Top Boarding Schools In New York (Updated 2024)

New York has always been among the most popular destinations for overseas education thanks to its vibrant and multicultural environment, numerous reputable universities and the abundant of job opportunities from global corporates after graduation.

Boarding college-preparation high schools in the USA and New York are receiving more attention as parents strive to best prepare their children for the future competitive college application. This article highlights the top high schools in New York to help parents find the most suitable destination for their children. So here is a list of the top five high schools in New York according to Niche’s 2024 Best Boarding High Schools in New York:

top boarding schools in new york

List of Top New York Boarding Schools

1. Hackley School

Hackley School is the best private non-sectarian college-preparatory boarding school in Tarrytown, New York. Founded in 1899, it is the oldest school and  has the largest student body in New York State. Of 840 students from kindergarten to twelfth grade, 47% are students of colour (Source). An average class has 16 students, taken care of by two teachers.

According to Private School Review, the school is ranked among the top 20% of private schools in New York for having the highest average SAT score (1410 out of 1600). Their average ACT point is also very high at 32 out of 36, and 100% of their students attend a 4-year college.

Hackley School’s tuition, including the boarding fee, is $67,475 per annum.

2. Emma Willard School

Emma Willard School is the best private high school in Albany Area for girls’ education between Year 9 and Year 12. Founded in 1814, the school offers a small class size of 10 students each at a student-teacher ratio of 7:1 (Source).  

Proud of its intellectual vision, the school is quite selective with its applicants and is among those with the lowest acceptance rate (36%) in the state. Besides offering over 130 courses, students can also follow personalised study programmes of Practicum and Signature. This academic structure has contributed to its high average SAT (1370/1600) and ACT (30/36) results. Emma Willard School is also known for the number of Advanced Placement courses and sports offered to its students (Source).

Emma Willard School’s tuition, including the boarding fee is $67,270 per annum.

3. The Stony Brook School

Founded in 1922, the Stony Brook School aims to educate future leaders with integrity and virtue. Its growing student body of Year 7 to Year 12 features a diverse background of 20 countries and 11 states in the USA. The school is the best private high school in Suffolk County and the third-best Christian high school in New York, according to the Niche Best School ranking of 2024.

The school is known for its high average SAT (1367/1600) and ACT (31/36) results, and offers a  great variety of Advanced Placement courses, sports and extracurriculars. 37% of the school’s students got accepted to the top 25 universities in the US.

The Stony Brook School’s tuition, including the boarding fee is $66,300 per annum.

4. The Masters School

The Master School was founded in 1877 by the oldest daughter of a Presbyterian minister to educate girls. The schools became coeducational in 1994 and since then, have enrolled students from 73 countries and all 50 states. The class here only has 14 students each at a faculty-student ratio of 1:8.

The school is proud of the Harkness teaching and learning methodology, which contributes to the high average SAT (1360/1600) and ACT (31/36) results. The Masters School is known for offering the most sports and extracurricular activities in the region.

The Master School’s tuition, including the boarding fee is $63,000 per annum.

5. The Storm King School

The Storm King School was established in 1867. It is New York’s oldest and most reputable boarding school for boys and girls from Year 8 to PG. It is the best private high school in Orange County according to Niche rankings. The school offers a small class of 10 students and an admirable student/faculty ratio of 5:1. 

The school stands out for their innovative teaching methods, which encourage the application of learned knowledge through experiential, project-based learning and real-world problem-solving. They also offer support for students with ADD/ADHD and learning differences. The school’s teaching methods have proven to be effective, with  their students achieving an average of 1270/1600 SAT points and 32/36 ACT points.

The Storm King School’s tuition, including the boarding fee is $69,900 per annum.

Summary

In summary, there are many choices for private boarding schools in New York. Besides high SAT and ACT results, each school also stands out with their unique education motto and teaching method. When browsing through the high schools in New York, it is highly advised that parents check through the schools’ approaches to best match the needs and conditions of each child. Should you need further assistance, please contact us.

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