Fay School Photo - Fay School is located on a 66-acre campus 25 miles from Boston in Southborough, Massachusetts, and is the oldest junior boarding school in the United States. Fay currently serves students in Kindergarten through grade nine, with an optional boarding program starting in grade seven.

Best Massachusetts Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 855 private schools serving 127,030 students in Massachusetts (there are 1,835 public schools, serving 915,983 students). 12% of all K-12 students in Massachusetts attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $24,795 for elementary schools and $40,829 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in Massachusetts include The Rivers School, Middlesex School, and Groton School.
The average acceptance rate is 71% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 31% and the student-teacher ratio is 8:1.
33% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Overview

This State (MA)
US
# Schools
855 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
127,030 Students
5,709,689 Students
% Average Students of Color
31%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
15,736 Teachers
507,979 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
67%
55%
Average Class Size
14 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
16 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1289
(Out of 1600)
1233
Average ACT score
29
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$26,482
$14,888
Average Summer Program Cost
$2,893
$1,161
Average % on Financial Aid
36%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$17,158
$7,121
Average Acceptance Rate
71%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$85.4 million
$61.9 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.63
0.65
# American Indian Students
187 Students
30,180 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
6,792 Students
265,309 Students
% Asian Students
5%
5%
# Hispanic Students
7,583 Students
507,904 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
9%
# Black Students
8,704 Students
417,213 Students
% Black Students
7%
7%
# White Students
67,962 Students
2,937,514 Students
% White Students
55%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
83 Students
22,254 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
33,424 Students
1,473,704 Students
% of Others Students
27%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

Top-Ranked Massachusetts Private Schools by County (2026)

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
63
9,041
10%
101
18,164
14%
237
32,296
13%
124
19,948
17%
77
12,808
14%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Massachusetts?
The top-ranked private schools in Massachusetts include The Rivers School, Middlesex School, and Groton School.
How many private schools are located in Massachusetts?
There are 855 private schools are located in Massachusetts.
How much do private schools cost in Massachusetts?
The average private school tuition in Massachusetts is $24,795 for elementary schools and $40,829 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Massachusetts?
Approximately 31% of students in Massachusetts private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Massachusetts go to private school?
12% of all K-12 students in Massachusetts attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Massachusetts?
33% of private schools in Massachusetts are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.
Which private schools in Massachusetts are often viewed compared to one another?

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