Top 10 Private High Schools in Boston in 2027

1. Phillips Academy Andover

Andover ranks first because it pairs the deepest academic catalog in the region with need-blind admission for U.S. applicants and a commitment to meet full demonstrated need. The Andover, Massachusetts campus enrolls roughly 1,150 boarding and day students at a student-teacher ratio near 5:1. Tuition runs about $66,000 boarding and $51,000 day. Hundreds of electives, world-class libraries, labs, and arts facilities back elite matriculation to the Ivies, MIT, and Stanford.

This suits a high-achieving student who wants course depth no day school can match and a residential experience away from home. The trade is admission odds and a full-pay sticker price that tops the list. Compared with Boston College High School one rank below, Andover costs roughly $40,000 more per year at full pay and demands a move to boarding, but opens a catalog and facility set BC High cannot approach.

2. Boston College High School

BC High ranks second as the value pick: near-100% college matriculation and a deep AP and honors catalog at roughly $25,000 tuition, far below the elite boarding schools. The Dorchester Jesuit school enrolls about 1,500 young men and awards substantial need-based aid, lowering net cost further. Athletics, robotics, and service programs are standouts, and the alumni network is among the largest of any Catholic school in the region.

This fits families who want proven college prep without a $60,000 annual commitment, and students drawn to Jesuit service formation. The trades are real: boys only, and 1,500 students means larger classes than the seminar-style schools above and below it. Against Andover at rank one, BC High gives up catalog breadth and a 5:1 ratio, but delivers comparable matriculation outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

3. Milton Academy

Milton ranks third for delivering boarding-school-caliber academics roughly eight miles from downtown Boston. About 700 upper-school students work through a rigorous, discussion-based curriculum at a student-teacher ratio near 5:1, with a deep arts program and strong matriculation to the Ivies and top liberal-arts colleges. The school meets full demonstrated need. Tuition runs about $66,000 boarding and $53,000 day, matching Andover's boarding rate.

This is for a student who wants elite academics plus city cultural access without relocating to a rural campus. The trades are highly competitive admission and a sticker price at the top of the list. Versus Andover, Milton offers a smaller community and a narrower course catalog, but a residential campus within reach of Boston museums, hospitals, and internships that Andover's location cannot provide.

4. Noble and Greenough School

Nobles ranks fourth as the strongest pure day school on the list, with a five-day boarding option for families who want partial residency. The Dedham campus enrolls about 640 students at a student-teacher ratio near 6:1, supporting seminar-style classes and a close advisory system. Tuition is roughly $62,000, and the school meets full demonstrated need. Arts and athletics programs are exceptional, with strong matriculation to selective universities.

This fits families who want elite academics while the student lives at home, and who value a tight advisory relationship over campus scale. The trades are highly competitive admission and near-boarding tuition without the boarding immersion. Against Milton one rank above, Nobles costs less and keeps students home nightly, but forgoes the residential depth and larger catalog Milton's campus supports.

5. Roxbury Latin School

Roxbury Latin ranks fifth on outcomes-per-student: about 300 boys in grades 7-12, a student-teacher ratio near 7:1, and elite college matriculation from one of the smallest student bodies in the region. Founded in 1645 in West Roxbury, it is the oldest school in continuous existence in North America. Tuition runs roughly $40,000, well under the elite day schools, and financial aid is exceptional relative to the school's size.

This is for a boy who thrives under close mentorship and a classical curriculum, and for families weighing cost against the $60,000 day schools. The trades are single-sex enrollment, very few students, and highly selective admission. Compared with Nobles above, Roxbury Latin costs about $22,000 less and mentors more closely, but offers a fraction of the extracurricular and course breadth.

6. Winsor School

Winsor ranks sixth as the premier all-girls option, enrolling about 450 students in grades 5-12 in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. The curriculum carries strong STEM and humanities depth, the student-teacher ratio sits near 6:1, and matriculation to top universities is elite. Tuition runs roughly $58,000 and the school meets full demonstrated need. The urban campus puts hospitals, museums, and universities within walking distance for research and internships.

This fits a family that wants a girls' environment with explicit leadership development and city access. The trades are single-sex enrollment and tuition close to the coed day schools ranked above. Against Roxbury Latin at rank five, Winsor costs about $18,000 more and runs larger, but offers a broader program and a downtown location Roxbury Latin's West Roxbury campus cannot match.

7. Boston University Academy

BU Academy ranks seventh on a model no other school here offers: juniors and seniors take Boston University courses for actual college credit alongside high-school work. Enrollment is about 180 students at a student-teacher ratio near 6:1, with tuition around $48,000 and significant financial aid available. Students use a major research university's libraries and labs directly, and matriculation to selective colleges is strong.

This is for an intellectually advanced student who has outgrown a standard high-school catalog and wants real university coursework early. The trades are steep: very small enrollment, limited athletics, and an accelerated workload that punishes students who need pacing. Versus Winsor one rank above, BU Academy costs about $10,000 less and goes deeper academically, but gives up the extracurricular breadth and campus community Winsor sustains.

8. Belmont Hill School

Belmont Hill ranks eighth for combining elite boys' day-school academics with the strongest athletics program in this group. About 460 boys in grades 7-12 study at a student-teacher ratio near 6:1 on the Belmont campus, with excellent arts and athletics facilities. Tuition is roughly $60,000 and the school meets full demonstrated need. College matriculation is elite, and the alumni network actively supports recruiting and mentorship.

This fits a student-athlete who needs both a competitive sports program and academics that hold up at selective colleges. The trades are single-sex enrollment and tuition near the top of the day-school range. Against BU Academy at rank seven, Belmont Hill costs about $12,000 more and offers no college coursework, but delivers the full campus, team, and facility experience BU Academy's 180-student model cannot.

9. Concord Academy

Concord Academy ranks ninth on culture more than catalog: about 400 boarding and day students, a student-teacher ratio near 5:1, and an arts program stronger than any other school on this list. Seminar-style classes emphasize student voice, and matriculation to selective universities and liberal-arts colleges is strong. The school meets full demonstrated need. Tuition is roughly $70,000 boarding and $57,000 day, the highest sticker price here.

This is for a creative student who wants rigorous academics inside an unusually student-centered community, on a historic Concord campus. The trades are the top tuition on the list and highly competitive admission. Compared with Belmont Hill above, Concord is coed, offers boarding, and goes far deeper in the arts, but does not match Belmont Hill's athletics or its lower day-tuition figure.

10. Catholic Memorial School

Catholic Memorial ranks tenth as the most affordable pick here, at roughly $23,000 tuition with substantial need-based aid layered on top. The West Roxbury school enrolls about 750 young men and offers a solid AP and honors catalog with strong college matriculation. Athletics are a standout and the brotherhood culture is a genuine draw. Net cost after aid lands well below every school above it on this list.

This fits a family that needs Catholic college prep at a price the $60,000 day schools rule out. The trades are single-sex enrollment and a course catalog narrower than the elite schools. Against BC High at rank two, Catholic Memorial costs about $2,000 less and runs half the size, but BC High's deeper AP catalog and near-universal matriculation justify its higher position.

How we ranked these

We scored each school on academic rigor and advanced course depth (25%), college and post-graduate outcomes (20%), value including tuition and financial aid (15%), teachers and resources (15%), environment and culture (15%), and extracurricular breadth and fit (10%).

Inputs came from Niche, Boston Globe education coverage, published school profiles, and admissions data — enrollment counts, student-teacher ratios, aid policies such as need-blind admission or meeting full demonstrated need, and where graduates actually enroll.

We deliberately ignored sticker tuition in isolation, brand prestige unsupported by programs, new construction, and admitted-student test averages. Sticker price misleads when a school is need-blind or meets full need; a famous name with thin aid drops in a value-weighted ranking. Facility age says little about teaching. Acceptance lists inflate outcomes because one student can collect many offers, so we weighted matriculation instead of admissions bragging rights.

Related questions

How much do Boston private high schools actually cost after financial aid?

Sticker prices range from roughly $23,000 at Catholic Memorial to about $70,000 for Concord Academy boarding. Net cost differs sharply. Andover admits U.S. applicants need-blind and meets full demonstrated need; Milton, Nobles, Winsor, Belmont Hill, and Concord also meet full need. Families should request a net-price estimate before ruling out any school on published tuition alone.

Which Boston-area private schools are single-sex?

Roxbury Latin (about 300 boys, grades 7-12), Belmont Hill (about 460 boys), Boston College High School (about 1,500 young men), and Catholic Memorial (about 750 young men) enroll boys only. Winsor, in the Fenway, enrolls about 450 girls in grades 5-12 and ranks among the premier all-girls schools nationally. Andover, Milton, Nobles, BU Academy, and Concord are coeducational.

What is the smallest private high school on this list?

Boston University Academy, on the BU campus, enrolls about 180 students — the smallest here. Roxbury Latin follows with roughly 300 boys across grades 7-12, then Concord Academy at about 400 and Winsor at about 450. Small enrollment buys mentorship and seminar-style classes but narrows athletics rosters and elective catalogs compared with Andover's roughly 1,150 students.

Can a high schooler take real college courses in the Boston area?

Yes. Boston University Academy is built around it: juniors and seniors take Boston University courses for college credit alongside their high-school curriculum, with access to a major research university's libraries and labs. The workload is accelerated and demanding, and athletics options are limited by the school's roughly 180-student size, so it suits intellectually advanced students specifically.

Which schools are boarding versus day in this ranking?

Phillips Academy Andover, Milton Academy, and Concord Academy offer boarding and day enrollment. Nobles runs a five-day boarding option alongside its day program. Roxbury Latin, Winsor, Belmont Hill, BU Academy, Boston College High School, and Catholic Memorial are day schools. Boarding tuition typically runs $9,000 to $15,000 above the day rate at the same school.

How old is Roxbury Latin School?

Roxbury Latin was founded in 1645, making it the oldest school in continuous existence in North America. It sits in West Roxbury and enrolls only about 300 boys in grades 7-12. The classical curriculum, roughly 7:1 student-teacher ratio, and unusually strong financial aid for a school its size define the experience, alongside a tight alumni network.

What student-teacher ratios do these schools report?

Andover, Milton, and Concord Academy each report roughly 5:1. Nobles, Winsor, Belmont Hill, and BU Academy sit near 6:1. Roxbury Latin runs about 7:1 in a school of roughly 300. Boston College High School, with about 1,500 students, produces larger classes — a real tradeoff against its far lower tuition and substantial need-based aid.

Which Boston private school is strongest for athletics?

Belmont Hill is our athletics-plus-academics pick: an elite boys' day school in Belmont with standout sports programs, excellent facilities, and an alumni network that supports recruiting. Boston College High School and Catholic Memorial also field strong athletics with deep community cultures. Nobles pairs exceptional athletics with equally strong arts across a roughly 640-student day and five-day-boarding program.

FAQ

Which private high school is the best overall in Boston?

Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, Massachusetts. It enrolls about 1,150 students, admits U.S. applicants need-blind while meeting full demonstrated need, and offers hundreds of electives. Matriculation runs to the Ivies, MIT, Stanford, and top liberal-arts colleges. The student-teacher ratio sits near 5:1, and its libraries, labs, and arts facilities rank among the best of any secondary school.

What is the best value private high school in Boston?

Boston College High School in Dorchester. Tuition runs about $25,000 — far below the elite boarding schools — while the Jesuit college-preparatory program posts near-100% college matriculation and a deep AP and honors catalog. Substantial need-based aid lowers the net cost further. The tradeoffs are single-sex enrollment and larger classes from a roughly 1,500-student student body.

Do top Boston private schools offer financial aid?

Yes, and generously. Andover is need-blind for U.S. applicants and meets full demonstrated need. Milton, Nobles, Winsor, Belmont Hill, and Concord Academy all meet full demonstrated need. Boston College High School and Catholic Memorial award substantial need-based aid on top of already lower tuition. Evaluate net cost after aid rather than the published sticker figure.

Are there strong single-sex private schools in Boston?

Yes. Roxbury Latin, Belmont Hill, Boston College High School, and Catholic Memorial are top boys' schools. Winsor, enrolling about 450 girls in grades 5-12 in the Fenway, ranks among the premier all-girls independent schools in the country, with strong STEM and humanities depth and elite college matriculation. Decide whether a single-sex environment fits your student before ranking anything else.

Which Boston private school is best for advanced academics?

Andover and Milton offer the deepest catalogs — Andover with hundreds of electives, Milton with a rigorous discussion-based curriculum across about 700 upper-school students. For a different kind of acceleration, Boston University Academy lets juniors and seniors take real BU courses for college credit. Match the model to your student: catalog breadth and university coursework are not the same thing.

Is boarding or day school better in the Boston area?

Both excel here. Boarding schools like Andover and Concord Academy offer full immersion in campus life. Elite day schools like Nobles, Belmont Hill, and BU Academy deliver comparable academics while students live at home. Milton, just south of Boston, splits the difference with a residential campus and city access. Nobles also runs a five-day boarding option.

Which school has the strongest arts program?

Concord Academy, in Concord, is known for blending rigorous academics with an exceptional arts and creative culture. It enrolls about 400 students, runs a roughly 5:1 student-teacher ratio with seminar-style classes, meets full demonstrated need, and emphasizes student voice. Milton also offers a deep arts program, and Nobles pairs exceptional arts with equally strong athletics.

What is the most affordable school on this list?

Catholic Memorial School in West Roxbury, at roughly $23,000, edges out Boston College High School at about $25,000. Catholic Memorial enrolls about 750 young men, posts strong college matriculation, offers a solid AP and honors catalog, and is known for athletics and brotherhood culture. Substantial need-based aid keeps it accessible; the course catalog is smaller than at elite schools.

Should I choose a school based on its ranking number?

No. Net cost after aid, actual college matriculation, and a supportive advisory relationship shape a student's experience far more than a headline rank. A college-course model at BU Academy or an arts-rich culture at Concord Academy may serve a specific student better than a school ranked higher overall. Use fit criteria first, then compare within your shortlist.

How competitive is admission to these schools?

Very. Andover, Milton, Nobles, Roxbury Latin, Winsor, Belmont Hill, and Concord Academy all list highly competitive or highly selective admission among their main drawbacks. Roxbury Latin's roughly 300-boy enrollment and BU Academy's roughly 180 students make seats especially scarce. The larger Catholic schools, Boston College High and Catholic Memorial, admit broader classes at 1,500 and 750 students respectively.

Sources

• https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/boston-metro-area/
• https://www.andover.edu/
• https://www.milton.edu/
• https://www.bchigh.edu/
• https://www.nobles.edu/
• https://www.roxburylatin.org/
• https://www.winsor.edu/
• https://www.buacademy.org/
• https://www.belmonthill.org/
• https://concordacademy.org/

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