Best Private Schools in Delaware – 2025

February 26, 2025

If you live in Delaware and are considering a private school for your child, there are quite a few wonderful options spread across the First State. Of course, having so many choices can feel a bit overwhelming. Are you seeking a boarding or day school? Do you want your child’s high school to have a religious affiliation? How far of a daily commute do want your child to have? What do you hear from friends and family about their experiences in various local schools? In the end, your decision-making process will need to balance your teen’s academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in Delaware will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will examine the job that each of the high schools does at sending their graduates on to the region/nation’s premier 4-year schools.

Best Private Schools in Delaware

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

1) St. Andrew’s School

2) Tower Hill School

3) Wilmington Friends

4) Sanford School

5) Archmere Academy

6) The Tatnall School

7) Caravel Academy

8) Padua Academy

9) Ursuline Academy

10) Salesianum School

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Delaware 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 the schools profiled, College Transitions will provide you with each institution’s:

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

Without further ado, let’s look at the full list.

#1 Best Private Schools in Delaware

St. Andrew’s School – Delaware

350 Noxontown Road, Middletown DE 19709

College Admissions Highlights: Students the last four classes had the most graduates matriculate into: Davidson, Princeton, Brown, UVA, Penn, Williams, Bates, Duke, Hamilton, Vanderbilt, Tufts, NYU, Wesleyan, Wake Forest, Yale, Columbia, Occidental, Harvard, BC, Middlebury, Dartmouth, Tulane, Georgetown, Washington U, Haverford, Delaware, MIT, Univ of St Andrew’s (Scotland), Washington U, Amherst, Bowdoin, Kenyon, Northwestern, Colorado – Boulder, Michigan, and Villanova.

Academic Highlights: St. Andrew’s is a boarding school. Average class size 10, with a 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 44% students of color. 9% international students. Offer Advanced Study & Advanced Topic Tutorial classes for high levels. All students participate in a club or sports. Over 80 clubs available and 23 athletic teams. All students participate in the extensive arts program. 70% of students participate in community service.

Tuition (9-12): $69,400
Enrollment (Seniors): 87
Mean SAT Score: 1324
Mean ACT Score: 28

#2 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Tower Hill School – Delaware

2813 W. 17th Street, Wilmington, DE 19806

College Admissions Highlights: Tower Hill students over the last two years have matriculated into: American, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Clemson, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Lafayette, Northeastern, NYU, Penn, Purdue, Rice, SCAD, Smith, Stanford, Swarthmore, Ohio State, Penn State, U Chicago, UNC Chapel Hill, UT Austin, Tufts, UC Berkeley, Michigan, Miami, Penn, Villanova, Wake Forest, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Average class size 15, 8:1 student to teacher ratio. 40% Identify as students of color. 84% of faculty have advanced degrees. Over 20 advanced courses. Average AP test score 4.49. 22 DIAA Varsity Athletic teams. 17 Performing Ensembles. 4000+ community service hours.

Tuition (9-12): $37,900
Enrollment (seniors): 86
Avearge SAT Score: 1313
Average ACT Score: 28

#3 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Wilmington Friends – Delaware

101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 19803

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last two years, students from Wilmington Friends matriculated into these fine institutions: American, BC, BU, Bowdoin, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Dickinson, Drexel, Emory, George Washington, Georgetown, Howard, Indiana, Kenyon, Lafayette, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, RPI, Swarthmore, Ohio State, Tufts, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, UVA, Villanova, Wake Forest, Williams, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Wilmington Friends is a quaker school. 28% identify as students of color in the high school. 53 teaching faculty have advanced degrees. 47 honors, advanced, IB, AP & accelerated courses. All students participate in at least 1 of the 23 athletic teams. Over 45 student clubs and committees. 25+ visual and performing arts courses.

Tuition (9-12): $37,200
Enrollment (seniors): 62
Mean SAT Score: 1241
Mean ACT Score: Not Reported

#4 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Sanford School – Delaware

6900 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707

College Admissions Highlights: In the last four years, Sanford graduates have gained admissions to: American, Bard, Baylor, BC, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Davidson, Drexel, Embry-Riddle, GaTech, Hamilton, Hofstra, Howard, Kenyon, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Pepperdine, Purdue, RIT, Skidmore, Tennessee, US Military Acad, UCLA, UMass, Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, USC, UVA, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, William & Mary, Williams, and WPI.

Academic Highlights: 35% students of color. 22 AP & 12 honors courses. 23 visual and performing art courses. All students participate in at least one of the 19 athletic teams. 40+ student led clubs and organizations. Senior capstones include a publication article and presentation. And all seniors complete an internship locally in their last weeks of school.

Tuition (9-12): $33,225
Enrollment (seniors): 74
Mean SAT Score: Not Reported
Mean ACT Score: Not Reported

#5 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Archmere Academy – Delaware

3600 Philadelphia Pike Claymont, DE 19703

College Admissions Highlights: Over a recent 4 year period students enrolled in these fine colleges & universities: American, BU, Bucknell, William & Mary, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northeastern, Princeton, UGA, UMichigan, Notre Dame, Penn, Vanderbilt, Villanova, VaTech, Wake Forest, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Average class size is 15 students, with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio. 86% of teachers hold advanced degrees. 90% of AP test takers scored 3 or higher. Unique classes offered at Archmere: Advanced Cancer Research and Analysis, Advanced Linear Algebra, Honors Engineering I & II, and Global Studies. 82% of the student body participates in the 23 athletic teams.

Tuition (9-12): $35,600
Enrollment (seniors): 129
Mean SAT Score: 1230
Mean ACT Score: 29

#6 Best Private Schools in Delaware

The Tatnall School – Delaware

1501 Barley Mill Road, Wilmington, DE 19807

College Admissions Highlights: Tatnall graduates over the last four years have been accepted to these colleges and universities: American, Barnard, BU, Brown, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dickinson, GaTech, Hofstra, Howard, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, Lafayette, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Ohio State, Princeton, RPI, Rice, SMU, Tufts, US Air Force Acad, UCLA, Florida, UMass, Miami, Penn, USC, Tennessee, UVA, Villanova, VaTech, Wake Forest, & Wellesley.

Academic Highlights: 7:1 student-teacher ratio. 18 AP & 4 advanced level courses. 36 interscholastic teams with 20% of graduates go on to participate in collegiate athletics. 6 state of the art facilities for STEM and performing arts. Upperclassmen curate, install, exhibit, and sell their artwork at an annual spring event. 41% of teachers also coach, organize student groups, direct or conduct.

Tuition (9-12): $37,200
Enrollment (seniors): 69
Mean SAT Score: Not reported
Mean ACT Score: Not reported

#7 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Caravel Academy – Delaware

2801 Del Laws Road Bear, DE 19701

College Admissions Highlights: Caravel’s recent graduates were accepted to institutions such as: College of Charleston, Dickinson, Drexel, Duquesne, George Mason, George Washington, Hamilton, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Thomas Jefferson, Delaware, U Maryland, U Miami, USF, and VCU.

Academic Highlights: 15+ AP classes. 2023 AP School Honor Roll. 33 seniors scored a 3 or higher on AP exams with 3 National Merit Semifinalists. 21 Athletic options with multiple state championships. All students participate in at least one of the 20+ activities & clubs. All seniors graduate with at least 80 hours of community service.

Tuition (9-12): $14,250
Enrollment (seniors): 88
Mean SAT Score: Not reported
Mean ACT Score: Not reported

#8 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Padua Academy – Delaware

905 North Broom Street Wilmington, DE 19806

College Admissions Highlights: In a recent five year span, graduates of Padua were accepted by these fine institutions: American, Bard, BC, Bryn Mawr, Bucknell, Case Western, Columbia, Drexel, Duke, GaTech, Hofstra, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, LSU, Marquette, NYU, Northwestern, Pepperdine, Princeton, RIT, SMU, William & Mary, Tennessee, Tufts, US Air Force Acad, UCLA, U Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, Penn, Vanderbilt, Villanova, VaTech, Washington U, Wheaton, & York.

Academic Highlights: Padua is an all girls institution. 26 AP Courses are offered. 84% of students scored 3 or higher on AP Exams. Juniors & Seniors are able to experience a global education with international teacher-led trips. Over 60% participate in one of 16 varsity athletic programs. 50+ clubs and activities.

Tuition (9-12): $17,577
Enrollment (seniors): ~130
Top 25% SAT Score: 1200-1560
9% of class ACT Score: 17-35

#9 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Ursuline Academy – Delaware

1106 Pennsylvania Avenue Wilmington, DE 19806

College Admissions Highlights: In a recent 5-year period Ursuline Academy students have been accepted at American, BC, BU, Bowdoin, Brown, Bucknell, Case Western, William & Mary, Cornell, DePaul, Drexel, Emory, FSU, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Lafayette, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Princeton, Purdue, Rice, Swarthmore, Ohio State, UC Berkeley, Georgia, UMass, Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, Penn, Tennessee, UVA, Villanova, Va Tech, Wake Forest, Wesleyan, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Ursuline is an all girls school for grades 6-12. 8:1 average student teacher ratio. 19 AP Courses. 69% scored a 3 or higher on AP exams. 41% of graduates purse a degree in a STEM-related major. 13 sports are offered & they have earned 65 State Championships. 113 hours on average of community service per student.

Tuition (9-12): $29,850
Enrollment (seniors): 52
Mean SAT Score: 1106
Mean ACT Score: 26

#10 Best Private Schools in Delaware

Salesianum School – Delaware

1801 N. Broom Street Wilmington, DE 19802

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, students enrolled from Salesianum have been accepted at: American, Baylor, Brown, BC, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Penn State, Princeton, RPI, Ohio State, UT Austin, Tufts, US Military Acad, UCLA, U Chicago, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, Villanova, VaTech, Wake Forest, and Washington U.

Academic Highlights: Salesianum is an all boys school. Average class size is 18 students, with a 12:1 student to faculty ratio. 20 AP courses & dual enrollment with DeSales University & University of Delaware. 79% of teachers have a master’s degree. 80% of the students participate in clubs. 28 Fine arts electives. 81 hours of community service on average per student. 28 athletic teams, intramurals & clubs.

Tuition (9-12): $21,200
Enrollment (seniors): 215
Mean SAT Score: Not reported
Mean ACT Score: Not reported

Best Private Schools in Delaware – Additional Resources

We hope you found our blog on private schools in Delaware 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 School Success

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).