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Best private high schools in New York

Written by:
April 10, 2024
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Best private high schools in New York

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 New York 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.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.
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#30. Poly Prep Country Day School

- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Enrollment: 1,155 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.
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#29. Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 1,192 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.
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#28. Ethical Culture Fieldston School

- Location: Bronx, NY
- Enrollment: 1,662 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#27. The Stony Brook School

- Location: Stony Brook, NY
- Enrollment: 453 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.
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#26. Portledge School

- Location: Locust Valley, NY
- Enrollment: 546 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.
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#25. Emma Willard School

- Location: Troy, NY
- Enrollment: 350 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.
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#24. The Hewitt School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 475 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A student raising their hand in class.
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#23. Saint Ann's School

- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Enrollment: 1,095 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.
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#22. Friends Academy

- Location: Locust Valley, NY
- Enrollment: 706 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.
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#21. Hackley School

- Location: Tarrytown, NY
- Enrollment: 855 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#20. United Nations International School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 1,426 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A hallway lined with green lockers.
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#19. French-American School of New York

- Location: Mamaroneck, NY
- Enrollment: 741 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.
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#18. The Browning School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 410 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

An empty classroom as viewed from the back.
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#17. Packer Collegiate Institute

- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Enrollment: 996 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#16. Marymount School of New York

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 768 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.
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#15. BASIS Independent Brooklyn

- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Enrollment: 729 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.
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#14. Avenues The World School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 1,958 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students using microscopes in science class.
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#13. Rye Country Day School

- Location: Rye, NY
- Enrollment: 957 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.
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#12. Collegiate School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 656 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students raising their hands for class participation.
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#11. Regis High School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 532 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.
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#10. The Dalton School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 1,331 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book.
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#9. The Nightingale-Bamford School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 710 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.
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#8. Convent of the Sacred Heart

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 741 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.
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#7. The Spence School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 772 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.
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#6. Lycée Français de New York

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 1,150 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library.
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#5. Trinity School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 1,001 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background.
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#4. The Brearley School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 776 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers.
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#3. Horace Mann School

- Location: Bronx, NY
- Enrollment: 1,793 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom.
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#2. The Chapin School

- Location: New York, NY
- Enrollment: 814 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class.
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#1. Riverdale Country School

- Location: Bronx, NY
- Enrollment: 1,299 (6:1 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.

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