Best private high schools in Connecticut
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Connecticut using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.
#30. St. Thomas More School
- Location: Oakdale, CT
- Enrollment: 170 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#29. Sacred Heart Greenwich
- Location: Greenwich, CT
- Enrollment: 729 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#28. Watkinson School
- Location: Hartford, CT
- Enrollment: 220 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#27. South Kent School
- Location: South Kent, CT
- Enrollment: 150 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#26. Westover School
- Location: Middlebury, CT
- Enrollment: 184 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#25. The Ethel Walker School
- Location: Simsbury, CT
- Enrollment: 228 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#24. Cheshire Academy
- Location: Cheshire, CT
- Enrollment: 365 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#23. Greens Farms Academy
- Location: Westport, CT
- Enrollment: 713 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#22. Canterbury School
- Location: New Milford, CT
- Enrollment: 325 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#21. The Williams School
- Location: New London, CT
- Enrollment: 195 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#20. Westminster School
- Location: Simsbury, CT
- Enrollment: 435 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#19. Kingswood Oxford School
- Location: West Hartford, CT
- Enrollment: 501 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#18. King School
- Location: Stamford, CT
- Enrollment: 709 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#17. St. Luke's School
- Location: New Canaan, CT
- Enrollment: 603 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#16. Avon Old Farms School
- Location: Avon, CT
- Enrollment: 406 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#15. Salisbury School
- Location: Salisbury, CT
- Enrollment: 310 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#14. Pierrepont School
- Location: Westport, CT
- Enrollment: 116 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#13. Brunswick School
- Location: Greenwich, CT
- Enrollment: 1,044 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#12. Greenwich Academy
- Location: Greenwich, CT
- Enrollment: 832 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#11. The Frederick Gunn School
- Location: Washington, CT
- Enrollment: 325 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#10. Pomfret School
- Location: Pomfret, CT
- Enrollment: 350 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#9. Hamden Hall Country Day School
- Location: Hamden, CT
- Enrollment: 624 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#8. Miss Porter's School
- Location: Farmington, CT
- Enrollment: 335 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#7. Suffield Academy
- Location: Suffield, CT
- Enrollment: 410 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#6. Kent School
- Location: Kent, CT
- Enrollment: 520 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#5. The Taft School
- Location: Watertown, CT
- Enrollment: 580 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#4. Hopkins School
- Location: New Haven, CT
- Enrollment: 715 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#3. The Loomis Chaffee School
- Location: Windsor, CT
- Enrollment: 736 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#2. The Hotchkiss School
- Location: Lakeville, CT
- Enrollment: 599 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
#1. Choate Rosemary Hall
- Location: Wallingford, CT
- Enrollment: 861 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
