compare yourself to your peers and just always put your best foot forward, and that's exactly what I did during my time there and in college now. Furthermore, Townsend students are textbook definition of nice kids. Everyone was really respectful and friendly and promoted positive peer pressure, i.e. caring about learning, and education. I cannot recommend Townsend enough! Private school education for a public school price :).
    Read 566 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,109 Students
    • 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  25. Packer Collegiate Institute

    • Private School
    • Brooklyn, NY
    • PK, K-12
    • 110 reviews
    #70 Best Private High Schools in America

    Alum: I attended Packer from PK through to 12th grade, and they truly were, the best years of life. Students are expected to thrive academically, but that's not to say it's a hothouse, where only the fittest survive. Support is there for students who need it, for whatever reason that may be. During 10th grade, I had a period of suffering with health issues, which at the time I had receive no diagnosis for. I was well supported by the school, and as a result my grades didn't suffer. Once I received a diagnosis - thankfully nothing too serious - the school continued to support me, while I received treatment. Without such incredible support from the school, at that time in life, I would not have graduated with a 4.0 GPA!
    Read 110 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 998 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  26. Bronx High School of Science

    • New York City Geographic District No. 10, NY
    • 9-12
    • 822 reviews
    #21 Best Public High Schools in America

    Alum: The Bronx High School of Science was exactly where I needed to be. It did not matter that I lived in Rockaway Beach because going to school there was absolutely fantastic. Sometimes, I learned more from the students than the teachers because thats how smart the students were! The AP courses were challenging, and I would love to send my children there when I have some!
    Read 822 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,977 Students
    • 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  27. Dwight-Englewood School

    • Private School
    • Englewood, NJ
    • PK, K-12
    • 49 reviews
    #79 Best Private High 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 49 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 947 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  28. French-American School of New York

    • Private School
    • Mamaroneck, NY
    • PK, K-12
    • 48 reviews
    #84 Best Private High Schools in America

    Parent: Phenomenal school with great academics in an international, welcoming environment! Higher SAT and ACT Scores than Rye Country Day and Hackley (based on Niche.com) for an average $10K less tuition. I am very pleased with the school for my son who has been a student for 8 years. The demanding academics are taught by caring and passionate teachers, who prepare their students not only for college (the bilingual curriculum does give them an edge for their college applications!), but also to become global citizens. The IB track, now accessible in 9th grade, is open to prospective students who don't speak French. This school is a gem and a unique opportunity for parents to provide a top notch education to their child(ren).
    Read 48 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 784 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  29. Biotechnology High School

    • Public School
    • Freehold, NJ
    • 9-12
    • 104 reviews
    #24 Best Public High Schools in America

    Junior: I have highs and lows when it comes to Biotechnology HS. Although it is a STEM school, the administrators try to foster a school culture that allows students to express their abilities and talents. However, this fails in the eyes of other high schools that actually put time, attention, and effort in letting extracurriculars flourish. Additionally, Biotech states that the workload is manageable, however, it honestly isn't. While teachers are amazingly qualified and caring, many don't recognize the sheer amount of work they place on students. Students have volunteering, sports, extracurriculars, jobs, family and social lives to attend to, and many have to sacrifice to do school assignments. It's even worse for upperclassmen who have extra IB required assessments to attend to. After a while, the lackluster of Biotech fades and students realize that while they are in an academic-heavy environment, they are essentially in a sheltered community that isn't very reminiscent of reality.
    Read 104 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 330 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  30. Sponsored

    The Stony Brook School

    • Private School
    • Stony Brook, NY
    • 7-12
    • 53 reviews

    Middle School Student: This is my first year at SBS, but i already love it here. All of those bad reviewed are bogus.
    1- The food is GREAT!
    2- The faculty is amazing!
    3- There is nothing to hate about the wonderful, diverse community at The Stony Brook School.
    Come join us and have the best school years ever. You will be prepared for college, and may even get into Ivy League schools! I know a graduate who is going to Stanford from SBS. You are always successful after going to this amazing school. You don’t have to be Christian, I’m not, it’s a great thing to have cultural appropriation, and to learn about other religions. :)
    Read 53 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 401 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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    Diocese of Brooklyn

    • Catholic Diocese
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    The Evergreen School

    • Private School
    • Shoreline, WA
    • PK, K-8
    • 7 reviews

    Parent: My children have very different personalities, along with different social-emotional needs and challenges. Evergreen knows each kid quite well. Each time we hit a rough patch, there was dialogue and teamwork with the faculty and counselors, which I really appreciated. The older students set their own goals and run their own parent conferences. Kids using powerpoint! But in all seriousness, this self-reflection and ownership seems like excellent preparation for a future of independent learning. Oh yeah, and the BIG Lab, a high-tech makerspace, is amazing. I wish I could go here.
    Read 7 Reviews

    • 483 Students
    • 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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