Private School Review - Established 2003

Most Selective Private Schools (2026)

The national average private school acceptance rate is 81% per year (2026).
The private elementary school average acceptance rate is 81% per year and the private high school average is 79% per year.
The state with the highest average private school acceptance rate is Alaska with 94%. The state with the lowest average private school acceptance rate is District Of Columbia with 49%.
Acceptance Rate Range: 49% 94% Avg. Acceptance Rate: 81%

Most Selective Private Schools (2026)

State
Average Acceptance Rate
(Total / High Schools / Elementary)
Most Selective Schools
(Acceptance Rate)
Rank: #11.
District Of Columbia
49% / 42% / 47%
Rank: #2-42-4.
Connecticut
71% / 65% / 73%
Rank: #2-42-4.
Massachusetts
71% / 62% / 73%
Rank: #2-42-4.
Vermont
71% / 69% / 75%
Rank: #55.
New Hampshire
72% / 70% / 78%
Rank: #66.
New York
74% / 73% / 75%
Rank: #77.
Maine
75% / 74% / 73%
Rank: #8-98-9.
Rhode Island
76% / 63% / 80%
Rank: #8-98-9.
South Dakota
76% / 72% / 74%
Rank: #10-1210-12.
Hawaii
77% / 78% / 77%
Rank: #10-1210-12.
New Jersey
77% / 73% / 76%
Rank: #10-1210-12.
Wyoming
77% / 0% / 77%
Rank: #13-1413-14.
Georgia
78% / 78% / 78%
Rank: #13-1413-14.
Virginia
78% / 80% / 79%
Rank: #15-1615-16.
Kansas
79% / 72% / 80%
Rank: #15-1615-16.
Maryland
79% / 77% / 78%
Rank: #17-1917-19.
California
80% / 78% / 81%
Rank: #17-1917-19.
Florida
80% / 80% / 79%
Rank: #17-1917-19.
Utah
80% / 80% / 78%
Rank: #20-2220-22.
North Carolina
81% / 81% / 80%
Rank: #20-2220-22.
Pennsylvania
81% / 78% / 80%
Rank: #20-2220-22.
West Virginia
81% / 85% / 81%
Rank: #2323.
Washington
82% / 83% / 81%
Rank: #24-2724-27.
North Dakota
83% / 0% / 80%
Rank: #24-2724-27.
Oregon
83% / 80% / 82%
Rank: #24-2724-27.
Tennessee
83% / 85% / 83%
Rank: #24-2724-27.
Texas
83% / 82% / 82%
Rank: #28-3328-33.
Colorado
84% / 82% / 84%
Rank: #28-3328-33.
Illinois
84% / 82% / 85%
Rank: #28-3328-33.
Indiana
84% / 80% / 83%
Rank: #28-3328-33.
Louisiana
84% / 80% / 84%
Rank: #28-3328-33.
New Mexico
84% / 80% / 85%
Rank: #28-3328-33.
Ohio
84% / 83% / 84%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Arkansas
85% / 87% / 85%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Delaware
85% / 87% / 89%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Iowa
85% / 82% / 84%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Kentucky
85% / 81% / 83%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Missouri
85% / 85% / 84%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Montana
85% / 91% / 89%
Rank: #34-4034-40.
Oklahoma
85% / 79% / 87%
Rank: #41-4441-44.
Alabama
86% / 87% / 87%
Rank: #41-4441-44.
Arizona
86% / 83% / 85%
Rank: #41-4441-44.
Minnesota
86% / 82% / 88%
Rank: #41-4441-44.
Mississippi
86% / 88% / 86%
Rank: #45-4645-46.
Idaho
87% / 85% / 87%
Rank: #45-4645-46.
South Carolina
87% / 89% / 88%
Rank: #47-4847-48.
Michigan
88% / 85% / 88%
Rank: #47-4847-48.
Nevada
88% / 91% / 88%
Rank: #4949.
Wisconsin
89% / 84% / 89%
Rank: #5050.
Nebraska
90% / 88% / 93%
Rank: #5151.
Alaska
94% / 94% / 93%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the national average private school acceptance rate?
The national average private school acceptance rate is 81% for 2026.
What are the most selective private schools in the United States?
The most selective private schools in the United States include Somerset Hills Learning Institute, West Covina KinderCare and Our Savior Lutheran School.
What is the state with the highest average private school acceptance rate?
The state with the highest average private school acceptance rate is Alaska.

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Did You Know?

The town with the lowest private school acceptance rate is Gainesville, FL with an average acceptance rate of 65%. The county with the lowest private school acceptance rate is San Mateo County, CA with an average acceptance rate of 67%.