The 30 best private high schools in Upstate NY, ranked for the new school year

Upstate New York is home to some world class schools, including many high quality private schools. These schools offer alternatives to public school education, from faith-based learning to boarding schools and college preparatory schools.

These 30 private high schools are the best that can be found in Upstate New York, according to the 2020 school year ranking from neighborhood analysis website Niche.com.

Using key factors like teacher quality and experience, tuition, college entrance exam results and more, Niche grades every private high school in the country, and ranks the best of the best.

Below, you can find the 30 highest-scoring private high schools all across Upstate New York, as well as graduation rates, tuition costs and other information for each school, updated for 2020. Every school below received a grade of A or better. For a full report card on each high school, click the name of the district.

#30 Houghton Academy (Houghton, Allegany County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $33,440
• Students: 116
• Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1210/27
• State rank: #121

#29 Seton Catholic Central (Plattsburgh, Clinton County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $5,500
• Students: 149
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1240/28
• State rank: #119

#28 Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart (Buffalo, Erie County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $12,096
• Students: 397
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1240/29
• State rank: #116

#27 Academy of the Holy Names (Albany, Albany County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $16,800
• Students: 240
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1210/29
• State rank: #115

#26 Notre Dame High School (Elmira, Chemung County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $8,650
• Students: 375
• Student/teacher ratio: 9:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1290/29
• State rank:

#25 Northwood School (Lake Placid, Essex County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $36,300
• Students: 193
• % boarding: 81%
• Student/teacher ratio: 6:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1190
• State rank: #110

#24 The Park School of Buffalo (Snyder, Erie County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: Unlisted
• Students: 291
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1190/28
• State rank: #109

#23 Hoosac School (Hoosick, Rensselaer County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $18,500
• Students: 185
• % boarding: 90%
• Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1300
• State rank: #108

#22 New York Military Academy (Cornwall-on-Hudson, Orange County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $23,250
• Students: 100
• % boarding: 90%
• Student/teacher ratio: 6:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1180/25
• State rank: #107

#21 Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women (Rochester, Monroe County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $11,185
• Students: 786
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1240/29
• State rank: #101

#20 Seton Catholic Central High School (Binghamton, Broome County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $7,340
• Students: 336
• Student/teacher ratio: 10:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1290/31
• State rank: #98

#19 Nardin Academy (Buffalo, Erie County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $12,530
• Students: 913
• Student/teacher ratio: 10:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1250/30
• State rank: #95

#18 McQuaid Jesuit Preparatory School (Rochester, Monroe County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $13,600
• Students: 932
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1290/29
• State rank: #93

#17 Cascadilla School (Ithaca, Tompkins County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: Unlisted
• Students: 36
• Student/teacher ratio: 4:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1320
• State rank: #89

#16 Darrow School (New Lebanon, Columbia County)

Overall grade: A

• Tuition: $34,675
• Students: 118
• Student/teacher ratio: 4:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1230/28
• State rank:

#15 The Doane Stuart School (Rensselaer, Rensselaer County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $25,000
• Students: 200
• Student/teacher ratio: 5:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1230/29
• State rank: #81

#14 Oakwood Friends School (Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $31,183
• Students: 142
• Student/teacher ratio: 5:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1210
• State rank: #79

#13 Buffalo Seminary (Buffalo, Erie County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $22,560
• Students: 186
• % boarding: 20%
• Student/teacher ratio:
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1180/28
• State rank: #74

#12 Allendale Columbia School (Rochester, Monroe County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $25,560
• Students: 388
• Student/teacher ratio: 6:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1250/27
• State rank: #71

#11 Trinity-Pawling School (Pawling, Dutchess County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $62,000
• Students: 286
• % boarding: 75%
• Student/teacher ratio: 6:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1210/27
• State rank: #70

#10 Canisius High School (Buffalo, Erie County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $13,833
• Students: 830
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1270/30
• State rank: #69

#9 Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, Onondaga County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $10,585
• Students: 785
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1280/29
• State rank: #64

#8 Poughkeepsie Day School (Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: Unlisted
• Students: 264
• Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1260/29
• State rank: #63

#7 Millbrook School (Millbrook, Dutchess County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $49,500
• Students: 317
• % boarding: 85%
• Student/teacher ratio: 4:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1270/28
• State rank: #62

#6 The Albany Academies (Albany, Albany County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $23,100
• Students: 840
• Student/teacher ratio: 10:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1280/29
• State rank: #59

#5 The Storm King School (Cornwall-on-Hudson, Orange County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $61,700
• Students: 198
• % boarding: 70%
• Student/teacher ratio: 4:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1210/31
• State rank: #55

#4 Nichols School (Buffalo, Erie County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $24,950
• Students: 570
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate: Unlisted
• Average SAT/ACT: 1280/29
• State rank: #48

#3 The Harley School (Rochester, Monroe County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $24,750
• Students: 515
• Student/teacher ratio: 6:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1290/29
• State rank: #41

#2 Manlius Pebble Hill School (Syracuse, Onondaga County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $23,500
• Students: 315
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate: 100%
• Average SAT/ACT: 1330/30
• State rank: #40

#1 Emma Willard School (Troy, Rensselaer County)

Overall grade: A+

• Tuition: $37,690
• Students: 358
• % boarding: 60%
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1
• Graduation rate:
• Average SAT/ACT: 1370/30
• State rank: #16