Northwood School Photo - First-hand learning is emphasized in all Northwood courses. Here students visit nearby Fort Ticonderoga.

Best Essex County Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 7 private schools serving 614 students in Essex County, NY (there are 14 public schools, serving 3,498 public students). 15% of all K-12 students in Essex County, NY are educated in private schools (compared to the NY state average of 15%).
The top-ranked private schools in Essex County, NY include Adirondack Christian School, St. Marys, and Northwood School.
The average acceptance rate is 63%, which is lower than the New York private school average acceptance rate of 76%.
43% of private schools in Essex County, NY are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Baptist).

Top-Ranked Essex County Private Schools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
Adirondack Christian School
(Baptist)
6065 Nys Route 86
Wilmington, NY 12997
(518) 946-2487
Gr: PK-12 | 91 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition listed
Northwood School
Northwood School Photo - First-hand learning is emphasized in all Northwood courses. Here students visit nearby Fort Ticonderoga.
92 Northwood Rd
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-3357
Gr: 9-12 | 185 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 20 | Extracurrculars: 11 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Marys
St. Marys Photo - Play Ground
(Catholic)
64 Amherst Ave
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
(518) 585-7433
Gr: PK-8 | 75 students Avg. class size: 15 students
Lakeside School At Black Kettle Farm
Alternative School
6 Leaning Rd
Essex, NY 12936
(518) 963-7385
Gr: K-3 | 17 students Tuition listed
Mountain Lake Academy
All-boys | Special Education School
386 River Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-4300
Gr: 8-12 | 38 students
North Country School
North Country School Photo
4382 Cascade Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-9329
Gr: 4-9 | 86 students Avg. class size: 8 students Sports: 17 | Extracurrculars: 16 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Agnes Parochial School
(Catholic)
2322 Saranac Ave
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-3771
Gr: PK-3 | 122 students
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Essex County, New York

Essex County Private Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Quick Facts
National Sports Academy (Closed 2014)
Special Program Emphasis
821 Mirror Lake Drive
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-3460
Gr: 8-12 | 84 students Tuition listed

Overview

This County (Essex County)
This State (NY)
# Schools
7 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
614 Students
423,871 Students
% Average Students of Color
24%
39%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
116 Teachers
41,515 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
10:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
61%
76%
Average Class Size
11 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
11 courses
11 courses
Average SAT score
1100
(Out of 1600)
1248
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
28

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$43,290
$22,391
Average Summer Program Cost
$12,000
$2,303
Average % on Financial Aid
44%
33%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$34,000
$9,645
Average Acceptance Rate
63%
76%
Average Endowment Size
$13 million
$44.35 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.59
# American Indian Students
1 Student
949 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
68 Students
18,401 Students
% Asian Students
11%
5%
# Hispanic Students
14 Students
33,760 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
8%
# Black Students
20 Students
33,699 Students
% Black Students
3%
8%
# White Students
353 Students
252,775 Students
% White Students
58%
60%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
538 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
158 Students
81,490 Students
% of Others Students
26%
19%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
14 extracurriculars
13 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
19 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Essex County, NY?
The top-ranked private schools in Essex County, NY include Adirondack Christian School, St. Marys, and Northwood School.
How many private schools are located in Essex County?
7 private schools are located in Essex County.
How diverse are private schools in Essex County?
Essex County private schools are approximately 24% minority students, which is lower than the New York private school average of 39%.
What percentage of students in Essex County go to private school?
15% of all K-12 students in Essex County are educated in private schools (compared to the NY state average of 15%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Essex County?
43% of private schools in Essex County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Baptist).
Which private schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Essex County include: Mountain Lake Academy vs. Northwood School, Northwood School vs. Mountain Lake Academy

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