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Best New Mexico Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 186 private schools serving 23,461 students in New Mexico (there are 920 public schools, serving 310,878 students). 7% of all K-12 students in New Mexico attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $8,705 for elementary schools and $10,021 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in New Mexico include Santa Fe Prep School, Bosque School, and Albuquerque Academy.
The average acceptance rate is 84% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 50% and the student-teacher ratio is 10:1.
62% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Catholic.

Overview

This State (NM)
US
# Schools
186 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
23,461 Students
5,699,501 Students
% Average Students of Color
50%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
2,346 Teachers
507,930 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
58%
55%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
8 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1222
(Out of 1600)
1234
Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$8,685
$14,880
Average Summer Program Cost
$851
$1,138
Average % on Financial Aid
32%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$4,837
$7,139
Average Acceptance Rate
84%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$63.66 million
$61.68 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.74
0.65
# American Indian Students
2,110 Students
29,879 Students
% American Indian Students
10%
1%
# Asian Students
580 Students
265,082 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%
# Hispanic Students
5,012 Students
507,339 Students
% Hispanic Students
23%
9%
# Black Students
430 Students
416,670 Students
% Black Students
2%
7%
# White Students
8,011 Students
2,933,350 Students
% White Students
37%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
19 Students
20,067 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
5,609 Students
1,471,873 Students
% of Others Students
26%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

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

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

County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
78
12,064
12%
1
8
3%
8
1,304
11%
3
173
4%
4
570
6%
8
1,152
3%
2
152
4%
10
1,079
6%
5
416
5%
11
1,082
5%
13
1,457
6%
25
2,433
11%
1
17
1%
1
388
17%
2
383
3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in New Mexico?
The top-ranked private schools in New Mexico include Santa Fe Prep School, Bosque School, and Albuquerque Academy.
How many private schools are located in New Mexico?
There are 186 private schools are located in New Mexico.
How much do private schools cost in New Mexico?
The average private school tuition in New Mexico is $8,705 for elementary schools and $10,021 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in New Mexico?
Approximately 50% of students in New Mexico private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in New Mexico go to private school?
7% of all K-12 students in New Mexico attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in New Mexico?
62% of private schools in New Mexico are religiously affiliated, with most being Christian or Catholic.
Which private schools in New Mexico are often viewed compared to one another?

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