Best Private Schools in Connecticut (CT) – 2024

January 29, 2024

Whether you are a parent residing in New Haven, Greenwich, Stamford, Hartford, Fairfield or even outside the state of Connecticut, you may be eying some of the elite private day and boarding schools that are spread throughout the Constitution State. Without a doubt, many CT private schools are among the finest in the country. As parents, there are a multitude of considerations guiding your decision of which private schools in Connecticut will be best for your child. Ultimately, your decision will need to balance your teen’s academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. However, College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in CT will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each of the schools do at sending their graduates on to the region/nation’s premier 4-year schools.

Best Private Schools in CT

Here’s a quick preview of the high schools that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) The Hotchkiss School

2) Choate Rosemary Hall

3) Greenwich Academy

4) Hopkins School

5) The Loomis Chaffee School

6) Kent School

7) Miss Porter’s School

8) Pomfret School

9) The Taft School

10) Brunswick School

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Connecticut list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear is not representative of any further ranking; the numbering is solely intended to enhance the ease of navigating this resource. All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the top colleges in the country. For each of our best private schools in Connecticut, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—the school’s:

Location
Tuition (9-12)
Enrollment (9-12)
Average SAT Score
Average ACT Score
Senior Class Size
College Admissions Highlights
Academic Highlights

Now, let’s dive in and examine the best private schools in CT.

#1 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

The Hotchkiss School – Connecticut

11 Interlaken Rd, Lakeville, CT 06039

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last four years, the greatest number of grads have matriculated into UChicago (42), Georgetown (34), Cornell (27), Columbia (19), Yale (17), Brown (16), Penn (15), BU (14), Dartmouth (14), Middlebury (14), Wesleyan (14), NYU (12), Princeton (12), Bucknell (11), Colby (11), UVA (11), Harvard (10), and Stanford (10).

Academic Highlights: 96% are boarding students. 41% are students of color. 34 countries and 37 states are represented, 13% international students. 4:1 student to faculty ratio. Specialty programs include a Classics Diploma, Stan-X Program, Hersey Scholars Program, and the MacLeish Scholars Program. 94% of students participate in a team sport.

Tuition (9-12): $68,370 (Boarding); $58,110 (Day)
Enrollment (seniors): 175
Average SAT Score: 1431
Average ACT Score: 31

#2 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Choate Rosemary Hall – Connecticut

333 Christian St, Wallingford, CT 06492

College Admissions Highlights: From 2019-2023, the highest number of students matriculated into NYU (54), UChicago (46), Yale (41), Columbia (40), Georgetown (31), Cornell (30), Northeastern (30), Brown (26), Penn (25), University of St. Andrews (24), BC (23), Harvard (20), BU (18), Dartmouth (17), WashingtonU (16), Amherst (14), Stanford (14), and Tufts (14).

Academic Highlights: 76% of students are boarding. 42% are domestic students of color and 18% are international student. In the Class of 2023, there were 9 National Merit Finalists, 10 Semifinalists, and 35 Commended Scholars. 68% of AP test-takers scored a 4 or 5. Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts are on the menu to help nurture creativity. Over 50 Athletic teams and intramural sports.

Tuition (9-12): $68,380 (Boarding); $52,880 (Day)
Enrollment (seniors): 249
Average SAT Score: 1401
Average ACT Score: 30.7

#3 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Greenwich Academy – Connecticut

200 N Maple Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830

College Admissions Highlights: In the last five years, more than 10 students have enrolled at each of the following colleges: BC (19), Colgate (15), Cornell (14), Duke (13) Georgetown (23), Harvard (17), Princeton (11), Stanford (10), UChicago (10), UMich (12), Penn (15), UVA (19), Wake Forest (11), and Yale (12).

Academic Highlights: Greenwich is an all-girls school. 34% self identify as students of color. Offers signature programs in STEM, the arts, global learning, communications, and civic leadership. Some resources are combined with the nearby all-boys Brunswick school (also on our list). Over 90 AP and honors courses are offered. 70+ clubs and organizations. More than 25 teams in 16 sports.

Tuition (9-12): $53,300
Enrollment (seniors): 91
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#4 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Hopkins School – Connecticut

986 Forest Rd, New Haven, CT 06515

College Admissions Highlights: For the class of 2023, students have matriculated into Barnard College, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Colby, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Harvard, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pomona, Princeton, Tufts, UChicago, UMichigan, Penn, USC, UVA, Wake Forest, WashingtonU, Wesleyan, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: 45% student of color. 89% of faculty possess an advanced degree. The average class size is 12 students with a 1:6 faculty-to-student ratio. 22 AP courses are offered. 94% of AP exam takers scored a 3 or higher. 49% of the class of 2023 earned a National Merit designation, 2 were Scholarship winners. 79 interscholastic teams with 100% participation in a sport or athletic activity.

Tuition (9-12): $50,850,
Enrollment (seniors): 146
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1390-1540
Mid-50% ACT Score: 30-34

#5 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

The Loomis Chaffee School – Connecticut

4 Batchelder Rd, Windsor, CT 06095

College Admissions Highlights: The Class of 2023 entered a number of prestigious institutions including: Amherst, Bates, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Claremont McKenna, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, Penn, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Students hail from 33 states and 48 countries, 71% are boarding students. 35% are domestic students of color. Average class size is 11 with a 4:1 student/faculty ratio. 75+ student clubs and organizations. 58 interscholastic athletics teams. Offer 55 College level courses and 19 advanced. In the past five years, the school has produced 9 National Merit Semifinalists and 81 Commended Scholars.

Tuition (9-12): $68,420 (Boarding); $52,100 (Day)
Enrollment (seniors): 210
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1220-1510
Mid-50% ACT Score: 26-32

#6 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Kent School – Connecticut

1 Macedonia Rd, Kent, CT 06757

College Admissions Highlights: In 2021-2023, large numbers of students enrolled at the following highly-selective institutions: Hamilton (8), BU (15), BC (8), Columbia (9), Cornell (8), Colby (6), Emory (6), Georgetown (6), Princeton (5), NYU (14), Northeastern (15), Wesleyan (6), USC (5), US Naval Academy (6), and Tufts (7).

Academic Highlights: Average class size is 10 students, with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio. 29% students of color. 71% of faculty members hold advanced degrees. 91% are boarding students who come from 30 states and 34 countries. 24 Advanced studies courses. 23 varsity athletic teams. 9 music ensembles, 3 dance recitals, 4 theatre productions and 81 student clubs.

Tuition (9-12): $73,450 (Boarding); $54,600 (Day)
Enrollment (seniors): 153
Average SAT Score: 1313
Average ACT Score: 28.1

#7 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Miss Porter’s School – Connecticut

60 Main St, Farmington, CT 06032

College Admissions Highlights: Recent graduates have gone on to enroll in every Bates, Bowdoin, Brown, Colby, Harvard, MIT, Smith, Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams, Wellesley, Purdue, WashingtonU, UMichigan, UChicago, Pomona, UCLA, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, NYU, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Vanderbilt, and UNC Chapel Hill.

Academic Highlights: This is an all-girls school high school with a boarding option. Average class size of 12 with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. 33% identify as students of color. Over 40 advanced interdisciplinary seminars (advanced level) courses. 11th graders participate in Global Intensive with international travel and 12th graders a Professional Experience. 10 athletic teams, 50+ student organizations, and a comprehensive fine arts program.

Tuition (9-12): $70,750 (Boarding); $56,725 (Day)
Enrollment (9-12): 336
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#8 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Pomfret School – Connecticut

398 Pomfret St, Pomfret Center, CT 06259

College Admissions Highlights: From 2021 to 2023 multiple students enrolled in colleges such as BU (5), Cornell (2), Case Western (3), George Washington (7), Hamilton (3), NYU (4), Northeastern (11), RIT (3), Trinity (12), Tufts (2), Tulane (6), UMichigan (4), University of Richmond (3), USC (2), Villanova (2), Williams (2), Wesleyan (4), and Washington U (6).

Academic Highlights: 85% are boarding students. Students come from 29 states and 29 countries (21% international students). There are 50 electives and over 25 clubs and affinity groups. 40% of students receive financial aid. 55 honors, advanced and AP courses are available. 15 sports make up 45 teams with 15 NCAA recruited athletes annually.

Tuition (9-12): $69,250 (Boarding); $45,000 (Day).
Enrollment (9-12): 350
Mid-50% SAT Score: Not Reported
Mid-50% ACT Score: Not Reported

#9 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

The Taft School – Connecticut

110 Woodbury Rd, Watertown, CT 06795

College Admissions Highlights: Between 2019-2023, large numbers of students have gone on to attend Georgetown (29), Penn (21), Bucknell (21), University of Richmond (20), Brown (18), SMU (18), Wake Forest (18), NYU (17), Northeastern (14), Middlebury (14), Tufts (12), Duke (12), UVA (11), Notre Dame (9), Harvard (8) and UCLA (7).

Academic Highlights: 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio, average class size is 11 students. 476 of the 580 students are boarding. Students come from 60 countries (22% International) and 31 states. The faculty possess 97 advanced degrees (among 131 teachers). 45% students of color. Over 80 honors and advance topic courses.

Tuition (9-12): $72,000 (Boarding); $53,500 (Day)
Enrollment (School): 180
Average SAT Score: 1370 (most recent available)
Average ACT Score: 30 (most recent available)

#10 Best Private Schools in Connecticut

Brunswick School – Connecticut

100 Maher Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830

College Admissions Highlights: In 2023 alone, Brunswick sent the greatest number of students to the following colleges: Yale (8), Georgetown (6), SMU (5), Notre Dame (5), Penn (5), Villanova (5), BC (3), Columbia (3), Duke (3), Harvard (3), MIT (3), UNC Chapel Hill (3), UVA (3), Brown (2), Dartmouth (2), and Wake Forest (2).

Academic Highlights: One of the best private schools in CT, Brunswick is an all-boys institution. 27% student of color. 77% of 181 full-time teachers possess advanced degrees. 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The average class size is 11 students. 83 Honors and AP courses. 17 Interscholastic sports. Students travel to Vermont campus for wilderness education and applied-classroom learning experiences.

Tuition (9-12): $53,250
Enrollment (seniors): 108
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

Best Private Schools in Connecticut – Additional Resources

We hope you found our blog on private schools in CT to be helpful. All high school students and families may wish to explore further information regarding the college search and admissions process at our Dataverse, Blog, and List-Building Tool.

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High Schools

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).