When it comes to providing students with a unique learning experience tailored to their individual needs, some of the best private schools in the United States are the way to go. From Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts to the Dwight School in New York City, there are many top private high schools in America that offer students the opportunity to reach their full potential. Here is a look at some of the best private high schools in the country. Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts (more commonly known as Andover) is one of the oldest boarding schools in the United States. Founded in 1778, this school has a rich history and offers students from 44 states and 51 countries (11% of the student population is comprised of international students).
The campus is unique because it contains a wildlife sanctuary and the Addison Gallery of American Art. Academically, the school has more than 300 courses with 150 optional subjects and routinely sends students to all Ivy League schools and other prestigious universities. Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, California is another top private high school. This school offers more than 300 classes and 100 clubs for students to participate in. Harvard-Westlake students come from 175 different zip codes across the country and say that 65 different languages are spoken in their homes.
The most popular universities that graduates have attended in the past five years have been New York University, Harvard and Dartmouth. The Dalton School in New York City is a co-educational institution that serves students from kindergarten to high school graduation. Founded in 1919 by Helen Packhurst (progressive educator and associate of Maria Montessori), this school's values reflect the progressive education movement popular at the time. Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut is another top private high school. Founded in 1891, this school's two fundamental principles are academic excellence and accessibility, and they are proud to graduate students who are leaders and agents of change. The Hotchkiss school is also known for its diversity, with 16% of the student body being international and 36% of the students being American students of color. Montverde Academy is an elementary and secondary preparatory school located in Montverde, Florida.
Founded in 1912, this school was originally just a building with two rooms and a church, but it grew rapidly to include students from grades 1 to 12 and day students for all grades, including one year of graduate school. Riverdale Country School is a co-educational elementary and secondary school located in the Bronx, New York. Founded in 1907, Riverdale seeks to teach students to advocate for themselves so that they can fight for change throughout their lives. Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California is an all-male Jesuit school founded in 1851 and is the oldest high school in California. Bellarmino fully believes in the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis or comprehensive personal care. Its curriculum extends outside the classroom to provide students with the skills and principles necessary to turn them into leaders and people of faith. The Fieldston School of Ethical Culture in New York City is a preparatory elementary and secondary school founded in 1878 by humanitarian leader Felix Adler.
The curriculum includes a strong ethics program that encourages students to think critically and to expand their moral growth along with their academic growth. The Putney School in Putney, Vermont was founded in 1935 as part of the progressive education movement that was then spreading across the country. Putney takes its commitment to a research-based curriculum very seriously and does not offer advanced training classes or emphasize standardized tests. Instead of teaching students how to recite information for an exam, Putney emphasizes teaching a solid foundation of reasoning, analysis, and presentation skills. Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago prioritizes service for all its students, with more than 20 service programs organized every year resulting in more than 15,000 hours of non-mandatory service last year alone. Students also have the opportunity to attend masses, retreats, faith-sharing groups, and mission trips. The Dwight School is a K-12 preparatory school located in New York City.
Founded in 1872, Dwight uses an International Baccalaureate curriculum and accepts students as young as three years old into its preschool program.
