Pengi Editor's Note
This article profiles 20 of the most competitive private high schools in New York for the 2025–26 school year, with detailed tuition figures, admissions timelines, and Ivy+ college placement records. Pengi's editorial team selected this piece because it gives families a concrete, data-rich starting point for one of the most consequential decisions in a student's academic life. Whether you're weighing an all-girls school, a Jesuit program, or a bilingual French Bac option, the profiles here cover the full range.
Source: Think Academy Blog
20 Best Private High Schools in New York for 2025–26
Choosing the right private high school in New York City can shape a student's academic journey, college opportunities, and personal growth. This guide profiles 20 of the top NYC private high schools for 2025–26, with key details on tuition, enrollment, admissions deadlines, and standout Ivy+ college placement records—helping you compare the best fit for your child's future.
TL;DR – What Defines a Top New York Private High School
Top New York private high schools offer rigorous academics, selective admissions, and strong college placement—sending 10–25% of graduates to Ivy League and other Ivy+ universities like Stanford, MIT, and UChicago. Tuition ranges from $57,000 to $72,000, with many providing financial aid. Hallmarks include small classes, low student-to-teacher ratios (6:1–13:1), and almost 100% college matriculation, and distinctive programs such as the Dalton Plan, Jesuit education, IB, or bilingual French Bac, plus strong leadership, arts, athletics, and extracurriculars.
Schools covered in this article:
| School | Location | Enrollment | Tuition (2025–26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverdale Country School | Bronx, NY | 1,300 | $59,412 |
| The Brearley School | New York, NY | 786 | $66,800 |
| Regis High School | New York, NY | 532 | $0 (tuition-free) |
| The Chapin School | New York, NY | 810 | $68,250 |
| Rye Country Day School | Rye, NY | 969 (446 US) | $57,350 (9–12) |
| Horace Mann School | Bronx, NY | 1,793 (735 UD) | $65,370 |
| Trinity School | New York, NY | 1,052 | $69,000 |
| The Dalton School | New York, NY | 1,330 | $67,480 |
| The Spence School | New York, NY | 804 (285 US) | $68,480 |
| Ethical Culture Fieldston School | New York, NY | 600 (US) | $68,162 |
| Avenues: The World School | New York, NY | 1,980 (914 US) | $72,300 |
| BASIS Independent Brooklyn | Brooklyn, NY | 600+ | $43,000 (1–12) |
| Convent of the Sacred Heart | New York, NY | ~700 | $67,520 |
| Lycée Français de New York | New York, NY | ~1,300 | $49,925 |
| Collegiate School | New York, NY | ~670 | $65,900 (2024–25; 2025–26 TBA) |
| Friends Academy | Locust Valley, NY | ~750 | $47,900 (9–12) |
| French-American School of New York | Mamaroneck, NY | 745 (235 US) | $44,810 (9–12) |
| Marymount School of New York | New York, NY | — | $67,510 |
| The Browning School | New York, NY | — | $68,910 |
| The Hewitt School | New York, NY | 400+ (52 seniors) | $67,700 |
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1. Riverdale Country School — Bronx, NY
A leading NYC independent school combining rigorous academics, a focus on character, and diverse extracurricular opportunities.
- Grades: Pre-K–12 (Upper School 9–12)
- Enrollment: 1,300
- Application deadline: November 15, 2025 (final docs due January 8, 2026)
- Tuition (2025–26): $59,412
- Average class size: 15–16
- Matriculation (Ivy+): 10+ (past 5 years) to Brown, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Stanford, UChicago, Penn, Princeton, Yale.
2. The Brearley School — New York, NY (all-girls)
All-girls NYC school with exceptional Ivy+ placement, including 25 to Harvard and 21 to Columbia (2021–2025).
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: 786
- Application deadlines: Part 1 due Dec 1, 2025; Part 2 due Jan 8; decisions Feb 13, 2026
- Tuition (2025–26): $66,800
- Matriculation (Ivy+): 2021–2025 top matriculations—Harvard 25, Columbia 21, Cornell 20, Yale 18, Penn 15, Brown 10, Princeton 10.
To learn more information: Fast Facts
3. Regis High School — New York, NY (all-boys, Jesuit)
Tuition-free Jesuit boys' school with ~20% Ivy matriculation and 100% four-year college acceptance.
- Grades: 9–12, all-boys, Jesuit day school (~532 total)
- Enrollment: 532
- Application deadline: November 3, 2025
- Tuition (2025–26): $0 (100% tuition-free for all students)
- GPA: 3.70—3.79 (Median)
- Average SAT/ACT: 1430—1530 (Mid 50%) SAT, 33—35 (Mid 50%) ACT
- AP/Advanced: AP Pass rate 96%
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (2021–2024) Strong Ivy+ results, with notable matriculations to Cornell (24), Columbia (9), Dartmouth (6), Harvard (6), Princeton (11), Yale (7), Stanford (9), UChicago (10), and Georgetown (9).
To learn more information: School Profile
4. The Chapin School — New York, NY (all-girls)
All-girls day school with strong Ivy+ representation, including 21 to Cornell and 13 to Penn (2021–2025).
- Grades: K–12, all-girls day school (~802 total; ~265 Upper School)
- Enrollment: 810 total
- Application deadline: December 1, 2025 (all grades)
- Tuition (2025–26): $68,250
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (2021–2025) Strong Ivy+ presence with top matriculations to Cornell (21), Penn (13), Yale (13), UChicago (8), Harvard (7), Princeton (6), Columbia (6), Stanford (5), plus notable numbers to Northwestern, MIT, and leading liberal arts colleges.
To learn more information: Most recent school profile
5. Rye Country Day School — Rye, NY
A coeducational day school in Westchester offering a rigorous program, strong community culture, and extensive college counseling.
- Grades: Pre-K–12
- Enrollment: 969 students (446 in upper school)
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 15, 2025 (docs due on January 10, notification on February 6)
- Available Seats: 193 for Grade 9, 42 for Grade 10, 13 for Grade 11, 3 for Grade 12
- Tuition (2025–26): $57,350 (grades 9–12)
- Average class size: 15; Student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): The Class of 2025 shows strong matriculation to top-tier universities, with key placements at Cornell (9), Northwestern (5), UPenn (4), and Washington University in St. Louis (4), along with others like Stanford and the University of Chicago.
To learn more information: Fast Facts 2019
6. Horace Mann School — Bronx, NY
One of the largest and most prestigious independent schools in the U.S., offering rigorous academics, diverse extracurriculars, and exceptional college placement.
- Grades: Nursery–12
- Enrollment: 1,793 students; Upper Division 735; 46% students of color
- Application deadline (2025–26): November 15, 2025
- Tuition (2025–26): $65,370 (Pre-K–12)
- Curriculum: 100+ electives among 230 Upper Division courses
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Over the three-year period from 2022-2024, Horace Mann graduates have shown exceptional matriculation, the most popular destinations include UChicago (60), Cornell (38), Columbia (23), Penn (17), Princeton (13), Yale (12), Harvard (10).
7. Trinity School — New York, NY
A historic Upper West Side institution founded in 1709, combining intellectual rigor, arts, and athletics with outstanding Ivy+ results.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: 1,052 students; student-to-teacher ratio: 13:1
- Application deadline (2025–26): November 15, 2025 (docs due on January 8, notification on February 20)
- Tuition (2025–26): $69,000 (includes lunch, trips)
- Curriculum: Broad honors and electives; no AP labels
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Graduates regularly admitted to Ivies, Stanford, MIT, and UChicago.
To learn more information: Fast Facts
8. The Dalton School — New York, NY
A progressive Manhattan K–12 day school with its signature "Dalton Plan," fostering independence and collaboration, and strong Ivy+ outcomes.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: 1,330 students in total
- Application deadline (2025–26): November 15, 2025
- Tuition (2025–26): $67,480
- Average class size: 11; student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Based on the 2019-2024 matriculation data, the school shows strong placement at top-tier universities, with top destinations including Harvard (37), Cornell (36), Brown (28), the University of Chicago (26), and Yale (22).
To learn more information: Fast Facts
9. The Spence School — New York, NY (all-girls)
An elite all-girls school on the Upper East Side, dedicated to intellectual curiosity, leadership, and a strong Ivy+ track record.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: 804 students (upper 285); 52% students of color
- Application deadline (2025–26): January 8, 2026 (notification on February 20)
- Tuition (2025–26): $68,480
- Average class size: 13; student-to-teacher ratio: 6:1
- Average SAT/ACT: 1452 SAT, 33 ACT
- Curriculum: 129 Upper School courses; 105 electives
- Matriculation (Ivy+): 2019–24 included Harvard (24), Cornell (16), Brown (15), Columbia (10), Princeton (9), Stanford (10), Yale (9).
To learn more information:
10. Ethical Culture Fieldston School — New York, NY
A progressive PreK–12 school emphasizing ethics, civic engagement, and rigorous academics, with campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan.
- Grades: Pre-K–12
- Enrollment: 600 students in upper class; 39% students of color
- Application deadline (2025–26): Noon November 14, 2025
- Seats Available: 35-40 for Grade 9
- Tuition (2025–26): $68,162
- Student/Teacher ratio: 10:1
- Average SAT/ACT: SAT 1330–1530; ACT 30–34
- AP/Advanced: No AP courses; intensive advanced curriculum
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Based on the provided 2020-2025 matriculation data, the school has strong placements at selective universities, with top destinations including Emory (31), Northwestern (28), and Cornell (25).
To learn more information: School Profile
11. Avenues: The World School — New York, NY
- A global school network with an NYC campus, offering bilingual immersion, design thinking, and the IB Diploma.
- Grades: Nursery–12
- Enrollment: 1,980 students (NY campus), 914 in upper class; 55% students of color
- Application deadline (2025–26): Nov 1, 2025 (first choice, notification Dec 12); Dec 1, 2025 (regular, notification Feb 18)
- Tuition (2025–26): $72,300
- Average class size: 17; student-to-teacher ratio: 8:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Class of 2024 highlights include Cornell (7), USC (4), Johns Hopkins (3), Princeton (2), Georgetown (2), and NYU (3).
To learn more information:
12. BASIS Independent Brooklyn — Brooklyn, NY
- A STEM-focused PreK–12 school blending liberal arts with one of the nation's most advanced AP curricula.
- Grades: PreK–12
- Enrollment: 600+ students
- Application deadline (2025–26): January 8, 2026, notification on February 20
- Tuition (2025–26): $43,000 (grades 1–12)
- Average class size: 21
- Average SAT/ACT: SAT 1492; ACT 34
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Class of 2025 matriculation — 17% to top 10 universities, 41% to top 20 universities.
13. Convent of the Sacred Heart — New York, NY (all-girls)
- An all-girls Catholic day school emphasizing academic rigor, faith, and leadership in the global Sacred Heart network.
- Grades: Pre-K–12
- Enrollment: ~700 students; 43% students of color
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 1, 2025
- Tuition (2025–26): $67,520
- Average class size: 17
- Average GPA: 3.83 (unweighted)
- AP/Advanced: 19 AP courses
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Based on the provided 2021-2025 matriculation data, the school has strong placements at selective universities, with top destinations including Georgetown (21), Cornell (12), NYU (10), and the University of Pennsylvania (10).
To learn more information: School Profile
14. Lycée Français de New York — New York, NY
- A bilingual French-English school offering both the French Baccalaureate and IB Diploma, preparing students for universities worldwide.
- Grades: Nursery–12
- Enrollment: ~1,300 students
- Application deadline (2025–26): January 16, 2026
- Tuition (2025–26): $49,925
- Average class size: 21; student-to-teacher ratio: 9:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Class of 2021–2024: Strong Ivy+ presence with top matriculations to Cornell (12), Columbia (5), Penn (5), Harvard (5), Princeton (4), Yale (3), Stanford (1), with students overall matriculating to more than 150 institutions worldwide.
To learn more information: School Profile
15. Collegiate School — New York, NY (all-boys)
- The nation's oldest independent school, Collegiate provides a classical education for boys with consistently strong Ivy+ outcomes.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: ~670 students
- Application deadline (2025–26): November 15, 2025
- Tuition: $65,900 (2024–25; 2025–26 TBA)
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (2020–2024) Graduates enrolled at 70+ institutions worldwide, with strong Ivy+ presence — Cornell (13), Columbia (11), Brown (8), Yale (7), UChicago (10), Harvard (5), Princeton (3), Stanford (3).
16. Friends Academy — Locust Valley, NY
- A Quaker day school on Long Island known for its values-based education, academic rigor, and strong college counseling.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: ~750 students
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 15, 2025 (early); January 15, 2026 (regular)
- Tuition (2025–26): $47,900 (grades 9–12)
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 12:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (Class of 2025) Graduates enrolled at 50+ top institutions worldwide, including Ivy+ universities such as Cornell, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, UChicago, and Duke, plus notable placements at NYU, Northeastern, Michigan, and Georgetown.
17. French-American School of New York — Mamaroneck, NY
- A bilingual PreK–12 school offering French Bac and IB programs, preparing students for selective U.S. and international universities.
- Grades: Nursery–12
- Enrollment: 745 students, 235 upper class
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 15, 2025
- Tuition (2025–26): $44,810 (grades 9–12)
- Student-to-teacher ratio: 10:1
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (Class of 2025) Graduates matriculated to top U.S. institutions including Brown, Cornell (3), MIT, Penn, UCLA, Michigan, USC, William & Mary, and strong numbers at NYU (3), Northeastern (3), and Syracuse (2), with additional placements at leading universities worldwide.
To learn more information: School Profile
18. Marymount School of New York — New York, NY (all-girls)
- An all-girls Catholic school emphasizing STEAM education, leadership, and global citizenship within the Sacred Heart network.
- Grades: Nursery–12
- Enrollment: —
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 1, 2024
- Tuition (2025–26): $67,510
- AP/Advanced: Full array of AP courses and electives
- Matriculation (Ivy+): Graduates admitted to Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Stanford.
19. The Browning School — New York, NY (all-boys)
- A small all-boys school on the Upper East Side, offering close faculty mentorship and a strong record of Ivy+ admissions.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: —
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 1, 2025, notification on February 20
- Tuition (2025–26): $68,910
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (Class of 2025) Students earned offers from 90+ institutions, with strong results at Penn (2), Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Northwestern, alongside top U.S. destinations including UCLA, Michigan, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins, plus international options at McGill and St. Andrews (3).
20. The Hewitt School — New York, NY (all-girls)
- A forward-thinking all-girls K–12 school focused on leadership, innovation, and preparing students for top colleges.
- Grades: K–12
- Enrollment: Total 400+; senior class with 52 students; 40% students of color
- Application deadline (2025–26): December 1, 2025
- Tuition (2025–26): $67,700
- Matriculation (Ivy+): (2021–2025) Hewitt graduates matriculated to 90+ colleges worldwide, including Ivy+ universities and top U.S. schools such as NYU, Michigan, UCLA, and Georgetown, plus international destinations like McGill and St Andrews.
To learn more information: School Profile
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New York's top 20 private high schools stand out for academic rigor, selective admissions, and exceptional college placement. Whether single-sex, international, or progressive, these schools prepare students for Ivy League and top global universities while fostering leadership and creativity. Families should plan ahead to secure the best opportunities and choose the right pathway for their child's success.
Why Accelerated Math Matters for Private High Schools
One of the most important academic differentiators for competitive private high schools is placement on an accelerated math track. Compared with public schools, academic private schools typically move faster and expect students to reach advanced math earlier.
The comparison below shows how math progression often differs by grade and how math competitions align with each stage.
| Grade | Public School Curriculum | Academic Private School Curriculum | Recommended Math Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|
| G6 | Pre-Algebra (starting) | Pre-Algebra / Algebra 1 | AMC 8 / AMC 10 |
| G7 | Math 7 (Pre-Algebra) | Algebra 1 / Geometry | AMC 8 / AMC 10 |
| G8 | Math 8 (Pre-Algebra) | Geometry / Algebra 2 | AMC 8 / AMC 10 / AIME |
| G9 | Algebra 1 | Algebra 2 / Pre-Calculus | AMC 10 / AIME |
| G10 | Geometry / Algebra 2 | Pre-Calculus / Calculus AB / SAT Math | AMC 10 / AIME / USA(J)MO |
| G11 | Algebra 2 / Pre-Calc / SAT | Calculus BC / Stats / SAT Math | AMC 12 / AIME / USAMO |
| G12 | Calculus / Stats | Multivariable Calculus / Stats | AMC 12 / USAMO |
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