Great Oaks Elementary School Photo - Cooking Classes

Best New York Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 1,798 private schools serving 425,277 students in New York (there are 4,810 public schools, serving 2,503,743 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 $22,317 for elementary schools and $26,831 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in New York include The Harley School, Poly Prep Country Day School, and Emma Willard School.
The average acceptance rate is 75% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 39% 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
1,798 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
425,277 Students
5,700,153 Students
% Average Students of Color
39%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
41,676 Teachers
508,036 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)
1234
Average ACT score
28
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$22,352
$14,882
Average Summer Program Cost
$2,303
$1,137
Average % on Financial Aid
33%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$9,645
$7,141
Average Acceptance Rate
75%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$48.73 million
$61.9 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.65
# American Indian Students
949 Students
29,879 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
18,401 Students
265,082 Students
% Asian Students
5%
5%
# Hispanic Students
33,760 Students
507,336 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
9%
# Black Students
33,699 Students
416,665 Students
% Black Students
8%
7%
# White Students
253,643 Students
2,933,309 Students
% White Students
60%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
538 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
81,730 Students
1,471,980 Students
% of Others Students
19%
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%
6
223
4%
69
22,840
10%
11
1,530
6%
10
418
5%
12
607
3%
6
849
7%
3
196
3%
5
512
4%
4
471
7%
6
378
6%
3
109
2%
35
5,313
13%
86
18,544
13%
7
614
15%
3
131
2%
5
614
7%
3
133
3%
2
113
1%
7
1,021
6%
325
92,944
24%
1
81
2%
3
225
3%
63
10,068
9%
136
34,702
15%
202
55,247
26%
16
1,904
7%
8
1,169
4%
35
5,326
7%
6
380
3%
38
22,492
28%
2
26
<1%
3
249
1%
5
404
6%
9
813
6%
186
48,301
15%
11
2,193
10%
39
11,557
16%
74
26,306
39%
14
1,707
5%
15
2,009
8%
1
11
<1%
3
146
4%
10
698
5%
83
15,612
7%
7
1,368
13%
2
60
1%
6
549
5%
17
1,529
7%
3
446
5%
5
258
2%
111
24,938
15%
3
154
4%
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 The Harley School, Poly Prep Country Day School, and Emma Willard School.
How many private schools are located in New York?
There are 1,798 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 $22,317 for elementary schools and $26,831 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in New York?
Approximately 39% 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?

Recent Articles

When “Personalized Learning” Is Mostly Software
When “Personalized Learning” Is Mostly Software
Discover how to tell the difference between genuine personalized learning and software-driven instruction. Learn what questions to ask private schools and how to identify classrooms where technology enhances, rather than replaces, meaningful teacher-student relationships.
Learning Support vs. Tutoring: What's Included in Private School Tuition?
Learning Support vs. Tutoring: What's Included in Private School Tuition?
Learn the difference between learning support and tutoring, what's typically included in private school tuition, and what parents should ask before enrolling.
How to Evaluate Reading and Writing Instruction in the Early Grades
How to Evaluate Reading and Writing Instruction in the Early Grades
Learn how to evaluate reading and writing instruction in the early grades, including phonics, writing, assessments, and literacy support in private schools.