For families seeking high-quality education, private day schools are an exceptional alternative to traditional boarding schools. While they don’t offer on-campus housing, many international students attending these schools live with relatives, join homestay programs, or relocate with their families. This pathway provides academic excellence, strong college preparation, and cultural immersion, without the boarding experience. Let’s discover the top 46 private day schools in the U.S!
What Are Private Day Schools?
Private day schools are independently funded institutions where you attend classes during the day and return home in the evening. Unlike public schools, they typically have smaller class sizes, a rigorous academic curriculum, and a broad range of extracurricular activities.
For international students who can arrange appropriate living accommodations, day schools can be a strategic and rewarding choice. If you can find host families or suitable guardians who can supervise you to attend private schools, this option will be perfect for you.
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Benefits for International Students
1. Academic Excellence
Private day schools are known for their rigorous academics with small classes and close teacher attention. NAIS reports a median student-teacher ratio range from 8:1 to 10:1 across grade bands. Many also offer advanced curricula such as AP (now 40 subjects) and the IB Diploma Programme, both of which are widely recognized by universities around the world for credit/advanced standing. In addition, some schools offer dual enrollment and other alternatives for students who don’t have access to AP and IB.
2. Cultural Integration
Living with relatives or a vetted host family lets you practice English continuously and learn U.S. norms in everyday contexts (mealtimes, community events, household routines). This practice is a known accelerator of acculturation and language fluency. Programs that place high-school students with host families are guided by U.S. Department of State rules and quality frameworks from CSIET, which sets standards for safety and orientation. These programs will give you a structured and culturally immersive experience.
3. Affordability Compared to Boarding Schools
For families comparing options, tuition data show a meaningful gap: NAIS reports median day-school tuition (Grade 9) at $37,135, while average 7-day boarding tuition is about $71,715, with the median boarding tuition around $71,500 across reporting schools. Because day students do not pay for room and board, total annual costs are typically lower than boarding, even after adding homestay or living expenses. (Exact figures vary by city and school.) As this metric will vary highly depending on your situation, you should make a list of potential boarding and private schools to compare.
4. College Counseling & Networking
These schools often provide robust college admissions support and maintain powerful alumni networks, both of which are critical assets in shaping educational outcomes. Research shows that private school counselors typically manage fewer students, spending 58% of their time on college planning compared to just 25% in public schools. That means you would benefit from personalized guidance and support from the very start.
Graduates of elite private day schools often go on to significant professional achievements, benefiting from both rigorous college-preparatory environments and long-standing alumni networks. For instance, Horace Mann School’s alum Jon Rubinstein (’74) played a pivotal role in developing the iMac and iPod during his time as Senior VP at Apple and later led Palm before joining HP’s global leadership team. Meanwhile, Sidwell Friends School’s grads, such as Marcus Shaw (’95), have risen to executive-level positions, with Shaw currently serving as CEO of AltFinance. These examples highlight how alumni from these institutions often take on leadership roles in technology, business, and beyond, underlining the real-world value of their school networks.
46 Top U.S. Private Day Schools
These private day schools are recognized for their academic excellence, cultural diversity, and high college matriculation success rates within their respective regions.
Tip: Always check each school’s international admissions policy, English proficiency requirements (TOEFL, Duolingo, etc.), and residency expectations before applying.
Northeast
School | Location | Highlights |
Horace Mann School | Bronx, NY | Rigorous academics, strong Ivy League admissions |
Trinity School | New York, NY | The oldest U.S. school, with academic excellence |
The Dalton School | New York, NY | Progressive curriculum, college counseling |
The Brearley School (Girls) | New York, NY | All-girls, humanities strength |
Stuyvesant High School (Public, Selective) | New York, NY | STEM-heavy, highly competitive |
Commonwealth School | Boston, MA | Small, intellectually intense, strong in humanities and STEM |
Roxbury Latin School (Boys) | West Roxbury, MA | The oldest boys’ school in the U.S., a liberal arts school |
Belmont Hill School (Boys) | Belmont, MA | Emphasis on character and leadership |
The Winsor School (Girls) | Boston, MA | All-girls, top-tier college placement |
Germantown Friends School | Philadelphia, PA | Quaker values, strong academics, and arts |
Mid-Atlantic
School | Location | Highlights |
Sidwell Friends School | Washington, DC | Quaker education |
Georgetown Day School | Washington, DC | Progressive curriculum, social justice focus |
The Potomac School | McLean, VA | STEM and arts balance, beautiful campus |
Gilman School (Boys) | Baltimore, MD | All-boys, the tradition of leadership and service |
McDonogh School | Owings Mills, MD | Large campus, strong athletics, and STEM |
Friends’ Central School | Wynnewood, PA | Values-based, diverse academic offerings |
Holton-Arms School (Girls) | Bethesda, MD | All-girls, known for empowering leadership |
St. Albans School (Boys) | Washington, DC | Classical education, National Cathedral grounds |
Southeast
School | Location | Highlights |
The Westminster Schools | Atlanta, GA | Top academic reputation in the South |
Charlotte Latin School | Charlotte, NC | Balanced academics and values-based education |
Ransom Everglades School | Miami, FL | IB and AP options, close-knit environment |
Pine Crest School | Fort Lauderdale, FL | STEM, arts, athletics |
Lovett School | Atlanta, GA | College prep with character education |
Episcopal High School | Alexandria, VA | Traditionally boarding, but has a day option too |
Benjamin School | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Coastal, college-focused, growing reputation |
Midwest
School | Location | Highlights |
University of Chicago Lab Schools | Chicago, IL | Progressive curriculum, tied to UChicago |
Francis W. Parker School | Chicago, IL | Emphasizes civic engagement and liberal arts |
Latin School of Chicago | Chicago, IL | High academic standards, college prep |
The Blake School | Minneapolis, MN | Strong STEM and college guidance |
Greenhill School | Addison, TX (often included) | Diverse curriculum, innovation-focused |
Cranbrook Schools | Bloomfield Hills, MI | Beautiful campus, day and boarding options |
Columbus Academy | Gahanna, OH | Innovation and leadership-focused program |
West Coast
School | Location | Highlights |
Harvard-Westlake School | Los Angeles, CA | Elite academics, strong in arts and STEM |
The Harker School | San Jose, CA | STEM powerhouse, great college placement |
The Nueva School | San Mateo, CA | Design-thinking based, progressive |
Polytechnic School | Pasadena, CA | Balanced liberal arts and sciences |
Menlo School | Atherton, CA | Bay Area prestige, well-rounded prep |
Castilleja School (Girls) | Palo Alto, CA | All-girls, strong in leadership and humanities |
Lakeside School | Seattle, WA | Bill Gates’ alma mater, values-driven |
The College Preparatory School (College Prep) | Oakland, CA | Small, rigorous, focused on college prep |
The Brentwood School | Los Angeles, CA | Strong athletics, arts, and AP programs |
Southwest & Mountain States
School | Location | Highlights |
St. Mark’s School of Texas (Boys) | Dallas, TX | An elite all-boys school, with academic strength |
The Hockaday School (Girls) | Dallas, TX | Top all-girls school with a STEM focus |
Greenhill School | Addison, TX | Innovation and global citizenship |
Colorado Academy | Denver, CO | STEM and arts blend, progressive learning |
Phoenix Country Day School | Phoenix, AZ | Premier K–12 school in Arizona |
How to Apply as an International Student
The list below is only a generic application checklist. Please verify the detailed list required by the schools you’re applying to.
Step 1: Research & Shortlist
Platforms like Niche and Private School Review will help explore schools that fit your interests, values, and location preferences.
Step 2: Prepare Requirements
These are requirements we see most commonly in high school and college applications. Remember to verify the following list against your institution’s requirements.
- English Proficiency Tests: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test
- School Transcripts: Translated and certified if needed
- Teacher Recommendations
- Standardized Tests (Optional): SSAT, ISEE, or school-specific tests
- Personal Essays or Interviews
Step 3: Apply Through School Portals or the Common App for Private Schools
Some schools may use SAO (Standard Application Online), while others require direct applications.
We have also published this article Applying to U.S. High Schools: A Guide for International Students to help students further understand the application process.
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