#1 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
Independent Catholic school · Grades 5–12
The only all-girls school in Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
A+Overall gradeAll girls245 students7 students per teacher
2026 lists
Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
The highest-graded schools of this kind in the U.S.. Top 50 of 162 schools.
#2 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
Independent Catholic school · Grades 9–12
The only all-girls school in La Canada Flintridge
La Canada Flintridge, CA
A+Overall gradeAll girls382 students8 students per teacher
#3 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Georgetown Preparatory School
Parish school · Grades 9–12
Smaller classes than 86% of Catholic schools in Maryland
North Bethesda, MD
A+Overall gradeAll boys500 students8 students per teacher
#4 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
The Pennington School
Methodist school · Grades 6–12
The only Christian school in Pennington
Pennington, NJ
A+Overall grade537 students6 students per teacher
#5 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Portsmouth Abbey School
Independent Catholic school · Grades 9–12
Smaller classes than 88% of Catholic schools nationwide
Portsmouth, RI
A+Overall grade337 students8 students per teacher
#6 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
St. Andrew's School
Episcopal school · Grades 9–12
One of the 3 largest Christian schools in Delaware
Middletown, DE
A+Overall grade320 students6 students per teacher
#7 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Hawaii Preparatory Academy
Independent school · Grades K–12
The smallest classes of any independent school in Kamuela
Kamuela, HI
A+Overall grade576 students8 students per teacher
#8 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Westover School
Independent school · Grades 9–12
96% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Middlebury, CT
A+Overall gradeAll girls142 students5 students per teacher
#9 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Blair Academy
Presbyterian school · Grades 9–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Blairstown, NJ
A+Overall grade474 students7 students per teacher
#10 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Maharishi School
Alternative school · Grades Pre-K–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Fairfield, IA
A+Overall grade125 students6 students per teacher
#11 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Independent school · Grades 9–12
95% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Idyllwild, CA
A+Overall grade265 students4 students per teacher
#12 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
St. Mark's School
Episcopal school · Grades 9–12
The only Christian school in Southborough
Southborough, MA
A+Overall grade377 students4 students per teacher
#13 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Foxcroft School
Independent school · Grades 9–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Middleburg, VA
A+Overall gradeAll girls147 students6 students per teacher
#14 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Fountain Valley School of Colorado
Independent school · Grades 9–12
The only independent school in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
A+Overall grade233 students5 students per teacher
#15 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Annie Wright Schools
Episcopal school · Grades Pre-K–12
The largest Christian school in Tacoma
Tacoma, WA
A+Overall grade748 students10 students per teacher
#16 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
St. James School
Episcopal school · Grades 8–12
The smallest classes of any Christian school in Hagerstown
Hagerstown, MD
A+Overall grade240 students8 students per teacher
#17 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Chatham Hall
Episcopal school · Grades 9–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Chatham, VA
A+Overall gradeAll girls122 students6 students per teacher
#18 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Grier School
Independent school · Grades 7–12
The only all-girls school in Tyrone
Tyrone, PA
A+Overall gradeAll girls229 students5 students per teacher
#19 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Miss Hall's School
Independent school · Grades 9–12
Smaller classes than 92% of independent schools in Massachusetts
Pittsfield, MA
A+Overall gradeAll girls190 students3 students per teacher
#20 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Santa Catalina School
Independent Catholic school · Grades Pre-K–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Monterey, CA
A+Overall grade421 students9 students per teacher
#21 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Kents Hill School
Independent school · Grades 9–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Kents Hill, ME
A+Overall grade206 students7 students per teacher
#22 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Pilgrim School
Independent school · Grades Pre-K–12
100% of graduates go to four-year colleges
Los Angeles, CA
A+Overall grade342 students6 students per teacher
#23 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
St. Lawrence Seminary High School
Independent Catholic school · Grades 9–12
The only Catholic school in Mount Calvary
Mount Calvary, WI
A+Overall gradeAll boys136 students7 students per teacher
#24 Best Boarding Schools in the U.S.
Phillips Academy
Independent school · Grades 9–12
The only independent school in Andover
Andover, MA
A+Overall grade1,154 students6 students per teacher
Grades compare each school's official facts, such as class size, how long it has served families and where graduates go, with similar schools. They're a starting point: visit, ask questions and trust what you see.