Best Pennsylvania Private Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 2,206 private schools serving 275,136 students in Pennsylvania (there are 2,941 public schools, serving 1,670,866 students). 14% of all K-12 students in Pennsylvania are educated in private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).

The average private school tuition is $10,976 for elementary schools and $16,455 for high schools (view national tuition averages).

The best private schools in Pennsylvania include The Agnes Irwin School, Grier School and Mercersburg Academy.

The average acceptance rate is 86% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 26% and the student:teacher ratio is 11:1.

62% of schools are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Amish).

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School Photo

AIM Academy Photo - MEETING LEARNING CHALLENGES WITH SCIENCE & LOVE: AT AIM, we recognize that children who learn differently need to be taught differently - and that's exactly what we do. Our passionately committed, highly-trained faculty employ techniques proven effective, and the results are remarkable. Each day we witness young people who doubted themselves in every way discover the gift of fearless learning.

Kimberton Waldorf School Photo - The 5th grade Pentathlon brings together Waldorf schools from a three-hour radius for a day of friendly athletic competition and collaboration -- the culmination of their Greek studies.

Sophia Academy Photo - Field Trip to the Natural History Museum

The Crefeld School Photo - Two Upper School Students on a beautiful day in Crefeld's field

Westtown School Photo - The Westtown School campus includes 600 acres of land, a 14-acre lake with a beach and boathouse, and an arboretum and natural forest.

The Waldorf School Of Philadelphia Photo - The Waldorf School of Philadelphia is a nursery through 8th grade school located in the heart of Germantown. We are a school that adheres to a unique and time-tested curriculum and our students are free to learn without the pressure and stress of standardized testing.

Delone Catholic High School Photo - Delone Catholic Squires graduate prepared to lead, prepared to serve, and prepared for life as "Doers of the Word (James 1:22)."

St. Peter The Apostle School Photo - PK 3 and 4 year olds enjoy activities together!

Fusion Academy Malvern Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Center School Photo - STEM is a strong focus at Center School. From reverse engineering, to building a little library, there is always some exciting coming from the STEM group.

Delaware Valley Friends School Photo - The ABLE (Adventure-Based Learning Experiences) program is a hands-on, outdoor experiential education program where students learn important life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and decision making.

Top Ranked Pennsylvania Private Schools by County (2024)

County

# Schools

# Students

% of K-12 Students in Private Schools

Adams County

1,065

Allegheny County

208

27,962

17%

314

1,649

373

6,371

1,983

11%

Bradford County

370

Bucks County

140

17,694

17%

Butler County

3,850

14%

Cambria County

2,076

11%

Carbon County

141

Centre County

2,068

13%

Chester County

117

14,715

15%

Clarion County

344

Clearfield County

1,428

15%

Clinton County

474

11%

Columbia County

723

Crawford County

1,337

13%

Cumberland County

4,767

12%

Dauphin County

7,758

11%

Delaware County

123

23,561

23%

Elk County

824

21%

Erie County

6,134

15%

Fayette County

1,548

Forest County

149

13%

Franklin County

2,629

12%

166

902

499

478

17%

Lackawanna County

4,140

13%

Lancaster County

199

14,197

18%

Lawrence County

439

Lebanon County

1,607

Lehigh County

7,586

13%

Luzerne County

4,679

11%

Lycoming County

644

Mckean County

350

Mercer County

1,422

10%

Mifflin County

903

16%

Monroe County

901

Montgomery County

234

36,613

24%

Montour County

293

12%

Northampton County

6,642

13%

Northumberland County

1,615

13%

Perry County

358

Philadelphia County

211

43,326

19%

<1%

1,165

538

11%

708

361

339

617

10%

210

1,509

372

3,912

5,084

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Pennsylvania?

The best private schools in Pennsylvania include The Agnes Irwin School, Grier School and Mercersburg Academy.

How many private schools are located in Pennsylvania?

2,206 private schools are located in Pennsylvania.

How much do private schools cost in Pennsylvania?

The average private school tuition in Pennsylvania is $10,976 for elementary schools and $16,455 for high schools

How diverse are private schools in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania private schools are approximately 26% minority students (view national minority students).

What percentage of students in Pennsylvania go to private school?

14% of all K-12 students in Pennsylvania are educated in private schools (compared to national average of 10%).

What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Pennsylvania?

62% of private schools in Pennsylvania are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Amish).

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