School library · US boarding schools

Top 30 US Boarding High Schools

The top 30 schools in the Niche 2027 ranking of US boarding high schools. Each has its own page: boarding tuition, entrance exams, application and decision dates, academics and distance from Irvine.

30
boarding schools
$53,000–$87,340
boarding tuition range per year
24
on the East Coast; 6 elsewhere, from California to the Midwest and South
1778
founded: Phillips Academy Andover is the oldest

How the Top 30 US Boarding Schools CompareBars split by number of schools; hover for names

Admission test
Test scores required20Test-optional9No test scores1
Grades
Grades 9-1211Grades 9-12 and PG12From grade 83With lower grades3Grades 11-12 only1
Students
Co-ed27Boys2Girls1
Enrollment
Under 50016500 to 90010Over 9003
Numbers are Niche ranks; the yellow dot is Irvine; schools inside the dashed box are enlarged below, with Boston and New York in grey for reference. Positions by latitude and longitude on a simplified outline.

The Top 30 US Boarding High Schools

#1 to #30 are ranks in the Niche 2027 ranking of US boarding high schools, with no gaps. Cate School (#10) and The Thacher School (#28) are in California and also appear in the California Boarding Schools Top 10 list. Details

Ranks 1 to 10

  1. #1Phillips Exeter AcademyExeter, NH · 2,585 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$71,797 / yrSSAT or ISEEPhillips Exeter Academy enrolls 1,096 students in Exeter, New Hampshire, teaches around Harkness tables of twelve, offers more than 450 courses and no AP classes, charges $71,797 for boarding in 2026-27, and admits need-blind with a January 15 deadline.
  2. #2Phillips Academy AndoverAndover, MA · 2,577 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$79,800 / yrSSAT or ISEEPhillips Academy Andover in Andover, Massachusetts enrolls 1,169 students in grades 9-12 and PG, publishes an average class size of 13, charges $79,800 for boarding in 2026-27, closes applications on February 1, 2027, and admits need-blind.
  3. #3Groton SchoolGroton, MA · 2,554 mi from Irvine8-12$62,740 / yrSSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACTA predominantly boarding school of 380 students spanning grades 8 through 12, with an average class size of 11 and a 4:1 student-faculty ratio, charging $62,740 for boarding in 2026-27 and waiving tuition for families earning $150,000 or less.
  4. #4St. Andrew's SchoolMiddletown, DE · 2,350 mi from Irvine9-12$78,500 / yrSSAT or ISEESt. Andrew's School is an all-boarding high school in Middletown, Delaware, with 318 students and no AP courses. Tuition is $78,500 for 2026-27, and admitted U.S. students from households earning under $150,000 attend free.
  5. #5St. Paul's SchoolConcord, NH · 2,553 mi from Irvine9-12$75,400 / yrSSAT, ISEE, PSAT, PreACT, SAT or ACTOne of the few fully residential independent schools in the country, with 538 students, no day places, an average class size of 10, and 2026-27 tuition of $75,400 inclusive of room and board.
  6. #6Choate Rosemary HallWallingford, CT · 2,494 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$74,530 / yrNot requiredChoate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut enrolls 859 students in grades 9-12 and PG, does not require standardized testing, charges $74,530 in boarding tuition and fees for 2026-27, and closes applications on January 15.
  7. #7The Hotchkiss SchoolLakeville, CT · 2,460 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$79,350 / yrSSAT or ISEEThe Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut enrolls about 600 students in grades 9-12 and PG, publishes an average class size of 12 and more than 200 courses, charges $79,350 for boarding in 2026-27, requires test scores from every applicant, and offers no ESL support.
  8. #8The Lawrenceville SchoolLawrenceville, NJ · 2,398 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$82,710 / yrSSAT or ISEEA coeducational boarding and day school of 830 students built around Harkness discussion classes and a grade-based House system, with published 2026-27 boarding tuition of $82,710 and a January 15 application deadline.
  9. #9Deerfield AcademyDeerfield, MA · 2,502 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$79,940 / yrSSAT or ISEEDeerfield Academy in western Massachusetts enrolls 650 students with an average class size of 12, has largely moved away from AP courses, charges $79,940 for boarding in 2026-27, closes applications on January 15, and meets the full demonstrated need of admitted international students.
  10. #10Cate SchoolCarpinteria, CA · 107 mi from Irvine9-12$87,340 / yrSSAT or ISEEInternational studentsCate School, founded in 1910, enrolls 313 students, 79% of them boarders. Boarding tuition for 2026-27 is $87,340, and applications close on January 15.

Ranks 11 to 20

  1. #11The Taft SchoolWatertown, CT · 2,477 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$81,400 / yrSSAT or ISEEThe Taft School is a boarding high school in Watertown, Connecticut, with 592 students, 495 of them boarders. Boarding tuition is $81,400 for 2026-27, and 36 percent of students receive need-based aid.
  2. #12The Loomis Chaffee SchoolWindsor, CT · 2,502 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$77,340 / yrTest optionalThe Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, enrolls 748 students, 70 percent of them boarders. Boarding tuition is $77,340 for 2026-27, testing is optional, and applications are due January 15.
  3. #13Princeton International School of Mathematics and SciencePrinceton, NJ · 2,399 mi from Irvine9-12$70,000 / yrSSATPrinceton International School of Mathematics and Science (PRISMS) is a STEM boarding and day high school in Princeton, New Jersey, with 120 students, about half of them boarders. Every student completes a two-year original research project, and 2026-27 boarding tuition is $70,000.
  4. #14Woodberry Forest SchoolWoodberry Forest, VA · 2,225 mi from Irvine9-12$72,300 / yrTest-optionalWoodberry Forest School is an all-boys boarding high school in Virginia where all 400 students live on campus. Testing is optional, tuition is $72,300 for 2025-26, and the school meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for admitted students.
  5. #15Elite Preparatory AcademyHopatcong, NJ · 2,400 mi from Irvine8-12$69,000 / yrNot requiredAbout 41 studentsElite Preparatory Academy in Hopatcong, New Jersey, enrolls grades 8 through 12 and reported 41 students to NCES for 2023-24. Tuition is $45,000 plus room and board from $24,000, no entrance test is required, and the school issues I-20s.
  6. #16United World College-USA (UWC-USA)Montezuma, NM · 725 mi from Irvine11-12$59,800 / yrNo SSAT or ISEEEntry at grade 11UWC-USA is an all-boarding, two-year IB school in Montezuma, New Mexico, with students from more than 90 countries. Tuition is $59,800 for 2027-28, and U.S. citizens are considered for the Davis Scholarship.
  7. #17Middlesex SchoolConcord, MA · 2,565 mi from Irvine9-12$82,575 / yrSSAT or ISEEA comparatively small boarding and day school of 429 students with an average class size of 12 and a 4:1 student-faculty ratio, charging $82,575 for boarding in 2026-27, with applications due January 15 and decisions on March 10.
  8. #18Milton AcademyMilton, MA · 2,581 mi from Irvine9-12$79,900 / yrNot requiredA boarding and day school outside Boston that publishes a 13% acceptance rate, charges $79,900 for boarding in 2026-27, treats standardized testing as optional, and closes applications on January 15, 2027.
  9. #19Episcopal High SchoolAlexandria, VA · 2,278 mi from Irvine9-12$77,700 / yrSSAT or ISEEEpiscopal High School is an all-boarding high school in Alexandria, Virginia, seven miles from the White House. The 2026-27 comprehensive fee is $77,700, and about 35 percent of students receive financial aid.
  10. #20Blair AcademyBlairstown, NJ · 2,384 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$81,950 / yrNot required but preferredBlair Academy is a coeducational boarding school in Blairstown, New Jersey, with 484 students, 85 percent of them boarders. It replaced AP courses with its own advanced curriculum in 2024-25, and 2026-27 boarding tuition is $81,950.

Ranks 21 to 30

  1. #21Concord AcademyConcord, MA · 2,566 mi from Irvine9-12$84,410 / yrSSAT or ISEEConcord Academy is a boarding and day high school in Concord, Massachusetts, with 431 students, 40 percent of them boarders, and no AP courses since 2005. Boarding tuition is $84,410 for 2026-27.
  2. #22The Hill SchoolPottstown, PA · 2,350 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$81,040 / yrSSAT, ISEE or PSATThe Hill School is a coeducational boarding school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, with 539 students. Boarding tuition is $81,040 for 2026-27, and 39 percent of students receive need-based aid.
  3. #23Miss Porter's SchoolFarmington, CT · 2,492 mi from Irvine9-12$79,900 / yrTest-optionalMiss Porter's School is a girls' boarding high school in Farmington, Connecticut, with 340 students in 2026-27. Boarding tuition is $79,900, and the SSAT and ISEE are optional.
  4. #24Mercersburg AcademyMercersburg, PA · 2,232 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$81,600 / yrSSAT or ISEE preferred for grades 9-10Mercersburg Academy is a coeducational boarding and day school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, with 443 students, 83 percent of them boarders. Boarding tuition is $81,600 for 2026-27, and ninth- and tenth-grade applicants are not required to submit test scores.
  5. #25Washington Preparatory SchoolBothell, WA · 1,004 mi from Irvine3-12$53,000 / yrStandardized test resultsAbout 46 studentsWashington Preparatory School is a small day and boarding school in Bothell, Washington, with 46 students in fall 2025, about half of them international. It offers the IB Diploma Programme and AP courses and admits students on a rolling basis.
  6. #26The Peddie SchoolHightstown, NJ · 2,409 mi from Irvine9-12 · PG$81,000 / yrSSAT or ISEEThe Peddie School is a coeducational boarding and day high school in Hightstown, New Jersey, with 540 students, 60 percent of them boarders, and 22 AP courses. Boarding tuition is $81,000 for 2026-27, and 39 percent of students receive aid.
  7. #27Cranbrook SchoolsBloomfield Hills, MI · 1,962 mi from IrvinePK-12$63,000 / yrSSATCranbrook Schools is a PK-12 day and boarding school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with boarding only in its Upper School of 810-plus students, about a third of whom live on campus. Boarding tuition is $63,000 for 2026-27.
  8. #28The Thacher SchoolOjai, CA · 94 mi from Irvine9-12$84,000 / yrSSAT or ISEEInternational studentsThe Thacher School, founded in 1889, enrolls 231 boarders and 30 day students in 2026-27, admitted 17% of applicants for fall 2026, and charges $84,000 for boarding.
  9. #29Indian Springs SchoolIndian Springs, AL · 1,782 mi from Irvine8-12$65,925 / yrSSAT or ISEE optionalIndian Springs School is a grades 8-12 day and boarding school in Alabama with 337 students, 114 of them boarders, and 18 AP courses. Out-of-state boarding tuition is $65,925 for 2026-27.
  10. #30St. Albans SchoolWashington, DC · 2,279 mi from Irvine4-12$84,497 / yrSSAT, ISEE or HSPTAbout 25 boardersSt. Albans School is an Episcopal boys' school in Washington, DC, with 597 students in grades 4-12. Only grades 9-12 may board, about 25 boarders, and boarding tuition is $84,497.

US Boarding High Schools Top 30 at a Glance

Niche rankSchoolCityGradesBoarding tuitionStudentsEntrance examFrom Irvine
1Phillips Exeter AcademyExeter, NH9-12 · PG$71,7971,096SSAT or ISEE (PSAT/SAT/PreACT/ACT for grade 10 and above)2,585 mi
2Phillips Academy AndoverAndover, MA9-12 · PG$79,8001,169SSAT or ISEE (PSAT/SAT/ACT also accepted)2,577 mi
3Groton SchoolGroton, MA8-12$62,740380SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT or ACT (one required)2,554 mi
4St. Andrew's SchoolMiddletown, DE9-12$78,500318SSAT or ISEE (one required; TOEFL or IELTS also required for non-native speakers not in English-medium schools)2,350 mi
5St. Paul's SchoolConcord, NH9-12$75,400538SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, PreACT, SAT or ACT (one required)2,553 mi
6Choate Rosemary HallWallingford, CT9-12 · PG$74,530859Not required (SSAT or ISEE may be submitted)2,494 mi
7The Hotchkiss SchoolLakeville, CT9-12 · PG$79,350600SSAT or ISEE (PSAT/SAT/ACT for grade 11 and above)2,460 mi
8The Lawrenceville SchoolLawrenceville, NJ9-12 · PG$82,710830SSAT or ISEE (PSAT/SAT/ACT accepted for upper grades)2,398 mi
9Deerfield AcademyDeerfield, MA9-12 · PG$79,940650SSAT or ISEE (PSAT/SAT/ACT for grade 11 and above)2,502 mi
10Cate SchoolCarpinteria, CA9-12$87,340313SSAT or ISEE (PSAT, SAT or ACT for grade 11)106.9 mi
11The Taft SchoolWatertown, CT9-12 · PG$81,400592SSAT or ISEE (one required for grades 9 and 10; international applicants take the SSAT; PSAT, SAT or ACT also accepted from grade 11; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo strongly recommended for non-native speakers)2,477 mi
12The Loomis Chaffee SchoolWindsor, CT9-12 · PG$77,340748Test optional (if submitting, SSAT or ISEE preferred for grades 9-10; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo required for non-native speakers with fewer than two years in an English-instruction school)2,502 mi
13Princeton International School of Mathematics and SciencePrinceton, NJ9-12$70,000120SSAT (required for grade 9 applicants; ISEE accepted from those who did not take the SSAT; international applicants whose native language is not English also submit the TOEFL or another English test)2,399 mi
14Woodberry Forest SchoolWoodberry Forest, VA9-12$72,300400Test-optional (SSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, PreACT or ACT accepted; applicants without scores submit a graded writing assignment and a math assessment; TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS required for non-native English speakers)2,225 mi
15Elite Preparatory AcademyHopatcong, NJ8-12$69,00041Not required (the school states that TOEFL, SSAT or SLEP scores are helpful but not required; English and placement assessments follow enrollment)2,400 mi
16United World College-USA (UWC-USA)Montezuma, NM11-12$59,800222No SSAT or ISEE (the school's published application requirements list no standardized admission test)725.3 mi
17Middlesex SchoolConcord, MA9-12$82,575429SSAT or ISEE (PSAT/SAT accepted for grade 11)2,565 mi
18Milton AcademyMilton, MA9-12$79,900—Not required (SSAT or ISEE welcome)2,581 mi
19Episcopal High SchoolAlexandria, VA9-12$77,700466SSAT or ISEE (one required; PSAT accepted instead; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test also required for non-native English speakers)2,278 mi
20Blair AcademyBlairstown, NJ9-12 · PG$81,950484Not required but preferred; ninth-grade applicants may submit the SSAT or ISEE and/or state, county or district test scores (TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo also required for non-native speakers not in English-speaking schools for the past two years)2,384 mi
21Concord AcademyConcord, MA9-12$84,410431SSAT or ISEE (one required; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test also required if English is not the first language, with a waiver available after three years in an English-speaking U.S. school)2,566 mi
22The Hill SchoolPottstown, PA9-12 · PG$81,040539SSAT, ISEE or PSAT (one required for grades 9 and 10; PSAT, SAT, ACT or SSAT for grades 11, 12 and PG; TOEFL or Duolingo also required for international students whose first language is not English)2,350 mi
23Miss Porter's SchoolFarmington, CT9-12$79,900340Test-optional (SSAT or ISEE may be submitted; TOEFL or Duolingo English Test required of non-native English speakers)2,492 mi
24Mercersburg AcademyMercersburg, PA9-12 · PG$81,600443SSAT or ISEE preferred for grades 9-10 (required for merit scholarships); PSAT, SAT or ACT required for grades 11-12 and PG2,232 mi
25Washington Preparatory SchoolBothell, WA3-12$53,00046Standardized test results (one of the ITBS, ISEE, SSAT, Smarter Balanced or equivalent)1,004 mi
26The Peddie SchoolHightstown, NJ9-12 · PG$81,000540SSAT or ISEE (one required for grades 9 and 10; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test also required when English is not the primary language, unless the past three years were in an English-medium school)2,409 mi
27Cranbrook SchoolsBloomfield Hills, MIPK-12$63,0001,674SSAT (required; recent scores from other standardized tests may sometimes substitute with prior approval from the admission office; TOEFL or IELTS also required if English is not the first language)1,962 mi
28The Thacher SchoolOjai, CA9-12$84,000261SSAT or ISEE (PSAT also accepted for grades 10 and 11)94.3 mi
29Indian Springs SchoolIndian Springs, AL8-12$65,925337SSAT or ISEE optional (highly recommended but not required; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo required for English language learners)1,782 mi
30St. Albans SchoolWashington, DC4-12$84,497597SSAT, ISEE or HSPT (one required for grade 9; TOEFL strongly encouraged for non-native English speakers)2,279 mi

Tuition is each school’s published boarding tuition for the current year, before fees and financial aid; distances are straight-line from central Irvine.

How to Read the US Boarding Schools Top 30

List and ranks from Niche 2027

Niche's US boarding ranking combines student and parent reviews, college outcomes and student-teacher ratio; the 2027 edition no longer counts SAT or ACT scores. This page lists the top 30 shown on Niche as of 2026-10-07, with no gaps and no further filtering; where a school admits only upper grades or has few boarding places, the card says so. See each school page for details.

19 close applications on January 15

For fall 2027 entry, 19 of the 30 close applications on January 15 and 24 release decisions on March 10; Phillips Academy Andover's deadline is February 1, United World College-USA (UWC-USA)'s deadline is November 1, Concord Academy's deadline is January 4, Miss Porter's School's deadline is January 1, Cranbrook Schools's deadline is January 31, The Thacher School's deadline is November 1, Indian Springs School's deadline is January 31, St. Albans School's deadline is December 1. 20 require scores from the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test), ISEE or another standardized test; see each school page. EDUBUS SSAT prep

How far the East Coast schools are

24 of the 30 are on the East Coast, roughly 2,230 to 2,590 miles from Irvine in a straight line and three hours ahead of California. Travel to and from school means flying, so plan transport and guardianship when choosing.

For boarding schools in California, see California Boarding Schools Top 10; for the application process, see the boarding school application guide.

Sources31 sources · checked 2026-10-07

List and ranks from Niche; school facts from each school website, with full sources on each school page.

  1. niche.com/k12/search/best-boarding-high-schools
  2. exeter.edu
  3. andover.edu
  4. groton.org
  5. standrews-de.org
  6. sps.edu
  7. choate.edu
  8. hotchkiss.org
  9. lawrenceville.org
  10. deerfield.edu
  11. cate.org
  12. taftschool.org
  13. loomischaffee.org
  14. prismsus.org
  15. woodberry.org
  16. eliteprepacademy.org
  17. uwc-usa.org
  18. mxschool.edu
  19. milton.edu
  20. episcopalhighschool.org
  21. blair.edu
  22. concordacademy.org
  23. thehill.org
  24. porters.org
  25. mercersburg.edu
  26. waprep.org
  27. peddie.org
  28. schools.cranbrook.edu
  29. thacher.org
  30. indiansprings.org
  31. stalbansschool.org

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