Best Private Schools in Philadelphia – 2024

January 22, 2024

Philadelphia—along with the surrounding Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties—has no shortage of terrific private school options for your child. College Transitions’ list of the Best Private Schools in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia-Area 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 high 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 Philadelphia

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) Germantown Friends School

2) Friends’ Central School

3) The Baldwin School

4) The Shipley School

5) The Haverford School

6) Friends Select School

7) George School

8) The Episcopal Academy

9) The Hill School

10) William Penn Charter School

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, 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 delay, let’s look at the schools that made our list:

#1 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

Germantown Friends School – Philadelphia

31 W Coulter St, Philadelphia, PA 19144

College Admissions Highlights: In 2023 GFS grads matriculated into Amherst, Barnard, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Dartmouth, George Washington, Hamilton, Haverford, Macalester, Middlebury, Northwestern, Princeton, Pomona, Tufts, UCLA, UMichigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, Vassar, WashingtonU, and Williams.

Academic Highlights: The student-to-teacher ratio is 5:1. 41% are students of color. Over 20 advanced courses available. In one recent four-year period, GFS produced 5 National Scholars, 17 Finalists, and 27 Semifinalists. 70+ student led clubs and affinity groups. 159 FSL Athletic championship titles for 65 athletic teams. 11 visual art classes offered including furniture making.

Tuition (9-12): $46,475
Enrollment (seniors): 95
Average SAT Score: 1340
Average ACT Score: 32

#2 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

Friends’ Central School – Philadelphia

1101 City Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096

College Admissions Highlights: In the last five years, five or more students have enrolled at each of the following schools: American University (6), BU (8), Cornell (7), Dickinson (8), Drexel (15), Franklin & Marshall (9), Howard (5), NYU (10), Northeastern (5), Penn (21), Temple (9), Tufts (7). WashingtonU (8), Wesleyan (6), and UW Madison (6).

Academic Highlights: 99% attend a 4-year college; 1% take a gap year. 42% identify as students of color. All students complete 115 hours of community service. Offers over 40 advanced courses. The upper school students can join a Core Teams to take a deep dive into the work of a distinguished leader in the field they are studying. Distinguished Lecture Series invites scholars to speak with students.

Tuition (9-12): $46,000
Enrollment (9-12): 401
Average SAT Score: 1304
Average ACT Score: 31

#3 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

The Baldwin School – Philadelphia

701 Montgomery Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

College Admissions Highlights: Between 2021-2023, three or more students were accepted into the following schools: Barnard (4), BU (12), UC Berkeley (5), UCLA (6), Cornell (5), Georgetown (7), UMiami (3), UNC Chapel Hill (6), Northeastern (9), Northwestern (3), Penn (16), Princeton (3), USC (4), Swarthmore (3), Tufts (4), UVA (10), and Williams (5).

Academic Highlights: Baldwin is an all-girls institution. 1/5 of the class 2023 attended Baldwin since kindergarten. 49% identify as students of color. There are 16 athletic teams and 45 clubs and activities. 18 Advanced Topic courses are offered—these go beyond the traditional AP curriculum. 27% of the 2023 class were recognized by national merit scholarship program.

Tuition (9-12): $43,900
Enrollment (9-12): 228
Average SAT Score: 1370
Average ACT Score: 31

#4 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

The Shipley School – Philadelphia

814 Yarrow St, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

College Admissions Highlights: At least four members of the last five senior classes have gone on to matriculate into the following colleges: Bates, BC, BU, UChicago, Colby, Colgate, Drexel, Emory, George Washington, Lehigh, UMiami, UMichigan, NYU, Northwestern, Penn, USC, Tufts, Villanova, and WashingtonU.

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 14 students. 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 75% of teachers possess an advanced degree. 52 Honors courses. The Class of 2022 included 3 National Merit Semi-Finalists and 2 Finalists. 29 FSL Championships with over 20 varsity programs during 3 sports seasons..

Tuition (9-12): $45,400
Enrollment (seniors): 98
Average SAT Score: 1315
Average ACT Score: 30.5

#5 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

The Haverford School – Philadelphia

450 US-30, Haverford, PA 19041

College Admissions Highlights: Multiple members of the Classes of 2019-23 matriculated into Amherst (3), Bowdoin (4), Carnegie Mellon (3), Cornell (13), Dartmouth (7), Duke (4), Georgetown (7), Harvard (8), MIT (2), NYU (4), US Naval Academy (7), UChicago (5), UMich (8), Notre Dame (9), Penn (23), USC (2), UVA (6), Williams (6), and Yale (2).

Academic Highlights: Haverford is an all-boys school. 9:1 Student to faculty ratio. 72% of faculty members hold advanced degrees. 32% students of color. 18% class of 2023 recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 38 clubs and activities in the upper school, including the VEX World Champions in Robotics. 16 interscholastic sports and 10 art spaces.

Tuition (9-12): $46,075
Enrollment (seniors): 111
Average SAT Score: Not Reported
Average ACT Score: Not Reported

#6 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

Friends Select School – Philadelphia

N 17th & 1651, Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103

College Admissions Highlights: From 2020-2022 period students enrolled in Amherst, BU, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Emory, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Macalester, NYU, Northeastern, Pitzer, Princeton, Swarthmore, US Military Academy, UC Berkeley, Tufts, UMich, Penn, UVA, Vassar, WashU, Wellesley, and Wesleyan.

Academic Highlights: 41% identify as students of color in upper school. 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. About 88% of students are from the city of Philadelphia. Social Justice Week pauses classes to allow students a contemporary view of issues. 14 sports are offered. Decision Points is a chorus or instrumental ensemble with 3 concerts a year.

Tuition (9-12): $48,500
Enrollment (seniors): 46
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1220-1530
Mid-50% ACT Score: 23-32

#7 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

George School – Philadelphia

1690 Langhorne Newtown Rd, Newtown, PA 18940

College Admissions Highlights: The institutions that saw 5 or more members of the Classes of 2019-2023 enroll include: Bates, BU, Cornell, Drexel, Emory, Fordham, George Washington, Haverford, NYU, Northeastern, Oberlin, RPI, Skidmore, Swarthmore, Tufts, UMiami, Penn, USC, UWisconsin – Madison, Villanova, and WashU.

Academic Highlights: Students come from 23 US states and 46 countries. 47% are boarding students. 38.5%% identify as students of color. George School offers 19 AP subjects; in the class of 2024, 81% scored a 3 or higher. There are 35 IB subjects; 95% I”B diploma passing rate.. The average class size is 13. 128 years as a Quaker co-ed boarding and day school.

Tuition (9-12): $47,900 (Day); $73,100 (Boarding)
Enrollment (seniors): 134
Median SAT Score: 1275
Median ACT Score: 31

#8 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

The Episcopal Academy – Philadelphia

1785 Bishop White Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, large numbers of students have achieved offers of admission to the following schools: Bates (6), BU (37), BC (59), CMU (8), Columbia (6), Duke (7), JHU (7), Kenyon (10), Lehigh (32), MIT (8), Middlebury (7), NYU (28), Northeastern (28), Princeton (11), Swarthmore (6), UC Berkeley (7), UCLA (9), UMich (19), Notre Dame (20), Penn (55), UVA (25), Wake Forest (19), and Yale (7).

Academic Highlights: The average class size is 14 students. 7:1 student to faculty ratio. 32% are students of color. The Class of 2023 included 16 National Merit Semifinalists and 14 Commended Students. They offer 26 AP and 47 honors courses. 87% of AP scores were 3 or higher. 95% of students participate in Community Service. 29 varsity sports.

Tuition (9-12): $41,500
Enrollment (seniors): 135
Average SAT Score: 1350
Average ACT Score: 30

#9 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

The Hill School – Philadelphia

860 Beech Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

College Admissions Highlights: From 2019-2023, two or more students enrolled in each of the following colleges: Amherst, Barnard, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, US NAval Academy, UMich, Penn, USC, Vanderbilt, WashU, Wesleyan, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Boarding and day school with average class size of 11 students. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7:1. Students hail from 29 US states and 25 countries. 44% identify as students of color. 36 honors and 27 AP Courses are offered. 31 interscholastic sports programs, 9 instrumental and vocal ensembles and 4 theatre productions yearly.

Tuition (9-12): $49,650 (Day); $72,390 (Boarding)
Enrollment (9-12): 539
Average SAT Score: 1330 (most recent available)
Average ACT Score: 28 (most recent available)

#10 Best Private Schools in Philadelphia

William Penn Charter School – Philadelphia

3000 W School House Ln, Philadelphia 19144

College Admissions Highlights: From 2019-2023, more than three graduates matriculated into: Amherst (4), BC (4), BU (8), Bowdoin (4), Brown (3), Cornell (9), Columbia (4), Drexel (20), Duke (8), Johns Hopkins (4), NYU (3), Northeastern (3), Stanford (3), UMiami (3), UMich (7), Penn (40), USC (4), VaTech (5), Wake Forest (3), and Yale (3).

Academic Highlights: School was founded in 1689. 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The average class size is 14. 86% of classroom teachers have advanced degrees. 70 advanced courses with 3 certificate programs. 44 clubs and activities. 35% identify as students of color. 18 sports with multiple teams for 3 seasons. 13 visual art and design electives in the upper school.

Tuition (9-12): $47,200
Enrollment (seniors): 108
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1160-1365 (most recent available)
Mid-50% ACT Score: 22-30 (most recent available)

Best Private Schools in Philadelphia – Additional Resources

We hope you found our blog on private schools in Philadelphia (and the surrounding suburbs) 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.

bookmark

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).