Best Private Schools in New Hampshire – 2025
February 28, 2025
There are countless questions on has to answer when searching for a private high school. Are you seeking a boarding or day school? Do you want your child’s high school to have a religious affiliation? College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in New Hampshire will focus primarily on our area of expertise—college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job each school does of sending their graduates on to the region/nation’s premier 4-year schools. If you are a New Hampshire parent actively searching for the best-fit private schools for your child or teen (no matter the current age of your student), you are likely interested in the college preparation and counseling offered by each prospective school. Of course, in addition to that particular angle, you will also need to balance your teen’s academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations.
Best Private Schools in New Hampshire
Here’s a quick preview of the best private schools in New Hampshire that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.
1) Phillips Exeter Academy
2) St. Paul’s School
3) Holderness School
4) Dublin School
5) Derryfield School
6) New Hampton School
7) Kimball Union Academy
8) Proctor Academy
9) Brewster Academy
Please note that inclusion on our 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 best private high schools in New Hampshire, College Transitions will provide you with the:
- Location
- Tuition (9-12)
- Enrollment (9-12)
- Average SAT Score
- Average ACT Score
- Senior Class Size
- College Admissions Highlights
- Academic Highlights
Without further delay, let’s look at the best private schools in New Hampshire.
Phillips Exeter Academy – New Hampshire
- 20 Main St, Exeter, NH 03833
College Admissions Highlights: Students from the last three years from Exeter have gone to these fine colleges and universities: BC, BU, Bowdoin, Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, George Washington, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pomona, Princeton, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, USC,
UVA, Villanova, Wesleyan, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Average class size of 12 students with a 6:1 student to teacher ratio. 57% students of color. ~80% of student live on campus. 67% of faculty have a masters degree, 27% doctorate. >60% of classes are 1st year college level courses. 200+organizations including cultural & affinity groups, governance, and service. 70% of student participate in one or more of the 60 athletic teams in 23 sports.
St. Paul’s School – New Hampshire
- 325 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301
College Admissions Highlights: In the past four years, SPS graduates have matriculated to these colleges and universities: Babson, Baylor, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Skidmore, Stanford, UT Austin, Tufts, US Military Acad, UCLA, UChicago, U Chicago, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wellesley, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: St Paul’s is 100% boarding high school. 34 states & 28 countries represented. Average class size is 10 students with a student to teacher ratio of 5:1. 49% students of color. 80% of faculty have advanced degrees. Special programs include: School year abroad, Advanced topics, Independent Study Program, and Interdisciplinary courses. Professional artist-led dance, music and theater programs. 17 interscholastic sports.
Holderness School – New Hampshire
- 33 Chapel Ln, Holderness, NH 03245
College Admissions Highlights: Holderness graduates have recently chosen to continue studies at these prestigious institutions: Bates, BC, BU, Brown, Colby, Colorado College, Cornell, Dartmouth, Gettysburg, Hamilton, Northeastern, Northwestern, St Lawrence U, Tufts, U Colorado – Boulder, UC San Diego, U New Hampshire, Penn, U Richmond, U Vermont, and Williams.
Academic Highlights: Average class size is 10 students with a 6:1 student to faculty ratio. 87% are boarding students who represent 26 states & 17 countries. 75% of faculty have advanced degrees. 21 AP Classes with an average 76% passing rate across all exams. 34 varsity teams. 22 dogs on campus. Students spend several hours each week to help care for the wellbeing of the school. Over 5000 hours of community service performed by students.
Dublin School – New Hampshire
- 8 Lehmann Way, Dublin, NH 03444
College Admissions Highlights: Dublin School graduates over the last four years, matriculated to these fine colleges and institutions: American, BC, BU, Brandeis, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Georgetown, George Washington, Grinnell, Hofstra, Kenyon, Macalester, Loyola, UMass, UMiami, UMichigan, Northeastern, Pitzer, RPI, Skidmore, USC, US Military Acad, Vassar, UVA, VATech, and WashingtonU.
Academic Highlights: Student to teacher ratio is 5:1. 71% boarding students with 21 states represented & 7 countries. 22 AP & advanced courses. January term (J-Term) is a two week mini-term when students study one subject in serious depth. On campus, the Perkins Observatory is used for astronomy courses, clubs, and hosts educational events.
Derryfield School – New Hampshire
- 2108 River Rd, Manchester, NH 03104
College Admissions Highlights: The Derryfield School had students go on to these institutions over a recent 3 year period: Adelphi, American, Bard, BU, Bowdoin, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Dartmouth, Dickinson, Georgetown, GaTech, Howard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Princeton, RIT, SMU, Trinity, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UF, UMiami, UMichigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Vassar, VaTech, WashingtonU, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Average class size is 14 with a student to faculty ratio of 7:1. 66% of faculty have advanced degrees. 23% self identify as students of color. 18 honors & 15 advanced topics courses. 43 interscholastic sports with 27 championships since 2012. Art curriculum includes visual arts, music, and drama. Community block, scheduled twice a day, provides students to meet with teachers, participate in clubs, and explore interests.
New Hampton School – New Hampshire
- 70 Main St, New Hampton, NH 03256
College Admissions Highlights: New Hampton students have matriculated to these prestigious colleges and universities: Bates, BC, Brown, Bryant, Bucknell, Case Western, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Drexel, Duke, Embry-Riddle, George Washington, Harvard, Hofstra, Howard, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Providence, RPI, Skidmore, Trinity, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMass, Notre Dame, Penn, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Washington U, and Williams.
Academic Highlights: The average class size is 10 with a 5:1 student to faculty ratio. 80% of students are boarding with 25% international from 32 countries. 18% are students of color. 55% of faculty hold advanced degrees. 49 IB courses with 15% of classes earning full IB Diploma. 21 art offerings including animation. 17 interscholastic sports with hockey and snow sports.
Kimball Union Academy – New Hampshire
- 7 Campus Center Dr, Meriden, NH 03770
College Admissions Highlights: Kimball Union students matriculate to these prestigious institutions over the last four years: American, BU, Brandeis, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Emory, GaTech, Harvard, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Pomona, SMU, Syracuse, Trinity, Tufts, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMass, UMichigan, USC, UVA, Villanova, WashingtonU, and William & Mary.
Academic Highlights: Average class size is 11 students with a 6:1 student to teacher ratio. 78% are boarding students with 25 countries represented. 79% of teachers hold advanced degrees. 20 AP courses. Offer a 2-year certificate as an Art, Global or STEM Scholar in addition to diploma. Part of an 8 school consortium around the world: Global Alliance for Innovative Learning. 21 Interscholastic sports with 70% of students earning one varsity letter each year.
Proctor Academy – New Hampshire
- 204 Main St, Andover, NH 03216
College Admissions Highlights: Colleges and universities graduates over the last three years have attended from Proctor include: American, BC, Brandeis, Cal Poly, Colby, William & Mary, Dartmouth, Drexel, Embry-Riddle, Emory, Fordham, Loyola, Macalester, Marist, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, RPI, Skidmore, Syracuse, Trinity, Tufts, US Naval Acad, Univ Colorado Boulder, U Mass, UT Austin, Villanova, Wesleyan, and WPI.
Academic Highlights: The student to teacher ratio is 5:1. 70% of the student body are boarding, representing 38 states and 14 countries. 70% of faculty have advanced degrees. 19 AP & College level courses offered. 30+ competitive athletic teams including alpine ski racing. Weekly Polar Swims. Off-Campus programs offered in the Ocean, Mountain, Spanish, European Art, Costa Rica, and Summer service with the Lakota Tribe. 30 art electives.
Brewster Academy – New Hampshire
- 80 Academy Dr, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
College Admissions Highlights: Over a recent 7 year interval, Brewster graduates have attended the following colleges and universities: Bates, BU, Brown, Bucknell, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Drexel, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Hofstra, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Tufts, US Air Force Acad, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, UMass, UNC Chapel Hill, USC, Vanderbilt, Villanova, VaTech, Wake Forest, and Wheaton.
Academic Highlights: Brewster student to faculty ratio is 6:1. 80% are boarding students with 25 countries represented. 12 AP Courses. 25+ student clubs organizations, and service opportunities. 35% of students are involved in leadership programs. 25+ interscholastic teams with 7 time national championship basketball. 12 afternoon enrichment options including recreational snow sports and robotics. Interim studies is a week long experimental learning opportunity at the end of the winter trimester.
Best Private Schools in New Hampshire – Additional Resources
We hope you found our blog on private schools in New Hampshire 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.
