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Best New York Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 1,801 private schools serving 429,966 students in New York (there are 4,813 public schools, serving 2,506,634 students). 15% of all K-12 students in New York attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $22,340 for elementary schools and $26,864 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in New York include Emma Willard School, The Harley School, and Poly Prep Country Day School.
The average acceptance rate is 75% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 40% and the student-teacher ratio is 10:1.
63% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Jewish.

Overview

This State (NY)
US
# Schools
1,801 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
429,966 Students
5,709,608 Students
% Average Students of Color
40%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
41,959 Teachers
508,013 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
76%
55%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
11 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1252
(Out of 1600)
1233
Average ACT score
28
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$22,358
$14,889
Average Summer Program Cost
$2,321
$1,154
Average % on Financial Aid
33%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$9,565
$7,118
Average Acceptance Rate
75%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$48.74 million
$61.83 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.60
0.65
# American Indian Students
949 Students
30,180 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
18,402 Students
265,302 Students
% Asian Students
4%
5%
# Hispanic Students
33,765 Students
507,894 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
9%
# Black Students
33,706 Students
417,176 Students
% Black Students
8%
7%
# White Students
253,893 Students
2,937,451 Students
% White Students
59%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
2,694 Students
22,254 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
84,090 Students
1,473,886 Students
% of Others Students
20%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
13 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports

Top-Ranked New York Private Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
35
4,907
11%
69
22,840
10%
11
1,530
6%
35
5,273
13%
86
18,544
13%
327
97,281
25%
64
10,165
9%
136
34,702
15%
203
55,260
26%
38
22,492
28%
186
48,301
15%
39
11,557
16%
74
26,297
39%
84
15,901
7%
17
1,529
7%
110
24,901
15%
12
362
12%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in New York?
The top-ranked private schools in New York include Emma Willard School, The Harley School, and Poly Prep Country Day School.
How many private schools are located in New York?
There are 1,801 private schools are located in New York.
How much do private schools cost in New York?
The average private school tuition in New York is $22,340 for elementary schools and $26,864 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in New York?
Approximately 40% of students in New York private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in New York go to private school?
15% of all K-12 students in New York attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in New York?
63% of private schools in New York are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Jewish.
Which private schools in New York are often viewed compared to one another?

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