Best Private Schools in NYC – 2025

February 23, 2025

NYC private schools, new york city private high schools

You won’t find a greater concentration of highly-selective private high schools anywhere in the world than in New York City. Many of these Big Apple institutions have annual tuition costs in the $60k range and serve as feeders into the nation’s biggest-name colleges and universities. Of course, as parents, there are a multitude of considerations guiding your decision of which private schools in New York City 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 NYC 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 NYC

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

1) Collegiate School

2) Dalton School

3) Avenues New York

4) Trinity School

5) Horace Mann School

6) Riverdale Country School

7) The Brearley School

8) Regis High School

9) Rye Country Day School

10) The Chapin School

11) The Spence School

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in NYC 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 NYC, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’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 profiled high schools that are among the best private schools in NYC.

#1 Best Private Schools in NYC

Collegiate School – NYC

301 Freedom Pl S, New York, NY 10069

College Admissions Highlights: A five year matriculation review has students from Collegiate School attended BC, Brown, Cornell, Colgate, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMichigan, Penn, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, William & Mary, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Collegiate is an all-boys school founded in 1638. Many students pursue independent studies/senior projects. 76% of the teachers possess advanced degrees. 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 13 athletic teams and 11+ student clubs and publications with opportunities to serve the community. Curricular offerings include Computer Science, Mandarin, History, and the Classics including Ancient Greek.

Tuition (9-12): $65,900
Enrollment (seniors): 49
Average SAT Score: 1480
Average ACT Score: 34

#2 Best Private Schools in NYC

Dalton School – NYC

108 E 89th St, New York, NY 10128

College Admissions Highlights: In the last five years, multiple students have enrolled at each of the following colleges: BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Pitzer, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, U Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, WashU, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: 58% of students identify as non-white. 75+ high school clubs. There are 48 sports teams from grades 7-12. 78% of teachers have advanced degrees. 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The school offers 10+ engineering/comp sci electives, 7 creative writing electives, and 5+ student publications.

Tuition (9-12): $64,300
Enrollment (K-12): 1325
Average SAT Score: 1430
Average ACT Score: 33

#3 Best Private Schools in NYC

Avenues New York

259 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

College Admissions Highlights: Recent grads have been admitted into highly-selective colleges such as: BU, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Drexel, Georgetown, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, UChicago, UMichigan, USC, Penn, Wellesley, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: The average class size at Avenues New York is just 17 students and they boast a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. A vibrant extracurricular environment includes 80+ student clubs and affinity groups and well as 35 athletic teams. 80% of faculty members possess an advanced degree. As students progress towards graduation, they gain increasing choice and freedom to direct their studies, with opportunities to take advanced-level coursework in the sciences and humanities, and access a range of signature programs such as the Avenues Institute for Advanced Mathematics, the Avenues Humanities Fellowship, the Mastery Learning System, and Global Journeys.

Tuition (K-12): $68,850
Enrollment (9-12): 552
Mid-50% SAT Score: N/A
Mid-50% ACT Score: N/A

Learn More

#4 Best Private Schools in NYC

Trinity School – NYC

139 W 91st St, New York, NY 10024

College Admissions Highlights: In recent years, large numbers of Trinity School graduates have been scooped up by BC, Bowdoin, Brown, Bryn, Mawr, Carnegie Mellon, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, George Washington, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, Morehouse, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, RIT, Rice, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UConn, Miami, Michigan, Penn, UT Austin, USC, UVA, Washington & Lee, Washington U, Wake Forest, Wesleyan, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Founded in the early 1700s, the school has longstanding connections to many prominent universities. 123 zip codes represented. 187 faculty members. 36% are students of color. 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 40 performing arts performances. 22 sports offered. 30 diversity affinity groups. 8 global engagement trips per year.

Tuition (9-12): $66,740
Enrollment (Nursery-12): 1,040
Average SAT Score: 1500
ACT Score: 34

#5 Best Private Schools in NYC

Horace Mann School – NYC

231 W 246th St, The Bronx, NY 10471

College Admissions Highlights: During the last three years, Horace Mann graduates have attended: Barnard, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Emory, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, Texas A&M, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, U Michigan, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington U, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Horace Mann is a diverse school with 55% students of color. 63 of the 133 faculty members possess advanced degrees, 40 with doctorates. The average class size is 13 students. Offers 49 400-level courses that are designed to be at least as rigorous as an AP course. This school has study abroad and independent study options available. 60+ student clubs and organizations in the Upper Division. 70+ middle division, junior varsity and varsity athletic teams.

Tuition (9-12): $64,070
Enrollment (seniors): 179
Average SAT Score: 1426
Average ACT Score: 33

#6 Best Private Schools in NYC

Riverdale Country School – NYC

5250 Fieldston Rd, The Bronx, NY 10471

College Admissions Highlights: In the last six years, an incredible number of students have gone on to elite colleges. Amherst, BC, Brown, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Kenyon, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pitzer, Pomona, Princeton, RPI, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UCLA, U Chicago, U Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Riverdale is a diverse school with 48% students of color. 72 nationalities are represented. 20% of students are attending with financial aid. Unique course offerings like The Art of Africa, Thinking About Thinking, Japanese, AI/Machine Learning, Rock Band, and many more. 27.5 acres over two campus spaces. 80% of upper schoolers have participated on at least one sport team. Has an outdoor educator on staff who creates programs that teach wilderness skills and build character.

Tuition (9-12): $57,140
Enrollment (seniors): ~130
Average SAT Score: 1440
Average ACT Score: 33

Learn More

#7 Best Private Schools in NYC

The Brearley School – NYC

610 E 83rd St, New York, NY 10028

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, the top college destinations included: Amherst, Barnard, BC, Bowdoin, Brown, Bucknell, Colgate, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, George Washington, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Kenyon, Lafayette, McGill, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Oberlin, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, Trinity, Tufts, UChicago, Michigan, Penn, Univ of St Andrews, UVA, Wellesley, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Brearley is an all-girls school. 85% of faculty members possess advanced degrees. 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 56% of those enrolled are students of color. Courses offered include the Classics, Mandarin, Environmental Sustainability, Introduction to Computer Science, and Studio Art. Over 50 clubs/organizations for students to join. 14 varsity sports teams. 3 orchestras.

Tuition (9-12): $66,800
Enrollment (seniors): ~70
Average SAT Score: 1510
Average ACT Score: 34

#8 Best Private Schools in NYC

Regis High School – NYC

55 E 84th St, New York, NY 10028

College Admissions Highlights: Regis grads from the last four years are headed to the following schools in the largest numbers: American, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Penn State, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, RIT, Stanford, UT Austin, Tufts, U Chicago, U Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Washington U, Wesleyan, William & Mary, Williams, WPI, & Yale.

Academic Highlights: Regis is an all-male Catholic institution. Less than 10% of applicants are accepted each year. 48% are children of immigrants. 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 75 National Merit finalists over the last four years. 96% of students scores a 3 or higher on AP exams. There are 8 athletic teams and 9 clubs; plus 48 extracurricular opportunities in service, arts, publications, cultural and social interest.

Tuition (9-12): Tuition-free and merit based
Enrollment (seniors): 131
3 year Middle 50% SAT Score: 1430-1530
3 year Middle 50% ACT Score: 33-35

#9 Best Private Schools in NYC

Rye Country Day School – NYC

3 Cedar St, Rye, NY 10580

College Admissions Highlights: A five year sampling of Rye Country Day student matriculation include: American, BU, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, UT Austin, Tufts, UCLA, U Chicago, U Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Washington U, Wesleyan, Williams, & Yale.

Academic Highlights: Courses are offered in the Classics, computer science, engineering and robotics, and computational biology. 12:1 Average Student-to-Teacher ratio. 85% of faculty hold advance degrees. 47.1 % identify as students of color. There are 50+ clubs for upper school students. 68 interscholastic athletic teams grades 7-12. 86% of upper school students participate in at least one sport. Access to three full-time college counselors. 97% of surveyed grads say they were well prepared for college. Arts program offers visual and performing arts including dance.

Tuition (9-12): $57,350
Enrollment (upper school): 447
Mid-50% SAT Score: 1420
Mid-50% ACT Score: 33

#10 Best Private Schools in NYC

The Chapin School – NYC

100 East End Ave, New York, NY 10028

College Admissions Highlights: Colleges attended by members of Chapin over the last five years include: Amherst, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Cornell, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Case Western, U Chicago, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Michigan, Middlebury, NYU, UNC Chapel Hill, Northwestern, Penn State, Pitzer, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, USC, Stanford, Tufts, Vanderbilt, UVA, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wellesley, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: Chapin is an all-girls school. The student-to-teacher is 6:1. 85% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Computer science courses are available beginning in 8^th grade; the school also offers Mandarin and advanced coursework in the arts. 14 varsity sports are offered and 40 clubs including teams in Robotics and Ethics.

Tuition (9-12): $65,300
Enrollment (seniors): 62
Average SAT Score: 1400
Average ACT Score: 32

#11 Best Private Schools in NYC

The Spence School – NYC

22 E 91st St, New York, NY 10128

College Admissions Highlights: Over the last three years, Spence students were accepted to the following schools: Amherst, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, UConn, Michigan, Penn, USC, UT Austin, UVA, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wesleyan, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: The Spence School is an all-girls institution. The median class size is 13 in the Upper School. 59% identify as students of color. 80% of teachers have advanced degrees. 59 advanced level courses including Forensic Science, Bioethics, and Environmental Ethics. 92 clubs and organizations in the middle and upper school. Upper school offers fellowships in the Arts, Environmental leadership, History, and Science.

Tuition (9-12): $65,846
Enrollment (seniors): 61
Average SAT Score: 1452
Average ACT Score: 33

We hope you found our blog on private schools in NYC 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).